DELTA DENTAL PLAN OF NEW JERSEY RATED 'VERY STRONG' BY STANDARD & POOR'S

PARSIPPANY, NJ (July 26, 2000) – Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey has just completed Standard & Poor’s most comprehensive analysis and received a AA- counterparty credit and financial strength ratings. Based upon the analysis, Standard & Poor’s has rated Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey a very strong company, citing its extremely strong capitalization, excellent earnings, good business position, and conservative investment policies. Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey has been designated by Standard & Poor’s as a Security Circle company. The rating indicates that the not-for-profit dental benefits carrier clearly has the financial capacity to meet policyholder obligations.

In the analysis, Standard & Poor’s noted that Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey is extremely well capitalized, giving the not-for-profit company a capital adequacy ratio in excess of 400%. It also noted Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey’s strong consolidated GAAP income, leading market position as a dental-benefits carrier in New Jersey and Connecticut, extremely strong liquidity, and low business risk.

"Our commitment to being a value-plan dental carrier offering high-quality services through an extensive dental-provider network has been validated by earning such a high rating from a premier independent organization such as Standard & Poor’s," said Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey President and CEO Walter VanBrunt. "It also shows the soundness of our business philosophy and the stability of our company. Our clients know that when they partner with us, they are with an organization that is established and can satisfy their dental benefit requirements."

The rating is another reason for companies to contract with Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey for employee dental benefits. In addition to enjoying the security of partnering with a financially stable company, companies that contract with Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey may improve employee retention by offering employees access to the nation’s largest dental network with more than 120,000 participating dentists.

Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey, Inc., is New Jersey’s leading and largest dental benefits carrier, providing coverage to more than one million people through contracts with employers in New Jersey and Connecticut. The Delta Dental Plan system is a national network of independently operated, not-for-profit dental service corporations specializing in providing dental benefits programs for employee groups throughout the country.