NY -- Standard&Poor's CreditWire 6/27/97 -- Zurich Insurance Co. ("Zurich") today announced its proposed acquisition of Scudder, Stevens&Clark ("Scudders"), a U.S.-based asset manager. In the light of this transaction Standard&Poor's has affirmed its double-'A'-plus claims-paying ability rating of Zurich. Zurich is the parent company, and principal insurance company, of the Zurich group, one of the World's most diversified insurance and reinsurance groups. Scudders is one of the oldest U.S. private fund managers with a strong franchise and US$120 billion under management. Standard&Poor's expects that the acquisition will broaden the group's asset management product and distribution capabilities, and will provide global investing skills. When combined with Kemper, Zurich's other major U.S. asset manager,
