About Us

Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

A Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Social Media

Bluesky • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube

Meet the Laser Focus World Team

Editorial

Sales

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology
My Watchlist
Indicators
Industrial Laser Index
Markets
Stocks
ETFs
Tools
Markets:
Overview
News
Currencies
International
Treasuries

AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Atlantic American Corporation and Its Subsidiaries

By: via Business Wire

AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICRs) of “a” (Excellent) of American Southern Insurance Company (Topeka, KS), and its wholly owned and 100% reinsured subsidiary, American Safety Insurance Company, (collectively referred to as American Southern Group). Additionally, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICRs of “a-” (Excellent) of Bankers Fidelity Life Insurance Company, and its wholly owned and 100% reinsured subsidiaries, Bankers Fidelity Assurance Company and Atlantic Capital Life Assurance Company, (collectively referred to as Bankers Fidelity Life Insurance Group [BFLIG]). Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term ICR of “bbb-” (Good) of the publicly traded parent company, Atlantic American Corporation (Atlantic American) [NASDAQ: AAME]. All companies are domiciled Atlanta, GA, unless otherwise specified. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings of American Southern Group reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

American Southern Group’s balance sheet strength is supported by the strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), moderate underwriting leverage and an appropriate reinsurance program. Financial flexibility is sufficient considering the group’s strongest BCAR scores and access to capital markets through Atlantic American. These positive rating factors are partially offset by the group’s substantial annual stockholder dividend payments to Atlantic American, who uses it to service its debt. The ratings also consider the financial leverage and interest coverage at Atlantic American, with an adjusted debt-to-capital ratio of 19.9% as of Sept. 30, 2024. The interest coverage ratios benefit from a trend of underwriting and operating earnings in the insurance operating companies.

American Southern Group has exhibited operating profitability historically over the last decade, driven by positive underwriting and net investment incomes. Underwriting results have been profitable since 2014, attributed to management’s disciplined underwriting approach and local market expertise. However, an underwriting loss was reported through the first nine months of 2024, driven by a higher frequency and severity of auto liability claims. This was partially offset by favorable reserve development in general liability and lower loss adjusted expenses from reduced claims costs. The neutral business profile assessment reflects American Southern Group’s established position as an experienced writer of specialty program business, primarily for state governments, local municipalities and other large motor pools and fleets.

The ratings of BFLIG reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its marginal operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM.

BFLIG maintains the strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by BCAR, for its insurance, investment and business risks. The impact of volatile operating results in recent years on capital and surplus levels has been offset by substantial capital contributions from Atlantic American. Balance sheet strength is enhanced by access to an undrawn external borrowing capacity and sufficient liquidity metrics. Fluctuating operating performance was driven by varying Medicare supplement underwriting results. Corrective actions, including rate increases, more stringent underwriting and business diversification to lower risk ancillary health and life products, drove positive underwriting results in the two years before 2024. However, the organization reported unfavorable underwriting results in 2024, owing to elevated expenses and a higher Medicare supplement loss ratio. BFLIG’s neutral business profile reflects the continued diversification of its business via growth of ancillary health and life premiums and further contraction of its Medicare supplement segment. The ratings also reflect BFLIG’s strategic role within the Atlantic American organization.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2025 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

More News

View More
3 of the Most Overbought Stocks in the Market Right Now
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence
Tickers AVAV IREN KTOS RKLB
5 Stocks Congress Quietly Bought in Q3—Should You Follow?
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence
Tickers AMD JPM PLTR UBER UNH
Why Amazon’s Prime Day May Be the Catalyst for a Year-End Rally
Via MarketBeat
Tickers AMZN
Let the Good Times Roll: 2 Stocks Showing No Signs of Slowing
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence World Trade
Tickers ATRO INOD META
Café Culture Revival? 3 Stocks to Watch After Chick-fil-A’s Move
Via MarketBeat
Tickers CMG MCD SBUX YUM
Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.