OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of A+ (Superior) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of "aa-" of The Sony Life Insurance Company Limited (Sony Life) (Japan). The outlook for both ratings is stable.

Concurrently, A.M. Best has withdrawn the ratings at the company's request and assigned an NR-4 to the FSR and an "nr" to the ICR. This rating action reflects Sony Life management's decision to withdraw from A.M. Best's interactive rating process.

The ratings reflect Sony Life's strong capitalization, growing presence in the Japanese life insurance market, the high persistency ratio of its life policies and the high retention ratio of its life planners. Offsetting factors are the stagnant Japanese life market and the continuation of the negative margin.

For Best's Credit Ratings, an overview of the rating process and rating methodologies, please visit www.ambest.com/ratings.


The principal methodologies used in determining these ratings, including any additional methodologies and factors that may have been considered, can be found at www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology.

Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is a global full-service credit rating organization dedicated to serving the financial and health care service industries, including insurance companies, banks, hospitals and health care system providers. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

A.M. Best Co.

Analysts

Sanghoon Oh, +852-2827-3404

sanghoon.oh@ambest.com

or

Moungmo Lee, +852-2827-3403

moungmo.lee@ambest.com

or

Public Relations

Jim Peavy, +(1) 908 439 2200, ext. 5644

james.peavy@ambest.com

or

Rachelle Morrow, +(1) 908 439 2200, ext. 5378

rachelle.morrow@ambest.com



Source: A.M. Best Co.