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Chicago - Aon Corp. has signed separate definitive agreements to sell its Combined Insurance Company of America (CICA) and Sterling Life Insurance Co. (Sterling). The Sterling transaction is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter 2008, and CICA is expected to be completed by the end of the second quarter 2008.

Cary, N. C. - Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. is bolstering its enterprise risk management (ERM) program with the implementation of business intelligence from SAS, the companies report.

On the heels of its merger with LIMRA, LOMA is offering conferences at the beginning of the new year designed to help insurers capitalize on the technologies that will enable them to do more business, and do it better.

Hamilton, Bermuda — PartnerRe Ltd., a Bermuda-based global reinsurer providing multi-line reinsurance to insurance companies, named Eric Gesick group chief actuary. He was most recently chief actuary within the financial, professional, and international insurance segment of Travelers Cos. Inc.

Columbus, Ohio - Grange Insurance, a Columbus, Ohio-based insurance provider, has been awarded the 2007 Insurance Standard of Excellence Award from the Web Marketing Association.

Windsor, Conn., and Atlanta - Member companies of LIMRA International and LOMA voted overwhelmingly in favor of the proposal to unite two of the world's largest insurance and financial services trade organizations. The merger will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2008.

Frisco, Texas - Skywire Software has addressed a common, yet growing need in the insurance product development arena. The Frisco, Texas provider of software and services for the insurance industry released Launcher, an application designed to improve, coordinate and measure the process of getting new insurance products to market.

Washington – A bill that would provide $100 million in grants to help local officials enforce building codes has been introduced into the House. Rep. Dennis Moore, D-Kan., sponsored the legislation, which is dubbed The Community Building Code Administration Grant Act of 2007.

Burlington , Mass. - StreamServe Inc., a provider of document processing and dynamic enterprise publishing solutions, released StreamServe Financial Services, an application designed for use with the SAP for insurance solution portfolio.

Warren, N.J. - The Chubb Group of Insurance Cos. is rewarding policy holders who are proving a "healthier" security posture by putting together a premium discount program for its cyber insurance product: CyberSecurity by Chubb.

Orlando - For the second consecutive year, Cognizant, a Teaneck, N.J., provider of global IT and business process outsourcing services, received Pegasystems' exclusive "Systems Integrator of the Year."

New York - Lightyear Capital LLC, a New York-based private equity firm focused on financial services investing, completed the transactions related to the establishment of Antares Holdings Ltd., a Bermuda-based holding company whose businesses will include the sponsorship of a new Lloyd's of London syndicate ("Antares Syndicate 1274").

Atlanta - Connecture Inc., provider of Web-based sales, service and process automation solutions to the health insurance industry, has been awarded the Robinson College of Business (RCB) Eagle Award. The business school selected Connecture as a high achiever among fastest growing private companies in the Southeast.

Simsbury, Conn., and Powell, Ohio - In a move designed to offer defined benefit plan sponsors the latest in Internet functionality, The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. has agreed to acquire TopNoggin, a Powell, Ohio-based firm with proprietary technology that tackles data management, administration and benefit calculations.

Approaches to policy administration systems may differ from region to region, but the factors driving replacement are similar.

Customer service, risk management and demographics will mark 2008.

Zurich — Zurich Financial Services Group announced that it is elevating the role of Chief Risk Officer to Group Executive Committee status, and appointing Axel Lehmann to the position, effective Jan. 1, 2008. Also on that date, Mike Foley will succeed Lehmann as CEO of Zurich’s North America Commercial (NAC) division, and will become a member of the Group Executive Committee.

New York — Execution is taking precedence over profit and top-line growth as a focus for CEOs around the world, according to a survey of 769 global CEOs from 40 countries from The Conference Board report, CEO Challenge 2007: Top 10 Challenges. The annual report, conducted during the first quarter of 2007, details specific challenges that CEOs face across regions, as well as by the company’s size, industry, and level of success—all factors affecting the concerns of CEOs.

Regulators advise the public to become aware of ID theft vulnerabilities, while carriers are using technology and third-party help to thwart the bad guys and bolster customer services levels.

Trenton, N.J.– A bill that will eliminate the requirements for auto insurance agents to provide quotes for all their companies and to provide three insurance scenarios to applicants has passed the New Jersey Legislature.