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Published in Business and Finance on Friday, November 19th 2010 at 10:40 GMT by Market Wire

OLDWICK, N.J.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--A.M. Best Co. has assigned a debt rating of aa-a to the $700 million 2.6% senior unsecured notes due 2015 of ACE INA Holdings, Inc. (Philadelphia, PA). The rating outlook is positive.
"A.M. Besta™s Ratings & the Treatment of Debt."
The senior notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by ACE Limited (ACE) (Zurich, Switzerland) (NYSE: ACE).
ACEa™s debt-to-capital ratio, including trust preferreds, was a moderate 13.7% at September 30, 2010 and 16.1% adjusting for tangible capital. Proceeds from the notes will be used to refinance existing and maturing indebtedness. Consequently, financial leverage ratios are expected to remain relatively unchanged following the transaction, which is well within A.M. Besta™s guidelines for the rating level.
The principal methodology used in determining these ratings is [ Besta™s Credit Rating Methodology -- Global Life and Non-Life Insurance Edition ], which provides a comprehensive explanation of A.M. Besta™s rating process and highlights the different rating criteria employed. Additional key criteria utilized include aA.M. Besta™s Ratings & the Treatment of Debt.a Methodologies can be found at [ www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology ].
Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is the worlda™s oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit [ www.ambest.com ].
Copyright © 2010 by A.M. Best Company, Inc.ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.