E&S/Specialty

If U.S. property and casualty insurers do not manage capital and maintain underwriting discipline after the many profit-draining factors the industry faced during the first nine months of 2011, some companies could feel the pressure of ratings downgrades, says insurance rating agency A.M. Best Co.

Japan-based Tokio Marine Holdings says it has a definite agreement to buy Delphi Financial Group for about $2.7 billion.

ACE Ltd.s purchase of Penn Millers has prompted insurance rating agency A.M. Best Co. to upgrade the financial strength rating of the agribusiness insurer.

Lorrie McNaught, reality television expert with Aon/Albert G. Ruben, says its her job to find a way to get insurance coverage for all types of production risks.

Reserve releases for U.S. property and casualty insurers through the 2011 third quarter totaled $11.4 billion, a 14 percent decrease compared to the same time period in 2010, according to Moodys Investors Service.

Insurance rating agency A.M. Best Co. says it has placed Firemans Fund Insurance Cos. under review with negative implications following the downgrade of the issuer credit ratings of parent company Allianz SE.