Latest S&P Headlines

All the headlines from our S&P Topic Page, ordered by recency.

S&P, Best Rate Beazley’s Holding Co.

Jun 10 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that it has assigned its ‘BBB+’ long-term counterparty credit rating to Beazley PLC, the Jersey-domiciled and Irish-tax resident, ultimate holding company...

Ratings Roundup: Fortis, Patria Re, CIRe

Jun 5 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Rating Services said today that it affirmed its ‘A-‘ counterparty credit and financial strength ratings on Netherlands-based commercial lines insurer Fortis Corporate Insurance N.V....

Amlin to Buy Fortis Dutch Corporate Insurance Unit; S&P, Best Comment

Jun 4 2009 // The UK’s Amlin plc announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Fortis Corporate Insurance N.V. (FCI), an important provider of corporate P/C insurance in the Netherlands and Belgium, from the Dutch...

S&P Affirms Hannover Re’s Ratings, But Revises Outlook to Negative

Jun 3 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its outlook on German reinsurer Hannover Rueckversicherung AG and its subsidiaries (collectively Hannover Re) to negative from stable. S&P also affirmed the...

S&P Says AIA, AIAB Ratings ‘Not Affected’ by AIG Spinoff Plans

May 20 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said that its ratings on Hong Kong-based American International Assurance Co. Ltd. (AIA; A+/Developing/–) and American International Assurance Co. (Bermuda) Ltd. (AIAB;...

S&P Lowers Kingsway’s Ratings to ‘B-‘ Following Weak Q1 Results

May 14 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has lowered its long-term counterparty credit and senior unsecured debt ratings on Toronto-based specialty insurance provider Kingsway Financial Services Inc. to...

Ratings: Allstate, Arrowhead, Nat’l. Lloyd’s/Summit, ISMIE Mutual, Greenville Casualty, Un. Farm Indiana

May 13 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has assigned its ‘A-‘ senior debt rating on Allstate Corp.’s (ALL) recently priced senior debt issue. S&P also affirmed its ‘A-‘ counterparty...

Ratings Recap: Munich Re, Island Capital, Orkney Re, SCR, AEGIS

May 7 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has said that its ratings and outlook on German global reinsurer Munich Reinsurance Co. (‘AA-‘/Stable/–) and core related entities) are unaffected by the...

S&P Revises Fortis’ Outlook to Positive; Belgian Ins. Unit Remains Negative

May 1 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its rating implications to positive from developing on the CreditWatch placement of its ‘BB’ long-term counterparty credit ratings and ‘B’...

S&P Reports ‘Pressure Builds on Europe’s Insurers,’ Despite Strength

Apr 27 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has issued a new report, – “Europe’s Insurers Feel The Strain, But The Sector Retains Its Strength” – which indicates that for many insurers,...

S&P Sees AIU Holdings Vehicle as Boost to Insurer’s Financial Flexibility

Apr 22 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said that its ratings on American International Group Inc. (AIG; A-/Negative/A-1) and its insurance subsidiaries (A+/Negative/–) are not affected by AIG’s...

Ratings: AXA Seguros, Tryggingamidstödin, Thai Insurers, Swedish Club

Apr 17 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has affirmed its ‘BBB+’ global scale long-term counterparty credit and financial strength ratings on AXA Seguros S.A. de C.V. (AXA Seguros; formerly known as...

S&P Analyzes Jordanian Insurance Sector

Apr 13 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has issued a report, “Growing Supply Chases Slowing Demand In The Jordanian Insurance Market,” on its RatingsDirect web site.The report states: “The...

S&P: Global Risks Mean Some Changes in Store for P/C Insurers

Apr 10 2009 // In the midst of the financial turbulence, it’s easy to lose sight of longer-term trends. The economic downturn doesn’t necessarily mean the end of certain industries, but it does imply that there are some...

S&P Revises Groupama Outlook to Negative; Affirms ‘A+’ Ratings

Apr 8 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its outlook to negative from stable on Franch composite insurer Groupama S.A. S&P also affirmed the Group’s ‘A+’ long-term counterparty and...

Ratings Recap: Steamship Mutual, AXA Ireland, Hang Seng, Tapiola

Apr 8 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has assigned its ‘BBB+’ long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings to U.K.-based marine insurer Steamship Mutual Underwriting Association...

S&P Affirms Fortis Corporate ‘A-‘ Ratings; Outlook Negative

Apr 6 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has affirmed its ‘A-‘ counterparty credit and financial strength ratings on Netherlands-based commercial lines insurer Fortis Corporate Insurance N.V. (FCI)....

Aspen Ratings ‘Unaffected’ by Share Sale Plan Says S&P

Apr 2 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that its ratings on U.K.-based Aspen Insurance U.K. Ltd. (A/Stable/–), Bermuda-based Aspen Insurance Ltd. (A/Stable/–), and Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd....

S&P Cuts Outlook on Berkshire to ‘Negative’

Mar 27 2009 // Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is at risk of losing its “AAA” credit rating from Standard & Poor’s, after the ratings agency revised its outlook on billionaire Warren Buffett’s company to...

Ratings Recap: Generali, XL, Blue Fin (Cat Bonds), Sun Hung Kai, B&B, Risk Re

Mar 27 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services stated that its ratings on the core operating companies of Italy’s Generali Group (AA/Negative/–) are unaffected by the termination of the agreement relative to the...