A.M. Best Places Credit Ratings of Dealers Assurance Company Under Review with Positive Implications

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A.M. Best has placed under review with positive implications the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of “a-” of Dealers Assurance Company (DAC) (Columbus, OH).

The company is being placed under review after the proposed acquisition by Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. (Industrial Alliance) for $135 million in cash that was announced on Sept. 21, 2017. The acquirer is a public Canadian entity providing life & health insurance and warranty products throughout Canada. While Industrial Alliance maintains life & health operations in the United States, the acquisition of DAC will mark Industrial Alliance’s introduction to the U.S. warranty space. A.M. Best expects DAC to recognize long-term benefits through Industrial Alliance’s 125 years of insurance industry knowledge and expertise, additional capital support, expanded market opportunities and Industrial Alliance’s stated desire to further expand into the United States, utilizing DAC’s industry expertise and infrastructure.

The transaction is expected to close later in the fourth quarter of 2017, pending regulatory approval. The ratings of DAC will remain under review until the close of the transaction, and until A.M. Best completes its analysis of the transaction.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on A.M. Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see A.M. Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Understanding Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper media use of Best’s Credit Ratings and A.M. Best press releases, please view Guide for Media - Proper Use of Best’s Credit Ratings and A.M. Best Rating Action Press Releases.

A.M. Best is the world’s oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2017 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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A.M. Best

Daniel Heitlinger, +1-908-439-2200, ext. 5019

Financial Analyst

daniel.heitlinger@ambest.com

or

Robert Raber, +1-908-439-2200, ext. 5696

Senior Financial Analyst

robert.raber@ambest.com

or

Christopher Sharkey, +1-908-439-2200, ext. 5159

Manager, Public Relations

christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

or

Jim Peavy, +1-908-439-2200, ext. 5644

Director, Public Relations

james.peavy@ambest.com

Source: A.M. Best