Unitrin Direct Selects SAS® Business Intelligence Software for Better Efficiency, Quicker Results

Business Wire, March 27, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO -- Unitrin Direct has selected SAS(R) Enterprise BI Server (www.sas.com/technologies/bi/) to help the company become more efficient and agile within its data management system and overall IT network. By using SAS, the leader in business intelligence, Unitrin Direct - the direct, personal auto insurance arm of leading insurance provider Unitrin Inc. - expects to improve internal productivity, while also enhancing the analytical process underlying the development of its auto insurance rates.

According to Wilhemina Passerallo, IT unit director of applications development group at Unitrin Direct, "SAS Enterprise BI Server enabled us to centralize our data, regardless of location, and accelerate processing time which eliminated bottlenecks and improved our staff's ability to proactively assist our customers."

Thanks to many years of experience in the IT and claims departments, Unitrin Direct was familiar with the reliable results SAS software provides; the company has been a satisfied SAS customer since 2001.

Unitrin Direct plans to use SAS for a variety of future initiatives such as rate simulations multivariate analyses of its auto rating structure.

SAS differs from other conventional BI vendors by providing unmatched technology and expertise in advanced analytics, data management and tailored solutions for specific industries, such as banking, insurance, life sciences, manufacturing and retail. For more information on SAS' industry-leading vision of BI, please visit SAS Business Intelligence. (www.sas.com/technologies/bi/)

Today's announcement came at the annual SAS Users Group International (SUGI) conference. More than 4,000 SAS users from around the world attended this year's SUGI in San Francisco.

About Unitrin Direct

Unitrin Direct is a segment of Unitrin Inc., headquartered in Chicago (NYSE stock symbol: UTR). Unitrin's member insurance companies have served the basic financial needs of individuals, families and small businesses for more than 75 years. Through its subsidiaries, Unitrin provides property and casualty insurance, life and health insurance and consumer finance services. Unitrin Direct has more than 6 million policyholders and $7.5 billion in assets. Unitrin Direct has an "A" (excellent) rating from A.M. Best, a leading provider of ratings and financial information for the global insurance industry. Additional information about Unitrin Direct is available by visiting its Web site. www.unitrindirect.com

About SAS

SAS is the leader in business intelligence software and services. Customers at 40,000 sites, including 96 of the top 100 FORTUNE Global 500(R) companies, use SAS software to manage and gain insights from vast amounts of data, resulting in faster, more accurate business decisions; more profitable relationships with customers and suppliers; compliance with governmental regulations; research breakthroughs; and better products. Only SAS offers leading data integration, intelligence storage, advanced analytics and traditional business intelligence applications within a comprehensive enterprise intelligence platform. Since 1976, SAS has been giving customers around the world The Power to Know(R). www.sas.com

SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries. (R) indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies.