A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of "a-" to the GeoVera Insurance Group and its members. The group consists of the following four operating entities: GeoVera Insurance Company, USF&G Specialty Insurance Company (both domiciled in Hunt Valley, MD), Pacific Select Property Insurance Company (Fairfield, CA) and GeoVera Re, Ltd. (Bermuda). The three U.S. domiciled entities were previously assigned a FSR of A+ (Superior) and an ICR of "aa-" as a result of their prior affiliation through inter-company reinsurance agreements with St. Paul Travelers Insurance Companies (St. Paul, MN). However, the companies were placed under review with negative implications on August 9, 2005, following the announcement by The St. Paul Travelers Companies, Inc. (St. Paul MN) regarding the signing of a definitive agreement to sell the three entities to a group of outside investors. The outlook on all ratings is stable.

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For Best's Debt Ratings, all other Best's Ratings, an overview of the rating process and rating methodologies, please visit Best's Rating Center.

A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength ratings (FSR) and debt ratings of the operating subsidiaries of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (RenaissanceRe) (Bermuda) [NYSE: RNR]. A.M. Best has downgraded the FSR of Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd. to A (Excellent) from A+ (Superior); the FSRs of the operating subsidiaries of Glencoe Group Holdings Ltd. (Glencoe) to A- (Excellent) from A (Excellent); the FSRs of the operating subsidiaries of Overseas Partners Cat Limited to A- (Excellent) from A (Excellent); and the ICR of DaVinci Reinsurance Ltd. (DaVinci) to "a" from "a+". A.M. Best has also downgraded the issuer credit rating (ICR) of RenaissanceRe to "bbb" from "a-" and downgraded its debt ratings. All ratings remain under review with negative implications.

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FSLSO has published a "Citizens Assessment Consumer Guide" in an effort to help member agents educate their customers on the Citizens Assessment.  The card provides a brief explanation of the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, an overview of the assessment and relative FAQs.  The card was formatted for a standard sized envelop as to include the card with the consumers invoice and/or policy confirmation mailing.

These consumer guides are free-of-charge and member agents may order as many as needed to serve their customers.  Please visit the following link to order:
http://www.fslso.com/goto.aspx?ID=44