Allianz Offers $100K Annuity to Allianz Championship Hole-in-One Winner

BOCA RATON, Fla. & MINNEAPOLIS-(Business Wire)-February 11, 2009 - Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz), a leading provider of annuities, life insurance, and long-term care insurance, today announced that it is offering a $100,000 annuity to the professional golfer who makes a hole-in-one on Hole #16 during tournament play at the Allianz Championship, the first in the PGA Champions Tour’s Florida tournaments. The 2009 Allianz Championship is being held at Broken Sound Club in Boca Raton, Fla. from February 9-15. In this match, legendary golfers over the age of 50, such as Lee Trevino, Vicente Fernandez, John Harris, Gary Player, and Nick Price, will be competing for a $1.7 million purse.

“We are offering a $100,000 Allianz Endurance 15^SM fixed index annuity as a prize to raise awareness of the important role annuities can play in as part of a diversified financial plan,” said Allianz Life President and CEO Gary C. Bhojwani. “Given recent market conditions, principal protection and guaranteed income are now considered prudent and necessary rather than conservative.”

Bhojwani explained that the company’s role as title sponsor offers a national platform to highlight the importance of financial literacy. “In light of the current economic challenges, it is more important than ever for consumers to work with a trusted financial professional to evaluate their needs. If there is a need for a product that provides more risk protection, then consider an annuity. It is the only product that can offer principal protection and guaranteed lifetime income,” he said.

Allianz Endurance 15^SM Annuity

The hole-in-one winner will receive an Allianz Endurance 15 Annuity. It combines the benefit of enhanced retirement income options with the reassurance of a fixed index annuity to create a versatile and flexible retirement solution. The Allianz Endurance 15 Annuity is a flexible premium deferred fixed index annuity. With an Allianz Endurance 15 Annuity, consumers can:

Earn interest on premium payments based on changes in their choice of index options and a fixed interest option.
Receive a 15% bonus*, added to the Enhanced Withdrawal Benefit (EWB) value on all premium received in the first three years.
Receive enhanced interest credited annually to the EWB value.
Choose an EWB income option that can give them the opportunity to generate greater retirement income or choose traditional annuitization.

The 2009 Allianz Championship marks the eighth year Allianz has partnered with the PGA Champions Tour. Allianz has been the title sponsor of this event since 2001 and was excited to join the Boca Raton community when the championship moved to Southern Florida several years ago. Ticket, sponsor, and volunteer information are available at www.allianzchampionship.com or (561) 241-4653.

*The bonus is credited only to the EWB value. The EWB value is not available if the contract is surrendered or annuitized. To receive the EWB value, including the bonus, you must hold your annuity in deferral for at least 10 years, and then receive EWB payments over at least an additional 10 years under one of two EWB income options. EWB payments are considered partial withdrawals and are subject to ordinary income tax. Since this is a bonus annuity, it may include higher surrender charges, longer surrender periods, lower caps, or other restrictions that are not included in similar annuities that don’t offer a premium bonus.

Guarantees are based on the financial strength and claims-paying ability of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America.

Contract C50915

Product availability and features may vary by state.

About Allianz

Founded in 1896 and based in Minneapolis, Allianz provides fixed and variable annuities, life insurance, and long term care insurance products in the U.S. Allianz products are offered through a nationwide network of highly vetted independent distribution professionals. The company is part of Allianz SE, a global financial services group that is the 14^th largest company in the world based on revenue (Fortune, July 2008). Allianz SE employs more than 177,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit: www.allianzlife.com.

About the Champions Tour

The Champions Tour is a division of the PGA TOUR, Inc., a tax-exempt membership organization of professional golfers age 50 and older. Conceived in 1980 as the Senior PGA Tour, it started with just four events and purses totaling $475,000. The Champions Tour features 29 official events offering $55.6 million in prize money in 2008 and its highest average purse ever of $1.92 million. The Champions Tour operates under the umbrella of the PGA TOUR, which includes the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour. The Champions Tour's primary purpose as an entity of the PGA TOUR is to provide significant competitive and earnings opportunities for players age 50 and older; to protect the integrity of the game; and to help grow the reach of the game in the U.S. and around the world. In addition to providing competitive opportunities for its membership, Champions Tour events also generate significant sums of money for charity. The commissioner of the PGA TOUR is Tim Finchem. Mike Stevens is president of the Champions Tour. TOUR headquarters is in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

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