Hearing Scheduled for Merger Request by National Merit Insurance

Washington’s Office of the Insurance Commissioner has scheduled an Oct. 30, 2006, public hearing in Tumwater, Wash., to consider a request to merge Response Indemnity Co., of Delaware, with National Merit Insurance Co. of Bellevue.

The 9 a.m. hearing will be held in the agency’s Tumwater office at 5000 Capitol Blvd.

Both companies sell property and casualty coverage and are wholly owned subsidiaries of Response Insurance Co., which in turn is wholly owned by Direct Response Corporation, a Delaware holding company. The proposed merger by the two companies would simplify the corporate structure and provide for more efficient and reasonable regulation of the companies, according to the request.

National Merit would be surviving entity if the merger is approved.

E-mail Ron Pastuch, the agency’s holding company manager, or call him at 360-725-7211 for more information. Or, visit www.insurance.wa.gov.