A.M. Best Co. today affirmed the financial strength ratings of 36 Canadian insurers, downgraded the ratings of four, upgraded the ratings of nine and assigned ratings to three Canadian property/casualty insurers.

The ratings agency says its revised ratings are based solely upon public information and present the most informed view, short of an insurer participating in the full interactive rating process.

A.M. Best’s public data ratings are assigned to insurers in select markets that do not subscribe to A.M. Best’s interactive rating process. A.M. Best says it uses the same rating scale and definitions as it does for its long-term financial strength interactive ratings but applies a pd rating modifier to ensure the user is aware of the more limited information basis for the rating.

An interactive A.M. Best rating is produced at the request of the insurer. The rating process includes detailed interviews of senior management and access to non-public data and other information. Information on issues that is typically limited in the public domain plays a significant part in the interactive rating analysis. A.M. Best interactively rates a majority of insurers in Canada.

For a complete list of the revised public data ratings, please see the company’s news release.