Montana’s Healthy Small Business Climate Helps EMPLOYERS® Double Workers’ Comp Market Share

Reno, Nev. Aug. — 17, 2006 — Employers Insurance Group today announced it has more than doubled its share of the Montana’s workers’ compensation insurance market since the start of the current year. Workers’ compensation insurance and services are offered in Montana through Employers Compensation Insurance Company, one of the companies of Employers Insurance Group.

EMPLOYERS’® total written premium in Montana at year-end 2005 was $1.442 million. By the end of July this year, written premium in Montana had more than doubled, reaching a total $3.399 million. The marked growth in EMPLOYERS’ customer base has occurred across the board on small businesses within the state’s hospitality, restaurant, automobile dealer, and other industries.

EMPLOYERS Western Region President George Tway attributed the group’s significant strides in Montana to the independent agents who serve the state’s small business sector. “Business owners rely on their independent agents to maximize their insurance dollar. Agents are recognizing our expertise in serving small, Main Street-type accounts. They’re getting to know our competitive pricing and customer services. Montana’s healthy business climate presents terrific opportunities right now,” Tway said.

Montana is one of eight states in which insurance and services are offered by the companies of EMPLOYERS. In addition to Montana, the companies of EMPLOYERS currently write business in California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Arizona and Texas. Employers Compensation Insurance Company is rated A– (Excellent) by A.M. Best, the world’s oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source.

Independent agents interested in learning more about EMPLOYERS’ small business insurance expertise and competitive pricing can contact Shayla Mulder, Vice President, Marketing for the Western Region, (208) 424-7432, e-mail: smulder@eig.com.