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Below the profit line: after 26 years, property/casualty's combined ratio may reach the profitable side of 100.


Key Points

* Several insurance experts predict the property/casualty industry's combined ratio could drop below 100 in 2004 for the first time since 1978, when it was 97.5.

* Disciplined underwriting Underwriting

1. The process by which investment bankers raise investment capital from investors on behalf of corporations and governments that are issuing securities (both equity and debt).

2. The process of issuing insurance policies.
, a key to a low combined ratio, may be difficult going forward as price increases wane.

* Under-reserving and regulatory reg·u·late  
tr.v. reg·u·lat·ed, reg·u·lat·ing, reg·u·lates
1. To control or direct according to rule, principle, or law.

2.
 policy also may threaten disciplined underwriting.

Though any number of potential perils--ranging from greater catastrophe Catastrophe, from the Greek Καταστροφή (katastrephein), literally means "to turn" (strephein) "downwards" (kata-).  losses to large reserve charges to more aggressive price competition--could still render (1) To make visible; to draw. The term comes from the graphics world where a rendering is an artist's drawing of what a new structure would look like. In computer-aided design (CAD), a rendering is a particular view of a 3D model that has been converted into a realistic image.  optimistic op·ti·mist  
n.
1. One who usually expects a favorable outcome.

2. A believer in philosophical optimism.



op
 projections null A character that is all 0 bits. Also written as "NUL," it is the first character in the ASCII and EBCDIC data codes. In hex, it displays and prints as 00; in decimal, it may appear as a single zero in a chart of codes, but displays and prints as a blank space.  and void, the property/casualty industry has at least a fighting chance one dependent upon the issue of a struggle.

See also: Fighting
 to produce something in 2004 it hasn't has·n't  

Contraction of has not.


hasn't has not
hasn't have
 produced in more than a quarter century: an underwriting profit Underwriting profit is a term used in the insurance industry. It consists of the earned premium remaining after losses have been paid and administrative expenses have been deducted. It does not include any investment income earned on held premiums. .

Following up a year in which property and casualty writers came within a hair of break-even underwriting, several prognosticators, including A.M. Best Co., are forecasting that the industry's combined ratio--a measure of losses and expenses as a percentage of premiums--could drop below 100 for the first time since 1978, when it was 97.5.

In 2003, the industry produced its lowest combined ratio in 25 years, at 100.1, while the top 25 property and casualty writers posted an aggregate combined ratio of 99.6, according to according to
prep.
1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians.

2. In keeping with: according to instructions.

3.
 A.M. Best. The company further projects that continued attractive pricing levels should help make underwriting profitability the norm across each of the three major property/casualty sectors, with estimated average combined ratios of 97.6 for personal lines, 99.1 for commercial lines and 95 for reinsurance The contract made between an insurance company and a third party to protect the insurance company from losses. The contract provides for the third party to pay for the loss sustained by the insurance company when the company makes a payment on the original contract. , with an aggregate combined-ratio projection projection, in psychology: see defense mechanism.


See rear-projection TV, front-projection TV and LCD panel.

(theory) projection - In domain theory, a function, f, which is (a) idempotent, i.e.
 of 98.1.

"Improved pricing that will affect the 2004 results has already been booked in the latter half of 2003," said Matthew Matthew

one of the twelve disciples. [N.T.: Matthew]

See : Evangelism
 Mosher A mosher is a person who is crossed between goth/punk/skater they have long hair and listen to music like slipknot and metal music. Some people call them headbangers. At certain music shows they have something called a mosh pit, basically its a fight pit with loads of people bashing each other. , A.M. Best's group vice president for property/casualty. "We have seen a continuing trend in the accident quarter results that are an indicator Indicator

Anything used to predict future financial or economic trends.

Notes:
In the context of technical analysis, an indicator is a mathematical calculation based on a securities price and/or volume. The result is used to predict future prices.
 of where results are heading, assuming prior year reserve development does not worsen wors·en  
tr. & intr.v. wors·ened, wors·en·ing, wors·ens
To make or become worse.


worsen
Verb

to make or become worse

worsening adjn
. A.M. Best expects adverse development in 2004 to be lower than in 2003."

Such sentiments were shared by several equity analysts who participated in the Insurance Information Institute's "groundhog groundhog: see woodchuck.  forecast," with analysts from A.G. Edwards, Lehman Lehman is a common Germanic surname derived from the German word Lehen, meaning fiefdom. It may refer to: Surnames
  • Bruce Lehman, American patent lawyer
  • David Lehman, American poetry editor
  • Ernest Lehman, American screenwriter
 Bros BROS Brothers
BROS Benefits and Retirement Operations Section (King County, Washington)
BROS Barnes and Richmond Operatic Society (London, UK) 
. and Prudential Prudential is the name of two different companies and buildings named after them:

Companies:
  • Prudential plc is a United Kingdom-based financial services company.
  • Prudential Financial, Inc.
 Securities all predicting a profitable underwriting year, and six other analysts estimating near-profitable ratios of between 100.2 and 101.8, with a composite composite, alternate common name for Asteraceae or Compositae, the aster family.

composite - aggregate
 projection of roughly 100.

With final 2003 numbers better than originally anticipated--100.1 compared with a previously estimated 101.4--the institute's chief economist The Chief Economist is a single position job class having primary responsibility for the development, coordination, and production of economic and financial analysis. It is distinguished from the other economist positions by the broader scope of responsibility encompassing the , Bob Hartwig, said he now expects a 2004 combined ratio in the vicinity of 98.5, "assuming reserving along the lines of what we saw in 2003 and a 'normal' level of catastrophe loss."

In an era when public companies are expected to regularly produce returns on equity of at least 12% to 15%, underwriting discipline will remain key, Hartwig noted, particularly as many companies continue to struggle with balance sheet, reserving and legacy exposure issues, and signs are beginning to indicate the 4-year-old hard market in rates may be drawing to a close.

"We're we're  

Contraction of we are.


we're we are
 used to a combined ratio under 100," said Richard Thomas Richard Thomas is the name of:
  • Richard Thomas (actor) (b. 1951), American actor
  • Richard Thomas (footballer) (1988), soccer
  • Richard Thomas (Ontario politician), Canadian actor, broadcaster, environmentalist and politician
, senior vice president and chief underwriting officer for American International Group
"AIG" redirects here. For other uses, see AIG (disambiguation).


American International Group, Inc. (AIG) (NYSE: AIG; TYO: 8685 ) is a major American insurance corporation based in New York City.
 Inc., also noting the exception was 2001.

AIG AIG addressee indicator group (US DoD)
AIG American International Group, Inc
AiG Answers in Genesis (religious group in defense of Scripture)
AIG Artificial Intelligence Group
AIG Australian Industry Group
 started changing its approach to the market some three-and-a-half years ago, he said. "We drove pricing up, changed terms and conditions of key contracts and brought about controls to make sure underwriting followed best practices," Thomas (language) Thomas - A language compatible with the language Dylan(TM). Thomas is NOT Dylan(TM).

The first public release of a translator to Scheme by Matt Birkholz, Jim Miller, and Ron Weiss, written at Digital Equipment Corporation's Cambridge Research Laboratory runs
 said.

Soft markets are corrosive corrosive /cor·ro·sive/ (kor-o´siv) producing gradual destruction, as of a metal by electrochemical reaction or of the tissues by the action of a strong acid or alkali; an agent that so acts.  on underwriting, and a couple of points on the combined ratio is a lot of money, he said. When the insurer An individual or company who, through a contractual agreement, undertakes to compensate specified losses, liability, or damages incurred by another individual.

An insurer is frequently an insurance company and is also known as an underwriter.
 saw it creeping creeping

1. gradual progression of a lesion or tissue growth.

2. prostrate growth pattern of a plant, e.g. c. buttercup (Ranunculus repens), c. caustic (Euphorbia drummondii), c. charlie (Glechoma hederacea), c.
 up to 97 and 98, AIG attributed some of it to "natural forces" but also took the view it had to tighten up Verb 1. tighten up - restrict; "Tighten the rules"; "stiffen the regulations"
constrain, stiffen, tighten

confine, limit, throttle, trammel, restrain, restrict, bound - place limits on (extent or access); "restrict the use of this parking lot"; "limit the
 underwriting. "A 10th of a point here and there adds up," Thomas said.

But that approach may prove more difficult going forward. According to a study released last month by broker age Aon Corp., "the slowing of the growth rate of premiums shows up in nearly every portion of the market." Aon found that net commercial-lines premium rose 11% in 2003, down from the 19.9% hike seen in 2002. And though net premiums for general liability, workers' compensation workers' compensation, payment by employers for some part of the cost of injuries, or in some cases of occupational diseases, received by employees in the course of their work. , and fire and allied lines increased 24.1%, 13.3% and 11.0%, respectively, each had increased at higher levels during 2002.

Slowing rates of premium growth, however, do not translate (1) To change one language into another; for example, assemblers, compilers and interpreters translate source language into machine language.

(2) In computer graphics, to move an image on screen without rotating it.
 into a soft market, and profitable ratios are possible even after aggressive price increases have waned, noted William William, crown prince of Germany
William or Frederick William, 1882–1951, crown prince of Germany, son of William II. In World War I he commanded (1914) an army on the Western Front and was nominal commander in the German attack
 R. Berkley Berkley (bûr`klē), city (1990 pop. 16,960), Oakland co., SE Mich., a suburb of Detroit; inc. 1932. It is chiefly residential. , chairman and chief executive of W.R. Berldey Corp., one of only three insurers--along with the Berkshire Hathaway Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRKA, NYSE: BRKB) is a conglomerate holding company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., that oversees and manages a number of subsidiary companies.  Inc. and Progressive Corp.--among the top 25 writers of property and casualty coverage to produce a 2003 combined ratio below 90.

Writing in his annual letter to shareholders, Berkley pointed out that the industry's last hard market began in 1985, and prices continued to increase until 1988. Although prices then plateaued, returns remained at attractive levels through 1994, Berldey said.

"With current pricing, we see the prospect of continued excellent returns at least into 2006," Berkley wrote. "Given today's market conditions, this is the time to access and write as much good business as possible," he added, noting that the company issued $350 million of debt last year to support its increasing growth.

But according to Berkley, such growth was made possible only by ongoing and proactive reserving, which has allowed the company to avoid some of the balance-sheet problems that have befallen competitors COMPETITORS, French law. Persons who compete or aspire to the same office, rank or employment. As an English word in common use, it has a much wider application. Ferriere, Dict. de Dr. h.t. . At year-end year-end also year·end
n.
The end of a year.

adj.
Occurring or done at the end of the year: a year-end audit.

Noun 1.
 2003, Berkley's reserves were $4.2 billion, up 32% from $3.2 billion a year earlier, while its policy counts had increased by only 7% in the same period.

Nonetheless, the industry as a whole still is under-reserved, both in its core prior-year reserves and those dedicated to asbestos asbestos, mineral
asbestos, common name for any of a variety of silicate minerals within the amphibole and serpentine groups that are fibrous in structure and more or less resistant to acid and fire.
 and environmental exposures, Mosher said.

"We expect adverse development in 2004 on prior years of $10 billion, with $6.5 billion related to A&E," Mosher said.

Beyond the issues related to correcting balance-sheet health, regulatory policy also may weigh on weigh on
Verb

to be oppressive or burdensome to: the expectations that weigh so heavily on diplomats' wives

Verb 1.
 the degree to which profitable underwriting can be maintained, particularly in personal lines. Progressive Corp., which posted a combined ratio of 87.8 in 2003 and has maintained ratios in the 80s through the first three months of 2004, has benefitted greatly from positive loss-cost trends in its core private-passenger auto line of business, according to Morgan Stanley To comply with Wikipedia's , the introduction of this article needs a complete rewrite.  analyst Vinay Vinay may erfer to:
  • Vinay Rai
  • Vinay, Isère, a commune in Isère, France
  • Vinay, Marne, a commune in Marne, France
 Saqi. However, Saqi noted, if trends reverse, it is unlikely that state regulators would be sympathetic sympathetic /sym·pa·thet·ic/ (sim?pah-thet´ik)
1. pertaining to, exhibiting, or caused by sympathy.

2. pertaining to the sympathetic nervous system or one of its nerves.
 to efforts to raise rates by a company looking simply to maintain its healthy margin.
Analysts' Views

Selected combined-ratio estimates
and forecasts for the P/C Industry:

                            Estimated   Forecast
Company                          2003    2004 *

Tllinghast-Towers Perrin        102.9      101.8
Raymond James                   102.0      101.1
Fox-Pitt, Kelton                101.5      101.0
Gill & Roeser                   101.3      100.8
Insurance Services Office       102.3      100.3
Merrill Lynch                   100.5      100.3
Goldman Sachs                   100.3      100.2
A.M. Best Co.                   101.4      100.0
A.G. Edwards                    100.5       99.5
Lehman Bros.                    102.2       98.4
Prudential Securities           101.1       97.5

* Ranked highest to lowest for 2004

Source: Insurance Information Institute

Property/Casualty Combined Ratio, 1978-2002

1978    97.5
       100.6
1980   103.1
       106.0
1982   109.6
       112.0
1984   118.0
       116.3
1986   108.0
       104.6
1988   105.4
       109.2
1990   109.6
       108.8
1992   115.7
       107.0
1994   108.3
       106.7
1996   106.0
       101.9
1998   105.9
       108.0
2000   110.3
       115.7
2002   107.5

Source: Insurance Information Institute, A.M. Best Co.

Note: Table made from bar graph.

Top Property/Casualty Writers
by Net Premiums Written, United States--2003

Rank is based on net premiums written for 2003.
($ Thousands)

                                                            Net
                                                       Premiums
Rank  Group Name                           AMB#         Written  Change

   1  State Farm Group                    00088     $46,581,240     9.0
   2  Amer Intl Group, Inc                18540      27,972,154    29.7
   3  Allstate Ins Group                  00008      24,636,888     5.5
   4  Zurich/Farmers Group                18549      17,050,186    -2.2
   5  Berkshire Hathaway Ins Group        00811      15,762,335     3.7
   6  Nationwide Group                    05987      13,818,647    15.1
   7  St. Paul Travelers Cos              18358      13,175,778    10.9
   8  Liberty Mutual Ins Cos              00060      12,514,360     5.4
   9  Progressive Ins Group               00780      11,917,506    26.0
  10  Chubb Group of Ins Cos              00012       9,536,873    22.1
  11  Hartford Ins Group                  00048       8,876,260     5.7
  12  USAA Group                          04080       7,691,734    10.4
  13  State Compensation Ins Fund of CA   04028       7,636,566    42.7
  14  CNA Ins Cos                         18313       7,365,081   -11.7
  15  St. Paul Cos                        00080       6,767,574    16.4
  16  Amer Family Ins Group               00124       5,541,869    13.6
  17  Safeco Ins Cos                      00078       5,114,312    11.6
  18  Anthem Group                        18184       4,909,082    11.0
  19  GE Global Ins Group                 18572       4,621,766    -0.5
  20  Allianz of America, Inc             18429       4,112,717    56.3
  21  Auto-Owners Ins Group               04354       3,966,549    20.3
  22  Erie Ins Group                      04283       3,767,711    13.1
  23  W. R. Berkley Group                 04655       3,540,218    35.1
  24  Ace INA Group                       18498       3,432,114    24.9
  25  Everest Re US Group                 05696       3,123,834    40.0
  26  Fairfax Finl Hldgs Ltd              03116       2,970,718    -1.1
  27  MetLife Auto & Home Group           18552       2,961,326     2.9
  28  White Mountains Ins Group           18490       2,933,178    -5.8
  29  GMAC Ins Group                      18431       2,911,811    10.5
  30  Cincinnati Ins Cos                  04294       2,817,385     7.8
  31  FM Global Group                     18502       2,678,201    19.4
  32  Mercury Gen Group                   04524       2,256,693    21.6
  33  Allmerica Finl P&C Cos              04861       2,235,235    -1.5
  34  CA State Auto Group                 18460       2,025,038     8.5
  35  Swiss Reins Group                   03262       2,008,013    65.1
  36  Unitrin, Inc                        05948       1,978,931    19.2
  37  Auto Club of Southern CA Group      18515       1,975,182    15.5
  38  Southern Farm Bureau Group          02962       1,861,994    12.3
  39  Great Amer P&C Ins Group            04835       1,810,018     2.0
  40  Old Republic Gen Group              00734       1,765,794    12.8
  41  Sentry Ins Group                    00086       1,692,967     9.0
  42  Amer Re Corp Group                  18259       1,583,531    31.1
  43  Commerce Group, Inc                 02966       1,555,499    18.5
  44  Country Ins & Finl Svcs             00302       1,496,949    17.9
  45  Auto Club Group                     00312       1,479,153    12.6
  46  Winterthur Swiss Group              05658       1,471,054     3.6
  47  Markel Corp Group                   18468       1,466,911    23.2
  48  OH Cas Group                        00726       1,441,551    -0.5
  49  Mortgage Guar Group                 03014       1,376,160    15.7
  50  Westfield Group                     00730       1,363,525     8.9
  51  Amica Mutual Group                  18522       1,292,612    11.8
  52  State Auto Ins Cos                  00856       1,290,937     6.3
  53  NJM Ins Group                       03985       1,252,214    13.4
  54  Selective Ins Group                 03926       1,235,706    14.9
  55  Harleysville Ins                    03916       1,217,770     4.9
  56  EMC Ins Cos                         00346       1,152,805     5.8
  57  Assurant Solutions                  18499       1,147,372     7.7
  58  Federated Mutual Group              04284       1,142,579    -1.3
  59  Radian Group                        18150       1,094,288    15.3
  60  Amer Natl P&C Group                 18565       1,067,210    16.6
  61  PartnerRe US Group                  18470       1,040,579    37.8
  62  Shelter Ins Cos                     00598       1,020,043     5.5
  63  Ambac Finl Group                    18449       1,018,717    26.4
  64  PMA Capital Ins Group               18436       1,013,061    -3.3
  65  Grange Mutual Cas Group             03917         980,050    12.6
  66  MBIA Group                          03166         971,917    37.5
  67  MLMIC Group                         18439         892,071   -13.8
  68  Royal & SunAlliance USA             18371         875,757   -72.0
  69  HDI US Group                        18492         833,414    -6.8
  70  Infinity P&C Group                  18584         822,103    34.0
  71  Zenith Natl Ins Group               03020         786,683    34.8
  72  Alleghany Ins Holdings              18640         782,506   491.8
  73  Alfa Ins Group                      18412         774,854     7.7
  74  Converium NA Group                  18233         763,962   -28.2
  75  Atlantic Mutual Cos                 00178         737,802    12.2
  76  Farm Bureau Mutual Group            04233         733,985     7.1
  77  XL America Group                    18491         726,578    29.0
  78  Aon Corp Group                      03341         716,507     3.7
  79  Main Street America Group           18355         712,609    19.7
  80  TN Farmers Ins Cos                  18154         707,624     2.2
  81  PMI Mortgage Group                  03267         684,041    11.0
  82  ProAssurance Group                  18559         668,909    24.5
  83  Platinum Underwriters Reins, Inc    11795         667,516   123.9
  84  TX Mutual Ins Co                    11453         665,257    10.0
  85  Utica Natl Ins Group                04202         656,173     2.0
  86  Balboa Life & Cas Group             04062         652,392    24.3
  87  Arbella Ins Group                   18220         630,318     6.2
  88  HCC Ins Hldgs Inc                   18421         619,629    65.6
  89  Amer Modern Ins Group               04086         616,709     9.8
  90  Argonaut Group                      04019         602,419    24.5
  91  Philadelphia Ins Cos                00476         601,253    14.8
  92  West Bend Mutual Group              18447         588,345    14.9
  93  Acuity Group                        00461         586,880    15.1
  94  Palisades Group                     18426         586,516     1.8
  95  KY Farm Bureau Group                03281         582,700     9.7
  96  Amer Express Group                  04009         574,460    28.4
  97  Finl Security Assur Group           04017         573,907    18.0
  98  Motorists Ins Group                 18236         573,456    14.0
  99  Safety Group                        18080         566,969     9.5
 100  Horace Mann Ins Group               04934         544,902     4.2
 101  Amerisure Cos                       04071         542,964    11.9
 102  NC Farm Bureau Ins Group            18279         539,003    16.4
 103  Penn Natl Ins                       00766         523,462     4.8
 104  Amer Agricultural Ins Co            03133         492,791    26.6
 105  United Farm Bureau of IN Group      04232         491,366    12.2
 106  RLI Group                           03883         474,395    15.1
 107  QBE Re Group - US                   18222         455,669    22.2
 108  Central Ins Cos                     00246         452,284    20.6
 109  Vesta Ins Group                     05681         451,370   -20.7
 110  United Fire & Cas Group             03875         450,483     7.7
 111  Central Svcs Group                  18562         449,612     8.1
 112  Arch Capital Group                  18484         449,011   124.8
 113  GuideOne Ins                        03918         444,434    17.0
 114  Accident Fund Ins Co of America     01770         441,574    27.2
 115  MI Farm Bureau Group                00358         440,047    27.5
 116  GA Farm Bureau Group                18071         433,479     9.9
 117  Canal Group                         03930         433,298    22.6
 118  Electric Ins Group                  18556         430,111    13.3
 119  Endurance Reins Corp of America     12559         429,867     0.0
 120  Kingsway America Group              18442         417,293    45.0
 121  FCCI Ins Group                      18290         413,255   -10.9
 122  Centurion Ins Group                 18188         413,159    28.2
 123  Cumis Ins Society, Inc              03049         410,666     7.5
 124  Andover Cos                         00166         381,280    22.0
 125  Health Care Indemnity, Inc          03701         377,000    18.3
 126  Doctors Co Ins Group                18083         363,998   -13.4
 127  Safeway Ins Group                   00459         362,641     3.7
 128  GE Finl Assur Group                 18573         360,560    52.1
 129  Scor US Group                       03873         352,470   -52.3
 130  Pekin Ins Group                     00754         348,010    10.2
 131  AZ State Compensation Fund          03470         341,020    23.5
 132  Grinnell Mutual Group               05727         323,436     6.5
 133  Church Mutual Ins Co                00259         317,787    13.9
 134  Saif Corp                           03480         312,344     4.1
 135  IAT Ins Group                       18567         304,360     8.8
 136  Quincy Mutual Group                 18437         303,494     9.1
 137  Pemco Ins Cos                       00790         301,823     8.4
 138  CA Earthquake Authority             12534         298,482     8.1
 139  Agri Gen Ins Co                     01935         296,024    53.6
 140  Donegal Group                       18613         294,447     7.2
 141  Employers Ins Group                 18602         288,932    55.8
 142  Frankenmuth Finl Group              18496         284,721     4.2
 143  Tokio Marine & Fire USB Group       02927         282,588    15.1
 144  Direct Gen Group                    18393         281,526    62.4
 145  Toa Reins Co of America             01730         278,673    21.3
 146  ISMIE Mutual Group                  18644         276,814    27.3
 147  Republic Cos Group                  00802         275,041     6.6
 148  Physicians' Reciprocal Insurers     02888         274,910    80.6
 149  Enumclaw Ins Group                  18586         269,339    -1.6
 150  Bristol West Ins Group              18131         268,085    11.5
 151  Injured Workers Ins Fund            12335         260,834    24.4
 152  Amer Transit Ins Co                 04660         260,406    11.3
 153  CA Cas Group                        03335         258,766    13.4
 154  Secura Ins Cos                      18381         258,384    15.5
 155  Norcal Group                        18539         257,384    14.9
 156  Hastings Mutual Ins Co              00464         251,072     3.4
 157  Western World Ins Group             02946         242,622    33.9
 158  Workers Compensation Fund Group     18471         236,875    21.5
 159  Universal Ins Group                 05700         232,008    20.1
 160  Mitsui Sumitomo Group               18569         227,857    56.0
 161  Wawanesa Ins Group                  18397         226,710    24.0
 162  Navigators Ins Group                18081         225,142    18.7
 163  Dorinco Reins Co                    03771         223,631   -23.9
 164  APCapital Group                     18321         223,392    -6.3
 165  CompSource OK                       03479         222,729    22.2
 166  Greater NY Group                    03326         218,842    25.8
 167  AAA Mid-Atlantic Ins Group          18168         216,025     8.7
 168  Capital Ins Group                   03858         209,892    24.9
 169  Kemper Ins Cos                      04427         208,477   -78.3
 170  Amer Road Ins Co                    00152         207,309    -7.6
 171  United Automobile Ins Group         18415         204,049    72.5
 172  Nuclear Electric Ins Ltd            11284         203,812     2.8
 173  Germania Mutual Group               03876         201,116    11.6
 174  OK Farm Bureau Group                04100         200,442    20.6
 175  United Natl Group                   02955         200,252    11.9
 176  ProMutual Group                     18359         199,394    11.8
 177  Amerisafe Ins Group                 18211         195,990    12.9
 178  Safety Natl Group                   18564         194,752    19.8
 179  IFG Cos                             00897         194,706    42.3
 180  ICW Group                           02967         194,123    -6.1
 181  Century-Natl Ins Co                 03090         193,788    18.7
 182  FMH Ins Group                       18171         188,969    30.4
 183  Axis Ins Group                      18603         188,761   999.9
 184  Meadowbrook Ins Group               18132         188,534    37.5
 185  Automobile Club of MO Group         18095         186,106    28.5
 186  LA Workers' Comp Corp               11339         185,566    38.0
 187  Plymouth Rock Cos                   18066         181,530    20.0
 188  VT Mutual Group                     00951         177,020    15.3
 189  Penn-America Group, Inc             18422         176,450    31.0
 190  Coop de Seguros Multiples de PR     03502         175,566    10.4
 191  Memic Group                         18524         175,481    21.4
 192  MI Millers Mutual Ins Co            00600         172,581    22.8
 193  Columbia Ins Group                  02975         168,546     9.6
 194  Concord Group Ins Cos               04398         165,959    -9.7
 195  Safe Auto Ins Co                    11645         163,745    55.5
 196  Farmers Mutual Ins Co of NE         00371         161,762     4.8
 197  Merchants Ins Group                 00590         161,690    -1.5
 198  AK Natl Ins Co                      02648         159,926    28.5
 199  Mag Mutual Group                    18635         159,355    10.8
 200  ID State Ins Fund                   03472         159,333    28.2
      Top 200 Writers                              $393,638,118    11.5
      Total P/C Industry                           $415,297,087    10.9

Source: A.M. Best Co., as of May 25, 2004.


Learn More

American International Group A.M. Best Company # 05953 Distribution: Independent agents/brokers.

W.R. Berkeley Berkeley (bûr`klē), city (1990 pop. 102,724), Alameda co., W Calif., on the E shore of San Francisco Bay just N of Oakland; inc. 1878. Originally (1820) part of a Spanish rancho, the site was purchased by Americans in 1853.  Group A.M. Best Company # 04655 Distribution: Independent agents/brokers.

Berkshire Hathaway A.M. Best Company # 01852, 25031, 18343 Distribution: Direct sales, agents and brokers.

Progressive Insurance Group A.M. Best Company # 02407, 04930 Distribution: Independent agents, direct sales, strategic alliances.

For ratings and other financial strength information about these companies, visit www.ambest.com
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Article Details
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Title Annotation:Property/Casualty
Author:Lehmann, R.J.
Publication:Best's Review
Geographic Code:1USA
Date:Jul 1, 2004
Words:3330
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