2008-06-19 16:42:08 -

- Pan-American Life Insurance Company, New Orleans Marta Reeves, 504-566-3112 MReeves@panamericanlife.com or Fleishman-Hillard Caroline Rosen, 305-520-9013 Caroline.Rosen@Fleishman.com Pan-American Life Insurance Company has excelled for the third straight year ranking first among Hispanic companies in the state of Louisiana according to Hispanic Business 500, the magazine's annual business directory.

In the June issue, the magazine ranked

Pan-American Life as 23rd among all Hispanic businesses in the nation and second among the top 10 companies in the finance sector.

"Pan-American Life's growth mirrors our distinctive competitive advantages; a multicultural management team, strong brand recognition in Latin America and an understanding of the complex multicultural nature of the U.S. Hispanic population," said Chairman of the Board and CEO Jose Suquet. "In terms of insurance, we are the bridge between Hispanics working here in the U.S. and their extended families back home."

Since January 2008, Suquet has enlisted four new senior managers to reposition the company in the Americas. Today, 50 percent of the company's senior management, more than 39 percent of its home office employees, 76 percent of the overall company employees and 60 percent of its policyholders are Hispanics.

Pan-American Life had a 4.9 percent increase in revenues, growing from $262.43 million in 2006 to $275.21 million in 2007, while total assets reached $2.1 billion and total capital of $331 million, an all-time high.

For more than two decades, the Hispanic Business 500 has served as a barometer of the U.S. Hispanic economy.

About Pan-American Life

Founded in 1911, New Orleans-based Pan-American Life Insurance Company is a leading international insurance company, employing more than 700 worldwide, providing top-rated life and health insurance, worksite benefits and financial services in 46 states, the District of Columbia (DC) and Puerto Rico. Its international operations, offering individual and group life and health insurance throughout Latin America, includes affiliates in Panama, Guatemala and Colombia, and branch offices in Ecuador, El Salvador and Honduras. For more information, visit the Pan-American Life Web site at www.panamericanlife.com.

Pan-American Life Insurance Company is a member of Pan-American Life Insurance Group. The Group is comprised of a number of insurance and reinsurance companies serving nearly half a million customers throughout the Americas.

For the Third Consecutive Year New Orleans-Based Insurance Company
Earns Top Ranking in Hispanic Business 500