Latest AM Best Headlines

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

Ratings: North Country, Liberty Mutual (notes), Allstate (shelf), Am. Freedom

May 9 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating to ‘A-‘ (Excellent) from ‘B++’ (Good) and issuer credit rating to “a-” from “bbb+” of Watertown, New York-based North...

Gonzalez to Head New A.M. Best Miami Office for Latin American Business

May 8 2012 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has opened an office in Miami, Florida to serve the growing market for insurance ratings in the Latin American region. Rating analytics for Latin American companies will continue to be...

A.M. Best Opens Miami Office

May 7 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has opened an office in Miami, Florida to serve the market for insurance ratings in the Latin American region. The Miami office will be used for management meetings and other activities focused on the Latin...

A.M. Best: Century-National Upgraded to A

May 2 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent) and issuer credit rating to “a” from “a-” of Century-National Insurance Co. in North Hollywood, Calif....

A.M. Best Downgrades Ratings of Missouri’s Gateway Insurance

May 2 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to B (Fair) from B+ (Good) and issuer credit rating to “bb” from “bbb-” of Gateway Insurance Co.y (Gateway) of St. Louis, Mo. The outlook...

Ratings Recap: Gateway, State Mutual, Discovery, Southern Mutual

May 1 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to ‘B’ (Fair) from ‘B+’ (Good) and issuer credit rating to “bb” from “bbb-” of St. Louis-based Gateway Insurance...

Best Affirms Horace Mann Educators and Subs ‘A-‘ Ratings

Apr 27 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” of the property/casualty group, Horace Mann Insurance Group and its...

Ratings Recap: Arab Orient, Tristar, ASSA, Arabia, ACR Capital

Apr 27 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating of “a” of United Arab Emirates-based Arab Orient Insurance...

Reinsurers Resilient Despite Catastrophes, Economic Uncertainty, Says A.M. Best

Apr 24 2012 // In a special report A.M. Best summed up the financial position of the global reinsurance industry as “resilient” in light of “the volatile economic conditions and the frequent and severe loss events of...

Ratings Recap: Insurance Barbados, Talanx (Notes), Ability Re, Newport Bonding

Apr 23 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of Insurance Corporation of Barbados Limited (ICBL), both with stable outlooks. The...

Best’s Special Vietnam Report Sees Continued Strong Growth

Apr 19 2012 // Vietnam’s insurance market has experienced strong double-digit premium growth in recent years and demand for insurance product is forecasted to continue, according to a recently released special report from A.M. Best...

A.M. Best Upgrades Issuer Credit Rating of Ohio’s Club Insurance

Apr 6 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the issuer credit rating (ICR) to “bbb+” from “bbb” and affirmed the financial strength rating of B++ (Good) of Club Insurance Co. (Club) in Worthington, Ohio. The outlook...

Ratings: United Overseas, Aspen (Pref. Shares), BF&M, Island Heritage

Apr 6 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and an issuer credit rating of “a+” to Singapore-based United Overseas Insurance Limited (UOI); both ratings have a positive...

A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Western Surety Group and Members

Apr 5 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of Western Surety Group (Western Surety), previously known as CNA Surety Corp. Group (CNA...

Ratings Recap: Solid, Jevco, Argus Group, Munich Re (bonds)

Apr 2 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has upgraded the financial strength rating to ‘B++’ (Good) from B+ (Good) and the issuer credit rating to “bbb” from “bbb-” for...

Ratings Recap: ACS (NZ) Ltd., Transmonde, Risk Re, Ansvar Australia

Mar 27 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to ‘B+’ (Good) from ‘B++’ (Good) and issuer credit rating to “bbb-” from “bbb” of New Zealand’s ACS (NZ)...

Ratings Roundup: Missouri Valley, Berkley (Notes), Old United, Blue Whale (Pfizer), Zale, Infinity

Mar 23 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to negative from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘B+’ (Good) and issuer credit rating of “bbb-” of South Dakota-based Missouri Valley...

A.M. Best: Outlook Negative for Missouri Valley Mutual Insurance Co.

Mar 21 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to negative from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating of B+ (Good) and issuer credit rating of “bbb-” of Missouri Valley Mutual Insurance Co. (MVM) in Burke,...

Catastrophe Frequency, Tornadoes Test Insurers in U.S.: A.M. Best

Mar 15 2012 // According to A.M. Best Co., the frequency of catastrophe weather events represents the “new normal” for the insurance industry.“The insurance industry continues to be tested as catastrophic weather events...

Ratings Recap: CIS (Panama), Guild, Eurasia, Halyk-Kazakhinstrakh

Mar 5 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of Panama’s Compania Internacional de Seguros S.A. (CIS), both with stable...