XL Insurance and ABA Insurance Services Announce New Agreement to Provide Employment Practices Liability Coverage

NEW YORK, and MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio, Sept. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- XL Insurance, the global insurance operations of XL Group plc (NYSE: XL), and ABA Insurance Services, Inc., a new managing general underwriter which was formerly Progressive's Professional Liability Group, today announced a joint underwriting agreement to provide Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI). ABA Insurance Services presently offers EPLI through ForAgentsOnly.com, Progressive's agency-dedicated website in 15 states, with plans to expand to all 50 states by the end of 2010.

"Especially in today's economic climate where claims against employers are trending upward, businesses of any size are wise to seek strong insurance protection to address claims made by their employees or former employees," said Don Allard, XL Insurance's Chief Underwriting Officer, Select Professional. "This new partnership opens up access for agents who want to provide their small business clients with the same professional liability underwriting expertise and quality coverage that many of the nation's largest firms depend on from XL Insurance."

"We are very excited to be working with XL Insurance, a highly regarded market for professional liability insurance," said John Wells, President and CEO of ABA Insurance Services.  "Through this agreement, we are combining our collective underwriting expertise, loss prevention resources and claims handling experience to help our agents address their small business clients' EPL exposures."

Employment Practices Liability Insurance address claims related to discrimination involving age, sex, race, disability, etc., as well as wrongful termination of employment, sexual harassment, and other employment-related allegations.

Mr. Wells added:  "Because businesses need strong professional liability protection now more than ever, we are looking forward to expanding our product offerings, adding other professional and management liability protection specifically for our small business customers."

In its new relationship with XL Insurance, ABA Insurance Services will provide EPLI coverage to small and mid-size businesses with fewer than 250 employees.  XL Insurance continues to directly provide EPLI coverage for both public and private companies through its Hartford-based Professional unit.

About ABA Insurance Services

ABA Insurance Services Inc. is a managing general agency that offers professional and management liability, and financial institution bond coverage to community banks and small businesses.  Formerly known as Progressive's Professional Liability Group, ABA Insurance Services has been providing underwriting and claims handling expertise to companies across the country for over 20 years.

About XL Insurance

The XL Insurance companies provide professional liability insurance on both a primary and excess basis to private and publicly-traded companies that count on our underwriting expertise and superior financial strength.  XL Insurance's Select Professional group works with program managers, agents, brokers and wholesalers to address the professional liability insurance needs of small to mid-size service providers including lawyers, consultants, TPAs, ad agencies, franchisers, real estate agents, insurance agents, technology companies and non-medical service providers.  Coverages are written on Greenwich Insurance Company, XL Specialty Insurance Company and Indian Harbor Insurance Company.

XL Insurance is the global brand used by XL Group plc's insurance companies and underwriting divisions offering property, casualty, professional and specialty insurance products throughout the world. More information about XL Insurance is available at www.xlinsurance.com. XL Group plc, through its subsidiaries, is a global insurance and reinsurance company providing property, casualty, and specialty products to industrial, commercial, and professional firms, insurance companies and other enterprises on a worldwide basis. More information about XL Group plc is available at www.xlgroup.com.

SOURCE XL Insurance