At a time when many multiple line insurance companies in New England were
putting tremendous pressure on their agents for a "balanced book of business"
(ie: increased property business), it became increasingly evident that those
companies offering primarily fire and homeowners coverage would be coming
"under fire" and that it would become more and more difficult for them to
maintain, let alone grow, their position in the marketplace.
With that in mind, in 1985 the Presidents of seven New England Mutual companies
- Attleboro Mutual, Dorchester Mutual Insurance Company, Grange Mutual
Insurance Company, Hingham Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Manufacturers &
Merchants Insurnace Company/Phenix Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Mutual Fire
Insurance Company of Saco, Maine, and The Providence Mutual Fire Insurance
Company - met to plan a long term strategy to preserve and enhance their
property writings throughout New England.
As a result of that, and many more, meetings this group formed N.E. Corporation,
a holding company. The holding company, in turn, formed Casco Indemnity
Company, with each of the participants at that original meeting buying various
amounts of the shares made available and constituting 100% ownership. Casco's
"mission", as stated in the minutes of a particular Board of Directors meeting,
was and is "to support the Mutual company agents, the Mutual company
policyholders and the general buying public."
On June 27, 1985, Casco Indemnity Company was incorporated under the laws of the
State of Maine. And on July 8th of that year we commenced business with a
Certificate of Authority being granted by the State of Maine. Later,
certificates of authority were issued in the remaining New England states.
At the end of our first full year of operation - 1986 - Casco was represented by
less than a dozen independent agents, employed six full time people and had
total writings of $93,000 of personal automobile business. We've come a long
way since those early days to the point where at the end of 2006 - Twenty-Two
years after our incorporation - we now enjoy representation by over 140
independent agents throughout New England; we employ 24 people; we have
introduced two additional product lines, and; our premium volume has grown to
nearly $15,000,000!
In 1994, we received our initial AM Best rating of B+ (Very Good) and have been
able to enhance that rating to a B++(Very Good) since 1997. We are extremely
proud of this measure of stability in a time when many companies have either
been declared insolvent or had their ratings downgraded.
So today we stand, working closely with our member company owners, our mission
unchanged. We are New England's auto insurance specialist - a strong and viable
insurer providing quality personal & commercial automobile, as well as
personal umbrella, protection throughout New England.