A.M. Best Withdraws Ratings of The Sony Life Insurance Company Limited

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Concurrently, A.M. Best has withdrawn the ratings at the company`s request and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

Copyright Business Wire 2009