|
Frequently Asked Questions: Best's Statement File - Global
What is Best's Statement File - Global?
What will I receive with my purchase of Best's Statement File - Global?
How can Best's Statement File - Global be used?
What are some key features of Best's Statement File - Global?
What is BestLink for Excel?
How is the data collected and validated for the financial products?
Is Best's Statement File - Global available as an online service?
I would like unlimited access to updated online AMB Credit Reports. How do I obtain that?
What network options are available?
Can I customize reports to display the specifications and data I need?
Can I create graphical representations of the data?
What are Historical AMB Credit Reports?
What is BestAlert Service?
How do I access news stories delivered to me via BestAlert Service?
How much does Best's Statement File - Global cost, and how can I order?
Is product training available?
What is Best's Statement File - Global?
Best's Statement File - Global is designed to be the most powerful insurance ratings and financial data analysis system available. It is ideal as a market security or insurer/reinsurer credit system, as it provides access to financial data on approximately 11,000 insurers worldwide and access to all Best's Company Reports. It includes BestAlert Service, which notifies you of changes in ratings and news for the companies you need to follow.
Back to Top
What will I receive with my purchase of Best's Statement File - Global?
You will receive a CD-ROM, installation guide and easy-to-understand manual with details on using the product. You will also receive frequent data updates, ensuring that you have the most up-to-date and accurate information.
Back to Top
How can Best's Statement File - Global be used?
The system is designed specifically for the professional insurance analyst who needs access to timely, accurate and comprehensive financial data and ratings. It is ideal for insurers, reinsurers, managing agents, brokers/agents, banks and consultancies. Uses include:
· Insurer & reinsurer market security analysis
· Counterparty credit risk
· Market & competitor analysis
· Cedant analysis
· Investment banking research
· Equity & fixed income research
· Business planning & market targeting
· Strategic research - mergers, acquisitions
Back to Top
What are some key features of Best's Statement File - Global?
· Financial data on approximately 11,000 insurers and reinsurers from more than 90 countries
· Covers Composite, Non-Life (Property/Casualty) and Life insurers
· Over 4,500 insurers rated
· Seamless links to the latest Best's Ratings, company reports and news from the A.M. Best Web site
· BestAlert Service e-mail notification system for rating actions and news
· Coming in 2007: BestLink for Excel, which allows users to access A.M. Best's financial data directly from the Web
· Data presented both 'as reported' and in our 'universal' A.M. Best format.
· Country-specific data templates for more than 30 countries (many in the local language as well as English)
· Balance sheet, income statement, ratio report and corporate details on each company
· Easy-to-use query, ratio, template and peer group builders for producing customized reports
· Excel Add-in allows users to create reports and query the database from Excel.
· Single-user, multi-user (LAN) or Unlimited user options
Back to Top
What is BestLink for Excel?
BestLink for Excel allows users of several products in A.M. Best's Insurance Industry Financial Suite to integrate the latest rating and financial data directly into their Excel-based research projects from the Web. This new offering is the first to use our new Web Services architecture, powered by A.M. Best's online Global Insurance & Banking Database.
BestLink for Excel features a series of Wizards and Quick Reports that let users download professional data presentations covering such items as Best's Company Profile Reports, Best's Ratings Profile Reports, Best's Executive Summary Reports, Best's Market Share Reports, Best's Insurance Expense Exhibit Studies and Statement Pages, depending on the product purchased. Users can also create Custom Reports, selecting the companies, data fields, years (up to 11) and, in some cases, the states and lines of business required for their research.
BestLink for Excel will be available to purchasers of Best's Statement File - Global later in 2007. This feature is available to purchasers of Best's Statement File (Property/Casualty, Life/Health and Health, including Separate Accounts), Best's State/Line (Property/Casualty Lines, Life Lines, A&H Lines and Health Lines), Best's Insurance Expense Exhibit and Best's Schedule P.
Back to Top
How is the data collected and validated for the financial products?
A.M. Best collects annual and quarterly statement data from thousands of companies (property/casualty and life/health companies, HMOs, alternative-market entities and others). The data is prepared and submitted on software programs (such as BestESP Services) in the manner defined by the requirements of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
To ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data, we perform an exhaustive series of inter- and intra-page and current- to prior-year cross-checks. Major errors or inconsistencies that cannot be rectified by A.M. Best are reviewed with the insurer for further clarification when possible. We lead the industry in cross-checking calculations, devoting vast resources to the data-validation effort.
Back to Top
Is Best's Statement File - Global available as an online service?
Best's Statement File - Global is designed to maximize the benefits of both the PC and Internet platforms. PCs and Fileservers excel at working with data; the Internet is superb at delivering real-time information. Thus, Best's Statement File - Global manages the data on your PC or Fileserver but utilizes the Web for real-time information such as Best's Ratings, Best's Company Reports and news. You get the best of both informational systems.
Back to Top
I would like unlimited access to updated online AMB Credit Reports. How do I obtain that?
With Best's Statement File - Global, you already have unlimited access to updated online AMB Credit Reports, as it is an integral part of the system and is included in your subscription. AMB Credit Reports are accessible via the Online Options, ensuring that you have real-time access.
Back to Top
What network options are available?
Our financial data products are available in stand-alone or network versions.
Back to Top
Can I customize reports to display the specifications and data I need?
Yes. The 'Create/Edit Field List' feature enables you to create ratios and reports tailored to fit your needs. You can then manipulate the data using the standard routines in the system.
Back to Top
Can I create graphical representations of the data?
Yes. Best's Statement File - Global offers virtually unlimited graphing options, which you can easily export into other Windows applications for use in your reports or presentations.
Back to Top
What are Historical AMB Credit Reports?
An archive of Historical AMB Credit Reports -- Insurance Professional (Unabridged) dating back to 2001 is available online as part of A.M. Best's line of standard product offerings. The archived reports, previously available only on a custom basis, present A.M. Best's analysis and commentary on property/casualty, life and health insurers at the time of each report's release.
Each historical report costs $50; stand-alone and LAN purchasers of the following A.M. Best products can buy reports for $35 each for the companies listed in the product edition they've purchased: Best's Insurance Reports, Best's Captive Center - Premium Data & Reports, Best's Health Center - Premium Data & Reports, Best's Reinsurance Center - Premium Data & Reports and Best's Statement File - Global. Customers who have Unlimited subscriptions to these products can access archived reports free of charge.
Archived reports can be purchased in print or online. To purchase a printed report, call Customer Service at (908) 439-2200, ext. 5742. Online reports are available through Best's Rating Center, www.ambest.com/ratings, by typing the name of the desired company into the search box, selecting the specific company from the list of search results and choosing "AMB Credit Report -- Insurance Professional (Unabridged) Archive" from the Reports and News section. Displayed in HTML format, the reports can be viewed online for 14 days from the date of purchase and printed for personal use.
Back to Top
What is BestAlert Service?
BestAlert Service is a notification and tracking system offered to purchasers of specific A.M. Best products. Registered users can track and receive notice of selected insurance company rating changes, related news and other company-specific information.
Back to Top
How do I access news stories delivered to me via BestAlert Service?
In order to access the full text of the news articles contained in your BestAlert Service e-mail, you need a subscription to BestWeek. Visit www.ambest.com/sales/bestweek for more information.
Back to Top
How much does Best's Statement File - Global cost, and how can I order?
For pricing information or to order:
In the U.S.: Call (908) 439-2200, ext. 5803.
U.K./Europe and all other locations: Call +44 (0) 207 626 6264
Back to Top
Is product training available?
Yes. A.M. Best offers a variety of training workshops for our online and CD-ROM-based products. You'll become familiar with product features, learn to navigate through the various screens and discover time-saving tips and shortcuts. To register for training or to arrange a session at your site, please call (908) 439-2200, ext. 5115. Or e-mail training@ambest.com.
Back to Top
|
