What’s New: In Brief (March 02, 2010)

The Applied Systems Client Network (ASCnet), the user group of Applied Systems insurance agency management software, will relocate by year-end 2010 to the Chicago area.
Prior to the move, ASCnet will hire a permanent CEO to succeed interim CEO Rick Morgan.
The association has called the Orlando, Florida area home since the mid-1980s.
“Most ASCnet leaders must travel greater distances to get to Florida, resulting in higher governance costs,” the association notes in a press release. “The association headquarters is distant from many local chapters and members throughout the U.S. and Canada.
“Locating to the Chicago area means the association can centrally locate leadership and training conferences.”

Echelon Insurance Company of America (EICA), the U.S.-based subsidiary of EGI Financial Holdings Inc. (TSX:EFH), has acquired American Colonial Insurance Company Inc. for approximately $4.6 million.
American Colonial is a Florida-domiciled property and casualty insurance company. In addition to Florida, American Colonial has licenses in good standing to transact private passenger automobile insurance in Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana.
“The acquisition of American Colonial, along with the recent approval of our Florida auto insurance rate filing, are major steps in the advancement of the company’s strategies to underwrite non-standard automobile insurance in the southeastern United States,” EICA CEO James Cizek commented in a press release.