American National Life Insurance Company of New York Announces A.M. Best Rating

GLENMONT, N.Y.,May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- American National Life Insurance Company of New York announces its first Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent), assigned by A.M. Best.  Additionally, the rating carries a stable outlook.

American National Life Insurance Company of New York (ANICONY) received its license from the state of New York to sell life insurance, annuities and accident and health insurance on March 17, 2010.  The new company will initially focus on fixed annuities distributed through independent and multiple line agents and direct response life insurance.  Future plans include expanding into agent distributed life insurance and qualified plan markets.

Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is a full-service credit rating organization dedicated to serving the financial services industries, including the banking and insurance sectors. Financial Strength Ratings reflect the rating agency's independent opinion about the financial strength of an insurance company.  They are based on comprehensive quantitative evaluations of the company and its management strategy.  They are not provided as a recommendation by the rating companies to purchase insurance or annuities.  The ratings are not a warranty of an insurer's current or future ability to meet its contractual obligations.

A.M. Best's active company rating scale is: A++ (Superior), A+ (Superior), A (Excellent), A- (Excellent), B++ (Good), B+ (Good), B (Fair), B- (Fair), C++ (Marginal), C+ (Marginal), C (Weak), C- (Weak) and D (Poor).

Ratings may be changed, suspended or withdrawn at any time.  For the most current information, visit A.M. Best's Internet site at www.ambest.com.

ANICONY is a wholly owned subsidiary of American National Insurance Company (Galveston, Texas).  ANICONY was established to provide a broad range of insurance products exclusively to residents of New York.  For more information, visit the company's web site at www.anicony.com.

The statements contained in this release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding future performance, plans and projections, are forward-looking statements based on management's current expectations.  These statements involve certain risks and uncertainties.  Actual results may differ materially from these statements due to changes in business, regulatory, competitive, market, economic, and political factors that are beyond our control.  We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

SOURCE American National Life Insurance Company of New York