Latest AM Best Headlines

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

Ratings Recap: HDI V.a.G/Talanx, TTB/TTI, Platinum Underwriters

May 21 2014 // A.M. Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings of “a-” of Through Transport Mutual Insurance Association Limited (TTB) (Bermuda) and its...

Best Revises Insurance Holding Company and Debt Ratings: Companies Affected

May 12 2014 // A.M. Best announced that it has made some revisions to the criteria it uses in constructing its ratings reports, which will “provide clarification on several issues related to the rating of an insurance...

Springfield Insurance Co. in California Downgraded by A.M. Best

Apr 25 2014 // A.M. Best has downgraded the financial strength rating of Calif.-based Springfield Insurance Co., a carrier focused on workers’ compensation.The financial strength downgrade was to B- (Fair) from B (Fair) and the...

Ratings Recap: Samsung Europe, Transmonde, MAPFRE PRAICO, Ocaso

Apr 15 2014 // A.M. Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating of “a” of UK-based Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Company of Europe, Limited (SFME), both...

Why Agencies Need to Pay More Attention to Insurer Insolvency

Apr 10 2014 // A myth is sneaking into the industry that insurer insolvency is not as important today. Belief in this myth is important to many entities. To put it more simply, a number of companies, agencies, and other firms benefit if...

A.M. Best Revises Hartford Financial, P/C Units’ Outlook to Positive

Apr 4 2014 // Rating agency A.M. Best changed the outlook associated with the “A” financial strength rating of the members of the Hartford Insurance Pool to positive from stable Thursday, citing a reduced risk from variable...

Ratings: Safety Group, Virginia Farm, New Mexico Casualty, Mennonite Mutual

Mar 27 2014 // A.M. Best has upgraded the issuer credit ratings (ICR) to “a+” from “a” and affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) for the subsidiaries of Safety Insurance Group,...

A.M. Best Downgrades South Carolina Insurer

Mar 20 2014 // A.M. Best has downgraded the financial strength rating to B (Fair) from B+ (Good) and the issuer credit rating to “bb” from “bbb-” of auto insurer Greenville Casualty Insurance Co. based in Greer,...

Ratings Roundup: Kazakhinstrakh, Seguros Inbursa, La Colonial, CIS

Mar 17 2014 // A.M. Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘ B++’ (Good) and issuer credit rating of “bbb” of Kazakhstan’s Halyk-Kazakhinstrakh, Insurance Subsidiary Company of Halyk Bank of...

A.M. Best Upgrades Prime Insurance Company with an A- Rating

Mar 3 2014 // (Chicago, Illinois and Salt Lake City, Utah) March 3, 2014 – As a result of their strengthened risk-adjusted capitalization and improved operating performance, Prime Insurance Company announced today that A.M. Best...

Ratings Recap: Balboa, MEMIC, ALAS, Modern Woodmen, Seven Seas

Feb 25 2014 // A.M. Best announced that it has revised the outlook to negative from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings of “a” of Balboa Insurance...

P/C Insurers’ Net Income Up 60%, Combined Ratio at 97.6 for 2013: A.M. Best

Feb 24 2014 // A relatively quiet year for catastrophes helped the U.S. property/casualty industry achieved an underwriting profit for the first time in four years, according to A.M. Best.The industry managed its way to a nearly 60...

P/C Insurers’ Net Income Up 60%, Combined Ratio at 97.6 for 2013: A.M. Best

Feb 10 2014 // A relatively quiet year for catastrophes helped the U.S. property/casualty industry achieved an underwriting profit for the first time in four years, according to A.M. Best.The industry managed its way to a nearly 60...

Why Agencies Need to Pay More Attention to Insurer Insolvency

Feb 10 2014 // A myth is sneaking into the industry that insurer insolvency is not as important today. Belief in this myth is important to many entities. A number of companies, agencies and other firms benefit if less attention is paid...

Ratings Recap: Third Point Re, Sava Re, NEWGT

Feb 7 2014 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a-” of Bermuda-based Third Point Reinsurance Company Ltd. (TPRCL). The outlook for...

Best Establishes Latin American Subsidiary Based in Mexico City

Feb 7 2014 // A.M. Best Co. announced the incorporation of its new subsidiary, A.M. Best América Latina, S.A. de C.V. The new office will be located in the financial district of Mexico City at Paseo de la Reforma 412 and will service...

A.M. Best Europe Obtains ECAI Status under New EU Regulations

Feb 6 2014 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited (AMBERS) has confirmed that it has obtained External Credit Assessment Institution (ECAI) status under new European Union (EU) regulations, which came into force in January...

P/C Insurance Joint Industry Forum: Insurers Say 2014 Will Not Be As Good as 2013

Jan 27 2014 // The U.S. property/casualty insurance industry reported strong performance in 2013, but in 2014, the industry may find it difficult to match last year’s results as insurers begin to face more headwinds, according to...

A.M. Best Reviewing Wright National Flood Insurance Co.

Jan 16 2014 // Ratings agency, A.M. Best, has placed under review with developing implications the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of Wright National Flood Insurance Co. (WNFIC) of...

Brown & Brown to Acquire Flood, Specialty Insurer The Wright Group

Jan 15 2014 // Florida-based national insurance broker Brown & Brown, Inc. has agreed to acquire The Wright Insurance Group, LLC for $602.5 million from Aquiline Capital Partners, Wright’s lead equity partner.The Wright...