Latest S&P Headlines

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

S&P, Best Comment on Allianz 2004 Earnings

Mar 18 2005 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services noted that “the improved 2004 results published by Allianz AG (See previous article),” (rated “AA-” Negative outlook – “/A-1+) were in line...

Best, S&P Comment on Swiss Re Group’s Results

Mar 18 2005 // A.M. Best Co. and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services have both issued comments on Swiss Re’s 2004 earnings (See IJ Website March 17), indicating that they were in line with the rating agencies’...

S&P Comments on Munich Re 2004 Results

Mar 18 2005 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has said that the 2004 results announced by Germany’s international reinsurer Munich Reinsurance Co. (A+/Stable/–) and its related entities–collectively...

S&P Lowers Outlook on Alea to Negative

Mar 17 2005 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that it has revised its outlook on the Alea Group to negative from stable. The revision includes the following companies: Alea Europe Ltd., Alea (Bermuda) Ltd., Alea...

S&P Comments on XL, Winterthur Reserve Negotiations

Mar 17 2005 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has stated that its ratings on XL Capital Ltd. (currently ‘A’ / Negative), all of XL’s related operating and holding companies, and Winterthur Swiss Insurance...

S&P Assigns PartnerRe (Ireland) ‘AA-‘ Rating; Affirms Partner Re Ratings

Mar 16 2005 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that it has assigned its “AA-” financial strength rating to Partner Re Ireland Insurance Co. (PRII), a newly formed subsidiary of Bermuda-based PartnerRe...

S&P Publishes Criteria for Finite Reinsurance

Mar 15 2005 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that it has developed criteria to detect finite reinsurance in the financial statements of insurance companies and adjust their earnings accordingly. S&P noted...

S&P Issues Statement on Lloyd’s Market Ratings

Mar 15 2005 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that it has clarified its approach to the Lloyd’s Market and the methodology it uses for rating the Market’s different components.In the just published...

Aviva Operating Profits up 25% to $4.5 Billion; Offers $2.11 Billion for RAC; Best, S&P Comment

Mar 10 2005 // Aviva (formerly CGNU/Norwich Union) announced a net operating profit for 2004 of £2.344 billion ($4.5 billion), a 25 percent increase from 2003’s £1.72 billion ($3.3 billion). The U.K.’ largest insurer also...

S&P REPORT SAYS HURRICANE LOSSES PUT PRESSURE ON INSURERS’ EQUITY:

Mar 7 2005 // The shareholders’ equity of many insurers and reinsurers is coming under greater pressure than anticipated as P/C losses from the 2004 hurricane season continue to rise with new estimates, according to a report by...

Montpelier Re Pleased with S&P’s Reaffirmation

Feb 28 2005 // Bermuda-based Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. on Monday welcomed the announcement by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services that it had reaffirmed its “positive” outlook on Montpelier Reinsurance Ltd. and...

S&P Raises Japan’s Nisshin Fire Ratings to ‘BBB+’ After Tokio Marine Buy

Feb 24 2005 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that it has raised its long-term counterparty credit and financial strength ratings on Nisshin Fire & Marine Insurance Co. Ltd. to “BBB+” from...

S&P Revises Outlook on Montpelier Re to Positive

Feb 24 2005 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that it has revised its outlook on Montpelier Reinsurance Ltd. and Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. (MRH) to positive from stable. “The outlook was revised to...

RenaissanceRe to Restate 2001-03 Earnings; Best, S&P Put Ratings Under Review

Feb 23 2005 // Bermuda-based RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. announced that it is planning to restate its financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003 “to correct accounting errors associated with...

S&P Assigns ‘A-‘ Rating to Denmark’s Codan

Feb 22 2005 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that it has assigned its “A-” long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings to Denmark’s non-life insurer Codan Forsikrings...

Promina Group Posts 53.7 Percent Net Profit Increase to $360 Million; S&P Comments

Feb 22 2005 // The Promina Group, Australia and New Zealand’s second largest general insurer, posted a 53.7 percent increase in net profits for 2004 to A$458 million (U.S. $360 million), despite a decision to increase its reserves...

S&P Report Says Hurricane Losses Puts Pressure on Insurers’ Equity

Feb 18 2005 // The shareholders’ equity of many insurers and reinsurers is coming under greater pressure than anticipated as P/C losses from the 2004 hurricane season continue to rise with new estimates, according to a report by...

S&P Sees “No Action” on AIG Ratings

Feb 17 2005 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that it is taking no action on its ratings on American International Group Inc. (currently rated “AAA”/Negative/”A-1+”) following the...

S&P Places American Re on CreditWatch; Neg Implications

Feb 16 2005 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced today that it placed on CreditWatch with negative implications its ‘A’ counterparty credit and financial strength ratings on U.S.-based American...

S&P: U.S. Property/Casualty Insurers Continue To Boost Loss Reserves For Old Business

Feb 8 2005 // For U.S. property/casualty insurers, periodic glimpses of rising profitability have been overshadowed by relentless price-cutting, natural and man-made catastrophes, and claims inflation. Following an unprecedented surge...