FEDERATED NAMED TO BENCHMARK GROUP

   The Federated Insurance Companies has been named to the 2006 Ward’s 50 Benchmark Group of top performing insurance companies.  Federated is one of only ten companies named to both the Property-Casualty and the Life-Health Benchmark Groups.

   Ward Financial Group is a Cincinnati-based management consulting firm that closely  monitors the insurance industry.  Each year it recognizes 50 companies that have achieved outstanding financial results in the areas of safety, consistency, and performance over a five-year period (2001-2005).  Ward reviewed approximately 3,000 property-casualty companies and 1,000 life-health companies during its analysis.

   Upon receiving formal notification from Ward, Federated’s Chairman, President-CEO Al    Annexstad commented, “I give great credit to our Federated employees for this recognition.  I am very proud of them for their continuing  efforts to secure a bright future for the Federated organization so we can fulfill our promises to our valued clients and trade association partners.”