Fitch Ratings in Chicago assigned an "A" rating Thursday to MetLife Inc.'s planned issue of $2.7 billion of senior notes.
The ratings agency also affirmed MetLife's "A" long-term issuer rating and those on all the company's outstanding debt, with a stable outlook.
Fitch said it expects that the issue's net proceeds will be used to pay part of the $11.5 billion price of MetLife's planned purchase of Citigroup Inc.'s life insurance and annuities business. The insurer's pro forma long-term debt-to-capitalization ratio is expected to rise to about 30% as MetLife completes raising capital for the deal, which is expected to close about July 1.











