Fitch assigns BBB to Anthem notes

Fitch Ratings said it assigned a BBB rating to Anthem Inc.'s planned issue of new senior notes of various maturities.

The rating on the planned issuance is equivalent to the ratings on the company’s currently outstanding senior notes.

The agency concurrently affirmed Anthem’s previously outstanding ratings and maintained their negative outlook.

Prior to this action, Fitch's last took actions on Anthem on May 19, when the agency affirmed its ratings and assigned the negative outlook.

The agency expects note proceeds to be used to finance the company’s previously announced acquisitions of HealthSun and America's 1st Choice and to fund redemption or tender offers for various issues of Anthem’s outstanding senior notes.

Fitch said the BBB rating assigned to the new senior notes and the affirmation of Anthem’s existing ratings reflect the company's good capitalization and leverage characteristics, strong debt service and financial flexibility attributes and very strong business profile.

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