Second-quarter net income at Hanover Insurance Group jumped to$53.4 million from $20.8 million a year ago on higher rates andbetter exposure management, the company says.

CEO Frederick H. Eppinger says the Worcester, Mass.-based sawprice increases of 8 percent in commercial and 9 percent inpersonal during the second quarter.

Net premiums written in the commercial segment during the secondquarter were up 5 percent to $521.5 million and catastrophe losseswere down to $15.1 million from $38.4 million in 2012.

The line also booked less unfavorable prior-year reservedevelopment—$500,000 compared to $14.5 million during the secondquarter a year ago.

In personal lines, second-quarter NPW were $370.6million—relatively flat compared to a year ago.

Second-quarter catastrophe losses were also flat ($32.2 millioncompared to $32.4 million).

Hanover's Chaucer subsidiary saw an increase in second-quartercatastrophe losses to $12.5 million from $3.3 million a year ago,but pretax operating income improved to $36.9 million from $29.8million in the second quarter.

Results here were driven by favorable prior-year reservedevelopment of $30.7, compared to $5.1 million a year ago, due tothe “resolution of certain energy claims, better-than-expectedexperience in the casualty and property lines, and a favorableimpact of foreign currency movement,” the company says instatement.