Association of Lloyd's Members & A.M. Best Sign Contract for Lloyd's Results Publication

The Association of Lloyd's Members (ALM) and A.M. Best International have signed a three-year contract under which Best will produce ALM's Lloyd's Spring Review and Lloyd's Market Results & Prospects. A.M. Best International will provide data, analysis and commentary for the ALM's annual Lloyd's Market review publications, which assist members of the Association with their Lloyd's underwriting business.

The ALM's 400-plus page annual Lloyd's Market Results & Prospects publication is a detailed annual review of Lloyd's. It analyzes syndicates, managing agents, members' agents, MAPA's and quoted Lloyd's Companies. Since 1985, the content was provided by Financial Intelligence & Research Ltd. A.M. Best acquired FI&R in June 1998 and renamed it A.M. Best International Ltd.

"I am delighted that the Association has secured a contract with A.M. Best, particularly in view of its key role in rating the Lloyd's Market," said Michael Deeny, ALM chairman. "I am confident that our relationship with A.M. Best will prove to be of substantial benefit to the members of the ALM and will give them financial analysis and data of the highest quality."

"The acquisition of this contract, alongside our established rating of Lloyd's and many London Market companies, reinforces our expertise and commitment to the Lloyd's Market," said Jack Snyder, managing director of AM Best International. "The fact that we secured this contract in the face of tough competition says a great deal about the quality of A.M. Best's Lloyd's Market data, Lloyd's Market knowledge, our people and analytical capabilities. In this respect, we were able to draw on the resources available at both A.M. Best International (Products & Services) and A.M. Best Europe (Ratings) and thus have been able to offer an exceptional service to the ALM. We place tremendous value in our relationship with the Lloyd's Market and see our association with the ALM as an important enhancement to our position as the leading analysis firm of Lloyd's."

The ALM contract places the production, packaging and delivery of the Lloyd's Market Results & Prospects publication in the hands of A.M. Best International-not only the provision of the data and analytical services, as had been the case with FI&R. However, the nature of the joint development of the publication continues under the new agreement, with the intention of ensuring that the publication continues to evolve in line with development in the Lloyd's market.

The 1999 edition of the ALM's Lloyd's Spring Review is planned for release in April, while Lloyd's Market Results & Prospects will be published in June 1999. Both are provided free of charge to ALM members. Further developments are planned, and A.M. Best is expected to announce the availability of a new Lloyd's publication aimed at non-ALM members shortly.