Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. (HIG:NYSE)

Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. introduced the Hartford Employed Lawyers Choice Liability Policy, a professional liability policy specifically for staff attorneys. The Hartford Employed Lawyers Choice Liability Policy is designed for small and midsize companies looking to provide comprehensive coverage for their in-house counsel, the company said. The coverage features of The Hartford Employed Lawyers Choice Liability Policy include: coverage for disciplinary proceedings and potential disbarment proceedings; coverage for failure to comply with Sarbanes-Oxley section 307; defense costs for claims brought by the employer or named entity against its attorney; non-rescindable side A coverage, which protects insured persons when they are not indemnified by their employer or the named entity; coverage for legal and notary services; and optional coverage for securities violations.

Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. announced that Lizabeth Zlatkus, the company's Chief Financial Officer, will be appointed Chief Risk Officer (CRO). In addition, the company is launching an external search for a new CFO. Zlatkus will remain in her current role until a new CFO is named, at which point she will assume her new position.

Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. announced earnings results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009. For the quarter, the company reported net loss of $220 million, or $0.79 per diluted share, compared with a third quarter 2008 net loss of $2.6 billion, or $8.74 per diluted share. Core earnings for the third quarter of 2009 were $660 million, or $1.56 per diluted share, compared with a core loss of $422 million or $1.40 per diluted share, in the prior period. The company reported book value per common share of $37.90 and book value per share excluding AOCI of $46.30 compared to $41.80 and $55.63 per share, respectively. The company reported net investment of $254 million, ongoing operations net income of $229 million and total corporate net loss of $87 million compared to net investment of $285 million, ongoing operations net loss of $666 million and total corporate net loss of $42 million for the same period last year. Net unrealized losses on investments were $5.8 billion, pre-tax, as of September 30, 2009, compared with $13.2 billion as of December 31, 2008. The improvement was driven by significant spread tightening across virtually all fixed maturity asset classes in the second and third quarter of 2009, partially offset by the implementation of new impairment accounting guidance. For the nine months, the company reported net loss of $1.4 billion, or $4.52 per diluted share, compared with a third quarter 2008 net loss of $1.9 billion, or $6.29 per diluted share. Core earnings for the third quarter of 2009 were $107 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, compared with a core loss of $1.07 billion or $3.44 per diluted share, in the prior period. The company reported net investment of $678 million, ongoing operations net income of $562 million and total corporate net loss of $514 million compared to net investment of $929 million, ongoing operations net loss of $108 million and total corporate net loss of $108 million for the same period last year. The company announced impairments were $536 million, pre-tax, in the third quarter of 2009. The majority of impairments were related to potential future credit losses on certain structured securities. The company currently expects 2009 core earnings per diluted share to be between $0.85 and $1.05. The company's previous guidance for 2009 core earnings per diluted share was between $0.00 and $0.20.