Georgia Company Soars to First in Industry, Appearing on List for Eighth Time COLUMBUS, Ga., March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- In an annual survey of U.S. and foreign companies, Aflac soared to number one on Fortune magazine's list of the World's Most Admired Companies in the Health and Life Insurance category. The Columbus, Ga.-based insurance provider, which pays cash benefits to policyholders who are injured or ill, finished ahead of 14 other companies that vied for the coveted number one slot in the Health and Life Insurance category. This marks the eighth time Aflac has appeared on Fortune's list of Most Admired Companies. "It is a tremendous honor to be selected as the industry champion by our peers and to be included on Fortune's list of the World's Most Admired Companies in the Life and Health Insurance category," Aflac Chairman and CEO Dan Amos said. "During these difficult times this recognition pays tribute to our management philosophy and further validates our resilient business model." The list, which appears on Fortune magazine's Web site today and will be in print for the March 16 edition, rates Aflac number one in the subcategory of innovation and number two in the categories of people management, use of corporate assets, quality of products/services and long-term investment. A total of 689 companies from 28 countries were surveyed to compile the list of the World's Most Admired Companies. The participants were sorted into the various industry categories; executives, directors and analysts within each category then rated companies in their own industry on nine criteria, from investment value to social responsibility. About Aflac For more than 50 years, Aflac products have given policyholders the opportunity to direct cash where it is needed most when a life-interrupting medical event causes financial challenges. As the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance in the United States and the number one insurance company in terms of individual insurance policies in force in Japan, Aflac insurance products provide protection to more than 40 million people worldwide. Aflac has been recognized by Ethisphere magazine as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for two consecutive years and was also named by the Reputation Institute as the Most Respected Company in the Global Insurance Industry in 2008. In 2009 Fortune magazine recognized Aflac as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the eleventh consecutive year. Fortune magazine also ranked Aflac No. 1 on its global list of the Most Admired Companies in the Life and Health Insurance category. Aflac appears on Hispanic Enterprise magazine's list of the 50 Best Companies for Supplier Diversity and on Black Enterprise magazine's list of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity. Aflac was also named by Forbes magazine as America's Best-Managed Company in the Insurance category. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac, visit aflac.com. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041202/CLTH019LOGO ) Media Contacts: Laura Kane Aflac Incorporated 706.596.3493 Jon A. Sullivan Aflac Incorporated 706.763.4813 Analyst and Investment Contact: Kenneth S. Janke Jr. Aflac Incorporated 1.800.235.2667, Option 3; Fax: 706.324.6330 http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041202/CLTH019LOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Aflac Incorporated CONTACT: Laura Kane, +1-706-596-3493, ; Jon A. Sullivan, +1-706-763-4813, ; Kenneth S. Janke Jr., 1-800-235-2667, Option 3; or Fax, +1-706-324-6330, , all of Aflac Incorporated Web Site: http://www.aflac.com/

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