ICW Group Insurance Companies Expands Its Use Of EQECAT’s U.S. Earthquake Model Capabilities

Licensing Of EQECAT’s Proprietary ICMS Technology Will Expedite Response Times, Data Flow To Carrier’s Underwriters, Brokers, Policyholders

October 27, 2009

Oakland, CA

Catastrophe risk modeling firm EQECAT announced today that ICW Group Insurance Companies, a super regional multiline property and casualty insurance company, has expanded its licensing agreement with EQECAT and will use additional capabilities and functions of the United States Earthquake model. The new agreement will expedite response times and data flow to the carrier’s underwriters, brokers and policyholders.

ICW Group selected EQECAT’s proprietary Integrated Catastrophe Management System (ICMS) to further incorporate catastrophe modeling into its underwriting workflows and aggregate risk management, while integrating the automation of catastrophe modeling into their existing underwriting workstation.

“EQECAT’s earthquake model helps ICW Group accurately assess risk,” said Shawn Adams, vice president of catastrophe underwriting for ICW Group. “Brokers consistently are asking for faster turnaround time, and that is exactly what EQECAT’s proprietary ICMS will enable us to deliver.”

EQECAT’s U.S. Earthquake model is delivered through the WORLDCATenterprise™ catastrophe risk modeling platform, and has undergone independent review by the U.S. Geological Survey, the California Geological Survey and the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center. It also has met the high standards of the California Earthquake Authority, the largest writer of personal lines earthquake insurance in the country and is recognized as suitable for use by the CEA for public rate filings. ICW Group has been using EQECAT’s U.S. Earthquake model since 2007.

“ICW Group’s expanded use of EQECAT’s earthquake model validates our collaborative approach to serving clients. We develop state-of-the-art catastrophe risk models and provide practical solutions that incorporate the latest science and analytics in a complex business environment,” said Bill Keogh, senior vice president of EQECAT. “Technological advancements developed by EQECAT, such as ICMS, enable clients to automate tasks and understand more accurately the potential impact of catastrophe events on their business,” he said.

About ICW Group

Privately held ICW Group represents a group of multi-line property and casualty insurance carriers providing workers’ compensation, surety, earthquake and personal and business auto insurance. Its member companies consist of Insurance Company of the West, Explorer Insurance Company and Independence Casualty and Surety. Based in San Diego, ICW Group continues to transform itself into an insurance industry leader dedicated to meeting the needs of its Agents and Brokers and the people and companies they insure. More information is available at www.icwgroup.com.

EQECAT Software Enables Clients Worldwide To Assess And Manage Risk

EQECAT, Inc provides state-of-the-art products and services to the global property and casualty insurance, reinsurance and financial markets. EQECAT is the technical leader and innovator of catastrophe risk management models that quantify exposure to a range of natural and man-made catastrophic risks. Through its modeling software platform, WORLDCATenterprise™, EQECAT enables clients to quantify and manage the potential financial impact of natural hazards. WORLDCATenterprise™ includes 177 natural hazard software models for 89 countries spanning six continents. These models are based upon innovative applications of the latest science, engineering expertise, claims and exposure data and advanced mathematics.

EQECAT, a subsidiary of ABSG Consulting Inc. (ABS Consulting), was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Oakland, California. For additional information, please visit www.eqecat.com.