UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       The Securities Exchange Act of 1934


      Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 30, 2005


                       THE HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
                       ---------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


          Delaware                      1-13754                  04-3263626
 ---------------------------     ----------------------       -----------------
(State or other jurisdiction    (Commission File Number)     (I.R.S.Employer
     of incorporation)                                       Identification No.)



               440 Lincoln Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01653
               --------------------------------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)
                                   (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (508) 855-1000
                                                          ---------------



Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities  Act (17CFR
230.425)

[ ] Soliciting  material  pursuant to  Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17CFR
240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
Act (17CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
Act (17CFR 240.13e-4(c))





Item 2.01   Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.


     On December 30, 2005, The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.,  formerly known as
Allmerica  Financial   Corporation,   a  Delaware  corporation  (the "Company"),
completed the previously  announced sale of its run-off  variable life insurance
and  variable  annuity  business  to The Goldman  Sachs  Group,  Inc.  ("Goldman
Sachs").  The  transaction  included the sale of all the  outstanding  shares of
capital  stock  of  Allmerica  Financial  Life  Insurance  and  Annuity  Company
("AFLIAC")  and the  reinsurance  of the variable  life and annuity  business of
First Allmerica Financial Life Insurance Company ("FAFLIC").  In connection with
these  transactions,  Allmerica  Investment  Trust ("AIT") will transfer certain
assets and liabilities of its funds to certain Goldman Sachs Variable  Insurance
Trust managed funds through a fund reorganization transaction. Concurrently with
the consummation of the fund reorganization  transaction,  the Company will sell
to Goldman  Sachs all of the  outstanding  shares of capital  stock of Allmerica
Financial  Investment  Management  Services,  Inc.  ("AFIMS"),   its  investment
advisory subsidiary.

     Total net proceeds to the holding company consist of both proceeds from the
sale and dividends from  subsidiaries and are expected to be approximately  $347
million,  based on an estimated  purchase  price  calculated  as of November 30,
2005. Total proceeds include  approximately  $255 million related to the sale of
AFLIAC, an approximate $9 million ceding  commission  related to the coinsurance
of the FAFLIC  variable  business,  a $40 million  dividend  from FAFLIC and $17
million  additional  dividends  from certain  non-insurance  subsidiaries.  Also
included  is $26  million  of  expected  proceeds  from  the  related  AIT  fund
reorganization and sale of the AIT funds' investment advisory company,  which is
scheduled  to close on January 9, 2006.  Approximately  $34 million of the total
proceeds will be paid to the Company over a three-year period beginning in 2006,
with 50% being  received in the first year and 25% in each of the  following two
years.  These proceeds are subject to post closing  adjustments to be determined
within 30 days of closing.  On December 30, 2005,  the Company  received  $244.4
million in proceeds from the sale of AFLIAC and the ceding commission related to
the coinsurance agreement.

     The  transaction  is expected to result in a net after-tax loss on the sale
that is projected  to be  approximately  $457 million in 2005,  primarily as the
result of the  write-down  of non-cash  deferred  acquisition  cost assets.  The
after-tax  net loss will also be  modified  to reflect  the  December  30,  2005
closing adjustments.


Forward-Looking Statements

     Certain statements,  including statements estimating the total proceeds and
the expected closing date for the AIT fund  reorganization  are  forward-looking
statements,  as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995.  There  are  certain  factors  that  could  cause  actual  results,
including the total proceeds from the  transaction,  to differ  materially  from
those anticipated by this report.  These include:  (1) the successful and timely
consummation  of the AIT  fund  reorganization  and the  sale of the AIT  funds'
investment advisory company (2) the uncertainties as to the gross proceeds to be
received  by THG,  including  the  uncertainty  as to the effects of the various
purchase price adjustments, (3) the uncertainties of the purchase price hedge to
effectively  hedge  the  purchase  price as  currently  estimated  and at a cost
consistent with expectations;  (4) the impact of policyholder  surrenders on the
purchase price  adjustment,  which are not hedged;  (5) the impact of contingent
liabilities, including litigation and regulatory matters, assumed by the holding
company in connection  with the  transaction;  and (6) the statutory  results of
operations of the Life Companies  segment until close  (including as a result of
the realization of certain tax benefits which depend, in part, on the results of
operations  of the  Property  and  Casualty  segments),  which  will  impact the
statutory surplus of AFLIAC and consequently the ultimate purchase price.

     Forward-looking  statements are not guarantees of future  performance,  and
actual results could well differ materially. Investors should consider these and
other risks and uncertainties in our business that may affect future performance
(including  Life  Companies  operations)  and  that  are  discussed  in  readily
available  documents,  including The  Company's  (formerly  Allmerica  Financial
Corporations')  Annual  Report on Form  10-K,  Quarterly  Reports on Form 10-Q,
periodic reports on Form 8-K and other documents filed by The Hanover  Insurance
Group,  Inc.  (formerly  named  "Allmerica  Financial   Corporation")  with  the
Securities   and   Exchange   Commission   and  which  are  also   available  at
www.hanover.com under "Investors".


Item 8.01   Other Events.

     On December 28, 2005, the Company announced that its Board of Directors has
authorized the previously  announced  share  repurchase  program funded from the
proceeds of, and contingent on the closing of, the previously  announced sale of
its life  insurance  subsidiary,  AFLIAC to Goldman  Sachs.  A copy of the press
release is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.2.

     Effective on December  30,  2005,  the  Company's  Board of Directors  also
amended the Rights Agreement between the Company and Computershare Trust Company
of New York (successor to First Chicago Trust Company of New York),  dated as of
December  16,  1997,  to provide  that an  Acquiring  Person shall not include a
Person who would  otherwise  become an  Acquiring  Person  solely as a result of
decreases in the  outstanding  number of shares of Common  Stock,  provided that
such  Person  does not  thereafter  purchase  or  otherwise  acquire  Beneficial
Ownership of any additional shares.  Capitalized terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement.  The foregoing  description of the amendment to the Rights  Agreement
does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
the Rights  Agreement,  which will be filed with the Company's  Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.

     Effective  December 30, 2005, in connection with the closing of the sale of
the Company's  run-off  variable life insurance and variable annuity business to
Goldman  Sachs,  the Company  entered into an agreement  with the  Massachusetts
Division of Insurance (the "Division of  Insurance"),  with regard to FAFLIC,  a
wholly-owned  subsidiary of the Company, to maintain the ratio of FAFLIC's Total
Adjusted Capital to FAFLIC's Required  Risk-Based  Capital,  at a level not less
than FAFLIC's  Company Action Level (the "THG  Keepwell").  The Company  further
agreed that the THG Keepwell would be terminated  only with the agreement of the
Massachusetts  Commissioner of Insurance. The THG Keepwell replaces the previous
commitment  from the Company to the  Division of Insurance  regarding  Allmerica
Financial Life  Insurance and Annuity  Company,  dated December 23, 2002,  which
terminated  upon the closing of the  transaction  with Goldman Sachs on December
30, 2005. The THG Keepwell is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.53.


Item 9.01   Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a.)    Not applicable.

(b.)    Pro Forma Financial Information.

     In accordance  with Item  9.01(b)(1)  of Form 8-K, the pro forma  financial
information required by Item 9.01(b) of Form 8-K is set forth below.

     The following unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information of the
Company  is  derived  from  the  Company's  historical   consolidated  financial
statements  and  should  be read  in  conjunction  with  the  audited  financial
statements  and notes thereto  appearing in the Company's  Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended  December  31, 2004 and the  Company's  Form 10Q for the
period ended September 30, 2005. The accompanying  unaudited pro forma condensed
consolidated  statements of income for the nine months ended  September 30, 2005
and the year ended December 31, 2004 are presented as if the sale of AFLIAC,  as
discussed  in Item 2.01  hereof,  had been  completed  as of January 1, 2005 and
January 1, 2004,  respectively.  The unaudited pro forma condensed  consolidated
balance  sheet is  presented  as if the  disposition  had been  completed  as of
September 30, 2005.  The unaudited pro forma  financial  statements  reflect the
sale of AFLIAC as an adjustment to the historical consolidated balance sheet and
consolidated  statements  of  income,  as  AFLIAC  qualifies  as  a  significant
subsidiary  in  accordance  with  Regulation  S-X Section  210.11-01(b)(1).  The
unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information is preliminary and may be
subject to  change,  however,  such  changes,  if any,  are not  expected  to be
material.

     The unaudited pro forma condensed  consolidated  financial  information has
been  presented for  informational  purposes  only and is not  indicative of any
future  results of  operations  or the results  that might have  occurred if the
disposition  had actually been completed on the indicated  dates.  The unaudited
pro forma condensed  consolidated financial statements are based on management's
estimate of the effects the sale of AFLIAC.  Pro forma  adjustments are based on
currently available information, historical results and certain assumptions that
management believes are reasonable and described in the accompanying notes.

     The unaudited pro forma condensed  consolidated financial statements do not
include  non-recurring  charges or credits and related tax effects  which result
directly from the transaction  and will be included in the operating  results of
the Company in the future. Those results are shown in note (g).





                        THE HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
                          UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                               SEPTEMBER 30, 2005

                                                              
                                                       Pro Forma
(In millions, except per share data)    Historical    Adjustments       Pro Forma
-------------------------------------- ------------- -------------     -----------

ASSETS
   Investments....................     $  6,145.1    $         -       $   6,145.1
   Cash and cash equivalents......          432.4           235.8 (a)        668.2
   Accrued investment income......           78.7              -              78.7
   Premiums, accounts and notes
     receivable, net..............          503.1            60.4 (a)        563.5
   Reinsurance receivable on paid
     and unpaid losses, benefits 
     and unearned premiums                1,437.3              -           1,437.3
   Deferred policy acquisition costs        228.4              -             228.4
   Deferred federal income taxes..          433.3              -             433.3
   Goodwill.......................          128.2              -             128.2
   Other assets...................          361.5              -             361.5
   Separate account assets........          585.9              -             585.9
   Assets of discontinued operations     11,313.2       (11,313.2)(b)           -
                                         --------       ---------         --------
    Total assets..................     $ 21,647.1    $  (11,017.0)     $  10,630.1
                                         ========       =========         ========

LIABILITIES
   Policy liabilities and accruals     $  6,202.5    $         -       $   6,202.5
   Expenses and taxes payable.....        1,049.9              -           1,049.9
   Reinsurance premiums payable...          103.8              -             103.8
   Trust instruments supported by
     funding obligations..........          307.7              -             307.7
   Long-term debt.................          508.8              -             508.8
   Separate account liabilities...          585.9              -             585.9
   Liabilities of discontinued           
     operations.....................     11,020.8       (11,020.8)(c)           -
                                         --------       ---------         --------
    Total liabilities.............       19,779.4       (11,020.8)         8,758.6
    Total shareholders' equity....        1,867.7             3.8 (d)      1,871.5
                                         --------       ---------         --------
    Total liabilities and
     shareholders'  equity........     $ 21,647.1    $  (11,017.0)     $  10,630.1
                                         ========       =========         ========


See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed  consolidated  financial
information.






                        THE HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
                          UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED
                         CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
                      FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004
                                                              
                                                       Pro Forma
(In millions, except per share data)    Historical    Adjustments       Pro Forma
-------------------------------------- ------------  -------------     -----------

REVENUES
Premiums.............................  $   2,288.6   $         -       $   2,288.6
Fees and other income................        379.2         (296.1)(e)         83.1
Net investment income ...............        414.5         ( 85.2)(e)        329.3
Net realized investment gains .......         28.7          (12.6)(e)         16.1
                                       -----------   ------------      -----------
  Total revenues ....................      3,111.0         (393.9)         2,717.1

BENEFITS, LOSSES AND EXPENSES
Policy benefits, claims, losses and
  loss adjustment expenses ..........      1,784.0         (137.3)(e)      1,646.7
Policy acquisition expenses .........        590.8         (113.8)(e)        477.0
Losses from retirement of funding
  agreements and trust instruments
  supported by funding
  obligations .......................          0.2             -               0.2
Losses on derivative instruments.....          8.5             -               8.5
Restructuring costs..................          0.6             -               0.6
Other operating expenses.............        540.2         (100.6)(f)        439.6
                                        ----------   ------------      -----------
  Total benefits, losses and expenses      2,924.3         (351.7)         2,572.6
                                        ----------   ------------      -----------


Income from continuing operations
  before federal income taxes........        186.7          (42.2)           144.5
Federal income tax expense (benefit).          4.2          ( 5.0)(e)         (0.8)
                                        ----------   ------------      -----------
   Income from continuing operations.  $     182.5   $      (37.2)    $      145.3
                                        ==========   ============      ===========

Earnings per common share from continuing operations:


   Basic                                $     3.43         $(0.70)     $      2.73
                                        ==========   ============      ===========
   Diluted                              $     3.40   $      (0.69)     $      2.71
                                        ==========   ============      ===========

Weighted average shares outstanding:

   Basic                                      53.2           53.2             53.2
                                        ==========   ============      ===========
   Diluted                                    53.7           53.7             53.7
                                        ==========   ============      ===========


See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed  consolidated  financial
information.






                        THE HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
                          UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED
                         CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
                  FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2005

                                                               
                                                        Pro Forma
(In millions, except per share data)     Historical    Adjustments(g)    Pro Forma
--------------------------------------  ------------  -------------     -----------

REVENUES
Premiums............................... $    1,650.3  $       -         $   1,650.3
Fees and other income..................         60.8          -                60.8
Net investment income..................        238.0          -               238.0
Net realized investment gains..........         18.1          -                18.1
                                        ------------  -------------     -----------
  Total revenues.......................      1,967.2          -             1,967.2

BENEFITS, LOSSES AND EXPENSES
Policy benefits, claims, losses and
  loss adjustment expenses.............      1,340.9          -             1,340.9
Policy acquisition expenses............        347.9          -               347.9
Losses on derivative instruments.......          1.6          -                 1.6
Restructuring costs....................          1.3          -                 1.3
Other operating expenses...............        287.6          -               287.6
                                        ------------  -------------     -----------
   Total benefits, losses and expenses.      1,979.3          -             1,979.3
                                        ------------  -------------     -----------


Loss from continuing operations before
  federal income taxes.................        (12.1)         -               (12.1)
Federal income tax benefit.............         (4.2)         -                (4.2)
                                        ------------  -------------      -----------
   Loss from continuing operations.....  $      (7.9)         -         $      (7.9)
                                        ============  =============      ===========

Earnings per common share from continuing operations:

   Basic                                 $     (0.15) $       -         $     (0.15)
                                         ===========  =============      ===========
   Diluted                               $     (0.15) $       -         $     (0.15)
                                         ===========  =============      ===========

Weighted average shares outstanding:

   Basic                                        53.4           53.4             53.4
                                         ===========  =============      ===========
   Diluted (1)                                  53.4           53.4             53.4
                                         ===========  =============      ===========
(1)    Excludes 0.5 million shares due to antidilution for the nine months ended
       September 30, 2005.


See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial
information.



NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     See the introduction to pro forma financial information.  The unaudited pro
forma condensed consolidated balance sheet was prepared assuming the disposition
occurred  as of  September  30, 2005 and  included  "Pro Forma  Adjustments"  as
follows:

(a)  Adjustments reflect  anticipated  proceeds based upon an estimated purchase
     price calculated as of November 30, 2005.

(b)  Adjustments  to the  consolidated  balance  sheet  include the  disposal of
     $11,313.2  million  of  assets  held by  AFLIAC  and are  comprised  of the
     following (in millions):


                Cash and Investments            $    1,518.7
                Reinsurance Recoverables               816.7
                Separate Account Assets              8,800.0
                Other Assets                           177.8
                                                ------------
                                                $   11,313.2
                                                ============

(c)  Adjustments to the consolidated  balance sheet also include the disposal of
     $11,020.8  million of  liabilities  held by AFLIAC and are comprised of the
     following (in millions):

                Policy Liabilities              $    2,070.7
                Separate Account Liabilities         8,800.0
                Other Liabilities                      150.1
                                                ------------
                                                $   11,020.8
                                                ============

(d)  Adjustments  represent  the decrease in the  anticipated  loss on sale from
     September  30,  2005  through the closing  (based  upon  November  30, 2005
     results and subject to closing adjustments), partially offset by a decrease
     in the fair value of AFLIAC  between  September 30, 2005 and closing (based
     upon  November  30,  2005  results  and  subject  to   additional   closing
     adjustments).


     The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of income for the
nine months ended  September 30, 2005 and the year ended  December 31, 2004 have
been  presented as if the  disposition  was  completed as of January 1, 2005 and
January 1, 2004, respectively.  These statements include "Pro Forma Adjustments"
as follows:

(e)  These  adjustments  to the  consolidated  statements of income for the year
     ended  December  31, 2004 reflect  activity  directly  associated  with and
     recognized in AFLIAC.

(f)  Adjustments  associated  with  other  operating  expenses  reflect  100% of
     operating  expenses  associated  with and  recognized by AFLIAC  related to
     commissions,  premium  taxes,  sub-advisor  fees,  the GMDB hedge loss, and
     amortization of capitalized  software.  In addition,  approximately  40% of
     assigned  costs  related to the life segment was allocated to this business
     as it has been determined that these costs be eliminated as a result of and
     subsequent to the transition of this business to Goldman Sachs.

(g)  As of September  30, 2005,  the  published  consolidated  income  statement
     already  reflects  the  results of  operations  as if the  transaction  had
     occurred January 1, 2005 due to the presentation of the respective business
     as a  discontinued  operation  in  accordance  with  Statement of Financial
     Accounting Standard No. 144,  "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of
     Long-lived  Assets".  The  after-tax  income  reclassed  and reflected as a
     discontinued  operation  for the nine months ended  September  30, 2005 was
     $38.6  million.  Additionally,  the current  loss on sale is  estimated  at
     $456.7  million  based on November 30, 2005  information.  Included in this
     loss are costs of $14.9 million related to derivative  transactions entered
     into to hedge the purchase price from market fluctuations, $11.5 million of
     transaction  related costs such as legal,  investment banking and actuarial
     fees. A liability of $13.0  million  established  in  accordance  with FASB
     Interpretation No. 45, "Guarantor's  Accounting and Disclosure Requirements
     for Guarantees,  Including Indirect  Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others",
     for certain  guarantees  made,  and $2.0  million of  Statement of Position
     98-1,  "Accounting for the Cost of Computer Software  Developed or Obtained
     for Internal Use", asset impairments.


(c.) Exhibits.

The following exhibits are furnished herewith.

Exhibit 10.53  Letter from the  Company to the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,
               Division of  Insurance,  dated  December 30, 2005  regarding  The
               Hanover   Insurance  Group,   Inc.  Keepwell  relating  to  First
               Allmerica Financial Life Insurance Company.

Exhibit 99.1   Press  Release,  dated  December 30, 2005,  issued by The Hanover
               Insurance Group,  Inc.  announcing the closing of the sale of its
               run-off variable life insurance and variable annuity business.

Exhibit 99.2   Press  release  dated  December 28,  2005,  issued by The Hanover
               Insurance  Group,  Inc.   announcing  the  approval  of  a  share
               repurchase  program by the  Company's  Board of Directors  funded
               from the  proceeds  of the sale of the  Company's  variable  life
               insurance and variable annuity business.





                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                              The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.
                                              ---------------------------------
                                              (Registrant)


Date: January 6, 2006                         By:   /s/ Edward J. Parry III
                                                -----------------------
                                                Edward J. Parry III
                                                Chief Financial Officer,
                                                Executive Vice President,
                                                Principal Accounting Officer
                                                and Director







Exhibit Index

Exhibit 10.53  Letter from the  Company to the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,
               Division of  Insurance,  dated  December 30, 2005  regarding  The
               Hanover   Insurance  Group,   Inc.  Keepwell  relating  to  First
               Allmerica Financial Life Insurance Company.

Exhibit 99.1   Press  Release,  dated  December 30, 2005,  issued by The Hanover
               Insurance Group,  Inc.  announcing the closing of the sale of its
               run-off variable life insurance and variable annuity business.

Exhibit 99.2   Press  release  dated  December 28,  2005,  issued by The Hanover
               Insurance  Group,  Inc.   announcing  the  approval  of  a  share
               repurchase  program by the  Company's  Board of Directors  funded
               from the  proceeds  of the sale of the  Company's  variable  life
               insurance and variable annuity business.