AFL AFLAC Inc

The AFLAC Duck Selected as One of America's Favorite Icons COLUMBUS, Ga., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The AFLAC Duck has been inducted into the Advertising Walk of Fame as one of America's favorite brand icons. The spokesduck is among five finalists chosen by online voters as one of the most beloved advertising symbols and will be honored with an image-enshrined sidewalk plaque at 50th Street and Madison Avenue in New York City. Although the most contemporary icon on the ballot, making its national debut less than five years ago, the AFLAC Duck managed to beat several veteran competitors including Ronald McDonald and the Energizer Bunny for a spot on the Walk of Fame. Created by the Kaplan Thaler Group, the popular commercial series featuring the well-known duck has generated more than 90% brand recognition for AFLAC since its launch in 2000. "We are very pleased that America has connected so well with the AFLAC Duck campaign in such a short period of time," said Dan Amos, CEO and chairman of AFLAC, noting the duck's quick rise to fame. "This win is a great honor and we appreciate the recognition given to us by the voting public." Winners were announced during a Walk of Fame dedication ceremony held in Times Square, where a procession of all 26 nominated brand symbols filled the streets of New York. Gilbert Gottfried, celebrity friend of the AFLAC Duck, participated in the parade of advertising mascots by arriving in a convertible with a giant plush replica of his feathered pal. The Advertising Icon Award is the latest honor in a collection of accolades given to the AFLAC Duck Campaign. Other honors bestowed upon the famous fowl include a 2002 Gold Effie, an award recognizing the year's best advertising campaigns, and a pair of Midas awards for the best in creative consumer communication. The top five finalists were selected through a nationwide online voting process where consumers cast their ballots using a dedicated website by Yahoo! Voting took place from July 26, 2004 through September 20, 2004. AFLAC Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) is an international holding company. A Fortune 500 company, AFLAC insures more than 40 million people worldwide. It is a leading writer of insurance products marketed at the worksite in the United States, offering policies to employees at more than 309,000 payroll accounts. The company insures one out of four Japanese households and is the largest life insurer in Japan in terms of individual insurance policies in force. In January 2004, AFLAC was included in Fortune magazine's list of "The 100 Best Companies to Work for in America" for the sixth consecutive year. Also in January 2004, AFLAC was named to Forbes magazine's "Platinum 400 List of America's Best Big Companies" for the fifth consecutive year. In March 2004, Fortune magazine included AFLAC in its annual listing of "America's Most Admired Companies." AFLAC's Internet address is http://www.aflac.com/ . The Kaplan Thaler Group ( http://www.kaplanthalergroup.com/ ) has been ranked by industry publications as the fastest-growing New York advertising agency and touted for its breakthrough creative and immediate results. KTG is part of the Publicis Groupe, one of the world's largest communications holding companies. Contacts: Mechell Clark Laura Kane AFLAC Incorporated AFLAC Incorporated (706) 243-8004 (706) 596-3493 (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010525/AFLACLOGO ) http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010525/AFLACLOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: AFLAC Incorporated CONTACT: Mechell Clark, +1-706-243-8004, or , or Laura Kane, +1-706-596-3493, or , both of AFLAC Incorporated Web site: http://www.aflac.com/ http://www.kaplanthalergroup.com/

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