Insurance products sold by the Kent & Essex Mutual Insurance Company are available only through insurance brokers. Our brokers are professionals who offer consumers choice as well as expert advice.

The policyholders are in fact the owners of the Kent & Essex Mutual Insurance Company. There are no stockholders. We are community based; employing local personnel, repair contractors, insurance brokers, appraisers, and claims adjusters. During profitable years, the company has refunded a portion of the property premium back to the policyholders. In 2003 we returned 10%.

Our brokers are compensated in two ways; they earn a commission which is a fixed percentage of the premium you pay. They may also receive an annual contingent commission which recognizes individual brokers for helping us write profitable business and thereby keeping our premiums competitive. Contingent commissions reward those brokers who are familiar with our expertise and understand the type of business we wish to write.

Kent & Essex's contingent commission may be payable to a broker in any given year and it is based on the profitability of that broker's portfolio averaged over three years. In 2003 the total amount of contingent commissions paid to our brokers was 0.3% of earned premiums written.

The Kent & Essex Mutual Insurance Company endeavours to meet its obligations to the policyholders in two ways: first, for our owner policyholders we provide prudent management of operational costs, investments, and pricing. Secondly, as policyholders, we try to keep prices both stable and reasonable through effective underwriting.

We support and respect our brokers and know from experience that they will provide you with the expert advice, choice and excellent service you require.

Line of Business	Base Commission	Estimated percentage of 2004 Total Written Premium
Automobile	10% - 12.5 %	47%
Property	15%-20%	45%
Liability	15%-20%	8%