Standard & Poor's and Fitch Rating service removed ratingson 13 insurance companies of Chicago-based CNA Financial Corp.after the carrier merged the companies with other subsidiaries.

New York-based S&P and Fitch in Chicago said Monday that theratings were removed after CNA made the integration move on Dec.31. Both rating services rated the companies at “A-minus.”

The rating services said CNA made the move as part of thecarrier's initiative to streamline its legal structure by reducingthe number of legal entities and states of domicile in theinsurance group.

Of the 13 companies, CNA Casualty of California was merged intoContinental Casualty Co. The remaining 12 were merged eitherdirectly or indirectly into Continental Insurance Co.

The 12 companies are: Boston Old Colony Insurance Co.; BuckeyeUnion Insurance Co.; Commercial Insurance Co. of Newark, N.J.;Continental Reinsurance Corp.; Fidelity & Casualty Co. of NewYork; Firemen's Insurance Co. of Newark, N.J.; Glens FallsInsurance Co.; Kansas City Fire & Marine Insurance Co.;Mayflower Insurance Co. Ltd.; National Ben Franklin Insurance Co.of Ill.; Niagara Fire Insurance Co.; Pacific Insurance Co.