Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm Will Join Farmers Insurance CEO Robert Woudstra to Announce Farmers Building Expansion in Caledonia

CALEDONIA, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Farmers Insurance Group of Companies® announced today that it will build two new buildings totaling 275,000 square feet on the existing grounds of Farmers Insurance office facilities located in Caledonia. This development is thanks in part to an attractive incentives package offered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). The expansion will create a significant number of new jobs in Michigan. Farmers is joining the MEDC in making this announcement today.

A press conference will be held at Farmers offices near the new building site. Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, and Farmers Chief Executive Officer, Robert Woudstra will provide details of the Farmers expansion. The expansion includes a 175,000 square foot office building and a 100,000 square foot print and distribution center.

“Farmers has been in Michigan since 1949, and this expansion is a continuing commitment to customer service excellence and growth in this great state. Groundbreaking will take place this fall,” Mr. Woudstra noted.

WHAT:				Farmers Insurance press conference onsite to describe the expansion of two new buildings
WHERE:				5600 Beech Tree Lane Caledonia, MI 49316
WHEN:				JUNE 16, 2009 at 10:15 A.M.

ATTENDING:

• The Honorable Jennifer Granholm, Michigan Governor
• Robert Woudstra, Farmers CEO
• Jack Hannigan, Farmers Senior Vice President, CMO, Independent Agency Operations
• State Senator Mark Jansen
• Dan Schrock, Farmers Michigan State Executive Director
• Ken Ross, Michigan Insurance Commissioner
• Caledonia Township Board and Planning Members
• Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Representative
• The Right Place
• Local University Representatives
• Farmers Employees, Agents and District Managers
• Other Invitees

Farmers Group, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Financial Services, an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Farmers® is the nation's third-largest Personal Lines Property & Casualty insurance group. Property and casualty products are underwritten and issued by the Farmers Exchanges and their subsidiaries, which Farmers Group, Inc. manages but does not own. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Farmers insurers provide Homeowners, Auto, Business, Life insurance and Financial Services to more than 10 million households. For more information about Farmers, visit our Web site at www.farmers.com.

				MEDIA FACT SHEET
				FARMERS EXPANSION
				June 16, 2009
Address:				5600 Beech Tree Lane
				Caledonia, MI 49316.
Name of architect/firm:				Rees Masilionis Turley Architecture
Construction manager:				Wolverine Building Group
Number of buildings:				2 new buildings:
					*an atrium connects these to an existing building
Number of square feet:				First building (offices) — 175,000/sf.
				Second building (print and distribution center) — 100,000/sf.
Job creation:				Approx 100 construction-related jobs created in 2009/2010.
				Approx 1,600 Farmers jobs directly created post-opening
				Approx 1,100 jobs indirectly created
Ground breaking:				Anticipated Fall, 2009
Grand opening:				Anticipated Spring, 2011
Additional notes:				Farmers insures more than 100,000 households in Michigan, providing quality service thanks to the dedicated efforts of more than 2,000 Farmers employees and hundreds of agents and district managers.