NY -- Standard&Poor's CreditWire 4/16/97 -- Standard&Poor's today has affirmed its double-'A' claims-paying ability rating on Partner Reinsurance Co. Ltd. (Partner Re) and removed it from CreditWatch, where it was placed Feb. 27, 1997 following PartnerRe Ltd.'s (PRE) announcement of a definitive agreement to purchase Societe Anonyme Francaise de Reassurances (SAFR) from Swiss Reinsurance Co. (Swiss Re, triple-'A' claims-paying ability). Standard&Poor's double-'A'-minus claims-paying ability rating on SAFR remains on CreditWatch with positive implications due to its strong business and capital position, as well as its strategic importance to PRE's future operating strategy. It is Standard&Poor's expectation that SAFR's rating will be raised to double-'A' pending completion of the transaction on the proposed
