A.M. Best Withdraws Ratings of Fort Wayne Health & Casualty Insurance Company

Business Wire, Feb 12, 2007

OLDWICK, N.J. -- A.M. Best Co. has withdrawn the financial strength rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of "a" and assigned a category of NR-5 (Not Formally Followed) to Fort Wayne Health & Casualty Insurance Company (Ft. Wayne) (Fort Wayne, IN), a subsidiary of Swiss Reinsurance America Corporation (Swiss Re America) (Armonk, NY).

Effective October 1, 2006, Ft. Wayne was merged into North American Specialty Insurance Company (North American Specialty) (New Hampshire), another subsidiary of Swiss Re America.

North American Specialty and Swiss Re America have FSRs of A (Superior) and ICRs of "aa". The FSRs have a stable outlook, and the ICRs have a negative outlook. These companies' FSRs, ICRs and outlooks are reflective of their ultimate parent, Swiss Reinsurance Company (Switzerland).

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 full-service credit rating organization dedicated to serving the financial services industries, including the banking and insurance sectors. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.