INScompanies Blog

—Streamlined Process Makes it Easier for Agents to do Business—
—Sets the Stage for New Homeowners Product, Connections™ Home—

WORCESTER, Mass. (October 4, 2006) – The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG), a leading super regional property and casualty company, has enhanced its homeowners quoting and issuance process, making it easier for its agent partners to do business.* 

The improvements cut the time it takes to quote a policy by 30 percent and reduce the number of accounts referred to an underwriter.

The Hanover’s homeowners enhancements include:

- distinct and separate quote and issuance processes
- simpler screens: numerous fields have been eliminated and many others have been pre-filled to foster smooth navigation
- a link to the Marshall & Swift/Boeckh Replacement Cost Estimator, to help foster agent/customer discussions about the adequacy of their coverage
- helpful links for cross-selling allow agents to easily offer additional policies such as second home, auto or umbrella
- improved navigation and “help” icon efficiently answers agent questions

The simplified homeowners screens were recently piloted with great success in Connecticut and Virginia, and include homes, condominiums and tenants policies.

“We are very pleased to unveil the latest improvements to our homeowners product because they are based on direct feedback from our valued agent partners,” said Marita Zuraitis, president of The Hanover’s property and casualty companies. “All of these changes demonstrate our commitment to continuous improvement and making it easy for our agent partners to do business with us. We believe these enhancements, as well as planned future enhancements; will deliver additional growth opportunities for independent agents.”

The enhancements mark an important step in a series of changes that The Hanover will make as it prepares for the launch of Connections™ Home, a competitive, new homeowners product that the company plans to launch in 2007. Preparation for Connections Home comes on the heels of last year’s launch of Connections™ Auto, a state-of-the-art auto product, which has driven private passenger automobile new business growth of more than 150 percent.

For independent agents, who always seek to provide customers with the best combination of coverage and cost, The Hanover’s homeowners product is an excellent way to round-out accounts, as it complements the company’s powerful suite of personal lines products designed to meet the needs of both individuals and families.  The Hanover’s broad menu of personal lines products also includes auto, watercraft and umbrella policies.

All of The Hanover’s personal lines products are sold exclusively through independent agents.

About The Hanover

The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG), 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, Mich., 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 property and casualty insurers in the United States.

* The enhancements are available in states where The Hanover is currently writing new homeowners business. However, enhancements vary by state, as agent partners in Massachusetts will only see changes to the issuance process, due to the nature of the technology used by local agents.

—Fire Prevention Week to be Observed October 8-14—

WORCESTER, Mass. (October 2, 2006) – More and more families are turning to fragrant candles to illuminate their homes. Unfortunately, these decorations, if not properly attended to, can easily turn from a source of beauty to a source of destruction. In fact, candles are responsible for more than 20,000 residential structure fires, causing an estimated 1,500 injuries, more than 150 deaths and $390 million in property losses each year.

With Fire Prevention Week approaching (October 8-14th), The Hanover Insurance Group (NYSE: THG), a leading super regional property and casualty company, reminds individuals to make safety a priority when burning candles throughout their home or lighting jack-o-lanterns to celebrate the season.

Following a few simple rules can prevent the vast majority of candle fires:

Never leave a lit candle unattended. One third of all candle-related fires are due to unattended or poorly controlled candles.

Keep candles away from flammable objects, including curtains, dried arrangements, books, papers or clothing. Be careful not to place lit candles too close to a wall, as some wallpaper can quickly ignite.

Make sure you don’t place a lit candle in front of an open window, or anywhere that a breeze could easily knock it over or cause it to flare up.

Keep an eye on your children and pets. Children tend to be fascinated by flames and may be tempted to play with candles. Pets can easily knock over candles with their tails or when startled.

Always extinguish candles before bedtime or a nap and when leaving a room unattended.

Be sure your candles are secure in their holders. If they are not properly fitted, they can easily tip over.

Keep candles away from alcohol, including alcoholic beverages, which are easily combustible.

Trim the wick to about ¼ an inch above the candle after each use.

“From room fresheners to house-warming gifts, candles are a popular fashion accessory now commonly used in about 70 percent of households throughout the country,” said Michael Gonzales, AVP property strategy at The Hanover. “Unfortunately, they are also a major cause of fires. Practicing simple safety precautions could help save your home or even someone’s life.”

Gonzales added that whether you use candles or not, every household should have working smoke alarms on every level, test them monthly, and change batteries as needed. This simple practice will cut the chance of dying in a fire by half.

About The Hanover

The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG), 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, Mich., 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 property and casualty insurers in the United States.