Zurich North America Small Business Forms Alliance with Foremost Insurance Company to Maximize...

Business Editors

BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 21, 2003

As part of its strategy to provide independent agents with easy access to high-quality products and services through the internet, Zurich North America Small Business today announced the formation of a cross-selling alliance

Part of the Farmers Insurance Group, Foremost is a major provider of specialty lines risks, including mobile homes, off-road vehicles, motor homes, motorcycles, marine products and travel trailers, through a national network of 23,000 agents.

Under the arrangement, Zurich Small Business will offer its industry-leading Builders Risk Plan, which provides coverage for residential and commercial construction projects, to the Foremost agent network through the internet. In return, Zurich Small Business agents will have access to Foremost's specialized coverages, also through the internet. Links to these products have been placed on the Zurich Small Business and Foremost agent websites.

"This collaboration significantly broadens the distribution reach of both companies, making high-quality insurance solutions available to an extensive network of agents and their customers," said Bill Griglock, senior vice president of marketing at Zurich North America Small Business. "It also underscores our commitment to providing agents with an internet-driven, self-service model that helps them serve their customers better, faster and more cost effectively."

Foremost Insurance Group insures mobile homes, travel trailers, RVs, specialty dwellings, motorcycles, off-road vehicles, snowmobiles, and most recently introduced a marine program.

Zurich North America Small Business is a leader in providing insurance protection for small businesses in the office, retail, service, wholesale, institutional, manufacturers, and builders risk and trade contractor market segments through a network of more than 11,000 independent agents and 52 local field offices.

Zurich North America (www.zurichna.com) is a leading commercial property-casualty insurance provider serving the multinational, middle market and small business sectors in the United States and Canada. Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., Zurich North America has 11,650 employees and wrote $10.9 billion in premiums in 2001. Zurich North America includes the Zurich U.S. business units (Corporate Customer, Middle Markets, Small Business, Strategic Partnerships, Construction, Specialties, Zurich Global Energy and Empire Insurance Companies), as well as Universal Underwriters Group and Zurich North America Canada. The Zurich U.S. pool of companies is rated A (excellent) by A.M. Best and A+ (strong) by Standard & Poor's. Zurich North America is a member of the Zurich Financial Services Group.

Zurich Financial Services Group (www.zurich.com) is an insurance-based financial services provider with an international network that focuses its activities on its key markets of North America, the United Kingdom and Continental Europe. Founded in 1872, Zurich is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. It has offices in approximately 60 countries and employs well over 70,000 people. SXX Swiss Exchange/virt-x: ZURN.