EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Benefits Assessment Process In each country, priority was given to the list of “Reference Companies” provided by ABC. However, the sources of benchmarking data varied from country to country as described below: Japan Benchmark data was drawn from a combination of public information and our existing client database. For reasons of confidentiality we are unable to disclose the names of the clients utilized for this analysis, other than to confirm that the total sample size for this analysis included ten high technology companies, six of which were identified in ABC’s list of global competitors. United Kingdom The United Kingdom is relatively liberal and competitive. Our Project Consultants conducted a detailed analysis against their national database of Large and Small companies. In each major category of benefits, ABC’s current plan is compared against the reference companies and given one of five symbolic “grades” that corresponds to its competitive position. These grades are based on objective judgment, but because not all plans offer identical features, grading some programs also relies on the professional judgment of our Consultants based on their experience in the marketplace. Benchmark results are presented in the Benchmark Analysis section of each Country Report, and the overall results are summarized later in this report. Recommendations Based upon the Inventory and Benchmark Analysis results, we then compiled a set of country- specific recommendations to achieve ABC’s stated goal of providing “competitive” benefits in each location. A Global Analysis, exploring the feasibility of global strategies such as multinational pooling or global travel accident coverage, will comprise the final Phase of this project. ABC – Global Benefits Assessment Page A - 2