ISO Buys Motor Vehicle Data Firm

NU Online News Service, March 13, 11:36 a.m.EST?Insurance Services Office based in Jersey City, N.J.announced today that it has acquired a Texas motor vehicle dataprovider. The cost was not disclosed.

ISO said it had taken over Insurance Information Exchange ofCollege Station, Texas from AMS Holding Group, with the aim ofbolstering its underwriting product.

Data from iiX is used by insurance companies and agents duringrisk assessment, rating and underwriting process for issuingpersonal auto policies, ISO said.

According to ISO, iiX pioneered in selling information productsto the independent agency marketplace.

The information from iiX's Motor Vehicle Report is used in closeassociation with the Automobile-Property Loss Underwriting Servicethat ISO provides giving underwriters five years of auto andproperty loss-history information.

Frank J. Coyne, ISO's president and chief executive officer,said the acquisition will "expand the range of ISO's underwriting,loss-history and claims services, bolstering our industry positionand recognition as an end-to-end provider of insurance informationsolutions."

Mr. Coyne said ISO would enhance the value iiX has offered its20,000 customers over the past 18 years.

Despite the acquisition, ISO said iiX will retain its name andTexas business location. Sean Quillivan will continue to direct iiXoperations and iiX will be part of ISO's AISG business unit.