Home and auto insurer Allstate is buying Esurance and Answer Financial from White Mountains Insurance for about $1 billion, The Associated Press reports Allstate has major operations in Connecticut and, with Esurance and Answer, have customers in the state.
Allstate Corp. says the deal will help it tap consumers who prefer certain brands along with consumers who want choices among insurance carriers.
White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd., based in Hanover, N.H., says the sale will increase its book value by $80 per share.
Despite their Connecticut connections, the deal does not require state approval because none are domiciled in the state, a state insurance department spokeswoman said Wednesday.
Esurance sells auto insurance directly to customers online and through call centers. Answer Financial is an independent personal insurance agency.
Allstate, based in Northbrook, Ill., has agreed to pay $700 million plus the tangible net value of businesses being acquired. It estimates the total price would be about $1 billion.
White Mountains shares rose $40.31, or 11.7 percent, to $383.94 in morning trading Wednesday. Allstate shares slipped 11 cents to $32.31.
