BUSINESS MEMOS: AMERICAN FAMILY EARNS HONOR

An independent investment banking firm has named American Family Mutual Insurance Co. one of the top 50 property-casualty insurance companies in the United States.

The Ward Financial Group, based in Cincinnati, placed American Family on the prestigious 1995 Ward's 50 Benchmark Group "for achieving outstanding financial results in the areas of safety, consistency and performance over the past five years."

"We were delighted to earn a place on the Ward list," said Paul King, American Family's chief financial officer, "particularly when you consider there are more than 3,000 property casualty insurance companies in this country."

King pointed out that American Family is extremely well-capitalized, with 1995 assets of $6.26 billion and annual revenue of $3.16 billion.

To earn a spot on the Ward's 50 list, Ward uses sophisticated computer programs to analyze extensive financial information about individual companies, provided by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The battery of tests measure both the financial strength of a company and consistency of financial performance.

The American Family Insurance Group consists of eight companies offering auto, home, business, health and life insurance products, as well as loans, home equity financing and auto leasing.

American Family's home office is in Madison, Wis., where the company was founded in 1927. It operates in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado and Arizona.