CNA Announces November 8-10 Trade & Investment Mission to the Philippines.

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 4, 1999--

Leading U.S. architect, engineering and construction firms seeking to enhance their business opportunities in the Philippines will participate in a trade and investment mission to Manila, November 8-10. The mission will focus on solving some of the country's major needs for infrastructure, housing, environment and tourism.

"This mission is timely since the Philippines economy weathered the Asia financial crisis and is beginning to show healthy signs of renewed growth, projected at 3.5% this year," says Peter Gourlay, Assistant Vice President for CNA's Architect Engineers and Construction unit. "The economic downturn in Asia hasn't changed the area's pressing need for new infrastructure and technology. What has changed is the emergence of real, viable projects. We feel that we have assembled all the right players so that mutually beneficial business relationships will occur," said Gourlay.

This mission is composed of a diverse group of U.S. architect, engineering and construction firms along with significant capital resources to move projects forward. Mission members include Harza Engineering, The RJA Group, JTA Corporation and Hori & Architects from Chicago, IL; Dick Corporation and Advanced Building Systems from Pittsburgh, PA; Callison Architecture from Seattle, WA; Economics Research Associates from San Diego, CA; Burgess & Niple from Columbus, OH; Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart & Associates from Atlanta, GA; Flack & Kurtz Consulting Engineers from New York; the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics from Reston, VA and the Water Environment Federation from Alexandria, VA.

Attending financiers and investors include Credit Suise First Boston, Jones Lang LaSalle, the Asia Infrastructure Fund, Keppel Properties and Jurong Township Corporation. "This mission is unique in that we are bringing all of the critical elements that are necessary in order to enhance business outcomes for this event. Most trade missions do not bring the financing and investment players along; this element should make a big difference," said Gourlay.

Private meetings will be arranged for participants to discuss specific viable projects in the areas of overall infrastructure development, marketing, development and upgrading of industrial estates, housing development, tourism (theme parks, hotels, and resorts) industrial water supply and distribution, wastewater treatment, and solid waste.

The mission is being organized by CNA and Victor O. Schinnerer & Company; mission partners will include the U.S. Commercial Service Manila, The US-Asia Environmental Partnership, McGraw-Hill Construction Information Group and the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.

CNA is a leading provider of design liability insurance. This year, CNA and Victor O. Schinnerer & Company celebrates a 42-year association of bringing premier insurance coverage to the design professions through their architects, engineers and construction professional liability program.

Victor O. Schinnerer & Company is the country's leading underwriting manager. Founded in 1938, Schinnerer develops programs for professional disciplines, helping companies become more successful at managing risk responsibly.

CNA is one of the world's leading insurance organizations and one of the largest U.S. insurance groups. Since 1897, CNA has built its business on a foundation of financial strength, stability and commitment to customers and business partners. Visit CNA at www.cna.com. CNA is a registered service mark, trade name and domain name of CNA Financial Corporation: (NYSE:CNA).