COLUMBUS, Ga., Nov. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- In one of the most significant expansions in its 50-year history, Aflac today announced a multi-year building project and unveiled plans for an initial 90,000-square-foot expansion. Once all phases of the expansion are complete, Aflac will have built 340,000 square feet of additional office space to accommodate 2,000 new employees in the next five to seven years. The $100 million project is currently the largest in the state of Georgia.

Governor Sonny Perdue and Columbus Mayor Bob Poydasheff joined Aflac Chairman and CEO Dan Amos for the announcement and groundbreaking ceremony. The first building project will add 90,000 square feet to the existing Paul S. Amos Campus located in Columbus, Ga., and is slated for completion in 2007. The expansion will house the company's customer service administrative business units.

"I am excited about Aflac's growth opportunities for the next several years and it is my goal to see the company double in size over the next five to six years," said Amos. "We are grateful to Governor Perdue, along with other state and local development officials, for making it possible for Aflac to continue to grow its business in Columbus, Ga."

The new construction will mark Aflac's third major expansion project within seven years. In 1998, Aflac opened the doors to its Computer Service Center housing 600 employees.

In 2001, the company opened its Paul S. Amos Campus at Corporate Ridge in Columbus, a 104-acre development housing the company's claim processing and Call Center operations. Both facilities were constructed to accommodate Aflac's strong sales growth. Over the past five years, Aflac's U.S. sales growth has compounded at 16.4 percent annually.

"Aflac is one of Georgia's top companies and most recognizable names," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "Aflac's decision to grow here in Georgia is a testament to our strong business climate and our commitment to keep and expand existing industries."

For 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. Aflac's insurance products provide protection to more than 40 million people worldwide. Aflac has been included in both in Fortune magazine's listing of America's Most Admired Companies and Forbes magazine's Platinum 400 List of America's Best Big Companies for five consecutive years. In January 2005, Aflac was included in Fortune magazine's list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the seventh consecutive year. Aflac was also included in Fortune magazine's list of the Top 50 Employers for Minorities in August 2005, and in September 2005, Aflac Japan was named the Life Insurance Company of the Year at the Asia Insurance Industry Awards, sponsored by the Asia Insurance Review. 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.

Media Contacts:

Mechell Clark
Aflac Incorporated
(706) 243-8004 Voice
(706) 320-2288 Fax
meclark@aflac.com

Yolonda King
Aflac Incorporated
(706) 243-8547 Voice
(706) 320-2288 Fax
yking@aflac.com

SOURCE Aflac Incorporated