AFL AFLAC Inc

Insurer expects to create 2,000 new jobs COLUMBUS, Ga., June 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Aflac (NYSE:AFL) commemorated the opening of a new 95,000-square-foot office complex with a ribbon-cutting ceremony where President and COO Paul Amos II and Aflac co- founder Paul S. Amos were joined by state and local dignitaries, including Columbus Mayor Jim Wetherington. The event marked the completion of Phase I in the largest expansion project in the state of Georgia. Construction on Phase II of the project, consisting of about 165,000 square feet, is scheduled to begin August 2007 and completed in early 2009. Aflac anticipates the third and final building stage to include 100,000 square feet. Upon completion of all three stages, the new complex will consist of well over 300,000 square feet designed to accommodate the creation of 2,000 new jobs over the next five to six years. "We look forward to the continued growth opportunities this building project will bring to Aflac," said Paul Amos II. "In addition to having a new state-of-the-art facility that will help streamline our operations, this project will support economic development throughout Columbus and the surrounding area with the creation of new jobs. We are grateful to Governor Perdue and local development officials for all of their hard work which made it possible for us to continue to expand our business in Georgia." The $100 million facility will serve as the new home for Aflac's customer service administrative business units and house a multi-purpose room with auditorium-style seating accommodating 500 people as well as classrooms featuring high-tech audiovisual equipment with a capacity for 250. Amenities will also include four landscaped acres with approximately 1,000 feet of walking trails for employees to enjoy. "I'd like to thank Aflac for making the decision to once again expand in this region," said Mayor Wetherington. "It is exciting to see Phase I of this expansion completed and we look forward to the completion of the other phases of the largest expansion project in the state of Georgia." The new construction is Aflac's most substantial expansion project since 2001, when the company opened its Paul S. Amos Campus at Corporate Ridge in Columbus, a 104-acre development housing the claim processing and Call Center operations. In 1998, Aflac opened the doors to its Computer Service Center which serves as the worksite for 600 employees. Both facilities were constructed to accommodate Aflac's strong sales growth. For more than 50 years, Aflac products have given policyholders the opportunity to direct cash where it is needed most when a life-interrupting medical event causes financial challenges. Aflac is the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance in the United States and the number one insurance company in terms of individual insurance policies in force in Japan. Our insurance products provide protection to more than 40 million people worldwide. Aflac has been included in Fortune magazine's listing of America's Most Admired Companies for seven consecutive years and in Fortune magazine's list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for nine consecutive years. Aflac has also been recognized three times by both Fortune magazine's listing of the Top 50 Employers for Minorities and Working Mother magazine's listing of the 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac, visit http://www.aflac.com/. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041202/CLTH019LOGO ) Media Contact: Mechell Clark Aflac Incorporated (706)243-8004 Voice (706)320-2288 Fax http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041202/CLTH019LOGODATASOURCE: Aflac CONTACT: Mechell Clark of Aflac Incorporated, Voice, +1-706-243-8004, Fax, +1-706-320-2288, Web site: http://www.aflac.com/

Copyright