The 56 pence-per-share offer, which includes an earlier 2.7 pence per share dividend announced by Chaucer, values Chaucer at roughly 1.26 times its estimated tangible book value on December 31, Hanover said in a statement today.
London-based Chaucer, which has been hit by all the natural disaster losses of late, underwrites business in a number of insurance classes, including marine, energy, UK motor and nuclear.
Chaucer said earlier that earthquakes this year in Japan and New Zealand, as well as floods in Australia, could set the company back by as much as 62 million pounds in insurance claims. In 2010, Chaucer reported net earned premium of 589 million pounds ($925 million) and total assets of 2.3 billion pounds ($3.7 billion).
The deal is expected to give Hanover expanded market presence, and advance the company’s specialty business, specifically in energy, marine, aviation and other risks.
“Access to the Lloyd’s market would enable us to further strengthen our capabilities, provide many of our larger winning agents with a valued market for complex, cross-border risks, and strengthen our market position as the best partner for winning agents in the U.S.,” said Hanover CEO Frederick H. Eppinger.