Bancinsurance Corp. Settles SEC Accounting Charges

The SEC filed a settled civil injunctive action against Ohio insurance company Bancinsurance Corporation ("Bancinsurance" or the "Company"), and its chief executive officer, John S. Sokol ("Sokol"), charging them with securities fraud and other violations of the federal securities laws. The Commission's complaint alleges that Bancinsurance failed to account properly for more than $2 million of reinsurance claims, and that Sokol-Bancinsurance's president at the time-failed to ensure that the Company's principal financial officer or its external auditors were informed of the claims. As a result, the Company's financial condition in its Form 10-K for fiscal year 2003 and its Form 10-Q for the first quarter of fiscal year 2004 was materially misstated. Sokol agreed to pay a $60,000 civil penalty, and both Bancinsurance and Sokol agreed to be permanently enjoined from violating the antifraud and other provisions of the federal securities laws.