Benfield Inc to address Soft Market Impact on Program Business

Wilmington, DE – March 2008 – The Target Markets Program Administrators Association announced today that the Association’s Strategic Partner Benfield Inc. will be collecting data from TMPAA Program Administrator/MGA’s and Carriers during a panel presentation, “Strategies for Surviving the Soft Market”, conducted at the group’s upcoming Mid Year Meeting. The presentation is designed to elicit comment from Association members, and provide a forum to discuss methods to help maintain profitable program business operations during the current soft market cycle.

“The last prolonged soft market seriously impacted the image of program managers in the market,” stated Greg Thompson, Association President. “The TMPAA intends to do all within its power to keep the image of its members positive throughout all market cycles. Defending the profitability and integrity of the business is paramount.”

Benfield’s Executive Vice President, Andrew Bustillo, will be moderating a panel of Program Specialists and Carriers who will provide their insights in this regard. “Benfield recognizes the significant impact a soft market has on the program business segment of the industry,” said Mr. Bustillo. “Benfield is heavily invested in Program Business and the TMPAA, so it is a topic of great importance to us. Providing strategies to survive and thrive in the current market is an activity in which we are very pleased to participate.”

Members of the panel currently consist of Rick Weidman, Castlepoint Management, Steve Porcelli, Hudson Insurance Company, Geof McKernan, NSM Programs, John Paulk, Britt Paulk Insurance, and Greg Thompson, THOMCO. The Association along with Benfield Inc. plans to employ audience response technology to gather key facts about the program business operations in the group, and the strategies they currently employ to remain profitable.

The 2008 TMPAA Mid Year Meeting is scheduled for April 7-9, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia. Program Administrators/MGA’s interested in learning more about the TMPAA or the Mid Year Meeting can visit www.targetmarkets.com

For additional information, contact:
Ray Scotto – Executive Director – at (877) 347 – 5700.
E-mail address: ray.scotto@targetmkts.com