National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors Endorses The Hartford's Marine and Management...

A Year after Naming The Hartford as a Preferred Business Insurance Provider, Association Adds the Company's Specialized Property and Casualty Products to Round out Member Needs

HARTFORD, Conn. -- The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) representing more than 40,000 wholesale distribution

companies across the country, has selected The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: HIG), one of the nation's leading providers of investment and insurance products, as the preferred provider of Marine and Management Liability coverage.

Chosen as the NAW preferred carrier for standard commercial property and casualty insurance in 2005, The Hartford has been offering property, liability, auto and workers' compensation coverage to the association's wholesaler distributor network during the past year. The recent endorsement of Marine and Management Liability coverage will now make additional insurance protection not typically covered under a standard commercial insurance policy available to members.

Marine and Management Liability coverages are considered specialized commercial insurance products. They can be added to a standard commercial property and casualty policy as needed. Marine products include cargo insurance which protects goods being transported by air, land and sea. Hartford Financial Products, a unit of The Hartford, provides access to Management Liability coverage for businesses of all sizes and industries.

"Since the launch of the NAW/The Hartford partnership, we've worked closely with The Hartford to offer wholesaler distributors with comprehensive insurance products that meet their unique needs," said Dirk Van Dongen, NAW president. "Since many of our members have complex exposures, the recent endorsement of Marine products and Management Liability products like directors & officers and employment practices liability can better protect our members against a host of potential losses."

As part of the strategic alliance, NAW and The Hartford will reach out to wholesale distribution companies through The Hartford's extensive network of independent agents. NAW also will promote the program through the NAW's Web site http://www.naw.org.

"The complexity of wholesale distribution operations makes this industry more vulnerable to risk," explains Gary Thompson, executive vice president of Middle Market & Specialty Commercial at The Hartford. "Whether it involves damage to merchandise in shipment or an event that may cause an interruption to the normal business flow, wholesaler-distributors now have access to The Hartford's broad range of insurance products that can help them better plan and protect against the unexpected."