Industrial Alliance Acquires Golden State Mutual Business

Published on Friday, 03 September 2010 12:08 Written by TradersHuddle Staff

In-force policies assumed under reinsurance agreement

QUEBEC CITY, Sept. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. ("Industrial Alliance" or "the Company") announces that it has completed today the acquisition of the in-force life policies of California-based Golden State Mutual (GSM). The transaction was carried out through the Company's wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary IA American Life Insurance Company ("IA American"), based in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The GSM block of business, which was acquired for a ceding commission of approximately US$11 million, involves 120,000 life policies with a face amount of close to US$500 million. For the year ended December 31, 2009, total premiums amounted to US$9 million and invested assets were US$70 million. The acquisition, which will not bring additional goodwill to the balance sheet, is expected to generate a return on shareholders' equity consistent with the Company's target guidance of 12-14%. The Company's pro forma solvency ratio of 215% at June 30th, 2010, reflecting the conclusion of the acquisition of American-Amicable on July, 20, 2010, remains unchanged.

Established in 1925, Golden State Mutual was the largest minority-owned life insurance company in California. It provided traditional life insurance products to mid-market customers in seventeen states. GSM was placed into conservation on September 30, 2009 when its capital position dropped below minimum thresholds required by the State of California.

Caution Regarding Forward-looking Statements

This news release may contain statements relating to strategies of Industrial Alliance or statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as "may", "will", "could", "should", "would", "suspect", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "believe", "estimate", "objective" and "continue" (or the negative thereof) or similar words or expressions. Such statements are forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations of the Company. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the Company's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events.

Although Industrial Alliance believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, but are not limited to: general business and economic conditions (including but not limited to performance of equity markets, interest rate fluctuations, currency rates, investment losses and defaults, movements in credit spreads, market liquidity and creditworthiness of guarantors and counterparties); level of competition and consolidation; changes in laws and regulations including tax laws; liquidity of Industrial Alliance including the availability of financing to satisfy existing financial liabilities on their expected maturity dates when required; accuracy of information received from counterparties and the ability of counterparties to meet their obligations; accuracy of accounting policies and actuarial methods used by Industrial Alliance; insurance risks including mortality, morbidity, longevity and policyholder behaviour including the occurrence of natural or man-made disasters, pandemic diseases and acts of terrorism; failure of information systems and Internet-enabled technology; breaches of computer security and privacy; dependence on third-party relationships including outsourcing arrangements; ability to maintain Industrial Alliance's reputation; regulatory investigations and proceedings and private legal proceedings and class actions relating to practices in the mutual fund, insurance, annuity and financial product distribution industries; the ability to adapt products and services to the changing market; the ability to implement effective hedging strategies; the ability to attract and retain key executives; the ability to complete acquisitions including the availability of equity and debt financing when required for this purpose; the ability to execute strategic plans; the disruption of or changes to key elements of Industrial Alliance's or public infrastructure systems; and environmental concerns. Additional information about material factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations and about material factors or assumptions applied in making forward-looking statements may be found in Industrial Alliance's most recent Annual report, namely under the "Risk Management" section in the management's discussion and analysis and in the "Management of Risks Associated with Financial Instruments" note to Industrial Alliance's consolidated financial statements, and elsewhere in Industrial Alliance's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are available for review at www.sedar.com.

Industrial Alliance does not undertake to update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

About Industrial Alliance

Founded in 1892, Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. is a life and health insurance company that offers a wide range of life and health insurance products, savings and retirement plans, RRSPs, mutual and segregated funds, securities, auto and home insurance, mortgage loans and other financial products and services. The fourth largest life and health insurance company in Canada, Industrial Alliance is at the head of a large financial group, which has operations in all regions of Canada, as well as in the United States. Industrial Alliance contributes to the financial wellbeing of over three million Canadians, employs more than 3,500 people and manages and administers some $60 billion in assets. Industrial Alliance stock is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol IAG. Industrial Alliance is among the 100 largest public companies in Canada.

SOURCE INDUSTRIAL ALLIANCE INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.