WORCESTER, Mass., March 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Hanover Insurance
Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG), a leading super regional property and casualty
company, today announced the launch of Connections(TM) Home, a new homeowners
insurance product. Connections Home makes it easier for agents to sell and
retain more business by providing a total account solution, competitive
coverage packages, enhanced premium choices, an expanded appetite and
reliable, more convenient service.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051031/NEM023LOGO)
The introduction of Connections Home completes The Hanover's total account
solution for personal lines, giving the company's agent partners the products
they need to sell and retain more business.
"Connections Home is a win-win for our agent partners and their
customers," said Jim Hyatt, president of The Hanover's personal lines group.
"With Connections Home our agent partners can tailor a homeowners program to
the unique needs of their diverse customers, all while giving their clients
more say in what their insurance policy will look like."
Connections Home offers four package options: Basic, Select, Select Plus
and Select Premium. Umbrella coverage is also available as an endorsement in
most states, a unique feature that makes it easier for agents to do business
with The Hanover and provides a cost-effective way for customers to enhance
their liability coverage.*
The Hanover is also debuting newly-enhanced point-of-sale (POS) screens
for Connections Home. The advancement simplifies the way agents do business
with The Hanover through ease-of-doing business tools like pre-fill and quick
quotes. The easy-to-use interface provides The Hanover's agent partners more
opportunities than ever before to cross sell scheduled coverages.
Connections Home will also empower agency customer service representatives
(CSRs) to be more consultative with clients, clearly articulate coverage
differences and easily change deductibles. Each of these benefits adds value
to the sales process, helping to generate more business.
Connections Home is available in the following packages, which can vary
based on state mandate:
-- Basic: A contemporary, competitively-priced plan for cost-conscious
homeowners that includes replacement cost protection up to a
dwelling's value.
-- Select: Offers the same coverage as Basic, as well as extended dwelling
replacement cost, personal property replacement cost (Caps value by
state), refrigerated products coverage and lock replacement. In
addition, there are three limit increases over basic for contents,
damage to property of others and Fire Department service.
-- Select Plus: Includes the same coverage as Select, as well as even more
features. These include additional coverage for water back-up, identity
fraud, personal injury, extended dwelling replacement cost, personal
property replacement cost and sixteen limit increases including
ordinance of law and loss of use.
-- Select Premium: This premium coverage is designed for coverage
conscious customers with sophisticated assets. In addition to offering
the wide range of coverage from Select Plus, insureds get a waived
deductible for losses over $50,000 and coverage for all-risk personal
property, lost or misplaced jewelry, identity fraud expenses and
personal injury. In addition, there are many limit increases over
Select Plus, including water back-up, sump overflow and mysterious
jewelry disappearance.
Agents can quote Connections Home today for policies effective on April
16th in six states including Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, New York, Ohio,
and Tennessee. Connections Home will be available in four additional states
for policies effective on April 30th including Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan,
and Wisconsin. Connections home will be available in Georgia, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Virginia later in 2007.
Two years ago, The Hanover launched Connections(TM) Auto with great
success. This personal automobile product drove private passenger automobile
new business growth of more than 150 percent in the first 12-months. Customers
insured through both Connections Home and Connections Auto will receive a
premium discount, in addition to a wide range of protection.
"Life is easier when you have Connections"
For more information on the Connections(TM) product suite, agents can
contact one of The Hanover's local branch offices or visit the company at
www.hanover.com. Customers interested in purchasing insurance coverage from
The Hanover should contact their local independent insurance agent.
*Umbrella endorsement option not currently available in NY.
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.
Contact: Investor Relations, Sujata Mutalik, +1-508-855-3457, smutalik@hanover.com, or Media Relations, Amy Lynn Banek, +1-508-855-4486, abanek@hanover.com, both of The Hanover Insurance Group