---Article Reprint--- Progressive Joins InsWeb's Insurance Marketplace; Industry
Pioneers Form Alliance To Provide Consumers Greater Choice of Insurance Products, Full
Electronic-Commerce ( Business Wire ) ( BW)(INSWEB/PROGRESSIVE) Progressive Joins InsWeb's
Insurance Marketplace; Industry Pioneers Form Alliance To Provide Consumers Greater Choice
of Insurance Products, Full Electronic-Commerce Business Editors/Technology Writers
REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 20, 1998--The Progressive Corporation
(NYSE:PGR), the nation's fifth-largest and one of the fastest-growing insurance companies,
announced today that it will join InsWeb's insurance marketplace. Progressive will offer
auto quotes in 48 states and motorcycle insurance quotes in 42 states. Additionally,
Progressive will enable consumers visiting InsWeb to purchase its products completely
online by providing instant quotes and electronic payment. This is the first time InsWeb
users will be able to do full electronic commerce at InsWeb's insurance marketplace, and
it represents the most significant step to date in creating a nationwide e-commerce market
for insurance. "The alliance between InsWeb and Progressive brings together two of
the insurance industry's most innovative companies," said InsWeb's Kevin Keegan,
President of the Insurance Services Group. "InsWeb and Progressive pioneered the
concept of online insurance, and Progressive has reshaped the way the industry thinks
about insuring consumers. Together, this powerful alliance is providing consumers exactly
what they want: comparison shopping and the ability to complete the insurance transaction
online." For Progressive, the agreement with InsWeb is consistent with its ongoing,
successful effort to provide consumers with multiple ways to buy insurance, and it
reflects the company's strong belief that product comparisons are beneficial for
consumers. At its website (www.progressive.com), Progressive provides quotes for its own
products, as well as those of several other carriers. "Progressive has long been a
champion of comparison shopping, and we share InsWeb values in enabling consumers to make
more informed decisions," said Allan Bauer, Internet Process Leader. "By making
our products available at InsWeb, Progressive will reach a wider audience of online
customers and strengthen our national distribution strategy." About The Progressive
Corporation The Progressive Corporation is a Cleveland-based insurance holding company.
Its subsidiaries offer personal automobile and specialty property-casualty insurance and
related services throughout the United States and in Canada. Progressive's Common Shares
(symbol PGR) are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. About InsWeb Corporation InsWeb,
the leading Internet insurance marketplace at www.insweb.com, helps consumers save time
and money by providing free, multiple insurance quotes from a single form. InsWeb's 24
participating carriers offer auto, term life, homeowners, renters, individual health and
short-term medical insurance. In addition to comparison shopping, InsWeb also provides
interactive tools and research capabilities that enable consumers to make more informed
decisions. InsWeb is accessible at Yahoo!, Infoseek, E*Trade, USA TODAY Online, Microsoft
Money 99, as well as other leading Web sites. InsWeb is headquartered in Redwood City,
Calif. --30--ap/sf* Progressive Casualty Insurance Leslie Kolleda, 904/947-5158
leslie_kolleda@progressive.com KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: INSURANCE
INTERACTIVE/MULTIMEDIA/INTERNET COMED (c) 1998 Business Wire. All reproduction, other than
for an individual user`s reference, is prohibited without prior written permission. (c)
1998 Business Wire Progressive Joins InsWeb's Insurance Marketplace; Industry Pioneers
Form Alliance To Provide Consumers Greater Choice of Insurance Products, Full
Electronic-Commerce., Business Wire, 10-19-1998.
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