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LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a” of National Grid Insurance Company (Isle of Man) Limited (NGIC). The outlook for both ratings is stable.

The ratings of NGIC reflect its strong risk-adjusted capitalisation and comprehensive reinsurance programme. Also, the ratings outcome incorporates a strong integration within the parent’s, National Grid Plc (NG Plc), risk management structure. An offsetting rating factor for NGIC is its historic volatile underwriting performance.

A.M. Best expects NGIC’s business mix to remain largely unchanged. It is expected that the volume of premiums written will increase again in 2012/2013 in line with inflation.

A.M. Best anticipates that NGIC’s risk-adjusted capitalisation is likely to remain very strong over the next two years. NGIC is likely to continue to release a significant proportion of its reserves for outstanding claims in the next two years as claims are closed or conservative reserves are reduced and hence will reduce risk-adjusted requirements. A.M. Best considers NGIC’s reinsurance programme as comprehensive and adequate.

A.M. Best believes that there is a certain degree of volatility within the company’s portfolio due to the nature of the risks insured by NGIC. However, a recent increase in premium rates is expected to alleviate the impact of high frequency claims on the company’s performance. For the year ending March 2012 and going forward, NGIC is expected to produce good underwriting results.

Upward rating movements are unlikely in the next two years.

Negative rating actions could occur if there were a significant deterioration in NGIC’s risk-adjusted capitalisation linked to no evidence of support from NG Plc to boost capitalisation. In addition, a significant deterioration in NG Plc’s financial position would likely lead to a review of NGIC’s ratings.

The methodology used in determining these ratings is Best’s Credit Rating Methodology, which provides a comprehensive explanation of A.M. Best’s rating process and contains the different rating criteria employed in the rating process. Key criteria utilised include: “Alternative Risk Transfer (ART)”; “Understanding Universal BCAR”; “Rating Members of Insurance Groups”; and “Risk Management and the Rating Process for Insurance Companies”. Best’s Credit Rating Methodology can be found at http://www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology.

In accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 1060/2009, the following is a link to required disclosures: A.M. Best Europe - Rating Services Limited Supplementary Disclosure.

A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited is a subsidiary of A.M. Best Company. Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit http://www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2012 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of National Grid Insurance Company (Isle of Man) Limited

by Colin Brown

The top young table tennis players in the British Isles will be in action at the National Sports Centre in a few weeks time when the Isle of Man hosts the Six Nations Junior and Cadets International, sponsored by Isle of Man Bank.

Teams from England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Guernsey will be joining the Island squad in a competition spread over three days.  The team events – involving both boys and girls – take place on Friday 9th March and Saturday 10th March with the individual events following on the Sunday.  Players will be competing at junior (under 18) level and cadets (under 15.)

One of the organisers, Mike Bayley, Acting Chairman of the Isle of Man Table Tennis Association said it was the Isle of Man’s turn to host the prestigious annual event and it was an excellent opportunity for the Island’s top young players to test themselves on home soil against the very best in the UK.

Said Mike: ‘As far as spectators are concerned, it is an opportunity not to be missed.  Many of the players on view will later go on to represent their countries at Commonwealth Games and Olympic level and become the stars of the future.  The standard of table tennis on view from players so young will be a real eye-opener for many people.’

Isle of Man Bank is sponsoring the event – as it did when the Six Nations Senior International was held in the Island two years ago.  Head of Premium Banking, Ian Perry, will be presenting the team awards on the Saturday afternoon as well as the individual trophies at the end of Sunday’s play.

John Lindon, Isle of Man Bank’s Community Investment Manager, said sport – particularly at junior level - was one of the Bank’s main focus areas.  He added: ‘The value of sport cannot be overestimated as it helps young people in all areas of their development and also sets them on the path to a healthy lifestyle.

The names of the members of the Isle of Man squads will be announced shortly.

-ENDS-

In Other Isle of Man News

If you'd like to send any information or news releases to us then please feel free to do so and we would be more than happy to consider sharing your news with the Isle of Man!

Send your Isle of Man news to:webmaster@manx.net

© Manx Telecom Ltd 2012

Manx Telecom Ltd, Isle of Man Business Park, Cooil Road, Braddan, Isle of Man IM99 1HX
Registered in the Isle of Man Reg no.5629V Vat Reg no GB 003-2919-12

Read the original here:
Island To Host Six Nations Junior Table Tennis International

by Isle of Man Advertising

Celton Manx is extending its support of the Senior Men’s National Football Team for the 2012/13 season. Celton Manx is the locally based operator of SBOBET.com and it is SBOBET that the senior men’s kit has been branded with for the past two years.

Executive Director Bill Mummery and Head of Business Development Mike Stanton, attended the quarter final of the FA Inter League against Liverpool County last weekend at the Bowl to see their team in action. The FA Inter League Cup is run by the Football Association to provide an English representative in the UEFA Regions’ Cup. The Isle of Man national team won the competition in 2006 and went on to represent England in the Regions’ Cup.

A record 1,300-strong crowd were there to cheer on the Manx team, in the most remarkable weather conditions, to a 5-3 victory. The Manx team looked to be out of the competition at half-time trailing 0-3 but made an amazing comeback to reach the semi-finals of the cup.

Executive Director of Celton Manx, Bill Mummery said: ‘Despite the torrid weather conditions on Saturday it was great to see so many people out supporting our Manx National Team. We are very proud to be able to sponsor our talented local team and the quality shown on the pitch was fantastic. Both teams played with a level of sportsmanship that is often sadly lacking in modern football, it was a pleasure to watch.  I am looking forward to the semi-finals and hopefully seeing our team go all the way and lift the cup!’

Frank Stennett, Chief Executive Officer of the Isle of Man Football Association said: ‘We were delighted that Celton Manx and SBOBET has agreed to continue its sponsorship of the Senior Men’s Representative Team for this season. It really is tremendous news and is very much appreciated by all the squad players and indeed the directors on the board here at the IOMFA.

‘Saturday’s match showed the amount of support we have in the Island and the quality of our team. I am very excited for the semi-finals and the other competitions the team will be involved in this year.’

The semi-final tie will be played against Southern Amateur League on Saturday 24th March at the Bowl, Douglas with a 3-00pm kick-off . 

To get your tickets please contact Ann Garrett at the IOMFA on 615576.
 
-ENDS-

Saturday’s match showed the amount of support we have in the Island and the quality of our team.

Frank Stennett, Chief Executive Officer of the Isle of Man Football Association

In Other Isle of Man News

If you'd like to send any information or news releases to us then please feel free to do so and we would be more than happy to consider sharing your news with the Isle of Man!

Send your Isle of Man news to:webmaster@manx.net

© Manx Telecom Ltd 2012

Manx Telecom Ltd, Isle of Man Business Park, Cooil Road, Braddan, Isle of Man IM99 1HX
Registered in the Isle of Man Reg no.5629V Vat Reg no GB 003-2919-12

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Celton Manx Continues Support of Isle of Man Football Team

GRAND CAYMAN, CAYMAN ISLANDS--(Marketwire -02/23/12)- Golden Frog, the premier global software developer, announces today the update of their VyprVPN App for Giganews to 1.0. The update to VyprVPN App for Giganews 1.0 includes numerous improvements to the user interface and functionality.

In November 2011, Golden Frog launched the VyprVPN App in its Beta form. Shortly after, Giganews partnered with Golden Frog to introduce the VyprVPN App for Giganews as a free application for every Diamond Giganews member, allowing customers to automatically configure and easily manage their VyprVPN connections. Golden Frog's VyprVPN is a personal Virtual Private Network (VPN) service that provides a secure, encrypted connection to the Internet. VyprVPN utilizes PPTP, L2TP/IPSec and OpenVPN protocols to protect online privacy. In addition to unlimited speeds, unlimited IP address availability and no download caps, the VyprVPN App for Giganews lets customers easily switch between VPN protocols and North American, European and Asian VyprVPN server locations with a single click.

"The feedback we've received from Giganews customers has helped us to polish up virtually every aspect of the VyprVPN App with better performance, better usability, more security and increased reliability," explains Philip Molter, CTO at Golden Frog. "We've made numerous improvements to the user interface and the 'under the hood' functionality that it only made sense to remove 'Beta' from the name altogether."

VyprVPN App 1.0 for Giganews new features:

Native support for more languages Multitude of look and feel improvements throughout the application Improved PPTP and L2TP security Improved OpenVPN speed and reliability

Read the VyprVPN App change log to learn about all the improvements found in this update.

Golden Frog began its partnership with Giganews 18 months ago, and both companies have seen significant success from the development of new online tools and services for Giganews members.

"Since the beginning of our partnership with Golden Frog, we've experienced double-digit growth in new accounts and account upgrades, plus a huge increase in customer retention," states Ed Henigin, CTO at Giganews. "We can only expect that as Golden Frog continues to make improvements to the VyprVPN App, business will continue to thrive."

New members can sign up for a Giganews membership. Companies interested in learning more about partnering with Golden Frog, please read more about our corporate partnership program.

For more information about Golden Frog and VyprVPN, please visit http://www.goldenfrog.com, or email marketing@goldenfrog.com

Stay up-to-date on Golden Frog by subscribing to the Golden Frog blog, or follow on Twitter, Facebook, or Google +.

About Golden Frog
Golden Frog is a global software developer of Internet applications focused on reliability, performance, and security. We care about the open Internet and create superior software and services that help people access its full potential. Learn more about Golden Frog at https://www.goldenfrog.com.

Golden Frog, Dump Truck and VyprVPN are trademarks of Golden Frog, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.

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Golden Frog Launches VyprVPN App for Giganews 1.0

First Lady Michelle Obama made a quick trip to Cincinnati on Thursday, preaching her husband?s record to the choir and stopping briefly at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

She collected some big money - about 300 people paid anywhere from $250 to $10,000 to hear her speak and to meet her.

She delivered a vigorous defense of her husband?s administration to the crowd at the downtown Westin hotel, saying President Obama?s work ?is not done.?

?If any family in this country is struggling,? the First Lady said, ?we can not be satisfied with our own families? good fortune.?

Obama spoke for nearly half an hour. Before that, she appeared at a private reception with big donors where attendees had an opportunity to have their picture taken with the First Lady.

Wearing a sleeveless black dress, Obama largely recited the accomplishments of the Obama administration. She told crowd that her husband ? raised by a single parent, with the help of his grandmother ? understands the problems of struggling families ?because he has lived them.?

?Who do we want to be??? she asked. ?Will we be a country where success is limited to a few at the top? This country is strongest when we are all better off.?

Her husband came to office three years ago, she said, to bring about change; and said change ?does not come easy.?

It was her first visit to Cincinnati since Sept. 2008, when her husband was running for president. Then, she spoke at a National Baptist Convention at the Duke Energy Center.

Her comments drew criticism from Christopher Maloney, spokesman for the Ohio Republican Party.

?The time has come and gone for empty rhetoric and broken promises. Ohioans simply cannot afford another four years of job loss, higher taxes and increased debt under Barack Obama,? he said.

The First Lady praised the passage of health care reform legislation that she said has already ?saved millions of seniors in this country an average of $600 a year for prescription drugs.?

?Now, there are some folks talking about repealing that reform,?? she said. ?Are we going to let that happen? Are we going to allow children to be denied health care coverage who have cancer or other serious diseases? We can?t do that.?

Shot back Maloney: ?The ?folks? Mrs. Obama dismisses represent 2.3 million Ohioans and a majority of voters in all 88 Ohio counties who demanded the repeal of Obamacare?s job-killing mandate in November.?

She also praised her husband for getting rid of the ?Don?t Ask, Don?t Tell? policy toward gays in the military.

?Never again will our young people have to lie about who they are,?? she said.

Among those at the mid-day event were State Sen. Eric Kearney, D-North Avondale, and his wife, Jan-Michelle Kearney, both personal friends of the Obamas. Jan-Michelle Kearney attended Harvard Law School with Mrs. Obama.

After the fundraiser, the First Lady changed into a navy blue dress and took a private tour of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. She spent just over a half hour in the facility, walking through with Dina Bailey, director of exhibitions and collections. Walking with them was Mayor Mark Mallory and Verna Williams, of Pleasant Ridge, and Williams? 12-year-old daughter, Allison. Williams has been a friend of Obama?s since college.

It was a personal tour and a photo opportunity, but reporters weren?t close enough to hear Obama?s questions or comments. She?d never been to the museum center before and wanted to see it, said Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory.

?I don?t think people in Cincinnati are clear on the significance of the freedom center,? he said. ?The First Lady was very interested in seeing it.?

He said she also asked about the economy in Cincinnati, which he told her was looking up. Bailey explained, he said, that the museum would soon merge with the Cincinnati Museum Center. Without that change, the Freedom Center would have had to close next year.

Originally posted here:
First Lady raises money, visits Freedom Center