AFL AFLAC Inc

COLUMBUS, Ga., March 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac, the insurance company that helps employers offer their workers a financial safety net at no direct cost to their businesses, has been declared a World's Most Ethical Company for a fifth consecutive year.  The Ethisphere Institute, a think tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability, annually recognizes companies around the world that demonstrate a commitment to ethical leadership, compliance practices and corporate social responsibility. Aflac is the only insurance company to appear on the list each year since the inception of the award.

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"We are honored to be the only insurance company on Ethisphere's list of World's Most Ethical Companies for five straight years," Aflac Chairman and CEO Dan Amos said. "Honesty, integrity and transparency are long-held values and Aflac and it is a great source of pride to be recognized by Ethisphere; the definitive authority when it comes to corporate ethics."

To compile the 2011 list, Ethisphere reviewed thousands of companies and a record number of applications using its propriety methodology. Ethisphere named 110 companies that surpassed their industry peers to this year's World's Most Ethical Companies list. Winners include companies from 38 industries and 43 companies headquartered outside the United States.

According to Ethisphere, Aflac secured a hard-earned spot on the list by going the extra mile in implementing upright business practices and initiatives that are instrumental to the company's success, that benefit the community, and that raise the bar for ethical standards within the industry.

"As companies strive to maintain a competitive advantage, good ethics translates into better business, and better business means better bottom lines. Aflac recognizes the important role that principled practices play in brand reputation, which ultimately is the most valuable asset for a corporation," said Alex Brigham, Executive Director of the Ethisphere Institute. "Each year, the competition gets more intense for the World's Most Ethical Companies and this year was no exception, with a record number of organizations vying for this distinguished honor.  Ethisphere congratulates Aflac on being one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for 2011."

Aflac has appeared on the World's Most Ethical Companies list every year since the creation of the award. 2011 winners will be featured in the Q1 edition of Ethisphere magazine and were honored last night at an awards dinner in New York City.

ABOUT AFLAC

When a policyholder gets sick or hurt, Aflac pays cash benefits fast. For more than 55 years, Aflac insurance policies have helped provide a safety net and given policyholders the opportunity to focus on recovery, not financial stress. In the United States, Aflac is the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance. In Japan, Aflac is the number one insurance company in terms of individual insurance policies in force. Aflac insurance products provide protection to more than 50 million people worldwide. For five consecutive years, Aflac has been recognized by Ethisphere magazine as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies and by Forbes magazine as one of America's Best-Managed Companies in the Insurance category. In 2011, Fortune magazine recognized Aflac as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the thirteenth consecutive year. Also, Fortune magazine included Aflac on its list of Most Admired Companies for the 10th time in 2011. 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 aflac.com or aflacenespanol.com.

ABOUT ETHISPHERE INSTITUTE

The research-based Ethisphere Institute is a leading international think-tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability. The Institute's associated membership groups, the Ethisphere Council and Business Ethics Leadership Alliance, are forums for business ethics that includes over 200 leading corporations, universities and institutions. These groups are dedicated to the development and advancement of members through increased efficiency, innovation, tools, mentoring, advice, and unique career opportunities. Ethisphere magazine, which publishes the globally recognized World's Most Ethical Companies Ranking™, is the quarterly publication of the Institute. Ethisphere provides the only third-party verifications of compliance programs and ethical cultures, Ethics Inside Certification®, Anti-Corruption Leader Verification, and Compliance Program Verification. More information on the Ethisphere Institute, including ranking projects and membership, can be found at http://www.ethisphere.com.

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SOURCE Aflac