Esurance Offers New Savings on Car Insurance to Same-Sex Partners in Illinois

SAN FRANCISCO, July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Esurance, the direct-to-consumer personal car insurance company, today announced that it is offering new car insurance savings to same-sex partners in Illinois.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090826/ESURANCELOGO)

The state of Illinois' Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act went into effect on June 1, 2011, allowing same-sex couples to enter into civil unions granting them many rights already afforded married couples. Esurance has responded by offering new savings for Illinois consumers who qualify according to the new Illinois law**.

The car insurance savings could be as much as 10% or more, but vary depending on a number of pricing factors such as driving record, accident history, and vehicle*. Illinois consumers who want to take advantage of the savings or get a car insurance quote from Esurance can go to www.esurance.com or call 1-800-ESURANCE (1-800-378-7262).

Esurance also offers similar car insurance savings for same-sex partners in California, Oregon, and Washington, and the company has a long history of support and involvement in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender issues, including:

• Being one of the first car insurance companies in the United States to offer discounts to domestic partners who list on the same policy.
• Donating $50,000 in 2011 to The Trevor Project, the leading organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth.
• Promoting and sponsoring Pride events around the country, including Seattle Pride, St. Pete Pride, Gay Days Orlando, and the upcoming Come Out with Pride in Orlando.
• Receiving a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index for the last four years.
• Winning a 2011 Bay Area Workplace Diversity Award for supporting equality in the work environment.
• Partnering with LGBT media outlets such as Instinct Magazine and EDGE.

"Esurance is firmly committed to recognizing and supporting diversity for its customers, and offering these savings to Illinois consumers is another measure of those commitments," said Gary Tolman, Esurance President and Chief Executive Officer. "That commitment applies to our work environment as well, where we strive to attract and retain people who reflect our diverse customer base."

*According to Esurance's multi-state analysis, 10% is the average premium savings realized when couples are rated as "married" rather than "single."

**Same-sex couples in a civil union will get a "married" rate when they list on the same policy, which is a lower rate than those previously available to such non-married individuals. This rate applies to two persons of the same or opposite sex who form a civil union as recognized by the Illinois law. Esurance will also honor in Illinois civil unions, same-sex civil unions, and marriages legally entered into in other jurisdictions.

About Esurance®

Esurance, a subsidiary of White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. (NYSE: WTM), provides personal auto insurance direct to consumers online and through select agents, including sister company, Answer Financial. Esurance is dedicated to constantly improving the way people shop for, buy, and manage their auto insurance. By combining the best of technology with industry know-how, Esurance is able to offer hassle-free coverage with 24/7 customer service and claims handling at competitive prices.

Through Esurance's website, www.esurance.com, customers can get instant car insurance quotes, view comparison quotes, buy an Esurance policy, and print their insurance cards— all in minutes. Esurance also offers policyholders the ability to make policy changes and file claims instantly online, demonstrating its commitment to improving the entire insurance process from quote to claim.

Answer Financial, also a subsidiary of White Mountains, is one of the largest independent personal lines insurance agencies in the country. Answer Financial offers comparison quotes and provides auto and property insurance from more than a dozen top-rated insurance companies through its website, www.answerfinancial.com, and over the phone. In May 2011, White Mountains announced that it signed a definitive agreement to sell Esurance and Answer Financial to The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL), the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. The transaction is subject to regulatory and other customary closing conditions, including review by antitrust authorities and state regulators, and is expected to close in the fall of 2011.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included or referenced in this release which address activities, events or developments which we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. The words "will," "believe," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "estimate," "predict" and similar expressions are also intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements with respect to White Mountains':

• changes in adjusted book value per share or return on equity;
• business strategy;
• financial and operating targets or plans;
• incurred losses and the adequacy of its loss and loss adjustment expense reserves and related reinsurance;
• projections of revenues, income (or loss), earnings (or loss) per share, dividends, market share or other financial forecasts;
• expansion and growth of our business and operations; and
• future capital expenditures.

These statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by White Mountains in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will conform to our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations, including:

• the risks associated with Item 1A of White Mountains' 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K;
• claims arising from catastrophic events, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, floods or terrorist attacks;
• the continued availability of capital and financing;
• general economic, market or business conditions;
• business opportunities (or lack thereof) that may be presented to it and pursued;
• competitive forces, including the conduct of other property and casualty insurers and reinsurers;
• changes in domestic or foreign laws or regulations, or their interpretation, applicable to White Mountains, its competitors or its clients;
• an economic downturn or other economic conditions adversely affecting its financial position;
• recorded loss reserves subsequently proving to have been inadequate;
• actions taken by ratings agencies from time to time, such as financial strength or credit ratings downgrades or placing ratings on negative watch;
• other factors, most of which are beyond White Mountains' control.

Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by White Mountains will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, White Mountains or its business or operations. White Mountains assumes no obligation to publicly update any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Esurance

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