Ageas SA/NV (formerly known as Fortis SA/NV) stoically defends its fortress of insurance offerings, though its financial service ramparts have been pillaged. ageas SA/NV provides life, health, and property/casualty insurance in Belgium and other European and Asian countries. Laid low by high debt and the contraction of credit markets in 2008, the firm received a hefty bailout from the Benelux governments. The then-Fortis sold its Dutch units to the Netherlands government and its remaining bank operations to BNP Paribas. In 2010, Fortis underwent a rebranding effort and changed its name to Ageas.

Central Mutual Insurance company is centrally located, is mutually held, and by golly, it does sell insurance through its operating subsidiaries Central Insurance Companies, All America Insurance, and CMI Lloyds. These subsidiaries offer auto, business, and homeowners insurance; underwrite commercial policies; and assess computer and electronic equipment claims. The company does business in more than 15 states; its products are sold by independent agents in the central, northeastern, southeastern, and southwestern regions of the US. The company was founded in 1876. Chairman and president Francis Purmort III is the fifth generation of his family to lead the company.

Atrium Underwriters, a Lloyd's of London insurer and reinsurer also provides insurance for cargo, art, and against acts of terrorism. Its Atrium Underwriters Limited subsidiary manages two Lloyd's syndicates -- Syndicate 570 (property & casualty insurance and reinsurance, accident & health, and professional liability) and Syndicate 609 (energy, marine and aviation risks, non-marine property, war, and more). The company provides its services throughout the UK using a direct sales force.

Sammons Enterprises summons its revenues from several sources. The diversified holding company's operations include the Sammons Financial Group (life insurance and financial services) and Briggs Equipment (heavy equipment sales and rentals). Its insurance and financial group includes Midland National Life Insurance, North American Company for Life and Health Insurance, and Sammons Annuity Group. Sammons Enterprises also owns The Grove Park Inn Resort in Asheville, North Carolina. The company's list of partially owned holdings runs the range from real estate investments to oilfield suppliers. It is owned by its employees and prefers to invest in companies with strong employee-ownership programs.

A-ten-schun! American General Life Companies is still among the top brass of US life insurance and financial services firms. It is the marketing name for the domestic life insurance companies and affiliates group of American International Group. American General Life offers clients a variety of products to build their nest eggs, including fixed and deferred annuities. Life insurance offerings include individual and group policies for families, businesses, and affiliation groups. Other products include accident and health insurance and worksite benefits programs.

Founded by Quakers in 1832, Friends Provident markets life insurance and a variety of pension and disability plans throughout the UK. It sells through independent agents and independent financial advisors (IFAs), as well as the Internet. Friends Provident's international business is focused mainly on UK expatriates. Luxembourg-based subsidiary Lombard International Assurance specializes in international cross-border life insurance targeting the very wealthy. Friends Provident company also provides some financial services through its wealth management consulting unit, Pantheon Financial. Friends Provident was purchased by acquisition vehicle Resolution Limited in 2009.

Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd provides reinsurance products and financial service solutions, enabling insurers, corporations, the public sector, and other partners to manage capital and risk challenges worldwide. It offers various reinsurance products covering property and casualty; life and health; and special lines, such as agricultural, aviation and space, engineering, HMO reinsurance, marine, nuclear energy, and special risks. The company also provides insurance products and services comprising agriculture risk transfer solutions, aviation insurance, industrial risk insurer, employer stop loss, NAS surety, small business risk services, space, and weather and energy price risks. In addition, Swiss Reinsurance Company offers Admin Re, a solution through which the company acquires closed blocks of in-force life and health insurance business through reinsurance or corporate acquisition, and assumes responsibility for administering the underlying policies.

FinCor Holdings has just what the doctor ordered. FinCor is an insurance company for the health care industry, providing medical malpractice, risk management, workers' compensation, and other liability policies to hospitals, clinics, and physicians. The company operates through five subsidiaries: FinCor Solutions, The Risk Management and Patient Safety Institute (RM&PSI), MHA Insurance Company, Washington Casual Company, and Capital Risk Solutions. FinCor Solutions also offers homeowner's and auto insurance to individuals in the health care profession.

The Commercial Division, based in Minneapolis, is an integral part of Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois-based BCS Insurance Company (BCSI), a for-profit, multiple-line property and casualty insurance company with roots that date back more than 50 years.The Commercial Division was established to underwrite business for the BCS Life Insurance Company and BCS Insurance Company for insurance associated with employers and affinity (voluntary purchase) groups. It exists to underwrite substantial and diverse blocks of business with flexible coverage solutions. It is here to help our customers manage risk with stable and consistent strategies. BCSI is part of the BCS Insurance Group, comprised of a number of for-profit, multi-line insurance companies with diverse capabilities. For more information about the BCS Insurance Group, visit our Web site by clicking here.

ICW Group provides multiple lines of property/casualty insurance, including commercial property, workers' compensation, surety bonds, catastrophe coverage, and personal and corporate auto insurance; customers are primarily in the western US. Its member companies are flagship Insurance Company of the West (licensed in about 50 states), Explorer Insurance (about 20 states), and Independence Casualty and Surety (Texas and select other states). The companies have offices in about a dozen states, mostly California and Texas. ICW Group is a subsidiary of Western Insurance Holdings.

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