News Releases

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ACE USA, the U.S.-based retail operating division of the ACE Group of Companies, today announced that it has expanded its professional risk insurance product offerings to include a stand-alone, admitted* policy to address the unique risk management needs of elected and appointed officials at various levels of government. The ACE Municipal Advantage^SM Public Entity Liability Policy offers comprehensive management liability, professional liability and employment practices liability coverage for municipalities and special district authorities of all sizes.

Offered through ACE Professional Risk, a division of ACE USA, the ACE Municipal Advantage^SM Public Entity Liability Policy offers coverage to public officials with limits up to $20 million, as follows:

• Public Entity Management Liability – Covers loss for claims made against elected and appointed officials related to their functions as managers of the public entity. Offers a zero retention feature for claims made against public officials when the public entity is unable to or prohibited from providing indemnification.
• Public Entity Liability: Covers errors and omissions of the public official in the performance of professional duties for a public entity, and extends coverage to the public entity itself as an insured under the policy. Coverage is also extended to employed professionals, including architects, engineers, lawyers and accountants.
• Employment Practices Liability: Covers actual or alleged employment practices violations in the employees’performance of duties for a public entity. Coverage now extends to third-party EPL claims where an employee discriminates against or harasses a non-employee.
• Public Entity Crisis Management Coverage: A supplemental coverage that provides the public entity with funds for public relations expenses to help abate material crisis events that, if not addressed, could negatively impact the reputation of the public entity’s managers.
• Optional coverage is available for privacy liability arising out of lost computer equipment, network security breaches and identity theft.

Speaking about the enhanced product offerings, Gregg Rentko, Vice President, ACE USA Professional Risk said, “With elected and appointed officials at every level of government facing a growing number of lawsuits relating to a myriad of activities —zoning, budgets, administration, permitting and other challenges—ACE’s new stand-alone policy has been developed to provide our customers with the coverage they critically need in today’s sensitive environment. We’re pleased to blend our underwriting expertise in the D&O, E&O and EPL arenas to provide a hybrid policy that provides comprehensive coverage to address the exposures created by the day-to-day operations of the public entity.”

Targeted classes include counties, townships, villages, cities, municipal boards and commissions, special district authorities, including housing, utilities, water and sewage, mass transit, ports, airports and airport authorities.

ACE Professional Risk, a division of ACE USA, is staffed by a specialized team of innovative underwriters and provides management liability, professional liability, kidnap & ransom and surety products throughout the U.S. For more information about ACE Professional Risk and its range of products and services, please visitwww.aceprofessionalrisk.com.**

*Admitted paper available in 40 states. Additional jurisdictions pending.

**Product highlights are summaries only; please see actual policy for terms and conditions. Products are subject to risk eligibility requirements and may not be available in all jurisdictions and locations.

ACE USA is the U.S.-based retail operating division of the ACE Group of Companies, headed by ACE Limited (NYSE:ACE), and is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company and A+ (Strong) by Standard & Poor’s. ACE USA, through its underwriting companies, provides insurance products and services throughout the U.S. Additional information on ACE USA and its products and services can be found at www.ace-usa.com. The ACE Group of Companies provides insurance and reinsurance for a diverse group of clients around the world.