Best's Statement File Supplement Available State/Line--Property/Casualty and Life/Health.

Business Editors

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 31, 2003

A.M. Best Co. has shipped Best's Statement File Supplement: State/Line -- Property/Casualty (Standard Lines) and Life/Health (Life Lines and Accident & Health Lines).

These databases present the most current five years of information for single companies and groups operating in the U.S.

Data is drawn from the Annual Statement Page 24 (Statutory Page 14) of more than 2,300 Property/Casualty companies and Annual Statement Page 29 for approximately 1,700 Life/Health companies. After being exhaustively cross-checked and verified for accuracy, information is delivered on CD-ROM with Windows-based software that enables the user to perform meaningful market share, underwriting and loss and expense experience analyses.

Data flows for the Property/Casualty edition scheduled for the coming weeks provide A.M. Best-calculated line summations and totals for key segments of the industry, as well as exclusive A.M. Best group data, culminating in industry-wide totals shipped in June. A Property/Casualty Combined Lines database is available separately and is scheduled for shipment in July. The Life/Health edition also provides subsequent data flows that present preliminary totals on an ongoing basis until final industry totals are calculated and released in June. All statement data is restated on an "as-is" basis to reflect current ownership and eliminate double accounting.

Insurance professionals responsible for marketing and underwriting analysis use this information to evaluate their company's position relative to their peers and competitors in specific lines of business and geographic regions. Software functionality is designed to enable the user to assess a company's strengths and weaknesses, identify major competitors, plan expansionary moves into new states or lines and evaluate insurers for merger or investment potential.

For more information about Best's Statement File Supplement: State/Line - Property/Casualty and Life/Health, call [phone], ext. 5311, or e-mail [e-mail].

A.M. Best Co., established in 1899, is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit A.M. Best's Web site at www.ambest.com.