All the headlines from our AM Best Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Sep 4 2015 // The surplus lines industry broke records in 2014, growing direct premium written (DPW) in 2014 to $40.2 billion — the highest point in history, reports A.M. Best’s “2014 Special Report U.S. Surplus Lines –...
Sep 3 2015 // The reinsurance market is operating in a new reality of abundant capacity from traditional and alternative sources, low interest rates and thinner reinsurance margins, driven by intense competition against shrinking demand...
Aug 27 2015 // European re/insurers are well positioned to withstand the current volatility in the stock markets, having made significant changes to their investment portfolios since the global financial crisis of 2008, as well as the...
Aug 20 2015 // As a result of losses resulting from the recent explosions at Tianjin port, A.M. Best has placed under review with negative implications the financial strength rating of two Chinese insurers, which have large exposures to...
Aug 14 2015 // A.M. Best has released a new study -“European Captives Increase Focus on Risk Management and Investments Ahead of Solvency II -” which concludes that “many European captives have embraced Solvency...
Aug 12 2015 // The lifting of trade restrictions placed on Iran may present significant opportunities for the Middle East and North African (MENA) re/insurance market, with European participants also expected to re-engage and seek a...
Aug 3 2015 // The property insurance market in Florida has significantly shifted in market share as Citizens Property Insurance Corp. (Citizens)–the state-run property insurance company–continues to depopulate and move...
Jul 31 2015 // The pursuit of improved investment returns has become more important for European insurers after a lengthy period when their attention was more focused on non-investment sources of profit, according to a report published...
Jul 28 2015 // A.M. Besthas affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating of “a-” of Wright National Flood Insurance Co. (WNFIC) in San Antonio, Texas. The outlook for both ratings is...
Jul 24 2015 // A.M. Best has assigned a financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and an issuer credit rating of “a-” to Tower Hill Prime Insurance Company (Tower Hill Prime) in Gainesville, Fla. The outlook assigned to...
Jul 23 2015 // The property insurance market in Florida has significantly shifted in market share as Citizens Property Insurance Corp. (Citizens)—the state-run property insurance company—continues to depopulate and move policyholders...
Jul 21 2015 // As Brazil’s sovereign ratings hover just above non-investment grade status, A. M. Best said it is considering the effect a future sovereign downgrade would have on rated re/insurers’ balance sheets and...
Jul 20 2015 // Merger and takeover activity is likely to continue in the coming months as re/insurers increasingly seek ways to deploy capital and create scale against a backdrop of ongoing soft market conditions and weak investment...
Jul 14 2015 // The recent volatility of China’s stock market is not expected to affect the ratings of domestic insurers, according to a new briefing issued by A.M. Best*.Putting the volatility into context, A.M. Best noted that the...
Jul 10 2015 // The impact of Greece exiting the eurozone is likely to hit market confidence in the region, although (re)insurers operating in the economic bloc are well positioned to withstand a continued period of volatility, according...
Jun 23 2015 // The low interest rate environment represents a significant challenge for insurers, according to a report published by A.M. Best.“European insurers are struggling to generate investment income as the majority of their...
Jun 16 2015 // Low interest rates together with highly liquid and stable financial markets have prompted European insurers to tap the capital markets in their efforts to lower the cost of capital and optimize levels of risk-adjusted...
Jun 2 2015 // Trading conditions are difficult in the London market as insurers contend with changing buying habits, an influx of alternative capital and global economic uncertainty, according to a special report published by A.M....
May 26 2015 // Although fluctuating oil prices threaten Nigeria’s economic expansion, the country’s insurance sector offers significant potential for foreign investors attempting to build a profile in the market, according to...
May 22 2015 // A.M. Best has assigned a financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and an issuer credit rating of “a” to Coverys Specialty Insurance Company. The outlook assigned to both ratings is stable.Coverys Specialty...