NEW YORK (Standard & Poor's) Jan. 22, 2002--Standard & Poor's today assigned its double-'A'-plus counterparty credit and financial strength ratings to Aid Association for Lutherans/Lutheran Brotherhood (AAL/LB), the new entity formed by the merger of Lutheran Brotherhood and Aid Association for Lutherans. The merger became effective Jan. 1, 2002. The outlook is stable. In addition, Standard & Poor's has withdrawn its double-'A'-plus counterparty credit and financial strength ratings on the two former companies. At the same time, Standard & Poor's affirmed its double-'A'-plus counterparty credit and financial strength ratings on Lutheran Brotherhood Variable Insurance Products Co., a core subsidiary of AAL/LB. AAL/LB is now the largest fraternal financial organization in the U.S. based on assets under management of about $58
