Sunrise, FL and Sarasota FL

BIPT, inc. a leading provider of integrated, end-to-end insurance solutions and Focus Technologies, LLC, the technology arm of Focus Holdings, LLC, an insurance focused group of companies offering a wide array of products and services to the property and casualty industry, have joined forces to broaden the scope of products and services to the insurance industry.  Under the terms of the transaction, BIPT will be acquired by Focus Technologies and the managing principals of BIPT will become partners in Focus Technologies.

Focus Technologies will continue to be led by President Kevin M. Tromer.  Joining him on the Executive Team will be H. John Kummer, former President of BIPT; Joseph Cooper, former CTO of BIPT; John Soutar and Andy Nechyba, both current executives of Focus Technologies.

“By combining forces with BIPT,” said Tromer, “both firms’ existing clients as well as new clients will benefit from a more diverse firm that offers a larger scope of services under one roof.   Combining these two firms, who have worked together for years, clearly raises the bar for firms that provide outsourced services to the property and casualty industry.”  Kummer added “The new Focus Technologies will offer state of the art Software as a Service solutions allowing insurers to cost effectively operate at an advanced level.”

Focus Holdings, LLC is a diversified group of companies serving the property and casualty industry.  Through its various subsidiaries, operations include MGA and wholesale brokerage operations, program management services, residual market services, systems and technology solutions, business process outsourcing solutions, claims management services, premium finance services, actuarial services, and statutory accounting services.  www.focusholdings.com

BIPT, Inc., headquartered in Sarasota, Fl., is a leading provider of Policy and Claims Administration solutions for the Property and Casualty Insurance industry. The flagship solution, TiVA, is a browser-based system designed to help carriers extend their application process to agents in the field, streamline the underwriting process, and improve their competitiveness in the marketplace. Visit the company’s website at www.bipt.com.

MacNeill Group Earns Top Honors at the 84th Annual AAMGA Meeting

June 15, 2010

Sunrise, FL – MacNeill Group, Inc., a premier managing general agent and program manager in Florida,

recently earned first place in the website/electronic category of the 2009-2010 Advertising, Marketing,

and Community Service Awards from the American Association of Managing General Agents (AAMGA).

MacNeill was recognized for its newly redesigned website focused on meeting the needs of its valued

agents and customers.

Kevin Tromer, President, was onsite at the association’s annual meeting in Palm Desert, California to

accept the award. “We are very excited to have been recognized by the AAMGA. Our redesigned site

was released into production this past spring after careful planning and research with our agent

partners. In addition to introducing our Focus Underwriting Network (F.U.N.), which allows agents to

quote over 150 classes online, we have designed the site to provide current industry news and data

along with information about our product and service offerings. We hope the site becomes a resource

for both agents and policyholders.”

You can view the award winning site at www.macneillgroup.com.

About MacNeill Group, Inc.

MacNeill Group, Inc. is the largest subsidiary of Focus Holdings, LLC, an insurance focused holding

company. MacNeill traces its roots back to 1946 when it was founded as Frank R. MacNeill and Son.

With a singular mandate to provide independent agents with market capacity and service that is beyond

compare, MacNeill continues today as a partner of choice for thousands of agents in the State of Florida.

A licensed managing general agent, MacNeill features top rated carriers with products in commercial,

personal, transportation and flood lines. MacNeill also offers an array of Program Management Services

to residual markets and insurance carriers alike; services include product and program development,

actuarial and rate making support, marketing, policy administration, customer service, claims

administration services, systems and support, statutory reporting and accounting services.

MacNeill Group, Inc., 64 years of history FOCUSED on innovating for the future.

www.macneillgroup.com

About MacNeill Group, Inc.

MacNeill Group, Inc. is the largest subsidiary of Focus Holdings, LLC, an insurance focused holding company. MacNeill traces its roots back to 1946 when it was founded as Frank R.
MacNeill and Son.  With a singular mandate to provide independent agents with market capacity and service that is beyond compare, MacNeill continues today as a partner of choice for thousands of agents in the State of Florida.

A licensed managing general agent, MacNeill features top rated carriers with products in commercial, personal, transportation and flood lines. MacNeill also offers an array of Program Management Services to residual markets and insurance carriers alike; services include product and program development, actuarial and rate making support, marketing, policy administration, customer service, claims administration services, systems and support, statutory reporting and accounting services.

Q: When was the last time a MacNeill was active in the company?
A: Malcolm MacNeill, who founded the business with his father, Frank, retired in 1989. Tom Rogan led the company from 1989 until 1997, when Doug Bullington, my predecessor, took over.

Q: What has your business model been over the years, and how has it been tweaked? What areas have seen the most growth? What have been some of your biggest challenges?
A: Our business model hasn’t so much been tweaked as it has been expanded. We were founded in 1946 as a traditional MGA offering products and services in both personal and commercial lines, and this is still an important part of our business. In fact, this year we are expanding our offerings, adding transportation to our commercial suite of products and an excess flood program to our NFIP flood unit that can be written
nationwide. Beyond our traditional MGA offerings, we have developed expertise and a full range of program management services for both the residual and private markets.

Many know we have been an underwriting service provider to Citizens Property Insurance Corp. continuously since its inception as the FRPCJUA in 1993. The model and scope of services has changed over the years, but we remain very proud of the work we have done with Citizens. We have been providing a wide range of services to the Florida-domestic personal property market since 1995: Financial and pro-forma modeling; product development and ratemaking; underwriting, policy issuance and administration and customer service; statutory and GAAP accounting; and a highly specialized set of tools to help client companies manage aggregates and exposures.

Our biggest challenges have come from portfolio transfers. Over the past 15 years, we have probably converted close to two million policies. Some have been from the residual to private markets; others have been between two (and sometimes more) private companies. We have even transferred portfolios between companies in the same group. Each time, the portfolio comes with its own challenges. The capabilities to handle these portfolio transfers and our tools for aggregate management are key differentiators for us in the market.

Q: You recently took over servicing the policyholders of Coral Insurance Co., now in receivership. How do you efficiently absorb and service these new customers?
A: We were very pleased to offer a solution to the Coral policyholders. We were asked initially by the executives at Coral if we could provide some market capacity for their policies valued at over $1 million. We had the capability in several markets, so we view it as an opportunity to help the policyholders, the agents, and the receiver. As portfolios go, this is relatively small by comparison to many portfolios we deal with, so servicing these policies will be easily integrated into our workflow.

Q: Your web site promises, “We shall continue to promote profitable relationships with our Insurance Companies and Agents.” Tell us how you have nurtured these relationships over the years. When did Focus Holdings enter the scene, and where does MacNeill fit today?
A: We are fortunate that we have had the opportunity to forge many great partnerships over the years, and I think that comes from the fact that we focus on building relationships that create value for all parties. On the agent side we have been dedicated to the independent agent distribution channel since our founding. We provide a wide range of products, competitive commissions, and excellent service. On the company side, we provide a menu of services at competitive pricing and a superior level of expertise. And last, but certainly not least, we have our people. We hire the best and the brightest, pay competitive wages, and foster an environment that allows for personal and professional growth. These are the absolute pillars to our success.

Focus Holdings is a purpose-built holding company we initially formed for the acquisition of MacNeill in 2000. Today it contains a diversified group of companies servicing many aspects of the property and casualty insurance space. In addition to MacNeill, there is Focus Underwriters, an MGA/wholesale broker located in Durham, N.C., and servicing the markets in North and South Carolina and Virginia. Focus Technologies provides IT services and print and mail services. Another affiliate, Focus Finance, provides premium finance services. In February, we signed an agreement to acquire a Florida-domestic commercial insurance carrier. Closing is pending the approval of the Office of Insurance Regulation and is anticipated in the next 30-60 days. This diversification and market expansion will allow us to continue to broaden our offerings both by product and geography.

There is another area of relationships of which we are particularly proud. In 2008, we accomplished a long-held objective: We incorporated and funded the Focus Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to contribute resources to ensure the comfort and well-being of our employees and their immediate families, the communities in which we live and work, and the insurance community from which we derive our livelihood. This foundation allows us to better target the resources we put back into our community.

Q: You have been recognized as one of the Best Companies to Work for by the South Florida Business Journal. You also were named MGA of the Year in 2006 by the Professional Insurance Agents’ national group, and earned the designation of Certified Managing General Agent from the American Association of Managing General Agents. Talk about your corporate culture and workplace philosophy.
A: Actually, we were honored to be voted one of the best places to work in South Florida for three years running — 2005, 2006, and 2007. What makes this recognition special is that it is voted on by employees only; they are the ones who have to take the initiative. I can’t say it enough: We are very proud of our staff, and believe they are the key to our success. When you have staff recruiting their friends and family members to work here, it says a lot about your organization and culture. I think we have every type of family relationship you can come up with working in our organization. Husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, mothers and sons, fathers and daughters, cousins — I can go on and on. How many companies can boast about having third generation employees? We have three! Good people who love to come to work, with a commitment to excellence — that’s what sets us apart.

We consider ourselves very fortunate to have been recognized with so many awards. We were the first MGA in the country to receive the Certified Managing General Agent designation from the AAMGA. We were also the first recipient of PIA’s MGA of the Year award. When you have an organization that is voted one of the best places to work by your employees and at the same time voted as the best by your customers, you can’t help but be proud.

Q: MacNeill Group went through a major re-branding last year, and the results won recognition in the professional design world. Your old “sharper image” in logos and collateral materials has been “rounded off.” Almost everything visual — even the give-away tins of M&Ms — has rounded corners. Can you speak to the psychology behind the design change?
A: We began our re-branding effort several years ago, and are fortunate to have the effort recognized by both the advertising community and the insurance community. Our logos and letterheads have won numerous awards, but as you might expect, that was not one of our stated goals when we began the project.

After we acquired MacNeill we began to create the corporate identity we desired, one that will not only pass the test of time, but one that recognizes our stability in the market as well. You picked up on one of the most significant features, the rounded edges. The rounded edges, particularly those that make up the “m” in the logo, demonstrate strength and stability. Architectural types know that arches provide for a stronger and more stable platform from which to build, and that is a key element we want to demonstrate with our image.

Q: What does the future hold?
A: Going forward we have many initiatives, but all are focused (no pun intended) on a few key goals: First, expand our reach through product and geographic expansion. Second, continue to provide service that is beyond compare for our customers and their customers. Third, continue to provide a work experience that fosters personal and professional growth.

In the next month or two we will be launching our newest branding effort called the Focus Underwriting Network or F.U.N. The program is an online, web-based program that will facilitate rating, quoting and submitting many of the products we currently offer through our commercial and personal specialty lines departments. This new offering also begins a completely revamped online presence that will be implemented throughout 2009. The new site will not only provide for increased capabilities for agents and insureds, but also will be full a resource for information and news from the industry.

Douglas W. Bullington, CEO of Focus Holdings, will assume the same role with Capacity Insurance Company. Joining Mr. Bullington will be an experienced team of insurance executives already part of the team at Focus.

“Our goal when we established Focus Holdings,” said Bullington, “was to build a diversified group of companies to service the many different channels of the property and casualty insurance industry. The addition of Capacity to our group further strengthens our capabilities as a full service company.” When speaking of the plans for CIC, Bullington continued, “Historically, CIC has specialized in habitational and small mercantile type risks; we see no reason to change this focus, but also look forward to expanding both the eligible underwriting classes and product lines of business as we move forward.”

Focus’ subsidiaries have long been known for their innovation and commitment to service; the addition of CIC with its reputation of providing stable and quality products will be a win for the agents of Florida and their customers.

Focus Holdings, LLC is a diversified group of companies serving the property and casualty industry. Through its various subsidiaries, operations includeMGA and wholesale brokerage services, program management services, residual market services, claims management services, premium finance services, actuarial services, and statutory accounting services. www.focusholdings.com

Capacity Insurance Company is a Florida domiciled commercial lines insurer founded in 1989. Capacity writes exclusively in Florida and focuses on light and medium hazard property and casualty business. Capacity has a financial strength rating of B++ Very Good from AM Best and financial stability rating of A Exceptional from Demotech. www.capacityinsurance.com

Mr. Bullington said of MacNeill’s new president: “Kevin’s leadership has been a critical element of this organization’s growth and diversification over the past 12 years. As President, he will be charged with continuing the tradition of integrity, quality and service that MacNeill has been known for since 1946.”

Mr. Tromer joined MacNeill in 1996 and most recently served as the Executive Vice President responsible for the management of the firm’s daily operations. Prior to that he served as MacNeill’s Senior Vice President from 2003 to 2006 and as Vice President from 2000 to 2003 responsible for the creation, development and implementation of new programs and management of the company’s information technology initiatives. He entered the insurance industry several years before joining MacNeill following successful stints in several areas of the automobile finance industry. Mr. Tromer holds a BS Degree in Management from Ithaca College (Ithaca, NY).

MacNeill Group, Inc. is a Managing General Agency and Program Manager writing all lines of property and casualty insurance in the Southeast United States from their headquarters in Sunrise, Florida. MacNeill has been recognized as one of the Best Companies to Work For by the South Florida Business Journal; was the first recipient of the MGA of the Year award presented by the PIAA (Professional
Insurance Agents of America); and has earned the designation of Certified Managing General Agent from the AAMGA (American Association of Managing General Agents).

Focus Holdings, LLC is a diversified group of companies serving the property and casualty industry. Through its various subsidiaries operations include MGA and wholesale brokerage services, program management services, residual market services, premium finance services, actuarial services and statutory accounting services.