Best Assigns 'B' Rating to Unique

December 17, 2007

A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of 'B' (Fair) and an issuer credit rating (ICR) of "bb" to Chicago-based Unique Insurance Company with a stable outlook.

"The ratings reflect Unique's elevated underwriting leverage and expense ratios and its concentration of risk in Illinois," said Best.

Partially offsetting these negative rating factors are the company's favorable operating results in recent years and its solid surplus growth. The rating outlook is based on the long-term consistency of Unique's operating results.

Source: A.M. Best - www.ambest.com