A.M. Best Withdraws Ratings of Pacific Northwest Title Insurance Company Inc Due to Merger

A.M. Best Co. has withdrawn the financial strength rating (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a-” of Pacific Northwest Title Insurance Company Inc (Pacific Northwest) (Seattle, WA), a former affiliate of First American Title Insurance Company (FATICO) (Santa Ana, CA). At the same time, A.M. Best has assigned an NR-5 (Not Formally Followed) to the FSR and an “nr” to the ICR.

As of June, 30, 2010, Pacific Northwest was merged into FATICO, which is a member of the First American Title Insurance Group.

The principal methodology used in determining these ratings is http://www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology/bcrm.pdf , which provides a comprehensive explanation of A.M. Best’s rating process and highlights the different rating criteria employed. Methodologies can be found at http://www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology.