A.M. Best Assigns Issue Credit Rating to Voya Financial Inc.’s New Preferred Stock

OLDWICK, N.J.--()--A.M. Best has assigned a Long-Term Issue Credit Rating of “bbb-” to the $325 million 6.125% non-cumulative preferred stock to be issued by Voya Financial Inc. (Voya) (headquartered in New York, NY) [NYSE: VOYA] on Sept. 12, 2018. The outlook assigned to this Credit Rating (rating) is stable. The existing ratings of Voya and its subsidiaries remain unchanged.

The proceeds from the offering will be utilized for general corporate purposes, including the funding of a concurrent tender offer and consent solicitation for $325 million of various outstanding senior notes. The company may call the notes after five years from issuance. A.M. Best anticipates a modest increase in leverage in the short term; however, financial leverage and interest coverage ratios remain well within A.M. Best guidelines for the current ratings. A.M. Best notes that with the successful closings of the sales of Voya’s closed-block variable annuity business and fixed annuity business in June, the company’s ratings are reflective of its leading retirement business, asset management and employee benefits business.

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

Copyright © 2018 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

A.M. Best
Edward Kohlberg, +1-908-439-2200, ext. 5664
Associate Director
edward.kohlberg@ambest.com
or
Kenneth Johnson, CFA, CAIA, FRM, +1-908-439-2200, ext. 5056
Senior Director
ken.johnson@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

Contacts

A.M. Best
Edward Kohlberg, +1-908-439-2200, ext. 5664
Associate Director
edward.kohlberg@ambest.com
or
Kenneth Johnson, CFA, CAIA, FRM, +1-908-439-2200, ext. 5056
Senior Director
ken.johnson@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