The Hanover Insurance Group Builds Momentum with Multi-Variate Auto Product
-Connections(TM) Auto Drives 150 Percent New Business Growth in Launch States-
-Agents Benefit from Greater Market Reach, Ease-of-Use, Competitive Pricing-
WORCESTER, Mass., June 16 -- The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. , a leading super regional property and casualty company, announced today that its multi-variate auto product, Connections(TM) Auto, has been embraced by the company's agent partners in the year since its introduction, increasing new business by more than 150 percent in launch states.
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"Feedback from our independent agent partners is consistent; Connections Auto delivers the broad market reach, ease of doing business and competitive rates they are looking for," said Marita Zuraitis, president of The Hanover's property and casualty companies. "As a result, the market has responded enthusiastically to Connections Auto in its first year. Clearly, the growth in our new business throughout all 10 launch states speaks to our ability to listen to our agents and deliver the quality products and services they need to meet their customers' needs, and to grow their businesses."
Connections Auto's sophisticated segmentation modeling approach to personal automobile insurance is easy to use and helps The Hanover's independent agent partners attract new customers. Now agents can quote and issue business for approximately 95 percent of the market, enabling them to write policies for customers that may have been previously turned away.
"Kapnick Insurance works very hard to build client relationships. By empowering our independent agents to write policies for clients from the time they are teenagers throughout their senior years, Connections Auto has helped strengthen those bonds," said Sam Engardio, Senior VP, Kapnick Insurance Group, which wrote 100 new Connections Auto policies on the first day the product was offered in Michigan. "Connections Auto has also expanded our business reach, enabling us to write policies for almost every customer who walks through our door."
"By allowing Cross Insurance agents to write a broader range of risk, we are better prepared to compete with direct insurers, and offer customers continuity of insurance provider through lifestyle changes," said Frank Ferland, Chief Operating Officer for Maine's Cross Insurance. "In addition, it is apparent that The Hanover has made significant investments in technology to improve ease of use and online capabilities. Competitive rates and customer service have also added to the product's appeal for our agents and, more importantly, our clients."
Connections Auto is now available in ten states: Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, New York, Tennessee and Virginia, and will continue to be rolled-out throughout 2006. Connections Auto is part of The Hanover's personal lines product suite, which offers coverage for all lines of personal insurance including auto, homeowners and umbrella coverage.
About The Hanover
The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc., based in Worcester, Mass., is the holding company for a group of insurers that includes The Hanover Insurance Company, also based in Worcester, Citizens Insurance Company of America, headquartered in Howell, Michigan, and their affiliates. The Hanover offers a wide range of property and casualty products and services to individuals, families and businesses through an extensive network of independent agents, and has been meeting its obligations to its agent partners and their customers for more than 150 years. Taken as a group, The Hanover ranks among the top 35 of the more than 950 property and casualty insurers in the United States.
About Kapnick Insurance Group
Kapnick Insurance Group was born in Adrian, Michigan 60 years ago as one man's idea, Elmer Kapnick, to provide quality insurance solutions while focusing on the client first. The company now has three locations throughout the state of Michigan. For more information, please visit http://www.kapnick.com/ .
About Cross Insurance
Since 1954 Cross Insurance has served customers in Maine and New Hampshire with the coverage, strength and financial security they need at home, work or on the road. Today, Cross is northern New England's largest, privately owned insurance agency, representing over 50 of the nation's top carriers. For more information, please visit http://www.crossagency.com/ .
CONTACTS: Investor Relations Media Relations Sujata Mutalik Amy Lynn Banek smutalik@hanover.com abanek@hanover.com (508) 855-3457 (508) 855-4486Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051031/NEM023LOGO
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