The Hanover Insurance Group Offers $375M Senior Notes

The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. THG will offer 4.50% $375 million senior, unsecured notes. These notes are scheduled to mature on Apr 15, 2026.

The company would redeem its outstanding 7.50% notes, due 2020 and 6.375% notes, due 2021 with the net proceeds from the offering. The remainder, if any, will be deployed in the payment of related fees and expenses..

The Hanover Insurance Group displays its prudence by issuing senior notes amid a low interest rate environment to procure funds. By capitalizing on the low interest rate environment, the company is consciously making efforts to reduce interest burden, thereby facilitating margin expansion.

As of Dec 31, 2015, the company's long-term debt was $812.8 million compared with $903.5 million at the end of 2014. This reflects a decline of 10.3%. Moreover the debt-to-equity ratio at year-end 2015 was 28.6%, down from 31.7% at the end 2014. However, the latest offering will increase the debt-to-equity ratio by 1320 basis points.

Additionally, the company needs to dish out about $16.9 million in interest, annually. In 2015, interest expenses fell nearly 10.4%. Nonetheless, this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) property and casualty (P&C) insurer's operational performance and financial position support its efforts to generate substantial funds to service debt uninterruptedly, thereby maintaining its creditworthiness.

Other Stocks to Consider

Investors interested in P&C industry can also consider stocks like Hallmark Financial HALL, Markel Corp. MKL and White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. WTM. Each of these stocks sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

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