The ranking made has been achieved on the basis of a study conducted by the magazine “Reactions” at the level of its readers. In its “2004 Reaction Awards” edition, the magazine has proceeded to a survey for the ranking of the best firms, taking into account the performances achieved in 2003 and the start 2004.
Top 5 of primary insurance companies
| Primary insurance |
|---|
| 1 | AIG |
| 2 | Axa |
| 3 | Allianz |
| 4 | Zurich |
| 5 | Ace |
In 2003, AIG achieved 9.3 billion USD in net profit, that is a 68% growth compared to 2002.
With 43% of the votes, the group comes well ahead of its competitors. Axa, ranking second, has managed to get only 9% of the votes.
Top 5 of primary insurance companies by region
The AIG group tops the list of companies in 4 regions out of five. It is in Europe that the German insurer, Allianz, managed to strip AIG of the top position.
| North America |
|---|
| 1 | AIG |
| 2 | Chubb |
| 3 | XL |
| 4 | Hartford |
| 5 | ACE |
| Latin America |
|---|
| 1 | AIG |
| 2 | Mapfre |
| 3 | ING |
| 4 | - |
| 5 | - |
| Europe |
|---|
| 1 | Allianz |
| 2 | Axa |
| 3 | Zurich |
| 4 | AIG |
| 5 | HDI |
| Asia Pacific |
|---|
| 1 | AIG |
| 2 | Mitsui |
| 3 | Sompo |
| 4 | Allianz |
| 5 | Tokyo Marine |
| Africa |
|---|
| 1 | AIG ( SA) |
| 2 | Santam (SA) |
| 3 | RMA (Morocco) |
| 4 | Old Mutual (SA) |
| 5 | - |
In North America, AIG gathered 42% of the votes, preceding Chubb in second position with only 7% of the votes.
In South East Asia, AIG stands firm in first position with 37% of the votes, ahead of Mitsui which picked up only 7% of the votes.
With 14% of the votes, the Royale Marocaine d'Assurance (RMA), (Royal Moroccan Insurance) is ranking third in Africa, which is an outstanding performance worthy of consideration. RMA is one of the best companies in northern Africa. Its excellent performances have impressed the voters so much that it came ahead of South Africa's Old Mutual.
Top 5 of reinsurance companies
| Reinsurance |
|---|
| 1 | Munich Re |
| 2 | Swiss Re |
| 3 | Renaissance Re |
| 4 | Endurance |
| 5 | Hannover Re |
| Speciality lines |
|---|
| 1 | Lloyd's |
| 2 | Munich Re |
| 3 | Partner Re |
| 4 | Hannover Re |
| 5 | Endurance |
| Casualty reinsurance |
|---|
| 1 | General Re |
| 2 | Swiss Re |
| 3 | Munich Re |
| 4 | Endurance |
| 5 | Hannover Re |
| Property catastrophe |
|---|
| 1 | Renaissance Re |
| 2 | Swiss Re |
| 3 | Munich Re |
| 4 | General Re |
| 5 | Hannover Re |
Munich Re is one of the best-rated reinsurance companies on the market. It stands among the first three companies in all classes.
London's Lloyd tops the list in the reinsurance of special risks. It has reported an improved rating for this August by AM Best Agency, which granted it an A instead of A-.
Top 5 of reinsurance brokers
| Reinsurance broker |
|---|
| 1 | Guy Carpenter |
| 2 | Benfield |
| 3 | Willis |
| 4 | Aon |
| 5 | Arthur J. Gallagher |
With 32% of the votes, Guy Carpenter is ranking the year's best reinsurance broker.
Top 5 of rating agencies
| Rating agencies |
|---|
| 1 | S&P |
| 2 | AM Best |
| 3 | Moody's |
| 4 | Fitch |
| 5 | - |
With almost half the votes on its side, S&P agency renews with top position as it tops the list for the second year in a row. The gap between S&P and AM Best has grown even wider in 2004 as it jumped from 4% to 16.5% of the votes. AM Best remains, nonetheless, quite popular as it holds one third of the votes of “Reaction” readers.
