OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings has placed the 'BBB' Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) ratings of Group Health Cooperative (GHC) and Group Health Options, Inc. (GHO) (collectively Group Health) and the 'BBB' ratings assigned to senior secured revenue bonds issued by the Washington Health Care Facilities Authority (WHCFA) on behalf of Group Health on Rating Watch Positive. A complete list of rating actions follows at the end of this release.

Today's rating actions follows Group Health's Dec. 4, 2015 announcement that it has entered into a definitive agreement under which the company will be acquired by Kaiser Permanente (KP). Fitch rates KP's health insurance subsidiaries' IFS 'A+' and senior unsecured bonds issued by or on behalf of KP 'A+'.

KEY RATING DRIVERS

Fitch's decision to place Group Health's ratings on rating watch positive reflect anticipated ratings benefits derived from the company's purchase by the more highly rated and significantly larger KP organization. Fitch believes that key rating factors underlying Group Health's ratings such as the company's financial performance, market position and debt-service capabilities are likely to benefit from the KP organization's significant scale and resources. Group Health has approximately 590,000 members concentrated in the Seattle area while KP has approximately 10.2 million members, primarily in California but also in six other states. Through Sept. 30, 2015, Group Health generated $2.8 billion of revenues while KP generated $45.8 billion.

RATING SENSITIVITES

Fitch plans to resolve the rating watch after further discussions with Group Health and KP about their plans to integrate Group Health into the KP organization. Key ratings considerations going forward include the existence of any formal financial commitments, such as guaranty agreements between Group Health and KP and the extent to which Group Health is integrated into KP from a branding, marketing and operational perspective.

Fitch has placed the following ratings on Rating Watch Positive:

--'BBB' rating assigned to $98 million series 2006 revenue bonds issued by the WHCFA on behalf of Group Health Cooperative.

Group Health Cooperative
--'BBB' IFS;
--'BBB-' IDR

Group Health Options Inc.
--'BBB' IFS