Merchants Mutual Adds Commercial Lines Subsidiary in Mich.

Merchants Mutual Insurance Co. recently announced that it has recently formed a subsidiary, Merchants Preferred Insurance Co. Merchants Preferred Insurance Co. is now accepting commercial lines business in Michigan, effective Sept. 1, 2007.

Merchants Preferred Insurance Co.is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merchants Mutual Insurance Co. Merchants Mutual targets preferred risk individuals and businesses, while Merchants Preferred targets standard risks. Preferred recently earned an A- (excellent) rating with a stable outlook from the A.M. Best Co. Mutual’s A- (excellent) rating was also renewed by A.M. Best. Merchants Mutual Insurance Co. and Merchants Preferred Insurance Co. comprise Merchants Insurance Group. .

Merchants Mutual and Merchants Preferred offer personal and commercial insurance through a network of more than 600 independent insurance agents throughout the northeast and Midwest. With corporate headquarters and regional operations located in Buffalo, N.Y., Merchants operates offices in Hauppauge, N.Y.; Albany, N.Y.; Moorestown, N.J.; Manchester, N.H., and Columbus, Ohio.

Source: Merchants Mutual Insurance Co.