Business Moves

Allmerica, The Hanover Insurance Group

Allmerica Financial Corporation will change its name to The Hanover Insurance Group Inc. effective Dec. 1 and its stock will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the stock ticker symbol, THG. Allmerica is a holding company for a group of insurance companies including The Hanover Insurance Company, headquartered in Worcester, Mass., and Citizens Insurance Company of America, based in Howell, Mich. The new name is taken from the largest and oldest company in the group, Hanover Insurance. The company will use The Hanover Insurance Group as its primary identity in all of its markets except Michigan, where the company will continue to lead with the Citizens name, and will identify Citizens as a company of The Hanover Insurance Group.

Berkshire Bank, MacDonald & Johnson

Berkshire Insurance Group Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hills Bancorp Inc. in Pittsfield, Mass., has acquired MacDonald & Johnson Inc., an agency in East Longmeadow, Mass. and Onofrey Insurance and Financial Services Inc., an agency in Springfield, Mass. Established in 1846, Berkshire Bank is headquartered in Pittsfield with branch offices serving communities throughout Western Massachusetts and northeastern New York.

Adirondack Bank, Clients First Agency

Adirondack Trust Co. in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. has acquired Clients First Insurance Agency Inc. of Ballston Lake. This bank has now owns three agencies, having previously acquired Wise Financial Services of Saratoga Springs and Round Lake Insurance Agency of Malta, N.Y. Clients First will continue to operate with the same staff in Ballston Lake. Adirondack Trust has 10 offices in Saratoga and Warren counties.

OneBeacon, Houston General

OneBeacon Insurance Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd., has entered into an agreement with Houston General Insurance Exchange to offer auto, homeowners and packaged solutions outside its core territory in the Northeast. Houston General is a property/casualty insurance carrier that is owned by its policyholder members. The company is managed by Houston General Insurance Management Company, a subsidiary of OneBeacon. Arizona is the inaugural state for Houston General Insurance Exchange business. Houston General plans to expand into other states in 2006.