OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 8, 2006--When subcontractor default insurance initially was introduced in 1995, it was marketed principally as a substitute for performance bonds. More than 10 years later, the product has gained ground on its own as an effective means of managing the risks of large and sophisticated contractors, a niche market where bonding capacity is seriously lacking, according to an article in the Sept. 11 BestWeek.

Rob Rapp, who is co-director within Aon's Construction Services Practice Group, said contractors initially were driven to the insurance product when they couldn't find adequate capacity in the surety marketplace. Now, he says, it's the distinctive benefits, which have become well known within the construction marketplace, that are driving the product's popularity.

Also in BestWeek, a look at how electronic communications are vital legal evidence when disputes arise. E-mails, even cell phone records, are surprisingly difficult to destroy, are practically unalterable without leaving evidence of tampering, and are fast becoming many judges' evidence of choice.

Also featured in this week's BestWeek is Best's Insurance Composite Index, which finished the week of Sept. 7, 2006, at 1,128.12, up 6.00% from a year ago. The composite index reflects the performance of 132 insurance stocks. The week's top performers were Atlantic American Corp.; Specialty Underwriters' Alliance Inc.; Donegal Group Inc.; American Safety Insurance Holdings Ltd.; and NYMAGIC Inc. The week's bottom performers were National Security Group Inc.; FPIC Insurance Group Inc.; Sierra Health Services Inc.; American Physicians Capital Inc.; and Harleysville Group Inc.

BestWeek is published by A.M. Best Co. for insurance professionals.

To subscribe to BestWeek, please call A.M. Best's customer service department at (908) 439-2200, ext. 5742, or e-mail your request to customer_service@ambest.com.

A.M. Best Co., established in 1899, is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit A.M. Best's Web site at www.ambest.com.

A.M. Best Co.
Caroline Saucer, 908-439-2200, ext. 5774
caroline.saucer@ambest.com

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© Business Wire 2006