ProAssurance to Open Claims and Underwriting Processing Centers to Enhance Customer Service and Prepare for Future Growth and Expansion

ProAssurance Corporation (NYSE: PRA) announced it will open two new processing centers to enhance customer service and prepare for future growth and expansion. The new centers, which will ultimately house approximately 80 employees, will be located in ProAssurance's office in Okemos, Michigan and at its headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama.

"Our expanded processing centers will give us new capabilities to more effectively and efficiently execute claims and underwriting processes and will enable us to do so with a greater consistency and uniformity. This expansion affects processing only - no offices are being closed and there is no change to the locally-based claims and underwriting decision making that is a hallmark of ProAssurance excellence," said W. Stancil Starnes, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ProAssurance.

The new processing centers will open in mid-June and processing functions being performed in outlying offices will be transitioned to the new centers over the next 18 months. No jobs are being eliminated and all employees affected by the transition are being offered positions in the new centers.

"Our decision to centralize processing comes after a year of study by our senior management team. We are confident that this plan will enhance our processing capabilities and will benefit our agents and our insureds by bringing employees together to share ideas, collaborate on solving problems and communicate best practices in both new centers," said Mr. Starnes.

Mr. Starnes said, "We recognize that this will affect many valuable, long-term employees who have contributed greatly to the success of our company. We have gone to great lengths and considerable expense to address these issues with a package of relocation bonuses and separation benefits."

About ProAssuranceProAssurance Corporation is the nation's largest independently traded specialty writer of medical professional liability insurance. ProAssurance is recognized as one of the top performing insurance companies in America by virtue of its inclusion in the Ward's 50 for five consecutive years. ProAssurance is rated "A" (Strong) by Fitch Ratings; ProAssurance Group is rated "A" (Excellent) by A.M. Best.