AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Great-West Lifeco Inc. and Its Subsidiaries

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “aa” (Superior) of The Canada Life Assurance Company (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and its affiliates. Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term ICR of “a” (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings (Long-Term IR) of Great-West Lifeco Inc. (Lifeco) (Winnipeg, Manitoba). Additionally, AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term ICR of “a” (Excellent) of LRG (US), Inc. (Delaware). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. (See below for a detailed listing of the affiliates and Long-Term IRs.)

The ratings reflect The Canada Life Assurance Company’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, very favorable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

The group’s balance sheet has proven resilient to volatility in the financial markets as a result of the pandemic. Absolute capital levels are supported by favorable earnings after a rebranding initiative completed last year. Recent acquisitions in the company’s retirement platform, the Empower brand, is adding to the parent company’s diversification of earnings. Lifeco is the second-largest retirement services provider in the United States.

Positive earnings results in all lines of core business segments further enhances the rating profile of the group. AM Best believes that the continued low interest rate environment and the competitive marketplace globally will create a degree of diverse risks as the company operates in multiple countries and jurisdictions.

The FSR of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term ICRs of “aa” (Superior) have been affirmed with stable outlooks for The Canada Life Assurance Company and its affiliates:

• Canada Life International Reinsurance Corporation Limited
• Canada Life Re Ireland Designated Activity Company
• Canada Life Reinsurance Company
• Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company of New York
• Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company
• London Life and Casualty (Barbados) Corporation
• London Life and Casualty Reinsurance Corporation

The following Long-Term IR has been assigned with a stable outlook:

Great-West Lifeco Inc.—

-- bbb+ (Good) on USD 200 million 4.5% non-cumulative preferred stock

The following Long-Term IRs have been affirmed with stable outlooks:

Great-West Lifeco Inc.—

-- “a” (Excellent) on EUR 500 million 2.50% senior unsecured euro bonds, due 2023

-- “a” (Excellent) on EUR 500 million 1.75% senior unsecured euro bonds, due 2026

-- “a” (Excellent) on CAD 500 million 3.337% senior unsecured debentures, due 2028

-- “a” (Excellent) on CAD 200 million 6.74% senior unsecured debentures, due 2031

-- “a” (Excellent) on CAD 400 million 6.67% senior unsecured debentures, due 2033

-- “a” (Excellent) on CAD 343.788 million 5.998% senior unsecured debentures, due 2039

-- “a” (Excellent) on CAD 600 million 2.379% senior unsecured debentures, due 2030

-- “bbb+” (Good) on CAD 200 million 4.80% non-cumulative preferred stock

-- “bbb+” (Good) on CAD 200 million 5.15% non-cumulative preferred stock

-- “bbb+” (Good) on CAD 200 million 5.15% non-cumulative preferred stock

-- “bbb+” (Good) on CAD 250 million 5.40% non-cumulative preferred stock

-- “bbb+” (Good) on CAD 170 million 5.65% non-cumulative preferred stock

-- “bbb+” (Good) on CAD 150 million 5.80% non-cumulative preferred stock

-- “bbb+” (Good) on CAD 200 million 5.90% non-cumulative preferred stock

-- “bbb+” (Good) on CAD 213 million 2.18% non-cumulative preferred stock

-- “bbb+” (Good) on CAD 37 million floating rate non-cumulative preferred stock

-- “bbb+” (Good) on CAD 300 million 5.20% non-cumulative preferred stock

-- “bbb+” (Good) on CAD 300 million 4.5% non-cumulative preferred stock

-- “bbb+” (Good) on CAD 300 million 4.85% non-cumulative preferred stock

-- “bbb+” (Good) on CAD 200 million 5.25% non-cumulative preferred stock

Great-West Lifeco Finance (Delaware) LP—

-- “a” (Excellent) on USD 700 million 4.15% senior unsecured debentures, due 2047

Great-West Lifeco Finance 2018, LP—

-- “a” (Excellent) on USD 300 million 4.047% senior unsecured notes, due 2028

-- “a” (Excellent) on USD 500 million 4.581% senior unsecured notes, due 2048

The Canada Life Assurance Company—

-- “a+” (Excellent) on CAD 100 million 6.40% subordinated debentures, due 2028

Canada Life Capital Trust—

-- “a” (Excellent) on CAD 150 million 7.529 % non-cumulative preferred stock due 2052

Great-West Lifeco U.S. Finance 2020, LP—

-- “a” (Excellent) on USD 500 million .904% senior unsecured notes, due 2025

Empower Finance 2020, LP—

-- “a” (Excellent) on USD 400 million 1.357% senior unsecured notes, due 2027

-- “a” (Excellent) on USD 400 million 1.776% senior unsecured notes, due 2031

-- “a” (Excellent) on USD 700 million 3.075% senior unsecured notes, due 2051

The following indicative Long-Term IRs on securities available under shelf registration have been affirmed with stable outlooks:

Great-West Lifeco, Inc.—

-- “a” (Excellent) on senior unsecured debt

-- “a-” (Excellent) on subordinated debt

-- “bbb+” (Good) on junior subordinated debt

-- “bbb+” (Good) on preferred stock

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM 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 AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2021 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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Anthony McSwieney
Senior Financial Analyst

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5715

anthony.mcswieney@ambest.com

Michael Adams
Associate Director

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5133

michael.adams@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Manager, Public Relations

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159

christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Jim Peavy
Director, Communications

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644

james.peavy@ambest.com

Source: AM Best