Latest AM Best Headlines

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

Iowa-Based Petroleum Marketers Management Insurance Upgraded

Feb 28 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 Petroleum Marketers Management Insurance Company (PMMIC) of...

A.M. Best to Open Branch in Dubai for Middle East, Africa, Asia

Feb 21 2012 // Rating agency A.M. Best’s London office said it has obtained the necessary approvals to establish a branch operation in the Dubai International Financial Center in Dubai, UAE. The new office will serve Middle...

Ratings: Concord Group, Mountain States, Atradius Trade Credit, Young America

Feb 14 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to negative from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings of “a” of Concord Group Insurance Pool and its...

P/C Insurers’ Combined Ratio for 2011 Estimated at 107.5%

Feb 6 2012 // The U.S. property/casualty (P/C) industry reported its largest underwriting loss since 2006 and saw its operating performance deteriorate sharply in 2011, as catastrophe-related losses throughout the year wreaked...

A.M. Best Downgrades Florida’s FFVA Mutual to A-

Feb 1 2012 // A.M. best has downgraded the financial ratings of FFVA Mutual Insurance Co. due to underwriting losses on its workers’ compensation line of business, especially in states where it expanded outside of Florida.A.M....

A.M. Best Downgrades Peachtree Casualty Due to Florida Auto Results

Jan 30 2012 // A.M. Best has downgraded the financial ratings of Peachtree Casualty Insurance Co., citing the insurer’s poor underwriting results due in part to rising costs associated with Florida’s troubled no-fault...

Ratings Roundup: Montpelier US, Medico, First Sealord, Pathfinder

Jan 24 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to ‘A+’ (Superior) from ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) to “aa-” from “a-” of Montpelier US...

A Tale of Two P/C Insurance Segments From A.M. Best

Jan 23 2012 // A.M. Best Co. issued a stable 2012 outlook for P/C personal lines segment. That implies that the majority of 2012 rating actions for this segment are likely to be affirmations, with a fairly balanced distribution of...

2012 Commercial Lines Ratings Outlook Negative: A.M. Best

Jan 9 2012 // The rating outlook for U.S. commercial property/casualty insurance remains negative, while the outlook for personal lines is stable, according to a briefing from A.M. Best Co.The ratings firm said it continues to maintain...

Ratings of Dallas-Based Gramercy Insurance Co. Downgraded

Dec 29 2011 // The ratings of Dallas-based commercial property/casualty insurance company Gramercy Insurance Co. (GIC) have been downgraded by A.M. Best Co.The company’s financial strength rating was lowered to B (Fair) from B+...

Ratings Recap: Evergreen Re, Asian Re, Toa Re, Meritz

Dec 27 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a” of Bermuda-based Evergreen Reinsurance Company, Ltd. (ERCL), both with stable outlooks....

Ratings: Transsib Re, Tokio Marine Pacific, MAPFRE Panama, Union Nationale, Sovereign (NZ), Labuan Re, Tugu, ARIG

Dec 22 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has upgraded the issuer credit rating to “bb+” from “bb” and affirmed the financial strength rating of B (Fair) of Russia’s OJSC Transsiberian...

A.M. Best Downgrades Ratings of Austin Mutual Insurance

Dec 20 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to B++ (Good) from A- (Excellent) and issuer credit rating to “bbb” from “a-” of Austin Mutual Insurance Company (AM) in Maple Grove, Minn....

Best Puts Fireman’s Fund Companies on Review/Negative; Affirms Ratings

Dec 20 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has placed under review with negative implications and has also affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a+” of...

Ratings Roundup: BEST Re, BCRe, TUCI

Dec 13 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of Malaysia’s BEST RE (L) Limited, both with stable...

Ratings: Bahrain Kuwait, Twin Bridges/Majestic, GTA Assur, Bahamas First, swisspartners (SPV & SPC)

Nov 28 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has assigned a financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” to Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Company B. S. C. (BKIC), both...

Ratings Recap: Standard Casualty, Grinnell, Erie & Niagara, Northwest GF Mutual

Nov 23 2011 // 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 Texas-based Standard Casualty...

Ratings Recap: BEST RE, Garant, ZEP-RE, East Africa Re, Custodian

Nov 23 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A- ‘(Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of Malaysia-based BEST RE Family (L) Limited, both with...

Workers’ Comp Outlook Still Grim: A.M. Best

Nov 7 2011 // The U.S. workers’ compensation insurance segment continued to face competitive pricing, further rate decreases, weak macroeconomic factors, growing medical costs and an uptick in claim frequency during 2010.As a...

Medicus Gets “A” Rating from A.M. Best Following Acquisition by NORCAL

Nov 3 2011 // Insurance rating service A.M. Best has given Medicus Insurance Co. an A (Excellent) rating following the company’s acquisition by San Francisco, Calif.-based NORCAL Mutual Insurance Co. Medicus joins the NORCAL Group...