Best’s News & Research Service - June 05, 2026 12:58 PM (EDT)
AM Best Assigns Issue Credit Ratings to The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company’s New Surplus Notes
- June 05, 2026 12:58 PM (EDT)
//BestWire// - AM Best has assigned a Long-Term Issue Credit Rating (Long-Term IR) of “aa” (Superior) to the recently announced $1.25 billion, 6.05% surplus notes, due 2056, issued by The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (Northwestern Mutual) (Milwaukee, WI). The outlook assigned to the Credit Rating (rating) is stable.
The proceeds from the surplus notes offering will be used for general corporate purposes. The newly issued surplus notes will remain subordinated to policyowner liabilities. The company’s unadjusted financial leverage remains low at 20% with favorable interest coverage over 3x post policyholder dividends, as calculated by AM Best, which is considered within guidelines for the assigned rating. Northwestern Mutual’s existing ratings continue to reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its very strong operating performance, very favorable business profile and very strong enterprise risk management.
This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM 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 AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings (BCR), Best’s Performance Assessments (PA), Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments (PCA) and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.
AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City.