A.M. Best Removes Ratings of Fidelity National Financial, Inc. and Its …

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A.M. Best Removes Ratings of Fidelity National Financial, Inc. and Its …

OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A.M. Best Co. has removed from under review with negative
implications and affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of A
(Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of Fidelity
National Financial Group
(Fidelity) and its eight title insurance
members. In addition, A.M. Best has removed from under review with
negative implications and affirmed the ICR of “bbb” of Fidelity
National Financial, Inc.
(FNF) (headquartered in Jacksonville, FL)
(NYSE: FNF). A negative outlook has been assigned to all of the ratings.
(Please see below for a detailed listing of the companies and ratings.)

The ratings of FNF and Fidelity have been removed from under review
following the announcement of the termination of Fidelity’s proposed
merger agreement with LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc. following a two
week due diligence period which expired on November 21st. The
ratings had previously been placed under review as A.M. Best assessed
the implications of Fidelity’s recently announced plans to acquire the
LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc. (LandAmerica), the third-largest
national writer of title insurance in the United States. (Please see
A.M. Best’s Press Release dated November 11, 2008.)

Fidelity’s negative rating outlook is primarily based on the title
group’s recent unfavorable operating results following the announcement
of $262 million in reserve strengthening due partly to higher than
expected adverse development of claims from policy years 2006 and 2007,
along with a somewhat more conservative estimate of expected claims from
the current policy year. (Please see A.M. Best’s press release dated
October 30th, 2008 for further information).

The FSR of A (Excellent) and ICRs of “a” have been removed from under
review with negative implications and affirmed for Fidelity National
Financial Group
and its following members:

  • Alamo Title Insurance
  • Chicago Title Insurance Company of Oregon
  • Chicago Title Insurance Company
  • Fidelity National Title Insurance Company
  • National Title Insurance of New York, Inc.
  • Security Union Title Insurance Company
  • Ticor Title Insurance Company of Florida
  • Ticor Title Insurance Company

The ICR of “bbb” has been removed from under review with negative
implications and affirmed for Fidelity National Financial, Inc.

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

Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is a global full-service credit
rating organization dedicated to serving the financial and health care
service industries, including insurance companies, banks, hospitals and
health care system providers. For more information, visit
www.ambest.com.

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A.M. Best Removes Ratings of Fidelity National Financial, Inc. and Its …

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