Security risk

Valley Oak Systems, Inc. (VOS), a national provider of claims management software, services and support, has completed development of a new data extraction tool that will streamline the submission of claims data to the Public Entity Risk Institute (PERI), a non-profit organization that oversees the PERI Data Exchange, a national database of public sector liability and workers' compensation claims, judgments, and exposures.

ATLANTA-- 2004 may be a better year for the insurance and financial services industry, say members of the LOMA board of directors. LOMA's Resource magazine recently surveyed LOMA's directors, who represent global leaders in financial services, seeking their industry forecast for 2004. Most of the directors participating in the survey agreed that, with the U.S. economy showing signs of gradual recovery, things are looking up for industry sales, premiums, and profits.

Frimley UK--Candle Corporation, a leading enterprise infrastructure management provider, today announced that Royal Liver Assurance has selected Candle`s PathWAIsolutions to support the development, implementation and management of its IBM WebSphere application infrastructure using Linux. Candle`s PathWAI solutions enable organisations to accelerate application infrastructure development and deployment, ensure consistent performance and enhance management control.

NEW YORK--Directors and officers (D&O) liability insurance premiums increased approximately 33% on average from 2002 to 2003, according to the Tillinghast business of Towers Perrin's 2003 Directors & Officers Liability Survey.

Wausau Insurance has unveiled a new one-stop online information source that will make it easier than ever for brokers to meet and exceed their client needs.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin--COSS Development Corporation, a specialist in illustration and point of sale systems for the financial services industry, has released Journey 2004. Journey is COSS' premier needs-based financial modeling software. The new 2004 version, for both Web and desktop, is now being distributed to current users as an upgrade.

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- The American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) applauds the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) for strengthening its position on insurance regulatory reform.

St. Louis, MO--Genelco Software Solutions, a division of Liberty Insurance Services Corporation (LIS), today announced the positive results of a Genelco Group+ benchmark test completed at the IBM eServer iSeries Benchmark Center in Rochester, Minnesota.

New York, January 21, 2004 - Commercial insurance buyers say the cost of property insurance fell 8.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2003 marking the first decline in premium prices in any major line of commercial insurance in nearly four years, according to the RIMS Benchmark Survey, an industry survey of market conditions released today.

MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio-- The Progressive Corporation today reported fourth quarter 2003 net income of $357.8 million, or $1.63 per share, compared to $152.2 million, or $.69 per share, in the fourth quarter last year. Included in net income are net realized losses on securities of $3.0 million, or $.01 per share, for the fourth quarter 2003, and net realized losses of $37.1 million, or $.11 per share, for the same period last year. Net premiums written and earned increased 21% and 23% to $2,906.4 million and $3,040.0 million, respectively, as compared to the fourth quarter last year. During the fourth quarter 2003, the Company produced a GAAP combined ratio of 85.9, compared to 93.3 in the same period last year. Recurring investment income was $121.3 million before taxes and $90.5 million after taxes, compared to $113.5 million before taxes and $82.0 million after taxes for the fourth quarter 2002.

New Haven, CT- Metaserver, Inc., a leading provider of business process integration (BPI) solutions for the insurance industry, announced it has launched its new iConnect agency interface solution for Property and Casualty carriers. The first of several solutions designed specially for insurance carriers, iConnect P&C is compatible with and extends the capabilities provided by leading vendors in the insurance space such as ChoicePoint, CSC, Duck Creek, ISO, IVANS and others.

Brunswick, Maine--Allenbrook Inc., a leading provider of processing software and consulting services for the Property & Casualty insurance industry, today announced a partnership with Whitehill Technologies, Inc. Whitehill provides companies the ability to extract system data, reformat and automatically distribute the resulting output. The integration of Whitehill's cutting-edge technology with Allenbrook's proven software enables carriers to rise above competitors trapped in paper-intensive processes. This partnership will also increase a carrier's ability to meet stringent reporting requirements with ease and cost-efficiency.

WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass. -- Sun Life Financial has announced the addition of a new single life policy to its portfolio of universal life insurance products.

HARTFORD, Conn.-- Travelers Property Casualty Corp. today announces the availability of its new master policy to cover identity theft expenses. Financial institutions or other commercial businesses can purchase this policy on behalf of their account holders or customers, or for use as an employee benefit offering. The new policy furnishes expense reimbursement limits from $500 up to $25,000 per covered person to assist in the restoration of his or her financial health and credit history that has been damaged by identity theft.

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Jefferson Pilot Corporation today announced that it has agreed to acquire the U.S. group life, disability and dental business of The Canada Life Assurance Company, an indirect subsidiary of Great-West Lifeco Inc. The reinsurance transaction is expected to close during the first quarter of 2004, following regulatory approvals. Jefferson Pilot will be making a commitment of approximately $200 million to the business, and the transaction is expected to provide Jefferson Pilot modest earnings accretion over the next 12 months after financing and transition costs, and to be more accretive in following years.

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Beacon Research announced today that it has been selected to provide a customized front-end application for BISYS' producer Web site. The application will enable BISYS-affiliated agents and brokers to easily and quickly select the most appropriate fixed annuities for their clients.

Newark, Calif. --Risk Management Solutions (RMS), the world's leading provider of products and services for the management of catastrophe risk, performed the risk analysis for the Pylon Ltd securitization covering damage from windstorm for a major European electricity supplier. The innovative securitization is the first for a European corporate and the first such deal worldwide to cover transmission and distribution (T&D) risk.

Aggressive year-end sales efforts by North American life insurers buoyed 2003 year-end results with December application activity showing a 4.7% year-over-year increase according to the MIB Life Index. December application activity in the U.S. and Canada increased 4.9% and 3.5% respectively compared to the same period last year. Year-end strength appreciably buffered overall North American fourth quarter results which declined only 1.3%; averting more problematic declines observed in the prior three quarters. Year-to-date (YTD) results depict a challenging year with U.S. application activity down 4.1% YTD and Canadian activity down 1.4% YTD compared to application activity last year.

HARRISBURG, Pa.--Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Diane Koken said today that Pennsylvanians may see a reduction in the premiums on new life insurance policies because of a change in the mortality tables used to calculate the insurance premium.

CHICAGO, Jan 12, 2004 -- Fort Dearborn Life Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Health Care Service Corporation (operating as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico), a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, has acquired Omaha Life Insurance Company from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska. Fort Dearborn Life is part of the Preferred Financial Group which is comprised of Medical Life Insurance Company (Ohio), Colorado Bankers Life Insurance Company (Colorado) and Fort Dearborn Life Insurance Company (Illinois).