State Auto Looks Skeptically at Shareholder’s Merger Offer

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jun 05, 2003, (A. M. Best via COMTEX) — A shareholder’s proposal to increase share value for the company has prompted State Automobile Mutual Insurance Co. to review a merger proposal with an as-yet unformed company. Gregory Shepard–a shareholder of State Auto Financial Corp. (NYSE:STFC), the insurer’s publicly traded holding company subsidiary–has proposed… Continue reading State Auto Looks Skeptically at Shareholder’s Merger Offer

S&P Lowers Princeton Insurance Co. Ratings to ‘Bpi’

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–June 5, 2003–Standard & Poor’s–Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said today that it lowered its counterparty credit and financial strength ratings on Princeton Insurance Co. to ‘Bpi’ from ‘BBBpi’ because of adverse reserve development in 2002 and 2001, which significantly affected the company’s operating performance and capitalization. “Standard & Poor’s believes the company… Continue reading S&P Lowers Princeton Insurance Co. Ratings to ‘Bpi’

Harleysville’s S&P Rating Downgraded

NU Online News Service, May 21, 10:02 a.m. EDT—Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has lowered its counterparty credit and senior debt rating on Harleysville Group Inc. to “Triple-B” from “Triple-B-Plus,” citing first-quarter company losses and the “volatile” performance of its subsidiaries. The New York-based S&P said that the ratings outlook is “stable.” “The ratings action… Continue reading Harleysville’s S&P Rating Downgraded

A.M. Best Affirms Financial Strength Ratings of The Hartford; Downgrades Debt Ratings

Business Wire – May 12, 2003 09:53 OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 12, 2003–A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings of A+ (Superior) of The Hartford Insurance Pool (Pool) and the main operating life insurance subsidiaries of Hartford Life Inc. (HLI). Concurrently, A.M. Best has downgraded to “a-” from “a+” the senior debt ratings of… Continue reading A.M. Best Affirms Financial Strength Ratings of The Hartford; Downgrades Debt Ratings

Kemper Sells Renewal Rights for Selected Lines of Its U.S. Commercial Insurance Business to The St. Paul

LONG GROVE, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 12, 2003–The Kemper Insurance Companies today announced it sold the renewal rights to certain lines of its existing U.S. commercial insurance business to The St. Paul Companies. The lines of business included in the transaction are Kemper’s middle market offerings, such as workers’ compensation, package, auto, and umbrella. It also includes… Continue reading Kemper Sells Renewal Rights for Selected Lines of Its U.S. Commercial Insurance Business to The St. Paul

A.M. Best Places Rating Of Gerling Canada Under Review

CCNMatthews – May 02, 2003 14:45 OLDWICK, NEW JERSEY–A.M. Best Co. has placed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) of Gerling Canada Insurance Company (Toronto) under review with developing implications. In March, Gerling Canada in tandem with its parent company, Gerling Konzern Allgemeine (Germany), had its rating affirmed; however, the outlook was changed to… Continue reading A.M. Best Places Rating Of Gerling Canada Under Review

S&P cuts Liberty Mutual Insurance ratings

(The following statement was released by the rating agency) NEW YORK, May 2 – Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said today that it lowered its counterparty credit and financial strength ratings on Boston-based Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. (Liberty Mutual) and related entities to ‘A’ from ‘A+’ and removed them from CreditWatch, where they were placed… Continue reading S&P cuts Liberty Mutual Insurance ratings

AMP Ratings Placed on CreditWatch Negative

MELBOURNE (Standard & Poor’s) May 1, 2003–Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said today that it placed on CreditWatch Negative the ‘AA-‘ insurer financial strength and counterparty credit ratings on AMP Life Ltd., the Australian operating subsidiary of AMP Ltd. AMP Ltd. is a Sydney-based life insurance and funds management group, with operations in Australia and… Continue reading AMP Ratings Placed on CreditWatch Negative