Rink

Wells Fargo Acquires Richardson Group W ells Fargo Insurance Services, Inc., America's largest bank-owned insurance brokerage and a subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, announced recently that it acquired Dover, N.H.-based The Richardson Group. The acquisition closed December 1, 2007, and terms of the transaction were not disclosed. As the largest insurer of ice rinks and third largest provider of ski resort insurance in the United States, The Richardson Group specializes in sports, entertainment and health club insurance programs, and is the preferred provider of the New England Tire & Service Association (NETSA). The agency's professional staff will continue serving customers from 34 Dover Point Road, Dover, N.H. 03820. "All Richardson Group insureds will benefit from this acquisition," said John Gray, president of The Richardson Group. "Realigning our business with such a respected company enhances our ability to provide better coverage, better pricing, a wider range of new and sophisticated products and increases our customers' exposure to additional loss control and claims handling on a national level." Wells Fargo Insurance Services, formerly Acordia, Inc., is the fifth-largest insurance brokerage and the largest bank- owned insurance brokerage in the United States, with more than 150 offices in 38 states. Its 4,500 insurance professionals place more than $11.5 billion of risk premiums with expertise in property, casualty, benefits, international, personal lines and life products. Wells Fargo acquired Acordia in May of 2001. Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company with $549 billion in assets, providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer finance through almost 6,000 stores and the internet (wellsfargo.com) across North America and internationally. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is the only bank in the U.S., and one of only two banks worldwide, to have the highest credit rating from both Moody's Investors Service, "Aaa," and Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, "AAA." For more information about Wells Fargo Insurance Services, please visit www.wellsfargo.com/wfis. Advanced Technology on Changing an Ice Resurfacer Blade "W here does an ice resurfacer blade have to be in order not to cause any harm when being handled?" The answer is … "In its transport sheath." Therefore it stands to reason that, as soon as you remove the blade from the sheath, it becomes a hazard to anyone handling it. The new "Simnor Blade Changing System" called "The Razer" eliminates much of the danger involved in the change-out. By using "The Razer," all ice technicians can safely change a blade without ever removing it from its protective transportation sheath until it is mounted to the conditioner blade receiver. "The Razer" is specifically designed to hold a blade and up to 10 mounting bolts (depending on ice resurfacer model) securely in place under the conditioner while the operator easily installs the washers and nuts from the top. Any remaining bolts can be installed manually using the specially-designed tool that holds each bolt in place hands- free while the washer and nut are attached. At every step of the way the blade is controlled and the operator is never exposed to the blade edge. Ice technicians can now change a blade without having to handle it. Log on to simnor.ca for more information and to see a video demonstration of "The Razer" in actual use. 8 R INK MAGAZ INE January/February 2008 Industry news ■ News & notes from around the rink industry. "The Razer" changes out your ice resurfacer blades in a snap.

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