With MetLife’s recent admission of talks with American International Group for its life insurance division, A.M. Best has put the ratings of that unit under review.

The rating service reported that it has placed the financial strength rating of “A” (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a” for American Life Insurance Co. (ALICO), based in Wilmington, Del., under review with positive implications.

Reuters reports that the deal could have MetLife spending $15 billion for the life unit, with $8 billion in stock and the rest in cash.

While no deal has been reached between AIG and MetLife, both headquartered in New York, A.M. Best said in a statement it views the potential transaction favorably, “as it would result in a stable, well known and higher rated insurance organization’s ownership of ALICO.”

Late last year, ALICO was placed in a special purpose vehicle, in conjunction with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, for a initial public offering or sale to a third party. A sale to MetLife, A.M. Best noted, would be consistent with this strategy.

The ratings service added that it believes ALICO maintains diverse product offerings on a globalized platform and retains a sizeable market share in many of the international markets it serves. A.M. Best also said it believes that ALICO’s distribution partners would be receptive to a new highly rated parent, such as MetLife.