MOODY'S CHANGES RATING OUTLOOK FOR ING GROUP'S U.S. LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES TO STABLE FROM NEGATIVE
New York, July 20, 2001 -- Moody's Investors Service changed its rating outlook to stable from negative for ING Group's U.S. life insurance companies. The affected companies are rated Aa2 for insurance financial strength. The rating outlook change for the U.S. companies reflects Moody's change in the rating outlook on ING Verzekeringen NV (ING Insurance) and ING Groep NV (ING Group) to stable from negative. ING Insurance, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ING Group, serves as the holding company for ING Group's global insurance businesses. Moody's also changed the rating outlooks on several other ING Insurance non-operating subsidiaries in the U.S.
The outlook for ING Insurance and its U.S. subsidiaries was negative since 1997, reflecting concerns that acquisitions would consume an excessive portion of ING Insurance's capital, thus altering its financial structure and risk profile. Since then, ING Insurance has made several acquisitions without impairing its creditworthiness. Most notably, it purchased ReliaStar Financial Corporation and Aetna, Inc.'s Aetna Financial Services and Aetna International business units. Both of these U.S.-based acquisitions were consummated in the second half of 2000.
The rating outlook was changed to stable from negative on the following companies:
ING America Insurance Holdings - long-term debt, guaranteed by ING Insurance, at Aa2; commercial paper, guaranteed by ING Insurance, remains stable at Prime-1;
Equitable of Iowa Companies - senior debt at Aa3; junior subordinated debt at A1;
Equitable of Iowa Companies Capital Trust I - preferred securities at "aa3";
Equitable of Iowa Companies Capital Trust II - preferred securities at "aa3";
ReliaStar Financial Corporation - senior debt at Aa3; junior subordinated debt at Aa3;
ReliaStar Financing II- preferred securities at "aa2";
Security Connecticut Corporation - senior debt at Aa3;
Lion Connecticut Holdings, Inc. - senior debt at Aa2;
Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa - insurance financial strength at Aa2;
Security Life of Denver Insurance Company - insurance financial strength at Aa2;
Southland Life Insurance Company - insurance financial strength at Aa2;
Life Insurance Company of Georgia - insurance financial strength at Aa2;
USG Annuity and Life Company - insurance financial strength at Aa2;
ReliaStar Life Insurance Company - insurance financial strength at Aa2;
ReliaStar Life Insurance Company of New York - insurance financial strength at Aa2;
Northern Life Insurance Company - insurance financial strength at Aa2;
Security-Connecticut Life Insurance Company - insurance financial strength at Aa2;
Aetna Life Insurance & Annuity Company - insurance financial strength at Aa2;
Aetna Life Insurance Company of America - insurance financial strength at Aa2;
Moody's insurance financial strength ratings are opinions of the ability of insurance companies to repay punctually senior policyholder claims and obligations. For more information, visit our website at www.moodys.com/insurance.
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