AM Best has assigned a rating of A- (Excellent) for financial strength and an issuer credit rating of “a-” to Ironshore Europe Ltd, domiciled in Dublin, Ireland. The assigned ratings reflect Ironshore Europe’s strong risk-adjusted capitalisation and the explicit support provided by Ironshore Inc’s Bermuda-based insurance company, Ironshore Insurance Ltd, which provides significant reinsurance support to Ironshore Europe. Ironshore Inc has an AM Best Financial Size Category of Class XIII.Ironshore Europe’s formation was announced in January 2011 as an expansion of the Ironshore International platform and to complement its existing Lloyd’s presence. Ironshore Europe will provide a platform for expanding the distribution of Ironshore’s suite of specialty products, targeting internationally-placed US risks and international businesses.Ironshore Europe’s initial product offering includes property, construction, environmental, financial lines and professional liability, life science, specialty casualty, and political risk and trade credit insurance.Specialty programme coverages to be offered in the near future include Marine and Personal Accident insurance lines.“Ironshore Europe was created to broaden our international distribution channels in response to heightened global demand for insurance coverages of complex risk,” said Kevin Kelley, chief executive officer of Ironshore Inc.“AM Best’s positive ratings reaffirm market confidence in Ironshore’s ability to underwrite a diverse range of specialty lines of business offered within the Ironshore group of insurance companies.”