World Finance Global Insurance Awards 2009

LONDON - The need for a stable and reliable insurance company is, and always has been, of great importance to both individuals and firms. One of the main problems with choosing the right firm to suit specific needs is the vast array of firms within the market. So much choice can lead to confusion and mistakes being made. With that in mind, World Finance scoured the globe to filter the market, and here recommends the best available. Congratulations to those who made the grade this year.

Insurance company of the year:

Australia Insurance Australia Group (IAG) Austria Uniqa Sach Belgium Fortis Caribbean Guardian Life of the Caribbean Central America GNP Mexico France Axa Germany Allianz Greece EFG Eurolife Insurance Hong Kong HSBC Insurance India Bajaj Allianz Italy Poste Vita SpA Malaysia Prudential Middle East Abu Dhabi Insurance Company Netherlands Achmea North Africa Sociéte Nationale d’Assurances Algérie (SAA) Pakistan EFU General Insurance Ltd. Portugal Caixa Seguros Scandinavia If Singapore HSBC Insurance South Africa Momentum Group South America Bradesco Seguros e Previdência S/A South Korea Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Co Spain Mapfre Switzerland Allianz Thailand Viriyah Turkey AK Sigorta UK RSA USA Chubb Group of Insurance Companies Vietnam Prudential

About the Awards

The World Finance awards panel, headed up by editor Alexander Redcliffe, used a wide range of criteria, and the critical eye of a collective 180 years of financial journalism to inform its decision over the most pertinent categories to include in the 2009 awards, and to establish criteria for voters to consider, such as innovation, originality and quality of product, as well as proof of market development and excellence in client representation.

The panel has been wary to avoid the danger of bias towards criteria such as depth of practice, size of company, international links and reputation, which in so many other industry awards skews the competition in favour of the larger firms with global networks, leaving the excellent work of smaller, nationally based firms and those operating in niche areas, unrecognised. The awards are designed to redress this balance, not to favour the smaller firms, but to publicly recognise that the services they provide are every bit as valuable to their clients as those of their larger counterparts.

For further information on our winners and daily market updates, go to worldfinance.com or worldfinance.tv

Notes to Editors:

For further information, go to www.worldfinance.com, for the latest economic and financial commentary from around the globe. Also, see our videos, at www.worldfinance.tv, where some of the latest opinion videos are showcased. World Finance is published by World News Media. World News Media is a leading publisher of quality financial and business magazines, enjoying a global distribution network that includes subscriber lists of the most prominent and senior decision-makers around the world, as well as comprehensive airport, hotel and conference site distribution.

Source: World Finance

For further media information contact: World Finance, Michael McCaw, Production Editor, +44(0)20-7014-0370, michael at worldfinance.com