Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Citizens Insurance Announces 2008 Community Scholarship Program

8 Oct 2008 15:14 Africa/Lagos

Citizens Insurance Announces 2008 Community Scholarship Program

College scholarships to be awarded based on Academic achievement and commitment to community service

HOWELL, Mich., Oct. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Citizens Insurance Company of America today announced the launch of its 2008 community scholarship program. Students at public high schools in Brighton, Fowlerville, Hartland, Howell and Pinckney, as well as children of Citizens employees, are eligible to apply.


The scholarship program recognizes and rewards students who have excelled in academic achievement, leadership and community service. Over the past three years, Citizens Insurance has awarded $172,000 in college scholarships to 138 students.


(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051031/NEM023LOGO )


"At Citizens, we believe that a college education should be accessible and available to all who want to pursue it. We are excited to be able to help ease the financial burden of higher education for those students who have demonstrated excellence in school and in the community," said Paul Mueller, Citizens Insurance regional president.


Students interested in applying for a scholarship may download and print an application at the company's Web site: http://www.citizensinsurance.com/scholarships. Applications must be postmarked by Saturday, November 29. Scholarship winners for 2008 will be announced in January 2009. Awards are made through The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation, Inc., the charitable giving arm of Citizens' parent, The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc., based in Worcester, Mass.


The scholarship program is managed by Scholarship Management Services, a division of Scholarship America, the nation's leading scholarship program administrator.


About The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation


The mission of The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation, Inc. is to improve the quality of life in communities where The Hanover Insurance Group companies have a major presence, placing a special emphasis on helping to build world class public education systems and inspiring and empowering youth to achieve their full potential.


The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE:THG) , based in Worcester, Mass. is a leading provider of auto, home and business insurance in Massachusetts.


The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. is the holding company for a group of insurers that includes The Hanover Insurance Company, also based in Worcester; Citizens Insurance Company of America, headquartered in Howell, Mich., and their affiliates. The Hanover offers a wide range of property and casualty products and services to individuals, families and businesses through an extensive network of independent agents, and has been meeting its obligations to its agent partners and their customers for more than 150 years. Taken as a group, The Hanover ranks among the top 40 property and casualty insurers in the United States. For more information, please visit http://www.hanover.com/.


CONTACTS:
Media Relations
Amy Lynn Banek
abanek@hanover.com
(508) 855-4486

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051031/NEM023LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Citizens Insurance Company of America

CONTACT: Amy Lynn Banek, Media Relations of The Hanover Insurance Group,
Inc., +1-508-855-4486, abanek@hanover.com


Web site: http://www.citizensinsurance.com/scholarships
http://www.hanover.com/



Monday, April 14, 2008

How To Be a Great Insurance Lawyer

14 Apr 2008 10:06 Africa/Lagos


How To Be a Great Insurance Lawyer

ONTARIO, Calif., April 14 /PRNewswire/ --

It is hard enough just getting into law school and keeping pace with core requirements, says Frank N. Darras, the nation's leading disability and long-term care insurance lawyer. Darras worked selling medical equipment while attending law school and fell in love with the idea of helping the disabled fight for their insurance rights. See http://darrasnews.mediaroom.com/.


(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070717/NYFNSC02 )

Have you thought about taking an insurance law course in law school?

"Elective insurance law courses cover everything from property, life, disability and health to auto, mortgage and long-term care. Whether you ultimately want to defend corporate insurance companies or represent the insured, it's a course that will reap real benefits. Insurance is everywhere and it is often hard to understand and difficult to square what you thought you bought with what you actually received," says Darras.


In his case, Darras says he wanted to be the voice of the disabled, so no matter whether they were rich or poor, they would know his name meant real protection when they needed it most. An insurance law elective, would have been a wonderful way for him to hit the ground running after graduation but it wasn't available.


"Twenty years later, Frank N. Darras is famous for setting the standard to which insurance lawyers are held. He has been a hero for the sick, the elderly and he really is a modern day David fighting Goliath," says James A. Hayes, Jr., Assistant Dean of Academic Programs and Associate Professor at Western State University College of Law. See http://www.wsulaw.edu/.


"Last month, at WSU, we held the first annual Frank N. Darras Disability Law Moot Court Competition, at the school's Fullerton campus. As far as we can tell, it is the only moot court competition in the country that focuses exclusively on disability law," says Hayes. "For tomorrow's lawyers to compete in this unique competition opens opportunities for their futures, but also for everyday Americans who buy insurance to protect them from the unthinkable."


"This competition affords law students the opportunity to understand insurance law and determine if this is the field they want to explore and master as a career. We sure could use some great insurance lawyers to stand up for everyday people," says Darras.


See http://darrasnews.mediaroom.com/ or call 800-458-4577.


Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link. Frank N. Darras http://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=39767


Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070717/NYFNSC02
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Frank N. Darras

CONTACT: Robin Nolan, +1-650-279-9512, robin@mcdavidpr.com, for Frank N.
Darras


Web site: Darras News


NOTE TO EDITORS: Darras available for interviews.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Airline Insurance Market Expected to be Tougher in 2008

26 Feb 2008 20:34 Africa/Lagos


Airline Insurance Market Expected to be Tougher in 2008

Aon's Airline Insurance Market Review 2007 shows less soft market


CHICAGO, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The high level of hull and liability claims, at $1.7 billion, coupled with the lowest amount of lead hull and liability premium since 2000 ($1.5 billion), means that the airline insurance market was broadly unprofitable in 2007. The negotiating process is likely to be tougher in 2008 as a result, according to Aon's Airline Insurance Market Review of 2007.


(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041215/CGW049LOGO)


This is the key finding of the review that brings together data for the last year and extrapolates its likely effect on the market in 2008 and beyond.


The review's findings include:
-- total recorded lead hull and liability premium for 2007 was
$1.5 billion, a reduction of 30 percent since 2005;
-- total incurred claims, including hull, liability and an estimate for
attritional losses, amounted to $1.7 billion;
-- North American fleet values, at $192 billion, fell below those of
Europe and Asia, both at $193 billion, for the first time in 2007.
North American passenger numbers, however, were still higher than the
other two major aviation regions;
-- the proportion of passengers travelling with flag carriers has fallen
from 66 percent in 2005 to 48 percent in 2007.



Having started the year with average premium reductions of around 20 percent, the airline insurance market became gradually less soft as the year progressed with underwriters recognising the probability that the value of hull claims would outweigh the total lead hull and liability premium.


"After four years of soft markets, it looks like 2007 may well have seen the cost of airline insurance reach something of an equilibrium," says Doug Peterson, Aon Aviation & Aerospace group practice leader. "Despite the relatively high number of hull losses in 2007, there were fewer fatalities compared to the average over the last decade. Capacity continues to be high, but it seems unlikely that providers will continue to offer the high level of reductions witnessed over the last couple of years. As a result, 2008 looks set to be a fascinating year in the airline insurance markets."


Download the report at http://aon.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=55.

Media contact:
Alexandra Lewis
020 7882 0541
Alexandra.lewis@aon.co.uk

Rahsaan Johnson
312.381.2684
Rahsaan_Johnson@aon.com


About Aon

Aon Corporation (NYSE:AOC) is the leading global provider of risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, human capital and management consulting, and specialty insurance underwriting. Through its 43,000 professionals worldwide, Aon readily delivers distinctive client value via innovative and effective risk management and workforce productivity solutions. Our industry-leading global resources, technical expertise and industry knowledge are delivered locally through more than 500 offices in more than 120 countries. Aon was ranked by A.M. Best as the number one global insurance brokerage in 2007 based on brokerage revenues, and voted best insurance intermediary, best reinsurance intermediary, and best employee benefits consulting firm in 2007 by the readers of Business Insurance. For more information on Aon, log onto http://www.aon.com/.


Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041215/CGW049LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network:
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Aon Corporation

CONTACT: Alexandra Lewis, 020 7882 0541, Alexandra.lewis@aon.co.uk, or
Rahsaan Johnson, +1-312-381-2684, Rahsaan_Johnson@aon.com, both of Aon
Corporation


Web site: http://www.aon.com/
http://aon.mediaroom.com/


NOTE TO EDITORS: The review looks in detail at data from across the aviation market, breaking it down by region, average fleet value (AFV), sector and month, as well as providing a round up of market and industry activity, a comprehensive loss review and examination of the geographic changes in industry profile. It examines how the industry's evolution during 2006 will impact the market during 2007 and beyond.

Airline Insurance Market Expected to be Tougher in 2008

26 Feb 2008 20:34 Africa/Lagos


Airline Insurance Market Expected to be Tougher in 2008

Aon's Airline Insurance Market Review 2007 shows less soft market


CHICAGO, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The high level of hull and liability claims, at $1.7 billion, coupled with the lowest amount of lead hull and liability premium since 2000 ($1.5 billion), means that the airline insurance market was broadly unprofitable in 2007. The negotiating process is likely to be tougher in 2008 as a result, according to Aon's Airline Insurance Market Review of 2007.


(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041215/CGW049LOGO)


This is the key finding of the review that brings together data for the last year and extrapolates its likely effect on the market in 2008 and beyond.


The review's findings include:
-- total recorded lead hull and liability premium for 2007 was
$1.5 billion, a reduction of 30 percent since 2005;
-- total incurred claims, including hull, liability and an estimate for
attritional losses, amounted to $1.7 billion;
-- North American fleet values, at $192 billion, fell below those of
Europe and Asia, both at $193 billion, for the first time in 2007.
North American passenger numbers, however, were still higher than the
other two major aviation regions;
-- the proportion of passengers travelling with flag carriers has fallen
from 66 percent in 2005 to 48 percent in 2007.



Having started the year with average premium reductions of around 20 percent, the airline insurance market became gradually less soft as the year progressed with underwriters recognising the probability that the value of hull claims would outweigh the total lead hull and liability premium.


"After four years of soft markets, it looks like 2007 may well have seen the cost of airline insurance reach something of an equilibrium," says Doug Peterson, Aon Aviation & Aerospace group practice leader. "Despite the relatively high number of hull losses in 2007, there were fewer fatalities compared to the average over the last decade. Capacity continues to be high, but it seems unlikely that providers will continue to offer the high level of reductions witnessed over the last couple of years. As a result, 2008 looks set to be a fascinating year in the airline insurance markets."


Download the report at http://aon.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=55.

Media contact:
Alexandra Lewis
020 7882 0541
Alexandra.lewis@aon.co.uk

Rahsaan Johnson
312.381.2684
Rahsaan_Johnson@aon.com


About Aon

Aon Corporation (NYSE:AOC) is the leading global provider of risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, human capital and management consulting, and specialty insurance underwriting. Through its 43,000 professionals worldwide, Aon readily delivers distinctive client value via innovative and effective risk management and workforce productivity solutions. Our industry-leading global resources, technical expertise and industry knowledge are delivered locally through more than 500 offices in more than 120 countries. Aon was ranked by A.M. Best as the number one global insurance brokerage in 2007 based on brokerage revenues, and voted best insurance intermediary, best reinsurance intermediary, and best employee benefits consulting firm in 2007 by the readers of Business Insurance. For more information on Aon, log onto http://www.aon.com/.


Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041215/CGW049LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network:
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Aon Corporation

CONTACT: Alexandra Lewis, 020 7882 0541, Alexandra.lewis@aon.co.uk, or
Rahsaan Johnson, +1-312-381-2684, Rahsaan_Johnson@aon.com, both of Aon
Corporation


Web site: http://www.aon.com/
http://aon.mediaroom.com/


NOTE TO EDITORS: The review looks in detail at data from across the aviation market, breaking it down by region, average fleet value (AFV), sector and month, as well as providing a round up of market and industry activity, a comprehensive loss review and examination of the geographic changes in industry profile. It examines how the industry's evolution during 2006 will impact the market during 2007 and beyond.

Airline Insurance Market Expected to be Tougher in 2008

26 Feb 2008 20:34 Africa/Lagos


Airline Insurance Market Expected to be Tougher in 2008

Aon's Airline Insurance Market Review 2007 shows less soft market


CHICAGO, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The high level of hull and liability claims, at $1.7 billion, coupled with the lowest amount of lead hull and liability premium since 2000 ($1.5 billion), means that the airline insurance market was broadly unprofitable in 2007. The negotiating process is likely to be tougher in 2008 as a result, according to Aon's Airline Insurance Market Review of 2007.


(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041215/CGW049LOGO)


This is the key finding of the review that brings together data for the last year and extrapolates its likely effect on the market in 2008 and beyond.


The review's findings include:
-- total recorded lead hull and liability premium for 2007 was
$1.5 billion, a reduction of 30 percent since 2005;
-- total incurred claims, including hull, liability and an estimate for
attritional losses, amounted to $1.7 billion;
-- North American fleet values, at $192 billion, fell below those of
Europe and Asia, both at $193 billion, for the first time in 2007.
North American passenger numbers, however, were still higher than the
other two major aviation regions;
-- the proportion of passengers travelling with flag carriers has fallen
from 66 percent in 2005 to 48 percent in 2007.



Having started the year with average premium reductions of around 20 percent, the airline insurance market became gradually less soft as the year progressed with underwriters recognising the probability that the value of hull claims would outweigh the total lead hull and liability premium.


"After four years of soft markets, it looks like 2007 may well have seen the cost of airline insurance reach something of an equilibrium," says Doug Peterson, Aon Aviation & Aerospace group practice leader. "Despite the relatively high number of hull losses in 2007, there were fewer fatalities compared to the average over the last decade. Capacity continues to be high, but it seems unlikely that providers will continue to offer the high level of reductions witnessed over the last couple of years. As a result, 2008 looks set to be a fascinating year in the airline insurance markets."


Download the report at http://aon.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=55.

Media contact:
Alexandra Lewis
020 7882 0541
Alexandra.lewis@aon.co.uk

Rahsaan Johnson
312.381.2684
Rahsaan_Johnson@aon.com


About Aon

Aon Corporation (NYSE:AOC) is the leading global provider of risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, human capital and management consulting, and specialty insurance underwriting. Through its 43,000 professionals worldwide, Aon readily delivers distinctive client value via innovative and effective risk management and workforce productivity solutions. Our industry-leading global resources, technical expertise and industry knowledge are delivered locally through more than 500 offices in more than 120 countries. Aon was ranked by A.M. Best as the number one global insurance brokerage in 2007 based on brokerage revenues, and voted best insurance intermediary, best reinsurance intermediary, and best employee benefits consulting firm in 2007 by the readers of Business Insurance. For more information on Aon, log onto http://www.aon.com/.


Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041215/CGW049LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network:
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Aon Corporation

CONTACT: Alexandra Lewis, 020 7882 0541, Alexandra.lewis@aon.co.uk, or
Rahsaan Johnson, +1-312-381-2684, Rahsaan_Johnson@aon.com, both of Aon
Corporation


Web site: http://www.aon.com/
http://aon.mediaroom.com/


NOTE TO EDITORS: The review looks in detail at data from across the aviation market, breaking it down by region, average fleet value (AFV), sector and month, as well as providing a round up of market and industry activity, a comprehensive loss review and examination of the geographic changes in industry profile. It examines how the industry's evolution during 2006 will impact the market during 2007 and beyond.