-

Best’s Commentary: AM Best Issues FAQ on Its National Scale Ratings

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new Best’s Commentary addresses frequently asked questions about Best’s National Scale Ratings (NSR) and how they compare with global Best’s Credit Ratings.

An NSR is a relative measure of the financial strength of insurers and reinsurers that are domiciled in the same country. The NSR focuses on local insurance market characteristics and allows for a more appropriate comparison among domestic market participants, which over time should allow for greater differentiation among them. AM Best currently assigns NSRs in Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Some of the issues the commentary also addresses include:

  • When an NSR can be assigned;
  • How NSRs are mapped from Best’s Issuer Credit Ratings; and
  • Whether country risk can influence an NSR.

To access the full copy of this commentary, please visit http://www3.ambest.com/bestweek/purchase.asp?record_code=336514.

This criteria procedure, “Best’s National Scale Ratings,” is available at http://www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology.asp.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Ann Modica
Director, Credit Rating Criteria,
Research and Analytics
+1 908 882 2127
ann.modica@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Al Slavin
Senior Public Relations Specialist
+1 908 882 2318
al.slavin@ambest.com

AM Best


Release Versions
Hashtags

Contacts

Ann Modica
Director, Credit Rating Criteria,
Research and Analytics
+1 908 882 2127
ann.modica@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Al Slavin
Senior Public Relations Specialist
+1 908 882 2318
al.slavin@ambest.com

Social Media Profiles
More News From AM Best

AM Best to Host Briefing on How Non-Life Insurers Are Navigating Evolving Run-Off Market

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best will host a briefing with insurance industry experts on the latest developments shaping the run-off market and how non-life insurers are responding on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. EST. The briefing, titled, “AM Best’s Market Briefing – Non-Life Run-Off: An Evolving Market,” will touch on recent research insights, notable activity over the past year and expectations for 2026. Topics will include a broad look at how the market has been evolving,...

Best’s Special Report: Lower U.S. Property/Casualty Insurer Expenses Boost Segment’s Underwriting Results

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Despite competitive market conditions, macroeconomic trends and severe weather trends that have fueled volatility in the U.S. property/casualty (P/C) industry’s underwriting results for a decade, insurers still managed to improve their underwriting and operating results, according to a new AM Best report. These results were particularly evident in the segment’s underwriting expense ratio, which improved noticeably during the 2014-2024 timeframe. In 2024, the U.S....

AM Best to Present 2026 Outlooks, Key Market Trends at Cayman Islands Briefing

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best will host a briefing with senior AM Best analytical staff as they present their outlooks on the global insurance market’s key segments, recent rating drivers, investment trends and issues impacting the Cayman market on Feb. 12, 2026, from 1:30–7:00 p.m. EST at the Grand Cayman Marriott Resort. Included in the program are presentations on the state of the delegated underwriting authority enterprises (DUAEs) segment, and a special panel discussion titled, “...
Back to Newsroom