A.M. Best Withdraws Ratings of Two Former Subsidiaries of QBE Regional Companies , Inc. Following Affiliate Mergers

Business Wire, March 4, 2008

OLDWICK, N.J. -- A.M. Best Co. has withdrawn the financial strength ratings (FSR) of A (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of "a" of MassWest Insurance Company, Inc. (MassWest) (Sun Prairie, WI) and Unigard Pacific Insurance Company (Unigard Pacific) (Bellevue, WA).

Effective December 31, 2007, MassWest was merged into its parent, General Casualty Company of Wisconsin (General Casualty) (Sun Prairie, WI), and Unigard Pacific was merged into its parent, Unigard Insurance Company (Unigard) (Bellevue, WA). The FSRs and ICRs of General Casualty and Unigard are unchanged by this transaction. Both companies are subsidiaries of QBE Regional Companies (N.A.), Inc. (Sun Prairie, WI).

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.