A.M. Best Removes Ratings From Under Review of Acquired Unitrin Companies; Extends Positive Outlook of AmTrust

OLDWICK, N.J., Aug 13, 2008 (A. M. Best via COMTEX) -- UTR | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- A.M. Best Co. has removed from under review with developing implications and assigned a positive outlook to the financial strength ratings (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of ?a-? of the four entities acquired from Unitrin, Inc (Chicago, IL) on June 2, 2008: Milwaukee Casualty Insurance Company (MCIC) (Brookfield, WI), Security National Insurance Company (SNIC) (Dallas, TX), Trinity Universal Insurance Company of Kansas, Inc. (TUIC) (Topeka, KS) and Trinity Lloyds Insurance Company (Trinity Lloyds) (Dallas, TX), all members of the AmTrust Group (AmTrust) (New York, NY). The positive outlook assigned to the members of AmTrust was extended following approval of intercompany reinsurance agreements with AmTrust International Insurance, Ltd. (AII) (Bermuda), a member of AmTrust.

On June 12, 2008, A.M. Best affirmed the FSRs and ICRs of AmTrust and its remaining members. These ratings applied to AII, Technology Insurance Company, Inc. (Technology) (Nashua, NH), Rochdale Insurance Company (Rochdale) (New York, NY), Wesco Insurance Company (Wesco) (Dover, DE) and AmTrust International Underwriters, Limited (Dublin, Ireland) (AIUL). These members operate through an intercompany quota share reinsurance arrangement with AII. Concurrently, A.M. Best affirmed the ICR of ?bbb-? of the parent holding company, AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. (AFSI) [NASDAQ: AFSI]. At that time, the outlook for these members? ratings was revised to positive from stable.

MCIC, SNIC, Trinity Lloyds and TUIC provide the group additional diversification with a platform that currently writes small commercial packages, workers? compensation and commercial automobile policies.

For Best?s Ratings, an overview of the rating process and rating methodologies, please visit http://www.ambest.com/ratings.

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