Dallas-based insurer Republic Companies Inc. said it hasacquired Southern States General Agency Inc. (SSGA) fromChicago-based Unitrin Inc. Terms of the deal were not released.

SSGA provides specialty commercial and personal linesproperty-casualty insurance products through independent insuranceagents in Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and Mississippi. A spokesmanwould not provide additional financial information about SSGA,saying the transaction was a private one.

Parker W. Rush, president and chief executive officer ofRepublic, said the acquisition "is consistent with our objective ofbeing the premier regional carrier for our agents andpolicyholders. The addition of this fine company to The RepublicGroup [the holding company] helps us expand our geographic reachand broaden our product offerings."

Republic Companies Inc. provides personal and commercialproperty-casualty insurance products. In its independent agentssegment, Republic distributes these products to individuals andsmall to medium-size businesses through a network of independentagents primarily in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

According to National Underwriter's Highline Data Service,Republic reported direct premium written of $621 million in 2006,primarily written in Texas.

Earlier this month, Unitrin said its subsidiary, TrinityUniversal Insurance Company, completed its acquisition of MerastarInsurance Company for a cash payment of approximately $47 million.Merastar is based in Chattanooga, Tenn., and specializes in thesale of personal auto and homeowners insurance throughemployer-sponsored voluntary benefit programs.

Merastar reported direct premium written of $54 million in 2006according to Highline Data.

Unitrin is a $3 billion financial services company with bothproperty-casualty and life and health insurance business. Among itsholdings is Kemper Auto and Home.