Aflac Named Ward's 50® Top Performer for Ninth Consecutive Year

COLUMBUS, Ga., July 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aflac, the company that pays cash benefits to policyholders fast when they are hurt or sick, announced today that the company has landed on the Ward Group's Ward's 50® list of top performing life and health insurers.

Annually, the Ward Group analyzes the financial performance of nearly 800 life-health insurance companies domiciled in the United States and identifies the top performers in each segment. Each of the top 50 companies is awarded the Ward's 50® Seal and their names are listed as the Ward's 50® Top Performers for the year. Each Ward's 50® company has passed all safety and consistency screens and achieved superior performance over the five years analyzed.

"This is a great honor for Aflac as it validates our commitment to financial stability and our successful business model," Aflac Chairman and CEO Dan Amos said. "We are proud to be recognized by the Ward Group with their top 50 designation."

"Ward Group recognizes Aflac as one of the Ward's 50 top performing life-health insurance carriers for 2010.  In selecting the Ward's 50, we evaluate company performance over a five-year period and identify the top performers.  Aflac has demonstrated the ability to maintain outstanding financial results over the long term while dealing with a challenging economy and competitive landscape," said Jeff Rieder, president of Ward Group.

To be considered for the Ward 50 life/health group of insurance companies, each company must pass the following primary safety and consistency tests:

• Surplus and premiums of at least $50 million for each of the five years analyzed
• Net income in at least four of the last five years
• Risk-based capital ratio of at least 150% for each of the five years analyzed
• Compound annual growth in premiums between -10% and +40%

About Aflac

When a policyholder gets sick or hurt, Aflac pays cash benefits fast. For 55 years, Aflac products have given policyholders the opportunity to focus on recovery, not financial stress. In the United States, Aflac is the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance. In Japan, Aflac is the number one insurance company in terms of individual insurance policies in force. Aflac insurance products provide protection to more than 50 million people worldwide. Aflac has also been recognized by Ethisphere magazine as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for four consecutive years and has been named by the Reputation Institute as the Most Reputable Company in the Global Insurance Industry for two consecutive years. In 2010, Fortune magazine recognized Aflac as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the twelfth consecutive year. In addition, Fortune magazine ranked Aflac No. 1 on its global list of the Most Admired Companies in the Life and Health Insurance category. And Aflac was named by Forbes magazine as America's Best-Managed Company in the Insurance category. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac, visit aflac.com.

About Ward Group®

Ward Group is the recognized leader in insurance company benchmarking and best practices and a major sponsor of primary research studies. Ward Group analyzes staff levels and expenses for all areas of insurance company operations. The firm's professional staff is uniquely qualified to help companies measure results, optimize performance and be more profitable. For more information about Ward Group, visit www.wardinc.com.

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SOURCE Aflac