The A.M. Best Company, with a grant fromWSIA and theDerek Hughes/NAPSLO Educational Foundation,released its annual Best's Special Report and took a close look atsurplus lines in the U.S.

While surplus lines direct premium written in 2016 generatedgrowth of 2.8% in 2016, the report notes surplus lines premium roseto $42.4 billion — the highest point in history.

"Once again, the surplus lines segment has hit a new recordlevel of U.S. premium," said Brian Van Cleave, president of theDerek Hughes/NAPSLO Educational Foundation. "The report continuesto highlight our segment's financial resilience and strongfinancial performance in relation to the broader property andcasualty industry, including thirteen years of no financialimpairments." 

The top 25 groups writing U.S. surplus lines are full offamiliar names such as Nationwide and Berkshire Hathaway. Notablemergers in 2016 shifted groups higher on Best's rankings. Oneexample was the merger of XL Group and Catlin, propelling thecombined entity into the top 10. 

The rankings reflect surplus lines by direct premiums written(in $000s) and total surplus lines market share. 

Related: Who claims the top spot on A.M. Best's Top 50Global Reinsurers?