M. Best.

Best, the world's oldest and most widely recognised insurance ration and information service, said La Salle was given the rating because of its historically strong stock earnings, prudent risk-management strategies, solid capitalisation and favourable liquidity position.

Best added that these strengths are derived from the company's specialist strategy of underwriting property catastrophe and other low-frequency, high severity risks. This strategy has enabled the company to generate operating returns on equity that have averaged 17 percent.