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Best's Credit Ratings

A.M. Best Company is a global full-service credit rating agency dedicated to serving the financial and health-care service industries. It began assigning credit ratings in 1906, making it the first of today's rating agencies to use symbols to differentiate the relative creditworthiness of companies.

Best's Credit Ratings are independent opinions regarding the creditworthiness of an issuer or debt obligation. Best's Credit Ratings are based on a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evaluation of a company's balance sheet strength, operating performance and business profile, or, where appropriate, the specific nature and details of a debt security. A complete list of Best's Credit Rating Methodologies is available.

A.M. Best assigns the following types of ratings:

  • Best's Financial Strength Rating - an independent opinion of an insurer's financial strength and ability to meet its ongoing insurance policy and contract obligations. This rating is assigned to insurance companies.
  • Best's Issuer Credit Rating - an independent opinion of an issuer/entity's ability to meet its ongoing senior financial obligations. This rating is assigned to insurance companies, banks, hospital/health-care systems, holding companies and other legal entities authorized to issue financial obligations.
  • Best's Debt Rating - an independent opinion of an issuer's ability to meet its ongoing financial obligations to security holders when due. This rating is assigned to the debt securities and insurance-linked securities transactions of the entities rated by A.M. Best.
  • Best's Bank Deposit Rating - an independent opinion of a bank's ability to meet its ongoing financial obligations to depositors. These ratings are assigned to banks.

For more detailed information regarding each of these types of ratings, read our guides for Financial Strength, Bank Deposit, Issuer Credit, or Debt Ratings.

Best's Credit Ratings are not a warranty, nor are they a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any securities, insurance policies, contracts or any other financial obligations, nor do they address the suitability of any particular financial obligation for a specific purpose or purchaser. For complete details, read this Important Notice.

Usage of Best's Ratings

Best's Credit Ratings are proprietary and may not be reproduced without permission from A.M. Best. A company assigned a Best's Credit Rating should review the Guide to Proper Use, which outlines the acceptable parameters of the use of these ratings.
All queries regarding the use of proprietary information or to obtain a licensing agreement or a letter of consent should be directed to:

A.M. Best Company, Office of Intellectual Property, Ambest Road, Oldwick, New Jersey 08858
Phone: 908-439-2200, extension 5644 or e-mail James.Peavy@ambest.com.

View our Legal and Licensing information for details on the use of A.M. Best trademarks, logos and service marks.

Rating Activity, Research and News

The following sections outline the most recent coverage of Best's Ratings, related News articles, Special Reports & Statistical Studies. For complete news coverage, visit our NewsRoom.

Rating Activity & Announcements

A.M. Best Downgrades Ratings of RVOS Farm Mutual Insurance Group and Its Members:
Date: 11/3/2009    Source: Press Release
A.M. Best Places Ratings of Fidelity Life Assurance Company Limited Under Review With Developing Implications:
Date: 11/3/2009    Source: Press Release
A.M. Best Withdraws Ratings of Hang Seng General Insurance (Hong Kong) Company Limited:
Date: 11/3/2009    Source: Press Release
A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Brokers National Life Assurance Company:
Date: 11/3/2009    Source: Press Release
A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Sompo Japan US Group and Its Members:
Date: 11/3/2009    Source: Press Release
A.M. Best Upgrades Ratings of Arbella Insurance Group and Its Members:
Date: 11/2/2009    Source: Press Release
A.M. Best Upgrades Issuer Credit Rating of Unique Insurance Company:
Date: 11/2/2009    Source: Press Release
A.M. Best Downgrades Ratings of Illinois Mutual Life Insurance Company; Outlook Revised to Stable:
Date: 11/2/2009    Source: Press Release
A.M. Best Upgrades Ratings of Oswego County Mutual Insurance Company:
Date: 10/30/2009    Source: Press Release
A.M. Best Removes From Under Review and Affirms Ratings of BMO Life Assurance Company; Assigns Stable Outlook:
Date: 10/30/2009    Source: Press Release

Industry Research

2009 Statistical Study: U.S. Property/Casualty – Net Premiums Written – 6 Months 2009:
Date: 11/2/2009    Source: Statistical Studies (PDF)     Pages: 4
2009 Statistical Study: U.S. Property/Casualty – Policyholder Surplus – 6 Months 2009 :
Date: 11/2/2009    Source: Statistical Studies (PDF)     Pages: 4
2009 Special Report: U.S. Property/Casualty – Capitalization Trend Review. A.M. Best Study: P/C Industry’s Risk-Adjusted Capital Drops in ‘08:
Date: 11/2/2009    Source: Special Reports (PDF)     Pages: 12
2009 Statistical Study: U.S. Property/Casualty – Total Assets – 6 Months 2009:
Date: 11/2/2009    Source: Statistical Studies (PDF)     Pages: 4
2009 Statistical Study: U.S. Property/Casualty – Net Premiums Earned – 6 Months 2009:
Date: 11/2/2009    Source: Statistical Studies (PDF)     Pages: 4


News

A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Brokers National Life Assurance Company:
Date: 11/3/2009    Source: BestWire
A.M. Best Downgrades Ratings of RVOS Farm Mutual Insurance Group and Its Members:
Date: 11/3/2009    Source: BestWire
A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Sompo Japan US Group and Its Members:
Date: 11/3/2009    Source: BestWire
A.M. Best Withdraws Ratings of Hang Seng General Insurance (Hong Kong) Company Limited:
Date: 11/3/2009    Source: BestWire
A.M. Best Places Ratings of Fidelity Life Assurance Company Limited Under Review With Developing Implications:
Date: 11/3/2009    Source: BestWire


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