The Hanover Insurance Group Launches Popular Connections Auto Product in New Hampshire, New Jersey

WORCESTER, Mass., July 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. , a leading super regional property and casualty company, announced today that its popular Connections(TM) Auto product is now available in New Hampshire and New Jersey.

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Connections Auto, a state-of-the-art, multi-variate auto product with nearly limitless customer segmentation capabilities, has driven private passenger automobile new business growth of more than 150 percent, and is now available in 12 states including Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee and Virginia.

"We are pleased to introduce Connections Auto in the New Hampshire and New Jersey markets," said Jim Hyatt, president of The Hanover's personal lines business. "Our agent partners have consistently told us that Connections Auto offers the broad market reach, competitive rates and ease of doing business that they need to easily insure their clients and to grow their own businesses."

With the availability of Connections Auto in these markets, agents now have access to a sophisticated insurance product that allows them to quote and issue new business for 90 percent of the market.

"Connections Auto gives me the opportunity to write more business for clients that don't fall under the top tier," said Kelly McCarthy, personal lines account manager of Maloney Associates in Manchester, NH. "I have worked with the company for more than 20 years. The Hanover is easy to do business with, has excellent underwriting, good claims and good customer service. I have confidence and faith in their products and Connections Auto is no exception."

"We are looking forward to using the new Connections Auto product due to its ease-of-use and competitive rates," said Brian Durkin, president of The Durkin Agency, Inc. and chairman-elect of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New Jersey, Inc. "We have worked with The Hanover and have grown our personal lines book with the company due to excellent service day in and day out. Connections Auto will help to round out many of our personal lines accounts."

The Hanover's mission is to offer a competitive, complete line of quality personal insurance products that meets the needs of its independent agent partners and their clients. In an effort to reinforce the company's total account solution for personal insurance, The Hanover also offers an account credit discount for policyholders that choose both Connections Auto and The Hanover's homeowners policy, giving agents one more reason to quote and issue The Hanover.

The Hanover's personal lines product suite is fully supported by strong, local management, a responsive service team and a streamlined, single platform point-of-sale new business application that makes it easy for agents to do business with the company.

About Maloney Associates

Maloney Associates offers individuals expert, professional advice on how to best manage their risk through specifically tailored property and casualty insurance. By thoroughly understanding each clients' circumstances Maloney Associates can recommend the most appropriate method to address their exposures. The company not only advises clients on a wide variety of available coverage options, it also works with clients to match the level of coverage with their individual risk comfort level and guides them through the claim process. Maloney Associates has offices throughout New Hampshire in Hanover, Orford, Manchester and New London. Please call Kelly at 603-669-9700 with inquiries.

About The Durkin Agency, Inc.

With three convenient locations in Bergen County: Englewood, Northvale and Ramsey, the Durkin Agency offers service beyond expectations. Since 1945, the company's goal has been to provide the local community with the most accurate and timely insurance-related information and advice possible. The Durkin Agency cares about clients, and strives to anticipate and fulfill their needs.

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, 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 of more than 950 property and casualty insurers in the United States.

CONTACTS: Investor Relations Media Relations Sujata Mutalik Amy Lynn Banek smutalik@hanover.com abanek@hanover.com (508) 855-3457 (508) 855-4486