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WORCESTER, Mass., Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- From stolen computers to missing cash, commercial fraud is on the rise, accounting for more than $600 billion in losses each year. In the wake of this trend, The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG), a leading super regional property and casualty company, announced that it has adopted a new streamlined fidelity/commercial crime form with an expanded appetite, which is currently available.

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The Hanover offers coverage for a wide range of businesses, from governmental organizations to non-profits to public and private companies including manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, healthcare, educational, technology, construction, real estate, energy and business services. Limits of up to $12.5 million are available.

These improvements underscore The Hanover's commitment to delivering a total account solution for commercial lines agents and their customers. The expanded offering gives The Hanover's agent partners and brokers the tools necessary to protect their commercial clients, from small to large.

"Fidelity/commercial crime is an important coverage and an excellent way for agents to round-out their commercial lines accounts," said Alan Crater, president of specialty lines at The Hanover. "Not only are we one of the oldest bond writers in the country, The Hanover is a growing leader in commercial lines. We will continue to expand our offerings to help our agent partners meet the needs of all their business customers, while at the same time, growing their own businesses."

    The Hanover's fidelity/commercial crime capabilities include:
    - Commercial Crime Policy: new ISO form covers employee theft; forgery or
      alteration; theft of money and securities; robbery or burglary; computer
      fraud; funds transfer fraud; money orders and counterfeit money
    - Excess Commercial Crime: extends protection beyond the basic policy
    - ERISA Fidelity Bond: protects assets in an employee benefit plan from
      internal acts of fraud and dishonesty
    - Investment Advisor ERISA Bond: provides fidelity bond protection for
      employee benefits plans in the care of an investment advisor
    - Third Party Off-Premises: covers against employee theft of client assets
      when those employees are working on the premises of a client. Coverage
      can be purchased on a contract-specific or blanket basis
    - Financial Institutions Bonds: provides coverage for fidelity, forgery or
      alteration, on premises and in transit exposures-with additional
      coverages available specific to the type of financial institution
      involved

The expanded capabilities are backed by the strength and reputation of The Hanover, which is rated "Excellent" by A.M. Best. In addition, The Hanover employs fidelity/commercial crime specialists in regional offices who know the business and are dedicated to helping agents succeed.

"Our fidelity/commercial crime capabilities reflect yet another way we provide our agent partners with the best of both the national and regional company models," said Stephen Brault, assistant vice president fidelity/commercial crime. "Our fidelity/commercial crime coverage is in line with the products being offered by the best national carriers. And, at the same time, our local specialists go above and beyond by providing the responsive, hands-on service and business planning agents expect from the best regional carriers, which is a tremendous help for agents trying to grow their businesses."

To best handle all of an independent agent's commercial lines needs, The Hanover's products are supported by local branch offices and comprehensive risk management programs. The company's commercial lines product suite also includes business owners' policy, commercial package policy, commercial auto, umbrella, inland marine and workers' compensation.

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.

     CONTACTS:
     Investor Relations                 Media Relations
     Sujata MutalikAmy Lynn Baneksmutalik@hanover.comabanek@hanover.com
     (508) 855-3457                     (508) 855-4486

SOURCE The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.