Monthly Archives: <span>January 2007</span>

Mass. Auto Insurance Fraud Crackdown Paying Off for Drivers

High-profile crackdowns on auto insurance fraud have resulted in dramatic savings for drivers in some Massachusetts communities. The statewide average premium is scheduled to drop by nearly 12 percent on April 1, but drivers in some communities where antifraud task …

S&P Raises Southern Rock Ratings To ‘BB’; Outlook Stable

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has raised its long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings on Gibraltar-based non-life insurer Southern Rock Insurance Co. Ltd. to “BB” from “BB-” and assigned a stable outlook. “The upgrade reflects the company’s improved …

S&P Cuts Italy’s Cattolica Ratings to ‘A-‘; Off CreditWatch

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that it has lowered its long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings on Italy’s composite insurer Società Cattolica di Assicurazione to “A-” from “A” and removed them from CreditWatch, where they had been …

S&P Revises Nürnberger Outlook to Negative

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its outlook to negative from stable on the counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings of German life insurer Nürnberger Lebensversicherung AG (NLV) and property/casualty insurer Nürnberger Allgemeine Versicherungs – AG (NAV) as …

Best Affirms Korean Re Ratings

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of “A-” (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating of “a-” of Korean Reinsurance Company with a stable outlook. “The ratings reflect Korean Re’s continuous growth in absolute capitalization, its stable operating …

Best Affirms Lloyd’s Syndicate 609 Rating; Atrium’s ICR

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the Best’s Syndicate Rating of “A” (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a+” of Lloyd’s Syndicate 609, which is managed by Atrium Underwriters Limited. Best also affirmed the ICR of “bbb+” of UK-based …

Best Affirms Lloyd’s Syndicate 570 Ratings

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the Best’s Syndicate Rating of “A” (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating of “a+” of Lloyd’s Syndicate 570, which is managed by Atrium Underwriters Limited, with a stable outlook. Best also affirmed Atrium’s Syndicate 609 …

Swiss Re Estimates Kyrill Losses at $181 Million

Swiss Re’s preliminary estimates of its potential net losses from Windstorm Kyrill are around €140 million ($181 million) before tax. Its gross claims estimate is around €220 million ($284 million), but this is reduced “by various protections in place of …

AAMGA Leaders Conclude ‘Fact-Finding’ London Trip

Insurance may be local, but it doesn’t have to be handled exclusively in the state, or even the country, where it’s needed. For the surplus lines market that means Lloyd’s, which explains the annual visit to London of the top …

W. Va. Judge Dismisses 400 Flood Claims Against Coal Firms

A circuit judge has dismissed the claims of about 400 victims of a devastating flood in southern West Virginia in 2001. Ohio County Circuit Judge Arthur M. Recht said in last week’s ruling that the plaintiffs who live in the …