A.M. Best Places Credit Ratings of Halyk-Life, Life Insurance Subsidiary Company of the Halyk Bank of Kazakhstan, JSC Under Review With Developing Implications

A.M. Best has placed under review with developing implications the Financial Strength Rating of B+ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb-” of Halyk-Life, Life Insurance Subsidiary Company of the Halyk Bank of Kazakhstan, JSC (Halyk-Life) (Kazakhstan).

These Credit Rating (rating) actions follow the announcement on 15 August 2018, of the company’s shareholder decision to merge its sister insurer, Kazkommerts Life Insurance Company, JSC (Kazkommerts Life), into Halyk-Life. The decision to merge follows the 2017 acquisition of JSC Kazkommertsbank, Kazkommerts Life’s parent, by JSC Halyk Bank, Halyk-Life’s parent. The merger is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to complete by early 2019.

In addition, there is material uncertainty as to the impact on the company’s prospective revenue, pre-tax earnings and market position of recent regulatory changes that prevent the company from reinsuring workers’ compensation business with local non-life insurers, as well as the decision by a key distribution partner to gradually shift its business to another insurer.

The ratings will remain under review until A.M. Best has completed its evaluation of the impact of these events on the company’s rating fundamentals and the merger transaction has closed.

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.

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