THE BUSINESS INSURANCE DIRECTORY OF INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY/CASUALTY INSURERS

The Business Insurance directory of global property/casualty insurers lists international insurers that responded to a BI questionnaire.

The directory is published as an editorial service; there is no charge for companies to be listed.

Each listing begins with the insurer's name, address, phone and fax numbers and World Wide Web site address. If provided, financial and operational information for 1997 and 1996 is listed. Foreign gross premiums (in U.S. dollars) for property and casualty risks are provided, as well as the percentage generated by foreign operations of U.S. employers vs. those of non-U.S. employers.

BI defines "foreign" as business conducted in any country other than that in which the company is domiciled.

Also provided are the number of foreign claims offices and the number of underwriting offices; the number of employees involved in foreign property/casualty services, including those in U.S. and non-U.S. locations; the number of foreign countries represented and the number of countries in which the company owns offices (51% or more ownership). The insurer's combined ratio for foreign business also is noted.

Listed next is the year the insurer's international property/casualty operations began and its parent company. Risks the company specializes in insuring are also provided, along with any special services related to international business.

Also listed are the countries in which the company operates as a licensed or accepted insurer, followed by a list of countries in which they participate through affiliates or fronting arrangements and the names of the companies (when provided) with whom such arrangements exist. The names of Names and titles of the principal officers and a U.S.-based contact person complete each listing.

To locate companies that conduct business in a specific country, refer to the geographical index after the directory. The index includes only the names of the property/casualty insurers listed in the directory; information on subsidiaries and fronting arrangements is provided in the directory listings.

Although every effort is made to obtain complete and accurate information BI is unable to verify all information.

The exchange rates used in the directory are:

British pound=$1.638 (FYE 12/31/97), $1.560 (FYE 12/31/96); German mark=$0.575 (12/31/97), $0.665 (FYE 12/31/96); Italian lire=$.001 (FYE 12/31/97), $.001 (FYE 12/31/96); Swiss Franc=$.689 (FYE 12/31/97), $.805 (FYE 12/31/96).