Best's rating changes.This edition of Best's Rating Best's rating A rating A.M. Best Co. assigns to insurance companies based on the company's ability to meet its obligations to its policyholders. Changes reflects all rating changes--assignments, changes or placed under review--that occurred for life, health and property/casualty insurers domiciled dom·i·cile n. 1. A residence; a home. 2. One's legal residence. v. dom·i·ciled, dom·i·cil·ing, dom·i·ciles v.tr. 1. in North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. , as well as international insurance companies, since this section last appeared in the December December: see month. 2005 edition of Best's Review. See page 21 for the current Guide to Best's Financial Strength Ratings or visit the A.M. Best Co. Web site at www.ambest.com/ratings/guide.html for detailed rating definitions. The A.M. Best rating of any company and basic company information also are available free of charge at www.ambest.com/ratings/access.html.
Ratings Changed
Rating Current Previous
Action Company Name & Domicile AMB# Rating Rating
Life/Health
+ Alaska Vision Services Inc 64484 A A-
US: Alaska
+ Arkansas BC and BS A Mutual 09586 A A-
Ins Co
US: Arkansas
+ Aviva Life Insurance Company 06337 A+ A
US: Delaware
+ Aviva Life Insurance 09098 A+ A
Company of New York
US: New York
+ Delta Dental Plan of 64699 A- pd B++ pd
Arkansas Inc
US: Arkansas
+ Eastern Vision Service 64483 A A-
Plan Inc
US: New York
New First Commonwealth 60300 A NR-5
Insurance Company
US: Illinois
Group Health Service of 60112 NR-5 B++
Oklahoma
US: Oklahoma
+ Indiana Vision Services Inc 65725 A A-
US: Indiana
+ Massachusetts Vision 64479 A A-
Service Plan
US: Massachusetts
+ Member Service Life 08784 A B++
Insurance Company
US: Oklahoma
+ Mid-Atlantic Vision 64478 A A-
Service Plan Inc
US: Virginia
+ Vision Service Plan 64607 A A-
US: California
+ Vision Service Plan (OH) 64473 A A-
US: Ohio
+ Vision Service Plan (WA) 64475 A A-
US: Washington
+ Vision Service Plan Inc 64474 A A-
US: Nevada
+ Vision Service Plan 11105 A
A- Insurance Company CT US: Connecticut
+ Vision Service Plan 11496 A
A- Insurance Company MO US: Missouri
+ Vision Service Plan of 64482 A A-
Idaho Inc
US: Idaho
+ Vision Services Plan Inc 64476 A A-
Oklahoma
US: Oklahoma
+ Wisconsin Vision Service 64477 A A-
Plan Inc
US: Wisconsin
HMO
+ Altius Health Plans 68616 B++ B+
US: Utah
- Arnett HMO Inc 64262 C++ pd B pd
US: Indiana
First Choice Health Plan Inc 64486 NR-5 C++ pd
US: Washington
+ GHS Health Maintenance 68932 A B++
Organization
US: Oklahoma
New OmniCare Health Plan Inc 64810 B+ NR-2
US: Michigan
New Western Dental Services Inc 64651 A- B+ pd
US: California
Property/Casualty
Property/Casualty
+ Alliance of Nonprofits for 18532 A- B++
Insurance Grp
US: Vermont
+ Alliance of Nonprofits for 12419 A- B++
Insurance RRG
US: Vermont
+ Co-operators General 85735 A- B++
Insurance Company
Canada: Ontario
New Darwin Group 18679 A-
US: Delaware
- Darwin National Assurance 12699 A- A
Company
US: Delaware
New Darwin Select Insurance 11719 A-
Company
US: Arkansas
- Endurance Reinsurance Corp 12559 A- A u
of America
US: New York
+ Farmers Mutual Insurance 10168 B B-
Company (KS)
US: Kansas
New Florida Hospitality Mutual 12015 B++ NR-5
Insurance Co
US: Florida
- GeoVera Insurance Company 12075 A- A+ u
US: Maryland
New GeoVera Insurance Group 25045 A-
US: California
+ Medical Protective Company 00591 A+ A-
US: Indiana
New Mercury Indemnity Company 12489 A+ NR-2
of America
US: Florida
+ Mid-State Mutual Insurance 04368 A- B++
Company (CA)
US: California
- Mississippi Farm Bureau 00645 B u A- u
Mutual Ins Cc
US: Mississippi
+ National Alliance of 12418 A- B++
Nonprofits for Ins
US: Vermont
+ North Pointe Insurance 00317 B++ B+
Company
US: Michigan
- Omega Insurance Company 02727 B++ u A- u
US: Florida
- Pacific Select Property 12042 A- A+ u
Insurance Cc
US: California
Piedmont Mutual Insurance 11575 NR-4 C_
Company'
US: North Carolina
New Rockhill Insurance Company 13023 A-
US: Arizona
- Safeway Property Insurance 10672 B- u B
Company
US: Nebraska
- Southern Group Indemnity, 11104 D C++
Inc
US: Florida
- Stonington Insurance Company 00175 A- u A u
US: Texas
- Stonington Lloyds Insurance 12577 A- u A u
Company
US: Texas
New Traders & Pacific Insurance 13033 A-
Company
US: Delaware
United Coastal Insurance 00297 NR-5 A-
Company
US: Arizona
New USAuto Insurance Group 18600 B
US: Tennessee
- USF&G Specialty Insurance 11678 A- A+ u
Company
US: Maryland
International
- Allianz Marine & Aviation 86992 A- A+ u
(France)
France -
Cologne Reinsurance Company
(Dublin) Ltd
Ireland 86624 A- u A++
- Endurance Specialty
Insurance Ltd
Bermuda 84835 A- A u
- Endurance Worldwide
Insurance Limited
United Kingdom 83234 A- A u
New Exchange Insurance Company 77976 B++
Ltd
United Kingdom
New GeoVera Re, Ltd.
Bermuda 78112 A-
- Glencoe Group
Bermuda 89072 A- u A u
- Glencoe Insurance Ltd
Bermuda 86548 A- u A u
- IPCRe Europe Limited
Ireland 87117 A A+ u
- IPCRe Group
Bermuda 83062 A A+ u
- IPCRe Limited
Bermuda 86221 A A+ u
- Lantana Insurance Ltd
Bermuda 75594 A- u A u
+ Liberty Mutual Insurance
Europe Limited
United Kingdom 87425 A- pd B+ pd
New New Castle Reinsurance
Company Ltd.
Bermuda 13024 A-
- Overseas Partners Cat
Limited
Bermuda 55023 A- u A u
- Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd
Bermuda 86357 A u A+ u
- Renaissance Reinsurance of
Europe
Ireland 87847 A u A+ u
Rosemont Reinsurance Ltd.
Bermuda 84802 NR-4 B
- Western General Insurance
Ltd
Bermuda 85932 B++ u A u
New Wuertt and Badische
Versicherungs-AG
Germany 84678 B++ NR-5
Ratings Under Review
Rating Current Previous
Action Company Name & Domicile AMB# Rating Rating
Life/Health
U Hannover Life Reassurance Co
of America
US: Florida 68031 A u A
U Reassure America Life
Insurance Company
US: Illinois 06676 A+ u A+
U Swiss Re Life & Health
America Inc
US: Connecticut 07283 A+ u A+
U Swiss Re Life & Health
Canada
Canada: Ontario 66803 A+ u A+
Property/Casualty
U American Country Insurance
Company
US: Illinois 02735 B+ u B+
U American Service Insurance
Company Inc
US: Illinois 01777 B++ u B++
U Coregis Insurance Company
US: Indiana 01890 B+ u B+
U Employers Re Corp Group
US: Missouri 05967 A u A
U Employers Reinsurance
Corporation
US: Missouri 00347 A u A
U First Specialty Insurance
Corporation
US: Missouri 10783 A u A
U GE Reinsurance Corporation
US: Illinois 04124 A u A
U Gerling America Insurance
Company
US: New York 2878 A- u A-
U Gulf States Insurance
Company
US: Oklahoma 10838 B+ u B+
U Insurance Corporation of
Hannover
US: Illinois 2643 A u A
U JEVCO Insurance Company
Canada: Quebec 86618 A- u A-
U Kingsway General Insurance
Company
Canada: Ontario 86397 B++ u B++
U Lincoln General Insurance
Company
US: Pennsylvania 3723 A- u A-
U MEEMIC Insurance Company
US: Michigan 4435 A- u A-
U Nationwide Indemnity Company
US: Ohio 11664 A- u A-
U North American Capacity
Insurance Co
US: New Hampshire 11135 A+ u A+
U North American Elite
Insurance Company
US: New Hampshire 10617 A+ u A+
U North American Specialty
Insurance Co
US: New Hampshire 1866 A+ u A+
U Southern United Fire
Insurance Company
US: Alabama 3197 B+ u B+
U Swiss Re America Group
US: New York 18346 A+ u A+
U Swiss Reinsurance America
Corporation
US: New York 3263 A+ u A+
U Swiss Reinsurance Company
Canada
Canada: Ontario 85718 A+ u A+
U U.S. Security Insurance
Company, Inc
US: Florida 10682 B u B
U Universal Casualty Company
US: Illinois 2753 A- u A-
U Washington International
Insurance Co
US: Arizona 2695 A+ u A+
U Westport Insurance
Corporation
US: Missouri 2301 A u A
U York Fire & Casualty
Insurance Company
Canada: Ontario 86516 B++ u B++
International
U E+S Reinsurance (Ireland)
Ltd
Ireland 86580 A u A
U E+S Rueckversicherungs-AG
Germany 85064 A u A
U European International Reins
Co Ltd
Barbados 85982 A+ u A+
U European Reinsurance Company
of Zurich
Switzerland 85830 A+ u A+
U GE ERC Strategic Reinsurance
Limited
Ireland 86848 A u A
U GE Frankona Group
Germany 88108 A u A
U GE Frankona Reassurance
Limited
United Kingdom 86653 A u A
U GE Frankona Reinsurance A/S
Denmark 85501 A u A
U GE Frankona Reinsurance Ltd
United Kingdom 86655 A u A
U GE Frankona
Rueckversicherungs-AG
Germany 85311 A u A
U Gerling-Konzern Allgemeine
Versicherungs
Germany 85910 A- u A-
U Gerling-Konzern Allgemeine
Versicherungs
Germany 77334 A- u A-
U Hannover Life Reassurance
(Ireland) Ltd
Ireland 84133 A u A
U Hannover Re (Bermuda) Ltd
Bermuda 85314 A u A
U Hannover Reinsurance
(Ireland) Limited
Ireland 86581 A u A
U Hannover Rueckversicherung
AG
Germany 84092 A u A
U Hannover Rueckversicherung
AG
Germany 85070 A u A
U HDI Haftpflichtverband
Deutsch Industrie
Germany 85068 A u A
U HDI Industrie Versicherung
AG
Germany 77779 A u A
U Kingsway Reinsurance Bermuda
Ltd
Bermuda 84089 A- u A-
U SR International Business
Insurance Co
United Kingdom 87600 A+ u A+
U Swiss Re Germany AG
Germany 85993 A+ u A+
U Swiss Re Group
Switzerland 85010 A+ u A+
U Swiss Re Ireland, Ltd.
Ireland 86453 A+ u A+
U Swiss Re Life & Health
Limited
United Kingdom 87622 A+ u A+
U Swiss Reinsurance Company
Switzerland 85009 A+ u A+
U Swiss Reinsurance Company UK
Limited
United Kingdom 87621 A+ u A+
* Rating was downgraded from C+ to C- on Nov. 21. Current rating
effective Nov. 22.
Rating Action: (+) or (-) Rating upgraded or downgraded;
(New) Assigned initial rating; (u) Rating placed under review
Ratings Changed
Rating Current Previous
Action Company Name & Domicile AMB# Rating Rating
Life/Health
+ Alaska Vision Services Inc 64484 A A-
US: Alaska
+ Arkansas BC and BS A Mutual 09586 A A-
Ins Co
US: Arkansas
+ Aviva Life Insurance Company 06337 A+ A
US: Delaware
+ Aviva Life Insurance 09098 A+ A
Company of New York
US: New York
+ Delta Dental Plan of 64699 A- pd B++ pd
Arkansas Inc
US: Arkansas
+ Eastern Vision Service 64483 A A-
Plan Inc
US: New York
New First Commonwealth 60300 A NR-5
Insurance Company
US: Illinois
Group Health Service of 60112 NR-5 B++
Oklahoma
US: Oklahoma
+ Indiana Vision Services Inc 65725 A A-
US: Indiana
+ Massachusetts Vision 64479 A A-
Service Plan
US: Massachusetts
+ Member Service Life 08784 A B++
Insurance Company
US: Oklahoma
+ Mid-Atlantic Vision 64478 A A-
Service Plan Inc
US: Virginia
+ Vision Service Plan 64607 A A-
US: California
+ Vision Service Plan (OH) 64473 A A-
US: Ohio
+ Vision Service Plan (WA) 64475 A A-
US: Washington
+ Vision Service Plan Inc 64474 A A-
US: Nevada
+ Vision Service Plan 11105 A
A- Insurance Company CT US: Connecticut
+ Vision Service Plan 11496 A
A- Insurance Company MO US: Missouri
+ Vision Service Plan of 64482 A A-
Idaho Inc
US: Idaho
+ Vision Services Plan Inc 64476 A A-
Oklahoma
US: Oklahoma
+ Wisconsin Vision Service 64477 A A-
Plan Inc
US: Wisconsin
HMO
+ Altius Health Plans 68616 B++ B+
US: Utah
- Arnett HMO Inc 64262 C++ pd B pd
US: Indiana
First Choice Health Plan Inc 64486 NR-5 C++ pd
US: Washington
+ GHS Health Maintenance 68932 A B++
Organization
US: Oklahoma
New OmniCare Health Plan Inc 64810 B+ NR-2
US: Michigan
New Western Dental Services Inc 64651 A- B+ pd
US: California
Property/Casualty
Property/Casualty
+ Alliance of Nonprofits for 18532 A- B++
Insurance Grp
US: Vermont
+ Alliance of Nonprofits for 12419 A- B++
Insurance RRG
US: Vermont
+ Co-operators General 85735 A- B++
Insurance Company
Canada: Ontario
New Darwin Group 18679 A-
US: Delaware
- Darwin National Assurance 12699 A- A
Company
US: Delaware
New Darwin Select Insurance 11719 A-
Company
US: Arkansas
- Endurance Reinsurance Corp 12559 A- A u
of America
US: New York
+ Farmers Mutual Insurance 10168 B B-
Company (KS)
US: Kansas
New Florida Hospitality Mutual 12015 B++ NR-5
Insurance Co
US: Florida
- GeoVera Insurance Company 12075 A- A+ u
US: Maryland
New GeoVera Insurance Group 25045 A-
US: California
+ Medical Protective Company 00591 A+ A-
US: Indiana
New Mercury Indemnity Company 12489 A+ NR-2
of America
US: Florida
+ Mid-State Mutual Insurance 04368 A- B++
Company (CA)
US: California
- Mississippi Farm Bureau 00645 B u A- u
Mutual Ins Cc
US: Mississippi
+ National Alliance of 12418 A- B++
Nonprofits for Ins
US: Vermont
+ North Pointe Insurance 00317 B++ B+
Company
US: Michigan
- Omega Insurance Company 02727 B++ u A- u
US: Florida
- Pacific Select Property 12042 A- A+ u
Insurance Cc
US: California
Piedmont Mutual Insurance 11575 NR-4 C_
Company'
US: North Carolina
New Rockhill Insurance Company 13023 A-
US: Arizona
- Safeway Property Insurance 10672 B- u B
Company
US: Nebraska
- Southern Group Indemnity, 11104 D C++
Inc
US: Florida
- Stonington Insurance Company 00175 A- u A u
US: Texas
- Stonington Lloyds Insurance 12577 A- u A u
Company
US: Texas
New Traders & Pacific Insurance 13033 A-
Company
US: Delaware
United Coastal Insurance 00297 NR-5 A-
Company
US: Arizona
New USAuto Insurance Group 18600 B
US: Tennessee
- USF&G Specialty Insurance 11678 A- A+ u
Company
US: Maryland
International
- Allianz Marine & Aviation 86992 A- A+ u
(France)
France -
Cologne Reinsurance Company
(Dublin) Ltd
Ireland 86624 A- u A++
- Endurance Specialty
Insurance Ltd
Bermuda 84835 A- A u
- Endurance Worldwide
Insurance Limited
United Kingdom 83234 A- A u
New Exchange Insurance Company 77976 B++
Ltd
United Kingdom
New GeoVera Re, Ltd.
Bermuda 78112 A-
- Glencoe Group
Bermuda 89072 A- u A u
- Glencoe Insurance Ltd
Bermuda 86548 A- u A u
- IPCRe Europe Limited
Ireland 87117 A A+ u
- IPCRe Group
Bermuda 83062 A A+ u
- IPCRe Limited
Bermuda 86221 A A+ u
- Lantana Insurance Ltd
Bermuda 75594 A- u A u
+ Liberty Mutual Insurance
Europe Limited
United Kingdom 87425 A- pd B+ pd
New New Castle Reinsurance
Company Ltd.
Bermuda 13024 A-
- Overseas Partners Cat
Limited
Bermuda 55023 A- u A u
- Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd
Bermuda 86357 A u A+ u
- Renaissance Reinsurance of
Europe
Ireland 87847 A u A+ u
Rosemont Reinsurance Ltd.
Bermuda 84802 NR-4 B
- Western General Insurance
Ltd
Bermuda 85932 B++ u A u
New Wuertt and Badische
Versicherungs-AG
Germany 84678 B++ NR-5
Ratings Under Review
Rating Current Previous
Action Company Name & Domicile AMB# Rating Rating
Life/Health
U Hannover Life Reassurance Co
of America
US: Florida 68031 A u A
U Reassure America Life
Insurance Company
US: Illinois 06676 A+ u A+
U Swiss Re Life & Health
America Inc
US: Connecticut 07283 A+ u A+
U Swiss Re Life & Health
Canada
Canada: Ontario 66803 A+ u A+
Property/Casualty
U American Country Insurance
Company
US: Illinois 02735 B+ u B+
U American Service Insurance
Company Inc
US: Illinois 01777 B++ u B++
U Coregis Insurance Company
US: Indiana 01890 B+ u B+
U Employers Re Corp Group
US: Missouri 05967 A u A
U Employers Reinsurance
Corporation
US: Missouri 00347 A u A
U First Specialty Insurance
Corporation
US: Missouri 10783 A u A
U GE Reinsurance Corporation
US: Illinois 04124 A u A
U Gerling America Insurance
Company
US: New York 2878 A- u A-
U Gulf States Insurance
Company
US: Oklahoma 10838 B+ u B+
U Insurance Corporation of
Hannover
US: Illinois 2643 A u A
U JEVCO Insurance Company
Canada: Quebec 86618 A- u A-
U Kingsway General Insurance
Company
Canada: Ontario 86397 B++ u B++
U Lincoln General Insurance
Company
US: Pennsylvania 3723 A- u A-
U MEEMIC Insurance Company
US: Michigan 4435 A- u A-
U Nationwide Indemnity Company
US: Ohio 11664 A- u A-
U North American Capacity
Insurance Co
US: New Hampshire 11135 A+ u A+
U North American Elite
Insurance Company
US: New Hampshire 10617 A+ u A+
U North American Specialty
Insurance Co
US: New Hampshire 1866 A+ u A+
U Southern United Fire
Insurance Company
US: Alabama 3197 B+ u B+
U Swiss Re America Group
US: New York 18346 A+ u A+
U Swiss Reinsurance America
Corporation
US: New York 3263 A+ u A+
U Swiss Reinsurance Company
Canada
Canada: Ontario 85718 A+ u A+
U U.S. Security Insurance
Company, Inc
US: Florida 10682 B u B
U Universal Casualty Company
US: Illinois 2753 A- u A-
U Washington International
Insurance Co
US: Arizona 2695 A+ u A+
U Westport Insurance
Corporation
US: Missouri 2301 A u A
U York Fire & Casualty
Insurance Company
Canada: Ontario 86516 B++ u B++
International
U E+S Reinsurance (Ireland)
Ltd
Ireland 86580 A u A
U E+S Rueckversicherungs-AG
Germany 85064 A u A
U European International Reins
Co Ltd
Barbados 85982 A+ u A+
U European Reinsurance Company
of Zurich
Switzerland 85830 A+ u A+
U GE ERC Strategic Reinsurance
Limited
Ireland 86848 A u A
U GE Frankona Group
Germany 88108 A u A
U GE Frankona Reassurance
Limited
United Kingdom 86653 A u A
U GE Frankona Reinsurance A/S
Denmark 85501 A u A
U GE Frankona Reinsurance Ltd
United Kingdom 86655 A u A
U GE Frankona
Rueckversicherungs-AG
Germany 85311 A u A
U Gerling-Konzern Allgemeine
Versicherungs
Germany 85910 A- u A-
U Gerling-Konzern Allgemeine
Versicherungs
Germany 77334 A- u A-
U Hannover Life Reassurance
(Ireland) Ltd
Ireland 84133 A u A
U Hannover Re (Bermuda) Ltd
Bermuda 85314 A u A
U Hannover Reinsurance
(Ireland) Limited
Ireland 86581 A u A
U Hannover Rueckversicherung
AG
Germany 84092 A u A
U Hannover Rueckversicherung
AG
Germany 85070 A u A
U HDI Haftpflichtverband
Deutsch Industrie
Germany 85068 A u A
U HDI Industrie Versicherung
AG
Germany 77779 A u A
U Kingsway Reinsurance Bermuda
Ltd
Bermuda 84089 A- u A-
U SR International Business
Insurance Co
United Kingdom 87600 A+ u A+
U Swiss Re Germany AG
Germany 85993 A+ u A+
U Swiss Re Group
Switzerland 85010 A+ u A+
U Swiss Re Ireland, Ltd.
Ireland 86453 A+ u A+
U Swiss Re Life & Health
Limited
United Kingdom 87622 A+ u A+
U Swiss Reinsurance Company
Switzerland 85009 A+ u A+
U Swiss Reinsurance Company UK
Limited
United Kingdom 87621 A+ u A+
* Rating was downgraded from C+ to C- on Nov. 21. Current rating
effective Nov. 22.
Rating Action: (+) or (-) Rating upgraded or downgraded;
(New) Assigned initial rating; (u) Rating placed under review
GUIDE TO BEST'S FINANCIAL STRENGTH RATINGS
A Best's Rating is an independent opinion, based on a comprehensive
quantitative and qualitative evaluation, of a company's balance
sheet strength, operating performance and business profile. Best's
Financial Strength Ratings are not a warranty of a company's financial
strength and ability to meet its ongoing obligations to policyholders.
Financial Strength Ratings
A Best's Financial Strength Rating (FSR) is an opinion as to an
insurer's financial strength and ability to meet its ongoing
obligations to policyholder:
Secure
Rating Descriptor Definition
A++, A+ Superior Assigned to companies that have, in our
opinion, a superior ability to meet their
ongoing obligations to policyholders.
A, A- Excellent Assigned to companies that have, in our
opinion, an excellent ability to meet their
ongoing obligations to policyholders.
B++, B+ Very Good Assigned to companies that have, in our
opinion, a good ability to meet their
ongoing obligations to policyholders.
Vulnerable
B, B- Fair Assigned to companies that have, in our
opinion, a fair ability to meet their ongoing
obligations to policyholders, but are
financially vulnerable to adverse changes in
underwriting and economic conditions.
C++, C+ Marginal Assigned to companies that have, in our
opinion, a marginal ability to meet their
ongoing obligations to policyholders and are
financially vulnerable to adverse changes in
underwriting and economic conditions.
C, C- Weak Assigned to companies that have, in our
opinion, a weak ability to meet their ongoing
obligations to policyholders and are
financially very vulnerable to adverse changes
in underwriting and economic conditions.
D Poor Assigned to companies that have, in our
opinion, a poor ability to meet their ongoing
obligations to policyholders and are
financially extremely vulnerable to adverse
changes in underwriting and economic
conditions.
E Under Assigned to companies (and possibly their
Regulatory subsidiaries/affiliates) that have been placed
Supervision by an insurance regulatory authority under a
significant form of supervision, control or
restraint whereby they are no longer allowed to
conduct normal ongoing insurance operations.
This would include conservatorship or
rehabilitation, but does not include
liquidation. It may also be assigned to
companies issued cease and desist orders by
regulators outside their home state or country.
F In Assigned to companies that have been placed
Liquidation under an order of liquidation by a court of law
or whose owners have voluntarily agreed to
liquidate the company. Note: Companies that
voluntarily liquidate or dissolve their
charters are generally not insolvent.
S Suspended Assigned to companies that have experienced
sudden and significant events affecting their
balance sheet strength or operating performance
whereby the rating implications cannot be
evaluated due to a lack of timely or adequate
information.
Rating Modifiers and Affiliation Codes
A rating modifier can be assigned to indicate that a Best's Rating may
be subject to near-term change (under review), that a company did not
subscribe to Best's interactive rating process (public data) or that
the rating is assigned to a syndicate operating at Lloyd's. Affiliation
codes (g, p, and r) are added to Best's Ratings to identify companies
whose assigned ratings are based on group, pooling or reinsurance
affiliation with other insurers.
Modifier Descriptor Definition
Rating
Modifiers
u Under Review A modifier that generally is event-driven
(positive, negative or developing) and is
assigned to a company whose Best's Rating
opinion is under review and may be subject
to in the near-term, generally defined
change in the near-term, generally defined
as six months.
pd Public Data Assigned to insurers that do not subscribe
to Best's interactive Best's interactive
rating process. Best's "pd" Ratings reflect
qualitative and quantitative analyses using
public data and information.
s Syndicate Assigned to syndicates operating at Lloyd's.
Not Rated Categories (NR)
Assigned to companies reported on by A.M. Best, but not assigned a
Best's Rating. The five categories are:
NR-1: Insufficient Data.
NR-4: Company Request.
NR-2: Insufficient Size and/or Operating Experience.
NR-5:-Not Formally Followed.
NR-3: Rating Procedure Inapplicable.
Rating Outlook
Best's Ratings (A++ to D) are assigned a Rating Outlook that indicates
the potential direction of a company's rating for an intermediate
period, generally defined as the next 12 to 36 months. Public Data
Ratings are not assigned an Outlook. Rating Outlooks, which appear in
the rating rationale section of the company's Best's Company Report,
are as follows:
Positive Indicates a company's financial/market trends are
favorable, relative to its current rating level and, if
continued, the company has a good possibility of having its
rating upgraded.
Negative Indicates a company is experiencing unfavorable
financial/market trends, relative to its current rating
level and, if continued, the company has a good possibility
of having its rating downgraded.
Stable Indicates a company is experiencing stable financial/market
trends and there is a low likelihood that its rating will
change in the near term.
Best's Ratings are distributed via press release and/or the A.M. Best
Web site at www.ambest.com, and are published in the Rating Monitor
section of BestWeeO. Best's Ratings are proprietary and may not be
reproduced without permission.
Copyright (C) 2005 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. Version 093005
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