Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has raised its counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings on Germany's Feuersozietaet Berlin Brandenburg Versicherung AG (FS) and Oeffentliche Lebensversicherung Berlin Brandenburg AG (OL) to 'A' from 'A-'. The outlook is stable. "The upgrade reflects our revision of the companies' status to core from strategically important to the Versicherungskammer Bayern Group (core operating entities rated A/Stable/-)," said the bulletin. "The change in status reflects the successful completion of FS' and OL's strategic and operational integration within the VKB group," explained S&P credit analyst Ralf Kuerzdoerfer. "Both companies' operations are now closely aligned with the parent's strategic goal of becoming the 'insurer of the regions.' The companies will operate solely in Berlin and Brandenburg under their well-established brand names."