OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings says that Nippon Life Insurance Company's (Nippon Life, Insurer Financial Strength (IFS): A/Stable) ratings will not be affected following today's announcement that the insurer entered into a definitive agreement to acquire MLC Limited (MLC), a subsidiary of National Australia Bank (NAB, Long-Term Issuer Default Rating: AA-/Stable).

As part of the agreement, NAB's investment business will be carved-out of MLC, transforming it into a specialised life insurance company named MLC Life. NAB will retain a 20% stake in MLC Life and agreed to enter into a 20-year distribution agreement with MLC Life.

Fitch is of the view that the AUD2.4bn (JPY204bn) acquisition will not materially affect the financial profile of Nippon Life, given the size of the acquisition relative to capital adequacy. This is despite the planned acquisition of Mitsui Life Insurance Company Limited (Mitsui Life, IFS: BBB+/Rating Watch Positive), which was announced 11 September 2015 and reported to be worth about JPY300bn. Furthermore, goodwill associated with the purchase of MLC and Mitsui Life will not negatively undermine Nippon Life's capital adequacy.

The acquisition of MLC is in line with Nippon Life's strategy to strengthen its overseas insurance business to boost growth. However, operational integration risk, and successful management and governance of MLC Life will be crucial for Nippon Life to maximise the benefits from the acquisition, which is Nippon Life's first acquisition of a majority stake in an overseas company.

The Australian life risk market is showing signs of recovery after a period of instability, characterised by falling risk management practices, and structural and cyclical issues. The Australian life sector's net profit after tax rose 28% to AUD2.8bn in the 12 months to June 2015. The life insurance business has been impacted by higher lapse and claims rates, but the sector has been active in expanding retention and claims teams, improving claims management systems and processes, and raising prices. Industry and government are also active in reforming practices, including commission structures in the area of life advice.

MLC's net profit after tax fell 22% to AUD189m in 2014, company-level statistics from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority showed. However, NAB reported stronger wealth management (including life insurance earnings) in its results for the half-year to 31 March 2015.

MLC's coverage of the regulatory prescribed capital amount at end-2014 was 1.34x (life sector: 1.79x), although in Australia, banks that own life insurers tend to hold any surplus capital within the group at the bank. Future capital requirements for the business will largely depend on how fast the life risk business will grow. NAB said that it moved its financial planning advisors away from high upfront commissions in 2014, which would lessen potential strain on new business capital. However, it did not quantify the impact the change has had. It is the more capital-intensive life risk business that is being sold to Nippon Life.

Nippon Life reported gross premium income of JPY5.3trn, with total assets of JPY62.2trn in the financial year ended March 2015, while, assuming the acquisition took place earlier, MLC would have had premium income of AUD1.8bn (JPY150bn) for the financial year ended September 2015.