Percent of business in Illinois by line:
Commercial 100%

Are you currently appointing new agents? Argonaut Great Central will be appointing a select number of agents in Illinois in 2003.

What type of agency is your company looking for? Our most successful agencies are those that have adopted a target marketing approach and are committed to working with a specialty carrier. We are seeking agencies that already have significant expertise and volume that matches one or more of our programs.

What are your premium volume requirements? For 2002, the threshold to be eligible for Argonaut Great Central's Excess Commission Agreement was $200,000 in written premium. AGC also offers an annual President's Circle travel incentive based upon premium growth from the prior year. Our 2002 achievers will be our guests in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Are you currently doing any niche-marketing program? Argonaut Great Central provides insurance and risk management services for a select group of businesses. Our primary targeted markets are restaurants, religious institutions, food merchants, and laundry dry cleaners. These niches were expanded in 2002 to include a more global description of our targets to include Retail Service, Public & Private Institutions, Food & Hospitality, and Special Programs.

What is your company's most aggressive line of business? As of December 2002, the majority of our business was in restaurants, followed by religious institutions, food merchants, and laundry dry cleaners.

Do you use credit scoring? Not Applicable

Do you currently download/upload with your agencies? Not available at this time.

What methods do you use to distribute your insurance products? We are dedicated to working in close partnership with independent agents to provide exceptional Service, Integrity, and Financial Strength that the Argonaut Great Central name signifies. We also utilize Central Insurance Management (CIM), which is a wholly owned agency brokerage subsidiary of AGC. CIM offers non-contracted independent agents access to business opportunities at AGC not otherwise available. CIM is one of the largest agencies in Illinois specializing in religious institutions.

What do you think makes your company different, or stand out from all the rest in Illinois? Why would an agent want to contract with your company? Founded in 1934 and currently serving 33 states from our home office in Peoria, Illinois, we are a highly specialized commercial insurer. AGC has developed unique products and services tailored to a variety of clients including restaurants, supermarkets, religious institutions, and laundry dry cleaners. By concentrating on niche markets, our company has developed considerable expertise in underwriting, claims, and safety services in these areas.

As a specialty insurer, we have enjoyed long-term relationships as the endorsed carrier for the Illinois Restaurant Association, the Illinois State Fabricare Association, the Indiana Dry Cleaning & Laundry Association, the Missouri Restaurant Association, the Michigan Restaurant Association, and others.

AGC provides convenient access to insurance and risk management services, which will improve the client's operational effectiveness at the lowest total cost. Our "Great Protector II" package program provides tailored protection specifically designed for each of our niches and combines frequently purchased coverages into an economical bundle.

In business for over 60 years, AGC offers our independent agents, their clients, and our shareholders stability, experience, and commitment to our niche markets.

For more information about Argonaut Great Central Insurance Company contact:

Darren Ball, CPCU
Marketing Director
Phone: 309-681-2392
Fax: 309-685-4335
dball@argonautgroup.com

If we had agents agree to sell homeowners policies with actual cash value endorsements, would you write more business in southern Illinois? Not Applicable

What are the major ways in which you are interfacing electronically with your agents today? Are you pleased with the results? Argonaut Great Central has recently begun an electronic interfacing initiative. Currently, agents have access to real-time loss run information.

Are you planning enhancements in these interfaces in the future? In early 2003, agents will have the ability to get on-line rate indications. Agents will also be able to gain access to static data such as our underwriting manual and bulletins.

Additional Comments: Argonaut Great Central has 30 agents in Illinois and about 150 representing the entire company. Illinois is the company's second largest state for volume. Great Central will end 2002 with the largest premium volume in company history and will finish the year with a combined ratio of under 100%. A common thread among their agents is a passion for one of their niche markets. Agents successful with Great Central are dedicated to at least one of their markets.