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

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.

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

AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of PT Asuransi Astra Buana

AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A- (Excellent), the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” (Excellent) and the Indonesia National Scale Rating (NSR) of aaa.ID (Exceptional) of PT Asuransi Astra Buana (Asuransi Astra) (Indonesia). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Asuransi Astra’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. The ratings also factor in a neutral impact from Asuransi Astra’s ultimate parent, Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited (Bermuda).

Asuransi Astra’s balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, which was at the strongest level as of year-end 31 December 2024, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), and is expected to remain at this level over the medium term. The company’s capital adequacy is supported by its consistently robust internal capital generation and low net underwriting leverage. AM Best views Asuransi Astra’s investment portfolio to be of moderate risk, with a majority of investments allocated to bonds and mutual funds, comprising mainly domestically rated bond funds. An offsetting balance sheet strength factor is the company's elevated counterparty credit risk due to its exposure to domestic reinsurance companies not rated on an international FSR scale.

AM Best also views Asuransi Astra’s operating performance as strong, demonstrated by its five-year average combined ratio of 87.9% and return-on-equity ratio of 17.4% (2020-2024). Underwriting performance remained favourable in 2024, with the company reporting a combined ratio of 87.2%, supported by profitable business from its parent group, PT Astra International Tbk (Astra group). Investment returns remain a stable contributor to the company’s overall earnings. Prospectively, AM Best expects Asuransi Astra to continue delivering a strong operating performance, supported by favourable underwriting performance and robust investment income.

AM Best assesses Asuransi Astra’s business profile as neutral. Asuransi Astra is a large insurance organisation in Indonesia, ranking second in the country’s general insurance market based on 2024 gross premiums written. Asuransi Astra benefits from being a subsidiary of the Astra group, having preferential access to business from it, especially in the motor line of business. The company’s portfolio is viewed to be diversified by line of business with key lines being motor, personal accident and health, and fire insurance, although with geographic concentration in Indonesia. Asuransi Astra has moderate distribution channel concentration to a financial leasing company, mainly in respect of its motor insurance business. Notwithstanding, distribution channels are viewed to be broadly diversified for the non-motor insurance business.

Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication.

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 specialising 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

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.