Zurich HelpPoint: Real stories - Corporate Business

Zurich HelpPoint: Real storiesHow Zurich delivered when it mattered for two storage tank companiesQuick turnaround for a better financing solutionAn international hospitality company had thousands of properties with backup generators connectedto storage tanks. The company was meeting its financial responsibility requirements through a selfinsuranceprogram. Due to restructuring and changes in internal finances, the company could no longermeet its financial responsibility requirements through this approach. Zurich’s underwriters were askedto meet with the company, and turn around a solution in little more than a day. The company wasimpressed not only with the speed, but with the level of knowledge and insight Zurich’s environmentalteam delivered virtually overnight.Fast response to the snowballing effects of a collisionIt’s hard to imagine anything worse than a snowplow hitting your fuel pump at 4:30 a.m., but that wasjust the beginning of a series of events that began to snowball quickly. Once the snowplow toppledthe pump and severed the fuel line connections at the shear valves (designed to prevent leaking fuel),an employee was able to turn off the gas to the fuel dispenser and stop the leak within minutes of thecollision. Only about 10 gallons were released at this time.The gas station employee immediately called the tank technician contractor, who advised that it wassafe to begin dispensing fuel again. Business resumed as normal for an hour to meeting the demands ofthe morning rush. When another technician arrived to deliver parts to repair the damaged shear valves,it was quickly determined that fuel was still leaking, and in fact, more than 4,000 gallons were missingfrom the system. Unfortunately, this leaking fuel migrated to a storm and sewer outfall near a river.Within 24 hours of the release, Zurich’s environmental claims professionals provided technicalknowledge to support the station owner during the emergency response activities at the site.Our team was also there with guidance throughout the on-going remediation of this site.Discover the Zurich difference• Environmental strength and experienceZurich is one of the largest writers of storage tank coverage in the U.S. We have over 30 dedicatedenvironmental and professional liability claims professionals many of whom are qualified with lawdegrees and environmental consultant experience.• Rapid response to inspectionsWhen state or local inspections occur, and you are expected to produce a certificate of insurance,Zurich is there to respond to your urgent requests.• Ease of doing businessZurich’s direct bill and automatic renewals make continued availability of your storage tank insuranceprogram seamless, providing ongoing compliance with financial responsibility.

• Financial strengthZurich Financial Services Group has a conservative, well-diversified portfolio of Group investments ofroughly $180 billion (as of December 31, 2008). Our investment strategy has been to manage assetsto liabilities rather than maximizing return on assets. This conservative approach puts us in a goodposition to weather the current market turmoil.This is intended as a general description of certain types of insurance and services available to qualified customers throughthe companies of Zurich in North America. Your policy is the contract that specifically and fully describes your coverage.The description of the policy provisions gives a broad overview of coverages and does not revise or amend the policy.Insurance coverage is underwritten by Zurich Insurance Company and other insurance company subsidiaries within theZurich Financial Services Group including, in the US, Zurich American Insurance Company and its licensed underwritingsubsidiaries. Certain coverages not available in all states. Some coverages may be written on a nonadmitted basis throughlicensed surplus lines brokers. Insurance product obligations are the sole responsibility of each issuing insurance company.For example, only the assets of Zurich American Insurance Company (and no other assets of the Zurich Financial ServicesGroup) are available to meet its obligations for the performance of its products. This information is consolidated ZurichFinancial Services Group financial information as of December 31, 2008, and is not audited. For more complete financialinformation, audited annual statements of the Group and information on the ratings of the underwriting companies ofZurich in North America, access www.zurich.com. No assurances can be given, and we make no representations, thatsuch information has, or has not, changed since December 31, 2008.Risk engineering services provided by Zurich Services Corporation.© 2009 Zurich American Insurance Company