Chronology of the A.M. Best Company
The Insurance Information Source

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®--Property/Casualty, United States & Canada. Currently available in print, CD-ROM and online.
• Introduced Best's Insurance News as a monthly supplement to Best's Insurance Reports. Now known as Best's Review^®, currently available in print and online.

1904

• Determined the losses of fire insurance companies affected by the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904 and published first-hand reports in Best's Insurance News (Best's Review).

1905

• Acquired Insurers Reporting Company.

1906

• Printed the first ratings of property and 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 Earthquake and Conflagration of 1906. Published first-hand reports in Best's Insurance News (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®--Life/Health, United States & Canada, currently available in print, CD-ROM and online.
• Introduced Best's Life Insurance News as a monthly supplement to Best's Life Insurance Reports (Best's Insurance Reports®--Life/Health, United States & Canada). Now known as Best's Review^®, currently available in print, CD-ROM and online.

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®--Property/Casualty, United States & Canada, currently available in print and online.
• Published the popular "Special Report Upon San Francisco Losses and Settlements," a final report on the total losses of insurance companies affected by the San Francisco Earthquake and Conflagration of 1906. This was considered the first of Best's Special Reports, currently available online; selected reports available in print.

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 (Best's Review). Now available in print as Best's Directories of Recommended Insurance Attorneys and Adjusters and online through Best's Directories of Insurance Professionals.

1928

• Published the first ratings of life insurance companies in Best's Life Rating Chart. Now known as Best's Key Rating Guide®--Life/Health, United States & Canada, currently available in print and online.

1929

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

1936

• Acquired Safety Magazine Publishing Corp.

1940

• Introduced the property/casualty insurance edition of Best's Aggregates & Averages. Now known as Best's Aggregates & Averages--Property/Casualty, United States & Canada, currently available in print and online.
• Published a special report on "The War and the Financial Position of the Foreign Insurance Companies Entered in the United States." Best's Special Reports are currently available online, and selected reports in print.

1947

• Acquired Illinois-based life insurance industry publisher Flitcraft, Inc.

1953

• Introduced property/casualty and life/health editions of Best's Weekly News Digest. Now known as BestWeek® US/Canada, currently available in print and online.

1958

• Alfred M. Best named Insurance Man of the Year by the Federation of Insurance Counsel (now the FDCC.)
• Alfred Magilton 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 available in print as Best's State/Line Reports--Property/Casualty, United States.

1965

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

1968

• The Alfred M. Best Company, Inc. was renamed A.M. Best Company, Inc.
• Introduced Best's Loss Control Manual, now available online through Best's Underwriting & Loss Control Center.

1969

• Acquired United Statistical Associates, Inc., publisher of Market Guide. Now known as Best's Schedule D (Investments)--Property/Casualty & Life/Health, United States, available on CD-ROM and online through BestLink.

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. Currently available in print, and online as Best's Directory of Recommended Expert Service Providers.
• Introduced Best's Underwriting Guide, now available online through Best's Underwriting & Loss Control Center.

1975

• Introduced Best's Insurance Filings Service, now available online as Best's State Rate Filings--Property/Casualty, United States.

1976

• Introduced a life/health edition of Best's Executive Data Service. Now available in print as Best's State/Line Reports--Life/Health, United States.

1980

• Introduced Best's Special Reports and Best's Statistical Studies as sections in Best's Insurance Management Reports (BestWeek US/Canada).

1982

• Introduced Best's Industry Composite of Life/Health Companies. Now known as Best's Aggregates & Averages--Life/Health, United States & Canada, available in print and online.

1984

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

1985

• Introduced Best's Insurance Reports: International. Now known as Best's Insurance Reports®--Non-US, available on CD-ROM and online through BestLink.
• Introduced Best's Advance Rating Reports. Now known as AMB Credit Reports--Insurance Professional, available online through BestLink.

1986

• Introduced financial statement preparation software BestESP® Services--United States, currently available online.

1990

• Introduced property/casualty and life/health editions of Best's Experience By State (By Line) on CD-ROM. Now known as Best's State/Line--Property/Casualty Lines, United States, Best's State/Line--Life Lines, United States and Best's State/Line--Accident & Health Lines, United States. All available on CD-ROM and online through BestLink.

1991

• Introduced property/casualty and life/health editions of Best's Insurance Reports^® on CD-ROM. Now available in print, CD-ROM and online.
• First released Insurance Expense Exhibit data on CD-ROM. Now known as Best's Insurance Expense Exhibit--Property/Casualty, United States, available on CD-ROM and online through BestLink.

1992

• Introduced Best's Statement File--United States, Property/Casualty and Best's Statement File--United States, Life/Health, available on CD-ROM and online through BestLink.
• Introduced online news service BestWire^®, now available through the Best's Insurance News & Analysis Web site.

1993

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

1994

• First released Schedule P data on CD-ROM. Now known as Best's Schedule P (Loss Reserves)--Property/Casualty, United States, available on CD-ROM and online through BestLink.

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 available in print as Best's Directories of Recommended Insurance Attorneys and Adjusters and online through Best's Directories of Insurance Professionals.

1996

• Launched ambest.com, the A.M. Best website.
• Introduced property/casualty and life/health editions of Best's Pocket Key Rating Guide^® as a bonus with purchase of Best's Key Rating Guide. Available in print.

1997

• Issued the first rating of Lloyd's in its 300-year history.
• Established A.M. Best International, Ltd. with offices in London. Now two distinct companies: A.M. Best Europe-Rating Services Ltd. and A.M. Best Europe-Information Services, Ltd.
• First released Schedule D data on CD-ROM. Now known as Best's Schedule D (Investments)--Property/Casualty and Life/Health, United States, available on CD-ROM and online through BestLink.

1998

• Acquired London-based Financial Intelligence & Research, Ltd.
• Introduced online version of Best's Directories of Recommended Insurance Attorneys and Adjusters. Now available in print, and online as Best's Directories of Insurance Professionals.
• First released Schedule F data on CD-ROM. Now known as Best's Schedule F (Reinsurance)--Property/Casualty, United States, available on CD-ROM and online through BestLink.
• Introduced Best's Review^® articles online. Now available in print and online.
• Launched the Ratings & Criteria Center on ambest.com.

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 company TRAC Insurance Services, Ltd.
• Introduced Best's FormsGen, financial statement preparation software for the UK. Now known as BestESP® Services--United Kingdom, available on CD-ROM and online.
• Introduced Best's Insight Life and Best's Insight Non-Life for the UK. Now available online through BestLink in a combined edition known as Best's Statement File--United Kingdom.
• Introduced Best's Insight Global. Now known as Best's Statement File--Global, available online through BestLink.
• First offered Best's Special Reports and Best's Statistical Studies for individual sale, separately from Best Week. Now available online; some special reports are available in print.

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. Now known as Best's Statement File--Property/Casualty, Canada and Best's Statement File--Life/Health, Canada, available on CD-ROM and online through BestLink.
• Introduced daily online news service BestDay^®, available via e-mail and through the Best's Insurance News & Analysis Web site.
• Combined property/casualty and life/health editions of Best's Review^® into a single edition. Available in print and online.

2001

• Introduced a full online edition of BestWeek® US/Canada, now available in print and online.
• Combined property/casualty and life/health editions of BestWeek into a single edition. Now known as BestWeek® US/Canada, available in print and online.
• Introduced Best's Special Reports and Best's Statistical Studies online. Currently available online; selected special reports are available in print.
• Introduced Best's Pocket Key Rating Guide--Canada. Available in print.
• Introduced company-tracking system BestDirect, now known as BestAlert^® Service.

2002

• Introduced Best's State Rate Filings online.

2003

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

2004

• Introduced a full online edition of Best's Review, known as Best's Review®--Digital. Available in print and online.
• Launched Best's Property/Casualty Center and Best's Life/Health Center on ambest.com.
• 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--United Kingdom. Available in print.

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 of The A.M. Best Guide Series, The Guide to Understanding the Insurance Industry, as a supplement to Best's Review. Now known as Insurance Facts and Stats, available as an annual supplement to Best's Review and as a stand-alone publication.
• Introduced Bests Aggregates & Averages--Online--Property/Casualty, United States & Canada and Best's Aggregates & Averages--Online--Life/Health, United States & Canada. Now available in print and online.
• Introduced BestMark for Recommended Insurance Professionals, for Attorneys, Adjusters, and Expert Service Providers.
• Launched Best's Reinsurance Center and Best's Regulatory Center--United States Edition.

2006

• Launched Best's Regulatory Center--Canada and Best's Regulatory Center--United Kingdom.
• Held the first European Review & Preview conference, with events in Cologne, Paris and London. Now known as the annual Insurance Market Briefing--Europe.
• Held the first annual Insurance Marketing & Advertising Summit (IMAS) in New York City.
• Produced the first video presentations summarizing key Best's Special Reports and Best's Statistical Studies.
• Introduced Best's Stock Indexes for rated insurance companies, available online.
• Introduced a downloadable online edition of Best's Key Rating Guide®--Property/Casualty, United States & Canada and Best's Key Rating Guide®--Life/Health, United States & Canada. Currently available in print and online.

2007

• 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--Insurance Professional, available in print and online, and AMB Credit Reports--Consumer, available online.
• First published BestWeek® Europe, available online.
• Introduced online database Best's Corporate Changes and Retirements 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, currently available through BestLink^®.

2008

• Alfred M. Best posthumously inducted into the Insurance Media Association's Insurance Media Hall of Fame.
• Introduced desktop application Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio Adjustment System--Property/Casualty, United States.
• First published BestWeek® Asia/Pacific, available online.
• Launched Best's Title & Mortgage Guaranty Center on ambest.com.
• 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 Actuaries, Adjusters, Attorneys, Auditors, Expert Service Providers, Legal and Claims Officials and Third Party Administrators.
• Launched Best's Regulatory Center--European Union Edition.
• Named Best Global Rating Agency by Reactions.
• Introduced The Guide to Understanding Insurance Marketing as part of The A.M. Best Guide Series.
• Introduced an online edition of Best's Insurance Reports for Property/Casualty, Life/Health and Non-US. All available on CD-ROM and online through BestLink^®. Property/Casualty and Life/Health also available in print.

2010

• Launched Best's Library Center, an online service available exclusively to public and academic libraries.
• A.M. Best Europe Ltd. divided into A.M. Best Europe - Rating Services Ltd. and A.M. Best Europe - Information Services Ltd.

2011

• Launched Best's Insurance News & Analysis, a single-point-of-entry Web site for all of A.M. Best's news products and analytical content.
• Introduced quarterly e-newsletter BestConnect, to deliver news about firms listed in Best's Directories of Insurance Professionals to insurance industry decision makers.
• Launched Best's Agent Center, an online resource for independent agents.
• A Best's Review Webinar and interactive white paper on "The State of the Surplus Lines Market" won a Showcase Award from the Insurance Marketing & Communications Association.
• Best's Review received awards from FOLIO: Magazine and Trade, Association and Business Publications International for its series "The Katrina Efffect." The Best's Review story "On the Rise" won an additional award from Trade, Association and Business Publications International.

2012

• Named Best Global Rating Agency by Reactions for the fourth consecutive year.
• Established A.M. Best MENA, South & Central Asia with an office in the Dubai International Finance Centre, UAE.
• Opened an office in Miami, Florida to serve the growing market for insurance ratings in the Latin America region.
• Introduced a new edition of Best's Statement File for Latin America, MENA (Middle East & North Africa) and Asia-Pacific.
• Hosted the first Indonesia Seminar in Jakarta and the first Vietnam Seminar in Hanoi.
• Held the first Insurance Market Briefing--Bermuda.