2008-09-04 23:56:03 -

www.ambest.com - A.M. Best Co. has commented that the financial strength rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of "a" of Unitrin Property and Casualty Insurance Group (Unitrin) and its member companies are unchanged at this time following the announcement that Trinity Universal Insurance Company (Trinity) (Dallas, TX), the lead company of Unitrin, has reached a definitive agreement to purchase Direct Response Corporation (Wilmington, DE), and its subsidiaries. All ratings have a stable outlook.

Also unchanged are the ratings of the life insurance subsidiaries of Unitrin's ultimate parent, Unitrin, Inc. (Chicago, IL) (NYSE:UTR). The debt ratings of Unitrin, Inc. are unchanged as well.

For Best's Ratings, an overview of the rating process and rating methodologies,

please visit www.ambest.com/ratings.

Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is a global full-service credit rating organization dedicated to serving the financial and health care service industries, including insurance companies, banks, hospitals and health care system providers. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

A.M. Best Co.
Analysts
Bob Podolski, 908-439-2200, ext. 5731
bob.podolski@ambest.com
or
Joseph Burtone, 908-439-2200, ext. 5125
joseph.burtone@ambest.com
or
Public Relations
Jim Peavy, 908-439-2200, ext. 5644
james.peavy@ambest.com
or
Rachelle Morrow, 908-439-2200, ext. 5378
rachelle.morrow@ambest.com