"The acquisition provides ISO and our customers access to leading technology that makes field-data collection more efficient and the analysis and integration of data much easier," said Frank J. Coyne, ISO chairman, president and chief executive officer.

"ACI's technology will also help position us to import field-verified information from numerous sources and deliver it with risk-specific underwriting, natural hazard and claims analytics developed by ISO professionals," Mr. Coyne added.

"When it comes to understanding information about individual risks, our customers need decision-driven processes and more flexible technologies. We intend to help them," Mr. Coyne said.

ACI staff will continue operating in Palm Coast, Fla., under the leadership of the company's president, Dave Roberts.

Mr. Coyne promised that "the transition to ISO will be seamless for ACI's existing customers. ISO is fully committed to maintaining ACI's leadership position by making further investments to grow ACI's traditional markets."

Explaining ACI's technology edge in the property appraisal and survey segment, Mr. Roberts said: "ACI's digital, Internet and workflow solutions are driven by 25 years of experience in streamlining appraisals for North America's largest financial institutions.

"Our application-specific tools support multi-vendor platforms, run on all Microsoft Windows operating systems and feature user-friendly and intuitive functionality."

ACI's scalable, customized technology also uses modular components to streamline workflow from underwriting to claims processing. At the same time, the technology enables data warehousing and maintenance for both internal and external data exchange, Mr. Roberts said.

"We expect the complementary strengths of ISO's analytics and ACI's technology to open new cross-industry opportunities," said Mr. Coyne, adding, "Dave Roberts and the intellectual strength of the ACI team are a significant strategic addition to ISO."

ISO said has been working with ACI to improve the flexibility of the software used by ISO's field staff for survey and grading activities. Through its Risk Decision Services unit, ISO maintains a property-casualty industry field-survey service and a large database of rated commercial buildings.

ISO provides information, products and services related to property and liability risk. ISO also supplies analytical and decision-support products; consulting; data processing; and technical, statistical and actuarial services for commercial and personal lines of insurance.

ISO field services include on-site rating and underwriting services and the evaluation of community loss-mitigation efforts. ISO's products help customers with sales and prospecting, underwriting, rating and quoting, customer management, policy administration, product development, claims administration and fraud detection. ISO's AIR Worldwide subsidiary