Latest S&P Headlines

All the headlines from our S&P Topic Page, ordered by recency.

S&P Comments on Impact of 9/11 Ruling on Insurers

Sep 30 2003 // Standard & Poor’s has issued a bulletin commenting on the recent ruling in favor of Swiss Re and other insurance companies in the case involving claims to be paid for the destruction of the World Trade Center...

S&P, Moody’s Bullish on Lloyd’s

Sep 25 2003 // Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investors’ Service both issued favorable comments yesterday on the current prospects at Lloyd’s. The announcements followed a number of first half reports from...

S&P Rates Kingsway Debt ‘BB+’- Affirms Group’s ‘BBB’ Rating

Sep 25 2003 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that it has assigned its ‘BB+’ global scale preferred share rating to Kingsway Financial Services’ (KFS) “guarantee of Kingsway Financial...

S&P PUBLISHES ENCOURAGING REPORT ON ASIA-PACIFIC REINSURANCE MARKET

Sep 22 2003 // Standard & Poor’s has published a report on the Asia-Pacific non-life reinsurance market, which indicates that it “is experiencing a period of profitability following a decade of weak results due to under...

Eureko Outlook Revised to Neg

Sep 19 2003 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced it revised the outlook on all entities of the Netherlands-based Eureko insurance group (Eureko) to negative from stable. At the same time, S&P affirmed its...

ZFS’ Centre Solutions on Watch Neg

Sep 18 2003 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced it placed its ratings on Centre Solutions (Bermuda) Ltd. and related operating companies (collectively referred to as Centre) on CreditWatch with negative...

ZFS Subs Outlook Revised to Stable

Sep 18 2003 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services revised its outlook on the core operating entities of the Switzerland-based composite insurance group Zurich Financial Services (collectively ZFS) and the outlook on the group...

S&P Places Centre Solutions, Bermuda, Ratings on Watch Negative

Sep 17 2003 // Standard & Poor’s has placed its ratings on Centre Solutions (Bermuda) Ltd. and related operating companies (collectively referred to as Centre) on CreditWatch with negative implications because of concerns that...

Aviva Plans $1.9 Billion Bond Issue – Rating Agencies React

Sep 11 2003 // Aviva Plc., the U.K.’s largest insurer, announced plans to raise £1.2 billion ($1.91 billion) in new capital through the issuance of junior subordinated bonds. Plans call for the issue to be completed by the end of...

S&P Reports Marine Hull Insurance Rates Set to Peak in 2005

Sep 10 2003 // Standard & Poor’s reported that rates across the global marine hull insurance market look set to peak in 2005, a year later than previously expected. It noted, however, that although this promised a...

S&P Sees Stability in Reinsurers’ Ratings

Sep 9 2003 // Standard & Poor’s has issued a report entitled “Global Reinsurance: Calmer Waters Ahead?” which indicates that the outlook for reinsurers’ ratings “is now nearing stability.” The...

Recent Ratings Round-up

Sep 5 2003 // Due to the significant number of ratings announcements released recently, the IJ offers the following summary of actions taken by the rating agencies indicated. More complete information can be obtained directly from the...

S&P Affirms Everest Re Group Ratings

Sep 4 2003 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that it has affirmed its ‘A-‘ counterparty credit and preliminary senior debt, ‘BBB+’ subordinated debt, and ‘BBB’ preferred stock...

S&P Publishes Encouraging Report on Asia-Pacific Reinsurance Market

Sep 2 2003 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has published a report on the Asia-Pacific nonlife reinsurance market, which indicates that it “is experiencing a period of profitability following a decade of weak...

S&P Lowers Munich Re Ratings to ‘A+’

Aug 28 2003 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that it has lowered its long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings on Munich Reinsurance Co. and related core subsidiaries of the Munich Re...

S&P Comments on Promina’s Profit Figures

Aug 28 2003 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services issued a bulletin noting that Australia and New Zealand’s Promina Group Ltd.’s reported half-year profits of A$135 million ($U.S.$87 million) after tax, indicating...

Blackout to Have Small Impact on U.S. Insurers

Aug 21 2003 // Last week’s blackout that halted power throughout the Midwest, the northeastern U.S., and parts of Canada reportedly might only have a minimal impact on U.S. insurance companies, depending on the official cause of...

S&P Releases Report on Australian Insurers

Aug 19 2003 // Standard & Poor’s has released a report on the life and nonlife insurance sectors in Australia that concludes the two are facing “very different operating environment dynamics in 2003.” It is the...

S&P Revises Norwegian Bluewater Insurance Outlook to Negative

Aug 18 2003 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that it has revised its outlook on Norwegian marine insurer Bluewater Insurance ASA to negative from stable. However, it affirmed its ‘BBB-‘ long-term...

S&P Cuts Swiss Re

Aug 18 2003 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services lowered its long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings on Zurich-based global reinsurer Swiss Reinsurance Co. and related core subsidiaries of the...