Latest AM Best Headlines

All the headlines from our AM Best Topic Page, ordered by recency.

AM Best Revises Outlook for South Carolina-based Greenville Casualty

Apr 6 2022 // The AM Best rating firm has revised its outlook for South Carolina-based Greenville Casualty Insurance Co., from positive to stable. The insurer’s financial strength rating remained the same at “B...

Reinsurers to Bear Brunt of Australia Flood Claims: AM Best

Apr 5 2022 // The majority of gross losses from recent devastating flooding in Australia likely will be borne by reinsurers with limited impact on primary insurers’ balance sheets, according to an AM Best report.The flooding...

AM Best Assigns Oklahoma’s Bricktown Specialty Excellent Rating

Mar 30 2022 // AM Best has assigned a Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” (Excellent) to Bricktown Specialty Insurance Company (BSIC) of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The...

AM Best and S&P Ratings Suspend All Commercial Operations in Russia

Mar 30 2022 // AM Best announced it has suspended all commercial activities to clients in Russia and has withdrawn all credit ratings on Russia-based re/insurance companies, subject to sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU) and in...

Demotech Joins Call for Florida Special Session; AM Best Downgrades Farm Bureau

Mar 28 2022 // The Demotech rating agency has joined the relatively small number of voices calling for a special session of the Florida Legislature to enact changes that insurers hope will help curtail fraudulent roof claims, deter...

AM Best Upgrades Subsidiaries of New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance

Mar 24 2022 // Rating agency AM Best has upgraded the Financial Strength Rating to A+ (Superior) from A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings to “aa” (Superior) from “a” (Excellent) of New Jersey...

AM Best Downgrades Outlook for Florida Family Insurance Companies

Mar 10 2022 // The AM Best rating firm has downgraded the credit rating and the outlook for Florida Family Insurance and its subsidiary, Florida Family Home Insurance Co.The rating firm said the companies’ long-term issuer credit...

AM Best Raises Country Risk Level for Russia

Mar 10 2022 // The insurance rating firm AM Best said it has moved its country risk tier for Russia to a CRT-5 from a CRT-4 to reflect the “significantly heightened geopolitical, economic and financial system risk” in the...

AM Best Upgrades Credit Ratings of Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co.

Mar 8 2022 // AM Best has upgraded the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) to “bbb+” (Good) from “bbb” (Good) and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of B++ (Good) for the members of the...

U.S. P/C Industry Grew Surplus Despite Underwriting Loss in 2021

Mar 7 2022 // Insurance rating agency AM Best said it expects the U.S. property/casualty insurance industry to record an increase in surplus in 2021 thanks to investment income and capital gains improvements despite booking an...

James River Reserve Charge, ‘Strategic Actions’ Won’t Damage AM Best Rating

Mar 3 2022 // AM Best announced March 1 that the rating agency won’t change the A- (Excellent) financial strength ratings for the operating subsidiaries of James River Group Holdings, Ltd., a day after the insurer announced a...

D&O Loss Ratios Unchanged by Rate Hikes; Supply Disruption to Fuel Suits

Mar 2 2022 // Directors and officers liability insurance premium rate hikes have not had the anticipated impacts on loss ratios that carriers had hoped for, AM Best reported Monday, citing the impact of social inflation on rising claims...

AM Best: Ukraine Invasion to Likely Have ‘Substantial Impact’ on Insurance Industry

Feb 28 2022 // Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could add to inflationary pressures and will likely have a substantial impact on the global insurance industry, said AM Best.The rating agency Friday said efforts by the global central...

U.S. P/C Industry Grew Surplus Despite Underwriting Loss in 2021

Feb 24 2022 // Insurance rating agency AM Best said it expects the U.S. property/casualty insurance industry to record an increase in surplus in 2021 thanks to investment income and capital gains improvements despite booking an...

Rating Upgrades Increase for U.S. P/C Insurers in 2021

Feb 16 2022 // Ratings for the U.S. property/casualty industry returned to pre-pandemic levels with some companies strengthening balance sheets and improving operating results, said financial strength rating agency AM Best.In 2021 the...

Loss Costs Outpace Increase in Premiums for U.S. P/C Industry Through Q3

Feb 7 2022 // Direct-premium production for the U.S. P/C industry through the third quarter 2021 improved as insurers increased rates, but adverse trends in loss costs for many lines of business continue to dampen profitability.Through...

Kemper Eyes Rate Hikes, Agency Cancellations to Regain Footing After Q4 Fall

Feb 3 2022 // Kemper Corp. said it is taking rating and other actions, including canceling some agents, as it seeks to recover from inflation-riddled fourth quarter financial results.Kemper Corp. reported a net loss of $105.8 million...

AM Best Assigns Michigan’s Universal & Fire Casualty Excellent Rating

Feb 2 2022 // AM Best has assigned a Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” (Excellent) to Universal Fire & Casualty Insurance Company, headquartered in Waterford,...

AM Best Says Demand Surge and Inflation to Amplify Colorado Wildfire Losses

Jan 12 2022 // AM Best expects demand surge and rising inflationary pressures on building costs to add to overall loss estimates in the recent wildfires in Colorado.In a commentary AM Best notes that early industry estimates place losses...

AM Best Upgrades Financial Strength Rating of Atlantic Casualty Insurance Company to A+ Superior

Jan 5 2022 // OLDWICK – JANUARY 05, 2022 – AM Best has upgraded the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) to A+ (Superior) from A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) to “aa-” (Superior)...