AM Best Assigns Issue Credit Rating to Athene Holding Ltd.’s New Preferred Stock

Jun 13, 2019 11:18 am
OLDWICK, N.J. -- 

AM Best has assigned a Long-Term Issue Credit Rating (Long-Term IR) of “bb+” to the $750 million, 6.35%, perpetual, non-cumulative preferred stock, Series A, recently issued by Athene Holding Ltd. (Athene) (Bermuda) [NYSE:ATH]. The outlook assigned to the Credit Rating (rating) is positive.

Athene intends to use the net proceeds of the offering for various purposes, which include supporting capital growth at its insurance subsidiaries as well as additional buybacks of its common stock. AM Best notes that financial leverage and interest cover metrics will experience modest deterioration, but remain well within guidelines.

The outlooks of Athene’s Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb”, its existing Long-Term IRs and the ratings of its operating insurance subsidiaries were revised to positive from stable on May 15, 2019, and remain unchanged following the issuance of the preferred shares.

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 Understanding Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper media use of Best’s Credit Ratings and AM Best press releases, please view Guide for Media - Proper Use of Best’s Credit Ratings and AM Best Rating Action Press Releases.

AM Best is a global rating agency and information provider with a unique focus on the insurance industry. Visit www.ambest.com for more information.

Copyright © 2019 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Keith Behrmann
Senior Financial Analyst
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5733
[email protected]

Ed Kohlberg
Director
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5664
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Christopher Sharkey
Manager, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159
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Jim Peavy
Director, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644
[email protected]