BNET Industries
Last Fiscal Year Sales:$30.3M
- Private
- US
Dow Jones Description
Unitrin Direct is dedicated to simplifying auto insurance with the right balance of competitive rates, stability and service. Learn more about us, our executive management and our parent company under Quick Facts. In addition to Quick Facts, you can find recent press releases under News, exciting employment opportunities under Careers and website partnering opportunities under Affiliate Information. We want to hear from you! Click the Contact Us link to ask questions or submit feedback. The Right Price. Unitrin Direct has very competitive pricing. Our direct-to-consumer channel of distribution and streamlined marketing efforts allow us to offer customers lower rates. While actual savings vary by state, coverage levels and driver ratings, our goal is to provide customers a savings of 20% or more on auto insurance when they switch to Unitrin Direct. The Right Protection. Price is often the first thing consumers look at when shopping for auto insurance, but it's just as important to trust the company you choose. Unitrin Direct is a subsidiary of Unitrin Inc. (NYSE:UTR) and part of a family of companies that has six million policyholders and $9 billion in assets. The Unitrin Property and Casualty Insurance Group is rated "A" (excellent) by A.M. Best Company, a leading provider of financial information for the global insurance industry. With Unitrin Direct, customers know they have protection they can count on. The Right Choice. ...
President, Career Agency Companies
Don M Royster SrNumber of Employees 160
Contact Information
5600 Brainerd Rd Ste 1A
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37411-5394
(423) 296-7700
Peer Companies
NAICS Code Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Carriers: 524126
News & Analysis
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merastar insurance co. - All News and Analysis
Unitrin, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Earnings
- 2007-10-29
CHICAGO -- Unitrin, Inc. (NYSE:UTR) reported today net income of $64.3 million ($0.99 per common share) for the third quarter of 2007, compared to $86.1 million ($1.27 per common share) for the third quarter of 2006. Income from Continuing Operations was $57.6 million ($0.89 per common share) for the third...
Unitrin, Inc. Reports Second Quarter Earnings
- 2007-07-30
CHICAGO -- Unitrin, Inc. (NYSE:UTR) reported today net income of $62.2 million ($0.94 per common share) for the second quarter of 2007, compared to $69.4 million ($1.02 per common share) for the second quarter of 2006.
A.M. Best Removes From Under Review and Upgrades Ratings of Merastar Insurance Company Following Acquisition
- 2007-07-06
OLDWICK, N.J. -- A.M. Best Co. has removed from under review with positive implications and upgraded the financial strength rating to A Excellent from A- Excellent and the issuer credit rating to "a" from "a-" of Merastar Insurance Company Merastar (Indianapolis, IN). The outlook assigned to both ratings is stable.
Unitrin Completes Acquisition of Merastar Insurance Company
- 2007-07-02
CHICAGO -- Unitrin, Inc. (NYSE:UTR) announced that its subsidiary, Trinity Universal Insurance Company, has completed its acquisition of Merastar Insurance Company for a cash payment of approximately $47 million. Merastar Insurance is based in Chattanooga, Tennessee and specializes in the sale of personal automobile and homeowners' insurance through employer-sponsored...
A.M. Best Assigns Rating to Merastar Insurance Company; Places All Ratings Under Review
- 2007-03-28
OLDWICK, N.J. -- A.M. Best Co. has assigned an issuer credit rating ICR of "a-" to Merastar Insurance Company Merastar (Chattanooga, TN), and placed both the financial strength rating FSR of A- Excellent and ICR under review with positive implications.
Unitrin Announces Definitive Agreement to Acquire Merastar Insurance Company
- 2007-03-26
CHICAGO -- Unitrin, Inc. (NYSE:UTR) announced today that its subsidiary, Trinity Universal Insurance Company ("Trinity"), has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Merastar Insurance Company ("Merastar Insurance") and certain of its affiliates, superseding the previously announced agreement in principle. Trinity will acquire Merastar Insurance in a cash transaction valued...
Unitrin to Acquire Merastar Insurance Company
- 2007-03-02
CHICAGO -- Unitrin, Inc. (NYSE:UTR) announced today that its subsidiary, Trinity Universal Insurance Company, has reached an agreement in principle to acquire Merastar Insurance Company ("Merastar Insurance") and certain of its affiliates in a cash transaction valued at approximately $45 million, subject to certain purchase price adjustments. Merastar Insurance is...
Merastar Insurance Selected as Finalist for A.M. Best's E-Fusion Award Based on Guidewire Implementation
- 2006-09-27
Carrier's Guidewire Project Earns a Spot in Finals to Select Most Innovative Use of Technology in Claims Management Category
Thriving On Its Own: After changing hands five times, Merastar finds that independence creates an opportunity to upgrade its legacy systems and implement future-focused claims technology at the same time.
- 2006-01-01
The challenges inherent in big corporate changes can be a losing proposition, but they can open doors to great opportunities. When Merastar Insurance Co. of Chattanooga, Tenn. became an independent property and casualty firm in 2004, CIO Ken Lytle grabbed the chance to...
Merastar Insurance Goes Live with Steel Card's Apogee Solution; Web-based Apogee solution replaces Merastar's legacy environment to provide straight-through-processing from point-of-sale to policy administration
- 2005-12-06
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Steel Card, a provider of end-to-end, web-based software solutions to the property & casualty insurance industry, announced today that Chattanooga-based Merastar Insurance Company has launched into production with Steel Card's Apogee Policy Administration, Point-of-Sale, and Internet Quoting solutions. The Apogee solutions include complete quote, bind, policy...
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Decision Makers
| Name (plus bio) | Position |
|---|---|
| Don M Royster Sr | President, Career Agency Companies |
| Richard Roeske | Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer |
| Scott Renwick | Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
| David F Bengston | Vice President |
| Edward J Konar | Vice President |
| John M Boschelli | Vice President and Treasurer |
| Ronald E Greco | Vice President and Corporate Actuary, Unitrin Services Company, Chicago, Illinois |
| Dianne Harden | Marketing Coordinator |
| Donald G Southwell | Head of the Unitrin Life |
| Nicholas A. Hencoski | Treasurer |
| Sally A. Lowman | Secretary |
| Ann E. Ziegler | Director |
| Donald V Fites | Director |
| Douglas G Geoga | Director |
| Eric J Draut | Director |
| Reuben L Hedlund | Director |
| Wayne Kauth | Director |
| William E. Johnston Jr. | Director |
Board of Directors
| Name (plus bio) | Position |
|---|---|
| Fayez S Sarofim | Chairman and President, Fayez Sarofim & Co. |
| Richard C Vie | Chairman |
| James E Annable | Board of Directors |
| Jerrold V Jerome | Board of Directors |
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Merastar Insurance Co. | President, Career Agency Companies | Current |
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Merastar Insurance Co. | Chairman and President, Fayez Sarofim & Co. | Current |
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Merastar Insurance Co. | Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer | Current |
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Merastar Insurance Co. | Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | Current |
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Merastar Insurance Co. | Vice President | Current |
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Merastar Insurance Co. | Vice President | Current |
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Merastar Insurance Co. | Vice President and Treasurer | Current |
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Merastar Insurance Co. | Vice President and Corporate Actuary, Unitrin Services Company, Chicago, Illinois | Current |
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Merastar Insurance Co. | Marketing Coordinator | Current |
Donald G. Southwell, has been a director of the Company since February 2002, and has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since August 2006. Mr. Southwell served as President and Chief Operating Officer between February 2002 and August 2006, as Senior Vice President between February 1999 and February 2002, and as Vice President between May 1998 and February 1999. Mr. Southwell served as the President of the Company's insurance operations from October 1999 until February 2002. Mr. Southwell joined Unitrin in March 1996 as the head of the Unitrin Life and Health Insurance Group.
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Merastar Insurance Co. | Head of the Unitrin Life | Current |
| Merastar Insurance Co. | Director | Current |
| The Health Insurance Group | Head of the Unitrin Life | Former |
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Merastar Insurance Co. | Treasurer | Current |
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Merastar Insurance Co. | Secretary | Current |
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Merastar Insurance Co. | Chairman | Current |
Ann E. Ziegler has served as a member of the Hanesbrands board since December 2008. Ms. Ziegler has served as senior vice president and chief financial officer and a member of the executive committee of CDW Corporation, a leading provider of technology products and services for business, government and education, since May 2008. From April 2005 until April 2008, Ms. Ziegler served as senior vice president, administration and chief financial officer of Sara Lee’s Food and Beverage Group. From April 2003 until April 2005, she was chief financial officer of Sara Lee’s Bakery Group. From November 2000 until April 2003, she was senior vice president, corporate development of Sara Lee. Ms. Ziegler is also a director of Unitrin, Inc.
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CDW Corporation | Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer | Current |
| Merastar Insurance Co. | Director | Current |
| Hanesbrands Inc. | Board of Directors | Current |
| Unitrin, Inc. | Director | Current |
| Sara Lee Bakery Group | Chief Financial Officer | Former |
| Sara Lee Corporation | Senior Vice President | Former |
| Sara Lee Bakery Group | Senior Vice President | Former |
| Sara Lee Bakery Group | Administration | Former |
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Merastar Insurance Co. | Director | Current |
Douglas G. Geoga, has been a director of the Company since February 2000. Mr. Geoga is founder and principal of Geoga Group, L.L.C., a hospitality investment and advisory consulting firm. Until July 1, 2006, Mr. Geoga served as the President of Global Hyatt Corporation and as the President of Hyatt Corporation and the President of AIC Holding Co., the parent corporation of Hyatt International Corporation, both privately-held subsidiaries of Global Hyatt Corporation which collectively operate the Hyatt chain of full-service hotels throughout the world. In addition, from 2000 through 2005, Mr. Geoga served as the President of Hospitality Investment Fund, L.L.C., a privately-held firm which was engaged in making investments in lodging and hospitality companies and projects. Mr. Geoga currently serves as a director of Opus North Corporation, a privately-held real estate development firm.
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Opus North Corporation | Director | Current |
| Merastar Insurance Co. | Director | Current |
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Merastar Insurance Co. | Director | Current |
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Merastar Insurance Co. | Board of Directors | Current |
| Eco-Nomics, Inc. | Senior Vice President | Former |
| Eco-Nomics, Inc. | Director | Former |
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Merastar Insurance Co. | Board of Directors | Current |
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Merastar Insurance Co. | Director | Current |
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Merastar Insurance Co. | Director | Current |
Born 1940. Director since 2005. Elected until 2011. Former President, COO and Director of Morton International, Inc., Former Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Salins Europe S.A., Former Senior V.P. of Rohm&Haas Co., Director of Unitrin, Inc. MBA Shares: 1,000
| Organization | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Autoliv, Inc. | Director | Current |
| Unitrin, Inc. | Board of Directors | Current |
| Merastar Insurance Co. | Director | Current |
| Autoliv, Inc. | Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Member | Current |
| Rohm & Haas Company | Senior Vice President | Former |
| University of Chicago | M.B.A. | Former |
Executive News
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Power Struggle
-
Leadership in Finance: CDW's Ann Ziegler
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