California Insurer Addressing Unique Y2K Concern

For months, if not years, insurers have been preparing for the turn of the century. Most of the preparations have had to do with computer systems and a firm's readiness to deal with the new dates.

At the same time, individuals have debate whether the new millennium actually should begin with the year 2000, or 2001,

20th Century Insurance Company is working on another Y2K issue, and is seizing on the earlier occasion to do so. At the world-famous New Year's Day Rose Parade, the company will display a corporate name for the new century to millions of viewers.

20th Century Industries, the parent company of 20th Century Insurance Company, will become 21st Century Insurance Group on January 1, 2000, with the new name first appearing on the company's 55-foot-long float entry in the 111th Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena.

The company's float, named Visions of Wisdom and Imagination, echoes the parade theme, Visions of the Future. The float concept, by designer Raul Rodriguez, is being built by Fiesta Parade Floats in Duarte, CA.

It features reading as a fundamental tool for learning, the key to wisdom, entertainment, adventure, future worlds, times and dimensions. Merlin, the artful wizard, is featured bringing visions from his imagination to life, including a spectacular two-headed animated dragon.

The name change and float design are being celebrated at the company's Woodland Hills, Calif., headquarters today, when the Rose Parade Queen, Sophia Bush, and her Royal Court will be on hand for the unveiling of the float design incorporating the new name.

According to President and CEO William L. Mellick: "Our new name is not just a change to note passage into a new century, it also celebrates our financial strength, our expansion of business operations outside California, and the upcoming opening of the addition to our corporate headquarters building, more than doubling our current headquarters size."