Percent of business in Illinois by line:
Personal: 100%

Are you currently appointing new agents? Yes, on a limited basis. We appointed 2 new agents in 2002 and are projecting the possibility of another 2-3 in 2003.

What type of agency is your company looking for? Most of the new agents Svea Mutual appoints have a connection to the agricultural marketplace, however we also offer a competitive homeowners product.

What are your premium volume requirements? Svea Mutual has no minimum premium volume requirements at this time, but we encourage our agents to reach the profit sharing threshold of $35,000 in a reasonable time.

Are you currently doing any niche-marketing program? Our specialty has been the farm marketplace since 1865.

What is your company's most aggressive line of business? Agricultural coverages, however our agents are submitting a significant number of homeowner applications.

Do you use credit scoring? Yes, on new business and on risks that come to our attention for various reasons. We have no formal program for renewals.

Do you currently download/upload with your agencies? No

What methods do you use to distribute your insurance products? Independent agents

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? Svea Mutual strives to provide the products and services of a large company, while maintaining the contact and establishing a relationship with our agencies that can only be done with a smaller company.

If we had agents agree to sell homeowners policies with actual cash value endorsements, would you write more business in southern Illinois? With our office in the northern part of the state, our reluctance to expand into southern Illinois comes from the potential reduction in services to policyholders due to distance, not from the coverages being offered.

What are the major ways in which you are interfacing electronically with your agents today? We are not currently interfacing with our agencies.

Additional Comments: Svea Mutual has 38 agents in Illinois, who are primarily located in Northwest Illinois. We write in 76 counties in Illinois, not including Cook County or several counties in extreme southern Illinois. Svea Mutual has been serving customers for 137 years. We also provide coverage for hog confinement operations on the family farm. Most of the coverage written on farm outbuildings is written on an actual cash value basis, but replacement cost coverage is available. Owner occupied dwellings and selected rental dwellings are written on replacement cost. Staff inspectors handle all inspections.