BELLEVUE, WA - SAFLINK Corporation, a leading developer, marketer and integrator of biometric security solutions, announced today that North Carolina-based A4 Health Systems has used SAFLINK's Software Development Kit (SDK) to design and deploy a solution in its efforts to meet new security requirements in Ohio that call for dual authentication of pharmaceutical orders within the hospital setting. The first phase of the solution is scheduled for deployment to more than 500 users at Mount Carmel East, West, and St. Ann's of Columbus, Ohio.

NASHUA, N.H. -- SkillSoft PLC, a leading provider of enterprise e-learning, today announced that Humana Inc., one of the nation's largest publicly traded health benefits companies, signed a two-year agreement to license a SkillSoft multi-modal learning solution. The integrated solution encompasses more than 1,000 e-learning courses spanning a variety of IT technologies and desktop applications; 24x7, online mentoring support for IT professionals; and more than 3,000 online, unabridged Referenceware titles. With multi-modal learning, professionals can access a variety of formal and informal learning resources through a single, unified search and then select the appropriate resources based on information needs, available time, and learning preferences.

ATLANTA-- Connecture, a leading provider of integrated Web-based sales and service automation solutions for the health insurance industry, announced it has signed a national agreement with Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), the association for the nation's 41 independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield health insurance Plans, which collectively insure more than 88.3 million Americans.

AMARILLO, Texas--Corporate Systems Inc. a recognized leader in Property-Casualty claims lifecycle management and reporting solutions, announced the successful implementation of CS ClaimSuite with Everest National Insurance Company. This implementation represents an expanded usage of Corporate Systems products to Everest's branch office located in Southern California.

PHILADELPHIA-- CIGNA Corporation today reported net income for the fourth quarter of 2003 of $290 million, or $2.06 per share, compared with net income of $47 million, or $0.33 per share, for the same period last year.

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. -- Zenith National Insurance Corp. announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Zenith Insurance Company began serving summons and complaints today upon a Santa Ana medical clinic, its owner and manager, accusing them of taking part in a large-scale scheme designed to defraud the company's policyholders. Zenith becomes the first workers' compensation insurance company in the state to sue under a statute that the California Legislature passed specifically to help combat workers' compensation fraud.

CNA Financial Corp. today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its individual life insurance business to Swiss Re Life & Health America Inc. (Swiss Re) for approximately $690 million. The business sold includes term, universal and permanent life insurance policies and individual annuity products. CNA's individual long term care and structured settlement businesses are excluded from the sale. Additionally, the Nashville , Tennessee insurance servicing and administration building will be acquired by Swiss Re as part of the sale. Under terms of the agreement, CNA will stop accepting new applications for individual life and annuity products as of March 5, 2004. The transaction is expected to be completed on or before March 31, 2004, subject to certain customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Upon completion of the sale, it is anticipated that approximately 300 employees will transfer to Swiss Re.

Accenture has been selected to implement its Claim Components software application at The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., one of the nation's largest investment and insurance companies. The pilot implementation is targeted for the third quarter of calendar-year 2005.

CGI Group Inc. and Millbrook Inc. of Bethlehem, PA, announced the signing of a strategic partnership agreement under which CGI will integrate Millbrook's information management solutions suite with CGI's INSideOUT Software, Personal and Commercial Assigned Risk Processing Services, and Massachusetts Insurance Processing Services, to expand value to their customers.

WARREN, N.J.-- The Chubb Corporation today reported that net income in the fourth quarter of 2003 was $72.3 million or $0.38 per share, compared to net income of $56.6 million or $0.33 per share in the fourth quarter of 2002. Operating income, which the company defines as net income excluding after-tax realized investment gains and losses, was $73.1 million or $0.38 per share in the fourth quarter of 2003, compared to operating income of $83.7 million or $0.48 per share in the fourth quarter of 2002.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- InsWeb Corp. today announced results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2003. Revenues for the fourth quarter totaled $4.1 million, compared to $6.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2002. During the quarter, InsWeb recognized a gain of $6 million relating to the sale of its remaining investment in Finance All K.K., a Japanese corporation."

Docucorp International, a provider of enterprise information solutions, announced today that it signed a software licensing agreement with Liberty American Insurance Group, Inc. The company's subsidiary, Mobile Homeowners Insurance Agencies, Inc., will utilize Docucorp's suite of insurance publishing solutions to enhance the automation of its policy production process.

DxCG Inc., a provider of predictive modeling software for health care organizations, today announced a national agreement with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) to provide RiskSmart to independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies.

BRUNSWICK, Maine -- Allenbrook Inc., one of the top three providers of policy processing software and consulting services for the insurance industry, announces that New York Marine and General Insurance Company, a division of New York Marine Group, has signed a licensing agreement for Phoenix adding to a mounting list of insurance companies using Allenbrook's products. The speed-to-market Phoenix solution will provide NYMAGIC, Inc. with an integrated policy processing and

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Jefferson Pilot Corporation, parent of the Jefferson Pilot Financial companies and one of the nation's leading providers of universal and variable universal life insurance and annuities, today reported results for the fourth quarter of 2003. Jefferson Pilot earned $1.01 per share before realized investment losses in the quarter, up 35 percent from fourth-quarter 2002 earnings of $0.75 before realized investment losses. Net income per share for the fourth quarter of 2003 increased 78 percent to $0.82, including net realized investment losses of $0.19 per share, versus net income per share of $0.46 in the fourth quarter of 2002, which included net realized investment losses of $0.29.

When it comes to claims processing, insurers are being driven by the rules-business rules, that is. Using rules-based technology, insurance companies are automating routine tasks, streamlining claims workflow with consistent best practices, and automatically adjudicating low-risk claims."At this point, anybody who is not using rules-based technology is already behind the curve," says Michael Lucarini, partner in the insurance group at Bermuda-based Accenture. "There are certain processes and certain areas of low risk where insurance companies need to cut the costs out and streamline those processes. And that requires the ability to segment your claims and understand your claims experience."

Insurance fraud is an $80-billion a year industry-and the bad news is: Organized criminals know it."The word has gotten out," says Dennis Jay, executive director of the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud (CAIF), Washington, D.C. "There are huge loopholes in state legislation that have made insurance fraud at least as lucrative as drug trafficking."

In recent years, a combination of poor planning, bad execution and an inability to properly measure results have conspired to undermined customer relationship management (CRM) initiatives, casting doubt on future insurer investments in this space.Despite these missteps, a growing number of insurance companies have realized that best-practices CRM can become a reality if insurers can somehow summon up the ability to re-engineer their CRM strategies and alter their corporate focus.

The life insurance industry plans a high profile on Capitol Hill this year in an effort to focus policymakers on its agenda, which includes an optional federal charter and a broader array of retirement products.The lobbying effort will include "fly-ins" by company CEOs and other high-level executives to speak to administration officials and key members, briefings and interview opportunities, and introduction of legislation supportive of industry interests. Also to be disclosed shortly is establishment of an "insurance caucus" by members of Congress with great interest in insurance issues.

As the insurance industry continues to focus broadly on growth, cost containment and risk management, new research has identified several strategic initiatives that might provide traction to insurers as they endeavor to improve their businesses.The final segment in a series of six "2004 Perspectives" formulated by Needham, Mass.-based research and consulting firm TowerGroup examines critical business and technology issues and trends that the firm expects will impact financial services.