Auto Insurance Company Reaches Milestone, Turns a Decade Old

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Esurance, the direct-to-consumer personal auto insurance company, celebrates its 10th anniversary today - an important milestone for the innovative company. Since Esurance launched on December 16, 1999, it has been dedicated to improving the way people shop for, buy, and manage their auto insurance. Over the past 10 years, Esurance has sold more than 1.5 million auto insurance policies, and insured more than 2.2 million drivers.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090826/ESURANCELOGO)

Over the past decade, Esurance has become the third-most recognized personal auto insurance provider on the Internet. By combining best-in-class Web-enabled technology, underwriting expertise, and a culture of continuous improvement, Esurance has become a leader in a competitive industry.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Gary Tolman, reflected on the last 10 years by saying, "Our parent company, White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. (NYSE: WTM), helped nurture Esurance as we became a significant competitor in the personal auto insurance space. We are grateful for their tremendous support over the years. Now, after a decade in business, Esurance has matured into an established, well-known insurance carrier."

Esurance began offering Web-enabled insurance services years before most of its more established competitors. With real-time underwriting verification, electronic signatures, and actionable comparison quotes, Esurance was one of the leaders in making the purchase of auto insurance simpler and faster for customers. In the past 10 years, Esurance has built reliable, proprietary, Web-based systems throughout its entire technology infrastructure, including quoting and purchasing, policy management, billing, customer service, and claims handling.

In 2004, Esurance launched television advertising featuring the company's animated icon, Erin Esurance. The colorful animated television spots helped Esurance stand out in a competitive category and supported the Esurance brand as innovative and fun-- adjectives not often used to describe personal auto insurance. Today, the Esurance brand is recognized by 2 out of 3 people in the United States.

More recently, White Mountains' purchase of Answer Financial, one of the largest U.S. personal insurance agencies, brought it and its capabilities into the Esurance family. Esurance has partnered with Answer Financial since 2003, but the enhanced relationship now allows consumers shopping on the Esurance Web site to purchase insurance coverage from multiple leading insurance companies.

Esurance has earned an "A-"(Excellent) rating from A.M. Best Company, an independent firm that rates the financial strength and performance of insurance companies.

Tolman concluded, "We will use our experience from the last 10 years to guide our success in the next decade. I am proud of what we have accomplished, and I would like to thank all of our associates for their continuing hard work and dedication to the company. We very much look forward to the next 10 years."

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 Web site, www.esurance.com, customers can get instant quotes, view comparison quotes, buy an Esurance policy, and print their insurance card-- 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.

About Answer Financial

Answer Financial, is one of the largest online personal insurance agencies in the U.S., offering coverage in all 50 states from 15 top-rated insurance companies. Answer offers comparisons for a variety of insurance products, including auto insurance, homeowners/renters insurance, and specialty property and vehicle coverage. Insurance shoppers can compare insurance quotes at http://www.answerfinancial.com or call one of Answer's licensed insurance agents at 1-800-233-3028. Answer Financial is a wholly-owned subsidiary of White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. (NYSE: WTM).

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

The 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' 2008 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;
    *action taken by rating 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 update publicly any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Esurance, Inc.

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RELATED LINKS
http://www.esurance.com
http://www.answerfinancial.com