Chronology of Events

1899 - December 14^th

• Alfred Magilton Best incorporated the Alfred M. Best Company, Inc. in New York, with an office in Manhattan's Insurance District.

1900

• Introduced the flagship publication Best's Insurance Reports, now known as Best's Insurance Reports®--P/C, US & Canada.
• Introduced Best's Insurance News, a monthly supplement to Best's Insurance Reports. Now known as Best's Review^®.

1904

• Determined the losses of Fire insurance companies affected by the Baltimore Conflagration. Published first-hand reports in Best's Insurance News, now known as Best's Review^®.

1905

• Acquired Insurers Reporting Company.

1906

• Printed the first ratings of Property/Casualty insurance companies in the selectively available Confidential List of Surplus Line Companies and Associations.
• Determined the losses of Fire insurance companies involved in the San Francisco Conflagration. Published first-hand reports in Best's Insurance News, now known as Best's Review^®.
• Introduced Best's Life Insurance Reports as a result of the Armstrong Committee's investigation of the life insurance business. Now known as Best's Insurance Reports®--L/H, US & Canada.
• Introduced Best's Life Insurance News, a monthly supplement to Best's Life Insurance Reports. Now known as Best's Review^®.

1907

• Introduced the first volume of published ratings in Best's Key Ratings of Licensed Joint-Stock Fire Insurance Companies. Now known as Best's Key Rating Guide®--P/C, US & Canada.
• Published the first Special Report, the popular Special Report Upon San Francisco Losses and Settlements. This was a final report on the total losses of insurance companies affected by the San Francisco earthquake.

1920

• Purchased and relocated to 75 Fulton Street in Lower Manhattan. The Best Building would remain the company's headquarters for forty-five years.

1925

• Introduced insurance specialist listings in Best's Insurance News, now known as Best's Review^®. Now available in print as Best's Directories of Recommended Insurance Attorneys and Adjusters and online through Best's Insurance Professionals Center.

1928

• Published Best's first ratings of Life insurance companies in Best's Life Rating Chart. Now known as Best's Key Rating Guide®--L/H, US & Canada.

1929

• Introduced Best's Directory of Attorneys as an independent publication. Now available in print as Best's Directory of Recommended Insurance Attorneys and Adjusters and online through Best's Insurance Professionals Center.
• Introduced Best's Seal of Approval, now known as BestMark for Secure-Rated Insurers.

1930

• Introduced Best's Directory of Adjusters and Investigators as an independent publication. Now available in print as Best's Directory of Recommended Insurance Attorneys and Adjusters and online through Best's Insurance Professionals Center.

1936

• Acquired Safety Magazine Publishing Corp.

1940

• Introduced the Property/Casualty edition of Best's Aggregates & Averages. Now known as Best's Aggregates & Averages--P/C, US & Canada.
• Published a Special Report on The War and the Financial Position of the Foreign Insurance Companies Entered in the United States.

1947

• Acquired Flitcraft, Inc.

1953

• Introduced Property/Casualty and Life/Health editions of Best's Weekly News Digest, now known as BestWeek® US/Canada.

1958

• Alfred M. Best named Insurance Man of the Year by the Federation of Insurance Counsel, now known as the FDCC.
• Alfred M. Best passed away in Manhattan at the age of 81.

1962

• Alfred M. Best posthumously inducted into the Griffith Foundation's Insurance Hall of Fame.

1964

• Introduced the Property/Casualty edition of Best's Executive Data Service, now known as Best's State/Line Reports--P/C, US.

1965

• Incorporated in New Jersey and relocated to Morristown, New Jersey.

1968

• The Alfred M. Best Company, Inc. became the A.M. Best Company, Inc.
• Introduced Best's Loss Control Manual, now available on CD-ROM and online through Best's Underwriting & Loss Control Center.

1969

• Acquired United Statistical Associates, Inc., publisher of Market Guide. Now available online as Best's Schedule D (Investments)--P/C and L/H, US.

1974

• Relocated to the present world headquarters in Oldwick, New Jersey.
• Introduced the Expert Service Providers section of Best's Directories of Recommended Insurance Attorneys and Adjusters, now available in print and online through Best's Insurance Professionals Center.
• Introduced Best's Underwriting Guide, now available on CD and online through Best's Underwriting & Loss Control Center.

1975

• Introduced Best's Insurance Filings Service, now available online as Best's State Rate Filings--P/C, US.

1976

• Introduced the Life/Health edition of Best's Executive Data Service, now known as Best's State/Line Reports--L/H, US.

1980

• Introduced Special Reports and Statistical Studies as sections of the publication now known as BestWeek^®.

1982

• Introduced Best's Industry Composite of Life/Health Companies, now known as Best's Aggregates & Averages--L/H, US & Canada.

1984

• Introduced A.M. Best Electronic Retrieval Service, now known as BestLink^®.

1985

• Introduced Best's Insurance Reports: International, now available as Best's Insurance Reports®--Online--Non-US.
• Introduced Best's Advance Rating Reports, now known as AMB Credit Reports--Insurance Professional.

1986

• Introduced financial statement preparation software, BestESP® Services--US.

1988

• Held the first annual insurance technology conference addressing innovative uses of technology in the industry. Now available as a series of webinars known as Insurance & Technology Webcast--E-Fusion.

1990

• Introduced Property/Casualty and Life/Health editions of Best's Experience By State (By Line) on CD-ROM. Now available online as Best's State/Line --P/C Lines, US; --Life Lines, US and --A & H Lines, US.

1991

• Introduced Property/Casualty and Life/Health editions of Best's Insurance Reports^® on CD-ROM.
• Introduced Best's Underwriting Analysis with Ratios (By Line), Insurance Expense Exhibit: Property/Casualty on CD-ROM. Now available online as Best's Insurance Expense Exhibit--P/C, US.

1992

• Introduced Best's Statement File--US, P/C and Best's Statement File--US, L/H on CD-ROM.
• Introduced BestWire^®, an online news service.

1993

• Held the first Annual Insurance Ratings Conference--Review & Preview--United States, based on the Review & Preview study, published each January as a Special Report.
• Introduced Best's Managed Care Reports: HMO. Now much of this information can be found online through Best's Health Center.

1994

• Introduced Best's Loss Reserves (Schedule P) on CD-ROM. Now available online as Best's Schedule P (Loss Reserves)--P/C, US.

1995

• Combined print editions of Best's Directory of Recommended Insurance Attorneys and Best's Directory of Recommended Insurance Adjusters into a single edition. Now known as Best's Directories of Recommended Insurance Attorneys and Adjusters, and available online through Best's Insurance Professionals Center.

1996

• Launched the A.M. Best website.
• Introduced Property/Casualty and Life/Health editions of Best's Pocket Key Rating Guide^TM as a bonus with purchase of Best's Key Rating Guide®.

1997

• Issued first rating of Lloyd's in its 300-year history.
• Established A.M. Best International, Ltd. with offices in London. Now known as A.M. Best Europe, Ltd.
• Introduced Schedule D data, formerly known as Market Guide, on CD-ROM. Now available online as Best's Schedule D (Investments)--P/C and L/H, US.
• Introduced Best's Underwriting Guide and Best's Loss Control Manual on CD-ROM. Both now available online through Best's Underwriting & Loss Control Center.

1998

• Acquired London-based Financial Intelligence & Research, Ltd.
• Introduced online version of Best's Directories of Recommended Insurance Attorneys and Adjusters. Now available online through Best's Insurance Professionals Center.
• Introduced Schedule F data on CD-ROM. Now available online as Best's Schedule F (Reinsurance)--P/C, US.
• Introduced Best's Review^® articles online.
• Launched Best's Ratings & Analysis Center.

1999

• Celebrated the 100-year anniversary of the A.M. Best Company.
• Established A.M. Best Asia-Pacific, Ltd. with offices in Hong Kong.
• Acquired Canada-based TRAC Insurance Services, Ltd.
• Introduced Best's FormsGen, financial statement preparation software for the UK, on CD-ROM. Now known as BestESP® Services--UK.
• Introduced Best's Insight Life and Best's Insight Non-Life for the UK, on CD-ROM. Now available in a combined Life and Non-Life edition of Best's Statement File--UK.
• Introduced Best's Insight Global on CD-ROM. Now known as Best's Statement File--Global.
• Introduced Property/Casualty and Life/Health editions of Best's Key Rating Guide^® on CD-ROM.
• First offered Special Reports and Statistical Studies for individual sale, separately from Best Week^®.

2000

• The size of the Oldwick, New Jersey facility doubled with the construction of a second building.
• Introduced Property/Casualty and Life/Health editions of Best's WinTrac: Canada on CD-ROM. Now known as Best's Statement File--P/C, Canada and Best's Statement File--L/H, Canada.
• Introduced BestDay^®, a daily online news service.
• Combined Property/Casualty and Life/Health editions of Best's Review^® into a single edition.

2001

• Introduced BestWeek®--Online.
• Combined Property/Casualty and Life/Health editions of BestWeek into a single edition. Now known as BestWeek® US/Canada.
• Introduced Special Reports and Statistical Studies online.
• Introduced Best's Pocket Key Rating Guide--Canada.
• Introduced company tracking service BestDirect, now known as BestAlert^® Service.

2002

• Introduced Best's State Rate Filings online.
• Presented the first E-Fusion Award, awarded annually in conjunction with the Insurance & Technology Webcast--E-Fusion.

2003

• Introduced Best's Market Share Reports, Best's Executive Summary Reports and Best's Key Rating Guide Presentation Reports, all available online.
• Introduced a UK Life and Non-Life edition of Best's Insurance Reports on CD-ROM. Now known as Best's Insurance Reports®--UK.
• Introduced Schedule S data on CD-ROM. Now available online as Best's Schedule S (Reinsurance)--L/H, US.
• Introduced Best's Rating Reports in web-ready Adobe PDF format.
• Canada-specific data added to US editions of Best's Insurance Reports®, Best's Key Rating Guide®, Best's Pocket Key Rating Guide^TM and Best's Aggregates & Averages.
• Introduced Best's Rating Certificates for secure-rated companies.
• Launched Best's Captive Center and Best's Health Center.

2004

• Introduced full online edition of Best's Review, known as Best's Review®--Digital.
• Launched Best's Property/Casualty Center and Best's Life/Health Center.
• Launched Best's Underwriting and Loss Control Center, providing online access to Best's Underwriting Guide and Best's Loss Control Manual.
• Introduced Best's Pocket Key Rating Guide--UK.

2005

• Recognized as a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (NRSRO) by the Division of Market Regulation, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
• Introduced the first edition of The Guide to Understanding the Insurance Industry, the first of The A.M. Best Guide Series, as a supplement to Best's Review.
• Introduced Bests Aggregates & Averages--Online--P/C, US & Canada and Best's Aggregates & Averages--Online--L/H, US & Canada.
• Introduced BestMark for Recommended Insurance Professionals, for --Attorneys, --Adjusters, and --Expert Service Providers.
• Launched Best's Reinsurance Center and Best's Regulatory Center--US Edition.

2006

• Launched Best's Banking Center, Best's Regulatory Center--Canada and Best's Regulatory Center--UK.
• Held the first Annual Insurance Ratings Conference--Review & Preview--Europe. with events in Cologne, Paris and London.
• Held the first Annual Insurance Marketing & Advertising Summit--IMAS--The Marketing of Insurance in New York City.
• Produced the first video presentations summarizing key Special Reports and Statistical Studies.
• Introduced Best's Stock Indexes for rated insurance companies, available online.

2007

• Issued the first ratings for Banks, Hospitals and Health Care Systems.
• Held the first Canadian Review & Preview Conference in Toronto, now known as Insurance Market Briefing--Canada.
• Launched Best's Insurance-Linked Securities Center and A.M. Best's Consumer Insurance Center.
• Introduced AMB Credit Reports, --Business Professional, --Consumer, --Banking Professional and --Health Care Professional, available in print and online.
• Published BestWeek® Europe online.
• Introduced Best's Corporate Changes and Retirements online, as a bonus for subscribers.
• Introduced The Guide to Understanding Consumer Insurance and The Guide to Understanding Business Insurance Products as part of The A.M. Best Guide Series.
• Introduced Best's GAAP online.

2008

• Alfred M. Best posthumously inducted into the Insurance Media Association's Insurance Media Hall of Fame.
• Introduced Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio Adjustment System--P/C, US, available online.
• Introduced BestWeek® Asia/Pacific online.
• Launched Best's Title & Mortgage Guarantee Center.
• Introduced The Guide to Understanding Employee Benefits and The Guide to Understanding Insurance Ratings as part of The A.M. Best Guide Series.

2009

• Launched Best's Insurance Professionals Center, providing online access to Best's Directories of --Insurance Adjusters, --Insurance Attorneys, --Expert Service Providers, --Captive Managers, --Insurance Actuaries, --Insurance Auditors and --Third Party Administrators.
• Introduced Best's State Banking Reports--US & DC, available online.
• Launched Best's Health Care Systems Center and Best's Regulatory Center--European Union Edition.
• Introduced The Guide to Understanding Insurance Marketing as part of The A.M. Best Guide Series.
• Introduced Best's Insurance Reports--Online--P/C, US & Canada, Best's Insurance Reports--Online--L/H, US & Canada and Best's Insurance Reports--Online--Non-US.