unitrin_s-3.htm
 

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 2, 2010
Registration No. 333-
 


 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC  20549
_______________________________________
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
_______________________________________
 

UNITRIN, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
 
95-4255452
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
_______________________________________
 
One East Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60601
(312) 661-4600
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
_______________________________________
 
Scott Renwick
Unitrin, Inc.
One East Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60601
(312) 661-4600
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
_______________________________________
 
Copies to:
 
Brian W. Duwe
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
155 North Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
(312) 407-0700
 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.
 
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ¨
 
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  x
 
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨
 
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.   ¨
 
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  x
 
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “larger accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
 
Large accelerated filer x
Accelerated filer  ¨
 
Non-accelerated filer  ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company  ¨

_______________________________________
 

 
 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Each Class of
Securities to be Registered
Amount to be Registered(1)(2)
Proposed Maximum Offering Price
Per Unit(1)(2)
Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(1)(2)
Amount of Registration Fee(1)(2)
Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share
-
-
-
-
Preferred Stock
-
-
-
-
Debt Securities
-
-
-
-
Warrants
-
-
-
-
(1)
Omitted pursuant to Form S-3 General Instruction II.E.
     
(2)
An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price, principal amount or number of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices or upon conversion, exchange or exercise of securities registered hereunder to the extent any such securities are, by their terms, convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, such securities. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities. In accordance with Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee.


 
 

 

 
 PROSPECTUS
 
UNITRIN, INC.
 
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
___________________
 
We may offer and sell from time to time, in one or more offerings, in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of any such offering, (i) shares of our common stock, (ii) shares of our preferred stock, which we may issue in one or more series, (iii) debt securities and (iv) warrants.
 
We will provide the specific terms of these securities in one or more supplements to this prospectus at the time of offering. You should read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement as well as the documents incorporated by reference in such documents carefully before you make your investment decision.
 
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “UTR.” Each prospectus supplement will indicate if the securities offered thereby will be listed on any securities exchange.
 
We may offer securities through underwriting syndicates managed or co-managed by one or more underwriters, or directly to purchasers. The prospectus supplement for each offering of securities will describe in detail the plan of distribution for that offering. For general information about the distribution of securities offered, please see “Plan of Distribution” on page 20 in this prospectus.
 
___________________
 
Investing in our securities involves risks. You should carefully read and consider the risk factors included in our periodic reports, in any prospectus supplement relating to specific offerings of securities and in other documents that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. See “Risk Factors” on page 2.
 
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is truthful or complete.  Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 

 
The date of this prospectus is November 2, 2010
 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
Page
 
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
ii
   
UNITRIN, INC.
1
   
RISK FACTORS
2
   
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
3
   
USE OF PROCEEDS
6
   
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
6
   
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
7
   
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
7
   
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
11
   
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
18
   
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
20
   
LEGAL MATTERS
21
   
EXPERTS
21
   
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
21


 
i

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
 
This prospectus is part of an “automatic shelf” registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell, from time to time, an indeterminate amount of any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer, which is not meant to be a complete description of each security. Each time that we sell securities, a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the terms of that offering will be provided, including the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities offered. The prospectus supplement and any other offering material may also add to, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in documents we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We urge you to read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement and any other offering material (including any free writing prospectus) prepared by or on behalf of us for a specific offering of securities, together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 21 of this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide any information other than that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We are not making an offer to sell or soliciting an offer to purchase these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
 
Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, as used in this prospectus, the words “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company,” or “Unitrin” refer to Unitrin, Inc.
 
You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus is accurate on any date other than the date on the front cover of such documents or that any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, even though this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is delivered or securities are sold on a later date. Neither the delivery of this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement nor any distribution of securities pursuant to such documents shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the information set forth in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement or in our affairs since the date of this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement.  Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
 

 
ii

 

UNITRIN, INC.
 
We are a holding company whose primary source of funds for the payment of interest on our obligations or dividends to our shareholders is dividends from our subsidiaries. The amount of dividend distributions to us from our insurance and banking subsidiaries may be restricted, respectively, by state insurance laws and regulations as administered by state insurance departments and by banking laws and regulations as administered by applicable governmental agencies. We were incorporated in Delaware in 1990.
 
Through our subsidiaries, we are engaged in the property and casualty insurance, life and health insurance and automobile finance businesses. We conduct our continuing operations through five operating segments: Kemper®1, Unitrin Specialty, Unitrin Direct, Life and Health Insurance and Fireside Bank.
 
Our property and casualty insurance business operations are primarily conducted through the Kemper, Unitrin Specialty and Unitrin Direct segments.  The Kemper segment provides preferred and standard risk personal automobile insurance, homeowners insurance and other personal insurance through independent agents. The Unitrin Specialty segment provides automobile insurance to individuals and businesses in the non-standard and specialty market through independent agents. The non-standard automobile insurance market consists of individuals and companies that have difficulty obtaining standard or preferred risk insurance, usually because of their adverse driving records or claim or credit histories. Unitrin Direct markets personal automobile and homeowners insurance through direct mail and the Internet through web insurance portals, click-thrus and its own website and through employer-sponsored voluntary benefit programs and other affinity relationships. The Life and Health Insurance segment provides individual life, accident, health and property insurance. The Fireside Bank segment made sub-prime automobile loans primarily for the purchase of pre-owned automobiles and offered certificates of deposits. On March 24, 2009, Fireside Bank suspended all new lending activity and ceased opening new certificate of deposit accounts as part of a plan to exit the automobile finance business.
 
Our principal executive offices are located at One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601, and our telephone number is (312) 661-4600.  Our website is www.unitrin.com.  The content of our website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and you should not consider it a part of this prospectus.
_______________________
 
1
Kemper® is a registered service mark of Unitrin, Inc.
 

 
1

 

RISK FACTORS
 
Investing in our securities involves risk. Before you decide whether to purchase any of our securities, in addition to the other information, documents or reports included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or other offering materials, you should carefully consider the risk factors described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in:  (i) any prospectus supplement; (ii) our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K; and (iii) any Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed subsequent to such Annual Report on Form 10-K, each of which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any prospectus supplement in its entirety, and as the same may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by our filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“the Exchange Act”). For more information, see the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 21 of this prospectus. These risks could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or operating results and could result in a partial or complete loss of your investment. Furthermore, additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or that we currently deem immaterial, may also affect our operations.
 

 
2

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
 
This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein may contain information that includes or is based on forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements give expectations or forecasts of future events. The reader can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They use words such as “believe(s),” “goal(s),” “target(s),” “estimate(s),” “anticipate(s),” “forecast(s),” “project(s),” “plan(s),” “intend(s),” “expect(s),” “might,” “may” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating, financial performance or financial condition. Forward-looking statements, in particular, include statements relating to future actions, prospective services or products, future performance or results of current and anticipated services or products, sales efforts, expenses, the outcome of contingencies such as legal proceedings, trends in operations and financial results.
 
Any or all forward-looking statements may turn out to be wrong, and, accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements, which speak only as of the date of this prospectus. These statements are based on current expectations and the current economic environment. They involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. These statements are not guarantees of future performance; actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many such factors will be important in determining our actual future results and financial condition. The reader should consider the following list of general factors that could affect our future results and financial condition, as well as those discussed under Item 1A., Risk Factors, in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated by Item 1A., Risk Factors, to Part II – Other Information of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, each of which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any prospectus supplement in its entirety, and as the same may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by our filings under the Exchange Act.
 
Among the general factors that could cause actual results and financial condition to differ materially from estimated results and financial condition are:
 
 
(i)
the incidence, frequency, and severity of catastrophes occurring in any particular reporting period or geographic concentration, including natural disasters, pandemics and terrorist attacks or other man-made events;
     
 
(ii)
the number and severity of insurance claims (including those associated with catastrophe losses) and their impact on the adequacy of loss reserves;
     
 
(iii)
changes in facts and circumstances affecting assumptions used in determining loss and loss adjusting expense reserves;
     
 
(iv)
the impact of inflation on insurance claims, including, but not limited to, the effects attributed to scarcity of resources available to rebuild damaged structures, including labor and materials and the amount of salvage value recovered for damaged property;
     
 
(v)
changes in the pricing or availability of reinsurance, or in the financial condition of reinsurers and amounts recoverable therefrom;
     
 
(vi)
orders, interpretations or other actions by regulators that impact the reporting, adjustment and payment of claims;
     
 
(vii)
the impact of residual market assessments and assessments for insurance industry insolvencies;
     
 
(viii)
changes in industry trends and significant industry developments;
     
 
(ix)
uncertainties related to regulatory approval of insurance rates, policy forms, license applications and similar matters;
     
 
(x)
developments related to insurance policy claims and coverage issues including, but not limited to, interpretations or decisions by courts or regulators that may govern or influence insurance policy

 

 
3

 


 
   
coverage issues arising with respect to losses incurred in connection with hurricanes and other catastrophes;
     
 
(xi)
changes in ratings of Unitrin or its subsidiaries and affiliates by credit rating agencies including A.M. Best Co., Inc;
     
 
(xii)
adverse outcomes in litigation or other legal or regulatory proceedings involving Unitrin or its subsidiaries or affiliates;
     
 
(xiii)
regulatory, accounting or tax changes that may affect the cost of, or demand for, the products or services of Unitrin’s subsidiaries and affiliates;
     
 
(xiv)
governmental actions, including, but not limited to, implementation of the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 and the Dodd-Frank Act, new laws or regulations or court decisions interpreting existing laws and regulations or policy provisions;
     
 
(xv)
changes in distribution channels, methods or costs resulting from changes in laws or regulations, lawsuits or market forces;
     
 
(xvi)
changes in laws or regulations governing or affecting the regulatory status of industrial banks, such as our Fireside Bank subsidiary, and their parent companies, including minimum capital requirements and restrictions on the non-financial activities and equity investments of companies that acquire control of industrial banks;
     
 
(xvii)
changes in the estimated rates of automobile loan receivables net charge-off used to estimate Fireside Bank’s reserve for loan losses, including, but not limited to, changes in general economic conditions, unemployment rates and the impact of changes in the value of collateral held;
     
 
(xviii)
the degree of success in effecting an orderly wind-down of the operations of Fireside Bank and the recovery of Unitrin’s investment in Fireside Bank;
     
 
(xix)
the degree of success in identifying a buyer for Reserve National Insurance Company and effecting a sale or, at a minimum, a sale that results in a complete recovery of our investment in our subsidiary, Reserve National Insurance Company;
     
 
(xx)
changes in general economic conditions, including performance of financial markets, interest rates, unemployment rates and fluctuating values of particular investments held by Unitrin or its subsidiaries or affiliates;
     
 
(xxi)
the level of success and costs expended in realizing economies of scale and implementing significant business consolidations and technology initiatives;
     
 
(xxii)
heightened competition, including, with respect to pricing, entry of new competitors and the development of new products by new and existing competitors;
     
 
(xxiii)
increased costs and risks related to data security;
     
 
(xxiv)
absolute and relative performance of the products or services of Unitrin’s subsidiaries and affiliates; and
     
 
(xxv)
other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in Unitrin’s filings with the SEC.
 
While we believe that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the results contemplated in any forward-looking statements will be achieved or will be achieved in any particular timetable or that future events or developments will not cause such statements to be inaccurate.  All forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.  We expressly disclaim any
 

 
4

 

obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any changes in events or circumstances or in our expectations or results.
 

 
5

 

USE OF PROCEEDS
 
Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds of any offering of our securities for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including acquisitions, repayment or refinancing of debt, stock repurchases, investments in our subsidiaries and other business opportunities. We will have significant discretion in the use of any net proceeds. We may provide additional information on the use of the net proceeds from the sale of our securities in an applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials relating to the offered securities.
 
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated:
 

   
Nine Months Ended
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
   
Sept 30, 2010
 
2009
 
2008
 
2007
 
2006
 
2005
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (1)
 
4.3x
 
3.8x
 
(2)
 
3.3x
 
5.5x
 
5.4x
________________
 
(1)
The ratios of earnings to fixed charges have been computed on a consolidated basis by dividing earnings from continuing operations before income taxes and fixed charges by fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest on debt and a factor for interest included in rent expense. Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes and fixed charges consists of Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes and Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Investee, having the meaning as set forth in our Consolidated Statement of Income included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, plus fixed charges, excluding capitalized interest.
 
(2)
Fixed charges exceeded earnings from continuing operations before income taxes and fixed charges by $91.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

 
6

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
 
This prospectus contains summary descriptions of the common stock, preferred stock, debt securities and warrants that we may offer and sell from time to time. These summary descriptions are not meant to be complete descriptions of each security. At the time of an offering and sale, this prospectus, together with the accompanying prospectus supplement, will contain the material terms of the securities being offered.
 
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
Our authorized capital stock consists of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share and 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.10 per share, of which 100,000 shares have been designated Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock. No preferred stock is outstanding as of the date of this prospectus. Of the 100,000,000 shares of common stock authorized, 61,450,138 shares were outstanding as of October 31, 2010, and 6,759,495 shares have been reserved for issuance pursuant to certain equity-based compensation plans as of September 30, 2010. The following is a summary description of the material terms and provisions relating to our capital stock, Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”), but is qualified by reference to the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, copies of which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
 
Common Stock
 
Voting Rights. Each holder of shares of our common stock is entitled to attend all special and annual meetings of our shareholders. The holders of our common stock have one vote for each share held on all matters voted upon by our shareholders, including the election of directors to our Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors”).  An election of directors by our shareholders is determined by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding common stock having voting power present, in person or by proxy, at a meeting at which a quorum is present.
 
Dividends. Except for any preferential rights of holders of any preferred stock that may then be issued and outstanding and any other class or series of stock having a preference over the common stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends as and when declared by our Board of Directors, from legally available funds.
 
Liquidation and Dissolution.  In the event of our liquidation or dissolution, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably all assets available for distribution to shareholders after the payment of all debts and other liabilities and subject to the prior rights of any outstanding preferred stock.
 
Other Rights. Holders of our common stock have no preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights.  The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of our common stock are subject to and may be adversely affected by the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.  Each outstanding share of common stock includes an attached right under Unitrin’s shareholder rights plan, as described in more detail under the heading “Shareholder Rights Plan” on page 10 of this prospectus.
 
Listing. The common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “UTR.”
 
Transfer Agent and Registrar. The transfer agent and registrar for the common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A..
 
Preferred Stock
 
Our Certificate of Incorporation authorizes our Board of Directors to issue up to 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series, with such distinctive designation or title and in such number of shares as may be authorized by our Board of Directors.  Our Board of Directors is authorized to prescribe the relative rights and preferences of each series, and the limitations applicable thereto, including but not limited to the following: (i) the voting powers, full, special, or limited, or no voting powers, of each such series; (ii) the rate, terms and conditions on which dividends will be paid, whether such dividends will be cumulative, and what preference such dividends shall have in relation to the dividends on other series or classes of stock; (iii) the rights, terms and conditions, if any,
 

 
7

 

for conversion of such series of preferred stock into shares of other series or classes of stock; (iv) any right of the Company to redeem the shares of such series of preferred stock, and the price, time, and conditions of such redemption, including the provisions for any sinking fund; and (v) the rights of holders of such series of preferred stock in relation to the rights of other series and classes of stock upon the liquidation, dissolution or distribution of our assets.  Unless otherwise provided by our Board of Directors, upon redemption or conversion, shares of preferred stock will revert to authorized but unissued shares and may be reissued as shares of any series of preferred stock. As of the date of this prospectus, 100,000 shares of preferred stock have been designated Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and no shares of preferred stock are outstanding.
 
Certain Statutory, Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaw Provisions Affecting Shareholders
 
Various provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, and our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, as well as the shareholder rights plan adopted by Unitrin and described below, could have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of Unitrin.  These provisions, which are summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids.  These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of Unitrin to first negotiate with our Board of Directors.
 
The summary set forth below describes certain provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. The summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, copies of which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
 
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaw Provisions
 
Special Meetings of Shareholders.  Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws do not grant the shareholders the right to call a special meeting of shareholders. Under our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, special meetings of shareholders may be called only by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or by a majority of the Board of Directors then in office.
 
No Shareholder Action by Written Consent.  Our Certificate of Incorporation also provides that shareholders may not take any action by written consent.
 
Advance Notice Requirements.  Our Bylaws set forth advance notice procedures with regard to shareholder proposals relating to the nomination of candidates for election as directors or other business to be presented at meetings of shareholders. These procedures provide that notice of such shareholder proposals must be timely given in writing to the Secretary of Unitrin prior to the meeting at which the action is to be taken. Generally, to be timely, notice must be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of Unitrin not less than sixty (60) nor more than ninety (90) days prior to the anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting. The advance notice requirement does not give the Board of Directors any power to approve or disapprove shareholder director nominations or proposals but may have the effect of precluding the consideration of such nominations or proposals at a meeting if the proper notice procedures are not followed.
 
Blank Check Preferred Stock.  Our preferred stock could be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect in that, if a hostile takeover situation should arise, shares of preferred stock could be issued to purchasers sympathetic with our management or others in such a way as to render more difficult or to discourage a merger, tender offer, proxy contest, the assumption of control by a holder of a large block of our securities or the removal of incumbent management.
 
The effects of the issuance of one or more series of the preferred stock on the holders of our common stock could include:
 
 
(i)
reduction of the amount otherwise available for payments of dividends on common stock if dividends are payable on the series of preferred stock;
     
 
(ii)
restrictions on dividends on our common stock if dividends on the series of preferred stock are in arrears;


 
8

 


 
(iii)
dilution of the voting power of our common stock if the series of preferred stock has voting rights, including a possible “veto” power if the series of preferred stock has class voting rights;
     
 
(iv)
dilution of the equity interest of holders of our common stock if the series of preferred stock is convertible, and is converted, into our common stock; and
     
 
(v)
restrictions on the rights of holders of our common stock to share in our assets upon liquidation until satisfaction of any liquidation preference granted to the holders of the series of preferred stock.
 
Business Combinations
 
Article Seven of the Certificate of Incorporation places certain restrictions on the following transactions with a direct or indirect beneficial owner (including certain former beneficial owners and successors to such beneficial owners) of more than 15% of the voting power of Unitrin's outstanding voting stock (an “Interested Shareholder”):
 
 
(i)
any merger or consolidation of Unitrin or any subsidiary with any Interested Shareholder or any other person (whether or not itself an Interested Shareholder) which is, or after such merger or consolidation would be, an affiliate of an Interested Shareholder; or
     
 
(ii)
any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) to or with any Interested Shareholder or any affiliate of any Interested Shareholder of any assets of Unitrin or any subsidiary having an aggregate fair market value of $10,000,000 or more; or
     
 
(iii)
the issuance or transfer by Unitrin or any subsidiary (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of any securities of Unitrin or any subsidiary to any Interested Shareholder or any affiliate of any Interested Shareholder in exchange for cash, securities or other property (or a combination thereof) having an aggregate fair market value of $10,000,000 or more; or
     
 
(iv)
 the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of Unitrin proposed by or on behalf of any Interested Shareholder or any affiliate of any Interested Shareholder; or
     
 
(v)
any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock split or recapitalization of Unitrin) or any merger or consolidation of Unitrin with any of its subsidiaries or any other transaction (whether or not with or into or otherwise involving any Interested Shareholder) which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity or convertible securities of Unitrin or any subsidiary beneficially owned by any Interested Shareholder or any affiliate of any Interested Shareholder.
 
We may only enter into one of the transactions described above if:
 
 
(i)
the transaction has been approved by a majority of our “continuing directors,” being (A) members of our original Board of Directors, (B) persons unaffiliated with an Interested Shareholder who were members of the Board of Directors prior to such person or entity becoming an Interested Shareholder, or (C) successors of continuing directors who were recommended to succeed continuing directors by a majority of continuing directors then on the Board of Directors; or
     
 
(ii)
(A) the transaction has been approved by the affirmative vote of 75% of the voting power of our outstanding voting stock, voting together as a single class, (B) the consideration to be received by the holders of each class or series of our capital stock is not less than the highest price paid by the Interested Shareholder for any shares of such class or series during the preceding 24 months, and (C) is either in cash or in the form of consideration previously used by the Interested Shareholder to acquire the largest number of shares of such class or series previously acquired by such Interested Shareholder and certain other conditions have been met.

 

 
9

 

Business Combination Statute
 
We are a Delaware corporation and consequently are also subject to certain anti-takeover provisions of the DGCL. Subject to certain exceptions, Section 203 of the DGCL prevents a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with any “interested shareholder” for three years following the date that the person became an interested shareholder, unless the interested shareholder attained such status with the approval of our Board of Directors or unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A “business combination” includes, among other things, a merger or consolidation involving the Company or one of its subsidiaries and the “interested shareholder” or the sale of more than 10% of Unitrin’s assets. In general, an “interested shareholder” is any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of Unitrin’s outstanding voting stock and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person. Section 203 makes it more difficult for an interested shareholder to effect various business combinations with a corporation for a three-year period. This statute could prohibit or delay mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts not approved in advance by our Board of Directors, and as a result could discourage attempts to acquire the Company, which could depress the market price of its common stock.
 
Shareholder Rights Plan
 
On August 4, 2004, our Board of Directors declared a dividend of one right for each outstanding share of our common stock to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 16, 2004 and the attachment of one right for each subsequently issued share of common stock. Subject to adjustment, each right entitles the holder to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock at an exercise price of $150 per right. The description and terms of the rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated August 4, 2004 (as amended May 4, 2006 and October 9, 2006, the “Rights Agreement”) between Unitrin and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as successor Rights Agent, which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 herein.
 
Generally, if a person or group acquires 15% or more (22% or more in the case of our existing shareholder, Singleton Group LLC, and certain related persons) of our outstanding shares of common stock (or upon occurrence of certain other events), the rights (other than those held by the acquiring person) become exercisable and generally entitle the holder to purchase shares of our common stock at a 50% discount. The rights, which expire on August 4, 2014, are redeemable by us at a redemption price of $0.01 per right.
 
The rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The rights will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire our company in certain circumstances. Accordingly, the existence of the rights may deter certain acquirors from making takeover proposals or tender offers. However, the rights are not intended to prevent a takeover, but rather are designed to enhance the ability of our Board of Directors to negotiate with a potential acquiror on behalf of all of the shareholders.
 

 
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
 
General
 
As used in this prospectus, debt securities means the debentures, notes, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness that we may issue from time to time, which will be direct unsecured obligations of Unitrin. Debt securities will be senior debt securities and will be issued under a “senior indenture.” Senior debt securities of any series will be our unsubordinated obligations and rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt, including any other series of debt securities issued under the senior indenture.
 
This prospectus sometimes refers to the senior indenture as the “indenture.”  The form of indenture is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. The statements and descriptions in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement regarding provisions of the indenture and debt securities are summaries thereof, do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture and debt securities, including the definitions therein of certain terms.
 
Unitrin’s right to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary, upon the subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise, is subject to the prior claims of creditors of the subsidiary, except to the extent Unitrin may be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary. Accordingly, Unitrin’s obligations under debt securities will effectively be subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and liabilities of its subsidiaries, and holders of debt securities should look only to Unitrin’s assets for payment thereunder. Furthermore, Unitrin’s ability to pay principal and interest on the debt securities is, to a large extent, dependent upon dividends or other payments to Unitrin from its subsidiaries, which payments are subject to significant regulatory restrictions under state insurance and banking laws and regulations.
 
The indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that we may issue and provides that we may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series, in each case with the same or various maturities, at par or at a discount. We may issue additional debt securities of a particular series without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of such series outstanding at the time of the issuance. Any such additional debt securities, together with all other outstanding debt securities of that series, will constitute a single series of debt securities under the indenture. The indenture also does not limit our ability to incur other debt.
 
Each prospectus supplement will describe the terms relating to the specific series of debt securities being offered. These terms will include some or all of the following:
 
 
(i)
the title of the debt securities;
     
 
(ii)
any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;
     
 
(iii)
the price or prices at which we will sell the debt securities;
     
 
(iv)
the maturity date or dates of the debt securities;
     
 
(v)
the rate or rates of interest, if any, which may be fixed or variable, at which the debt securities will bear interest, or the method of determining such rate or rates, if any;
     
 
(vi)
the date or dates from which any interest will accrue or the method by which such date or dates will be determined;
     
 
(vii)
the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of any such deferral period, including the maximum number of consecutive interest payment periods in any such deferral period;
     
 
(viii)
whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the debt securities may be determined with reference to any index, formula or other method, such as one or more currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices, and the manner of determining the amount of such payments;
 

 
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(ix)
the dates on which we will pay interest on the debt securities and the regular record date for determining who is entitled to the interest payable on any interest payment date;
     
 
(x)
the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the debt securities will be payable;
     
 
(xi)
if provided for, the periods within which and the prices at which we may redeem the debt securities, in whole or in part, pursuant to optional redemption provisions, and the other terms and conditions of any such provisions;
     
 
(xii)
our obligation, if any, to redeem, repay or purchase the debt securities by making periodic payments to a sinking fund or through an analogous provision or at the option of holders of the debt securities, and the period or periods within which and the price or prices at which we will redeem, repay or purchase the debt securities, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation, and the other terms and conditions of such obligation;
     
 
(xiii)
the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued, if other than denominations of $1,000 in the case of registered securities and any integral multiple thereof;
     
 
(xiv)
the portion, or methods of determining the portion, of the principal amount of the debt securities which we must pay upon the acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities in connection with an Event of Default (as defined below on page 13 of this prospectus), if other than the full principal amount;
     
 
(xv)
the currency or currencies, including composite currencies or currency units in which that series of debt securities may be denominated or in which we will pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on that series of debt securities, if other than United States dollars;
     
 
(xvi)
provisions, if any, granting special rights to holders of the debt securities upon the occurrence of specified events;
     
 
(xvii)
any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or our covenants with respect to the applicable series of debt securities;
     
 
(xviii)
the application, if any, of the terms of the indenture relating to Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance (which terms are defined below on  page 15 of this prospectus) to the debt securities and, if other than by a certified resolution of the Board of Directors, the manner in which our election to defease the debt securities will be evidenced;
     
 
(xix)
the terms, if any, upon which the holders may convert or exchange the debt securities into or for our common stock, preferred stock or other securities or property;
     
 
(xx)
whether any of the debt securities will be issued in global form and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which global debt securities may be exchanged for certificated debt securities;
     
 
(xxi)
any change in the right of the trustee or the requisite holders of debt securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable because of an Event of Default;
     
 
(xxii)
the depositary for global or certificated debt securities;
     
 
(xxiii)
any special tax implications of the debt securities;
     
 
(xxiv)
any trustees, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars or other agents with respect to the debt securities; and
     
 
(xxv)
any other terms of the debt securities.

 

 
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Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, debt securities will not be listed on any securities exchange.
 
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, debt securities will be issued in fully-registered form without coupons.
 
Debt securities may be sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the federal income tax consequences and special considerations applicable to any such debt securities. Debt securities may also be issued as indexed securities or securities denominated in foreign currencies, currency units or composite currencies, as described in more detail in the prospectus supplement relating to any of the particular debt securities. The prospectus supplement relating to specific debt securities will also describe any special considerations and certain additional tax considerations applicable to such debt securities.
 
Consolidation, Merger, Sale of Assets and Other Transactions
 
We may not (i) merge with or into or consolidate with another person or sell, assign, transfer, lease or convey all or substantially all of our properties and assets to, any other person other than a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of ours, and (ii) no person may merge with or into or consolidate with us or, except for any of our direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries, sell, assign, transfer, lease or convey all or substantially all of its properties and assets to us, unless:
 
 
(i)
we are the surviving corporation or the person formed by or surviving such merger or consolidation or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease or conveyance has been made, if other than us, has expressly assumed by supplemental indenture all our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture;
     
 
(ii)
immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and
     
 
(iii)
we deliver to the trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that the supplemental indenture relating to the transaction complies with the indenture.
 
Events of Default; Notice and Waiver
 
Unless an accompanying prospectus supplement states otherwise, each of the following events that has occurred and is continuing constitutes an “Event of Default” under the indenture with respect to each series of debt securities:
 
 
(i)
our failure to pay any interest on any debt security of such series when due and payable, continued for 30 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest payment period in accordance with the terms of the debt security of such series shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose;
     
 
(ii)
our failure to pay principal (or premium, if any) on any debt security of such series when due, regardless of whether such payment became due because of maturity, redemption, acceleration or otherwise, or is required by any sinking fund established with respect to such series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such debt security in accordance with the terms of the debt securities of that series shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal (or premium, if any) for this purpose;
     
 
(iii)
our failure to observe or perform any other of our covenants or agreements with respect to such debt securities for 90 days after we receive written notice of such failure from the trustee or from holders of 25% in principal amount of the outstanding securities of such series; and
     
 
(iv)
certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization.
 

 
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If an Event of Default with respect to any debt securities of any series outstanding under the indenture shall occur and be continuing, the trustee under such indenture or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series outstanding may declare, by notice as provided in the indenture, the principal amount (or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the debt securities of that series) of all the debt securities of that series outstanding to be due and payable immediately; provided that, in the case of an Event of Default involving certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, acceleration is automatic; and, provided further, that after such acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration if (i) the Company has paid or provided to the trustee an amount sufficient to pay all matured interest payments for the securities of such series and principal of (and premium, im any, on) all securities of such series that have become due other than by acceleration, with interest upon such principal (and premium, if any) and upon overdue installments of interest, to the extent permissible by law, to the date of such payment or deposit and all required payments to the trustee and (ii) all Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal, have been cured or waived. Upon the acceleration of the maturity of original issue discount securities, an amount less than the principal amount thereof will become due and payable. Reference is made to the prospectus supplement relating to any original issue discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of maturity thereof.
 
Any past default under the indenture with respect to debt securities of any series, and any Event of Default arising therefrom, may be waived by the holders of a majority in principal amount of all debt securities of such series outstanding, except in the case of (i) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any debt securities of such series or (ii) default in respect of a covenant or provision which may not be amended or modified without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of such series affected.
 
The trustee is required, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default (as to which the trustee has received written notice and is continuing), with respect to the debt securities of any series (without regard to any grace period or notice requirements), to give to the holders of the debt securities of such series notice of such default; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, on any debt securities of such series, the trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if it in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the holders of the debt securities of such series.  In the case of the Events of Default described in (iii) and (iv) under “—Events of Defualt; Notice and Waiver,” such notice need not be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence or, if applicable, the expiration of the specified cure period.
 
The trustee, subject to its duties during default to act with the required standard of care, may require indemnification by the holders of the debt securities of any series before proceeding to exercise any right or power under the indenture at the request of the holders of the debt securities of such series. Subject to such right of indemnification and to certain other limitations, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series under the indenture may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of such series.
 
No holder of a debt security of any series may institute any action against us under the indenture (except actions for payment of overdue principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such debt security or for the conversion or exchange of such debt security in accordance with its terms) unless (i) the holder has given to the trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the debt securities of such series specifying an Event of Default, as required under the indenture, (ii) the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding under such indenture shall have requested the trustee to institute such action and offered to the trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request and (iii) the trustee shall not have instituted such action within 60 days of such request during which time the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series do not give the trustee a direction inconsistent with that request.
 
We are required to furnish annually to the trustee statements as to our compliance with all conditions and covenants under each indenture.
 

 
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Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
 
If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may discharge or defease our obligations under the indenture as set forth below.
 
We may discharge certain obligations to holders of any series of debt securities issued under the senior indenture which have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and which have either become due and payable or are by their terms due and payable within one year (or scheduled for redemption within one year) by irrevocably depositing with the trustee cash or, in the case of debt securities payable only in U.S. dollars, U.S. government obligations (as defined in the indenture), as trust funds in an amount certified to be sufficient to pay when due, whether at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise, the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such debt securities.
 
If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may elect either (i) to be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to the debt securities of or within any series (except as otherwise provided in the indenture) (“Defeasance”) or (ii) to be released from its obligations with respect to certain covenants applicable to the debt securities of or within any series (“Covenant Defeasance”), upon the deposit with the indenture trustee, in trust for such purpose, of money and/or government obligations which through the payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient, without reinvestment, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such debt securities to maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments thereon. As a condition to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, we must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of such debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance had not occurred. Such opinion of counsel, in the case of Defeasance, must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable federal income tax law occurring after the date of the indenture. In addition, in the case of either Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, we shall have delivered to the trustee (i) an officer’s certificate to the effect that the relevant debt securities exchange(s) have informed it that neither such debt securities nor any other debt securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit and (ii) an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been complied with. Finally, the deposit may not result in (i) an Event of Default, and no Event of Default may occur for 90 days following the deposit, (ii) a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any indenture or other agreement or instrument for borrowed money, pursuant to which more than $100,000,000 principal amount is then outstanding, to which we are a party or by which we are bound or (iii) the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act unless such trust shall be registered under the Investment Company Act or exempt from registration thereunder.
 
We may exercise our Defeasance option with respect to such debt securities notwithstanding our prior exercise of our Covenant Defeasance option.
 
Modification and Waiver
 
Under the indenture, we and the applicable trustee may supplement the indenture for certain purposes which would not materially adversely affect the interests or rights of the holders of debt securities of a series without the consent of those holders. We and the applicable trustee may also modify the indenture or any supplemental indenture in a manner that affects the interests or rights of the holders of debt securities with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each affected series issued under the indenture. However, the indenture requires the consent of each holder of debt securities that would be affected by any modification which would:
 
 
(i)
extend the fixed maturity of any debt securities of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof;


 
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(ii)
reduce the amount of principal of an original issue discount debt security or any other debt security payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;
     
 
(iii)
change the currency in which any debt security or any premium or interest is payable;
     
 
(iv)
impair the right to institute suit for any payment on or with respect to any debt security;
     
 
(v)
reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for modification or amendment of the indenture or for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or for waiver of certain defaults;
     
 
(vi)
reduce the requirements contained in the indenture for quorum or voting; or
     
 
(vii)
modify any of the above provisions.
 
The indenture permits the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series to waive in any particular instance or generally our compliance with any term, provision or condition set forth in certain covenants contained in the indenture.
 
Debt securities will not be considered outstanding, and therefore not eligible to vote, to the extent they have been Defeased.
 
Payment and Paying Agents
 
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of interest on a debt security on any interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name a debt security is registered at the close of business on the record date for the interest payment, which will be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
 
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, principal, interest and premium on the debt securities of a particular series will be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose.
 
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, a paying agent designated by us will act as paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. All paying agents initially designated by us for the debt securities of a particular series will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.
 
Form, Exchange and Transfer
 
The debt securities of each series may be issued as registered securities, as bearer securities (with or without coupons) or both. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, if any, registered securities will be issued in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. Subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement, if any, registered securities will be exchangeable for other registered securities of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.
 
Subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, debt securities issued as registered securities may be presented for exchange or for registration of transfer (duly endorsed or with the form of transfer duly executed) at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for that purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the debt securities to be transferred or exchanged, no service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges. Any transfer agent initially designated by us for any debt securities will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office
 

 
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through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series.
 
If the debt securities of any series are to be redeemed, we will not be required to:
 
 
(i)
issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any debt securities of that series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of debt securities for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of mailing of the relevant notice of redemption; or
     
 
(ii)
register the transfer of or exchange any debt securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any registered security being redeemed in part.
 
Global Securities
 
The debt securities of each series may be issued in whole or in part in global form. A debt security in global form will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary, which will be named in an applicable prospectus supplement. A global security may be issued in either registered or bearer form and in either temporary or definitive form. A global debt security may not be transferred, except as a whole, among the depositary for that debt security and/or its nominees and/or successors. If any debt securities of a series are issuable as global securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe any circumstances when beneficial owners of interests in that global security may exchange their interests for definitive debt securities of like series and tenor and principal amount in any authorized form and denomination, the manner of payment of principal of and interest, if any, on that global debt security and the specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to that global debt security.
 
Governing Law
 
The indenture and debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York.
 
Concerning the Trustee
 
We anticipate appointing the trustee under the indenture as the paying agent, conversion agent, registrar and custodian with regard to debt securities. The trustee and/or its affiliates may in the future provide banking and other services to us in the ordinary course of their respective businesses.
 
Conversion or Exchange Rights
 
The prospectus supplement will describe the terms, if any, on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock, preferred stock or other debt securities. These terms will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. These provisions may allow or require the number of shares of our common stock or other securities to be received by the holders of such series of debt securities to be adjusted.
 

 
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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
 
This section describes the general terms and provisions of warrants to acquire our securities that we may issue from time to time. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any warrant agreement and the warrants issuable thereunder. If any particular terms of the warrants described in the prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described herein, then the terms described herein will be deemed superseded by that prospectus supplement.
 
We may issue warrants for the purchase of our debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or securities of third parties or other rights, including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing. We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities, and they may be attached to or separate from the other securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement that we will enter into with a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, as detailed in the applicable prospectus supplement. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation, or agency or trust relationship, with you. We will file a copy of the warrant and warrant agreement with the SEC each time we issue a series of warrants, and these warrants and warrant agreements will be incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. A holder of our warrants should refer to the provisions of the applicable warrant agreement and prospectus supplement for more specific information.
 
The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants will describe the terms of those warrants, including, when applicable:
 
 
(i)
the offering price;
     
 
(ii)
the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which the price of the warrants may be payable;
     
 
(iii)
the number of warrants offered;
     
 
(iv)
the securities underlying the warrants, including the securities of third parties or other rights, if any, to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing, purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;
     
 
(v)
the exercise price and the amount of securities you will receive upon exercise;
     
 
(vi)
the procedure for exercise of the warrants and the circumstances, if any, that will cause the warrants to be automatically exercised;
     
 
(vii)
the rights, if any, we have to redeem the warrants;
     
 
(viii)
the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and the date on which the warrants will expire;
     
 
(ix)
the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security;
     
 
(x)
the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;
     
 
(xi)
U.S. federal income tax consequences;
     
 
(xii)
the name of the warrant agent; and
     
 
(xiii)
any other material terms of the warrants.
 
After your warrants expire they will become void. All warrants will be issued in registered form. The prospectus supplement may provide for the adjustment of the exercise price of the warrants.
 

 
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Warrants may be exercised at the appropriate office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Before the exercise of warrants, holders will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon exercise and will not be entitled to payments made to holders of those securities.
 
The applicable warrant agreement may be amended or supplemented without the consent of the holders of the warrants to which it applies to effect changes that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the warrants and that do not materially and adversely affect the interests of the holders of the warrants. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of warrants will not be effective unless the holders of at least a majority of the applicable warrants then outstanding approve the amendment. Every holder of an outstanding warrant at the time any amendment becomes effective, by continuing to hold the warrant, will be bound by the applicable warrant agreement as amended. The prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of warrants may provide that certain provisions of the warrants, including the securities for which they may be exercisable, the exercise price and the expiration date, may not be altered without the consent of the holder of each warrant.
 

 
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
We may sell the securities being offered hereby in one or more of the following ways from time to time:
 
 
(i)
to underwriters for resale to purchasers;
     
 
(ii)
directly to purchasers; or
     
 
(iii)
through agents or dealers to purchasers.
 
In addition, Unitrin may enter into derivative or hedging transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. In connection with such a transaction, the third parties may sell securities covered by and pursuant to this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. If so, the third parties may use securities borrowed from us or others to settle such sales and may use securities received from us to close out any related short positions. We may also loan or pledge securities covered by this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement to third parties, who may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement.
 
We will identify the specific plan of distribution, including any underwriters, dealers, agents or direct purchasers and their compensations, in a prospectus supplement.
 

 
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LEGAL MATTERS
 
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Chicago, Illinois, will provide opinions regarding the authorization and validity of the securities.  Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP may also provide opinions regarding certain other matters.  Any underwriters will also be advised about legal matters by their own counsel, which will be named in the prospectus supplement.
 
EXPERTS
 
The consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement schedules, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from Unitrin’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, and the effectiveness of Unitrin’s internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is incorporated herein by reference (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph concerning a change in accounting for the recognition and presentation of other-than-temporary impairments in 2009), and has been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
 
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act relating to the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits filed as part of the registration statement. For further information with respect to us and the securities being offered, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits filed as a part of the registration statement. Statements contained in the prospectus concerning the contents of any contract or any other document are not necessarily complete. If a contract or document has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or otherwise filed with the SEC, we refer you to the copy of the contract or document that has been filed. Each statement in this prospectus relating to a contract or document is qualified in all respects by reference to the contract or document to which it refers. In addition, we file annual, quarterly and periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document that we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference facilities by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. You can request copies of these documents, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC at its principal office at 100 F Street NE, Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. The SEC maintains an Internet website at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. Our SEC filings are accessible through the Internet at that website. You may also inspect our SEC reports and other information at the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.  Our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and amendments to those reports, are also available for download, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after these reports are filed with the SEC, at our website at www.unitrin.com. The content of our website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and you should not consider it a part of this prospectus.
 
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with them, which means that (i) we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents and (ii) those documents are considered part of this prospectus. The following documents are incorporated by reference into this prospectus (other than, in each case, documents or information deemed furnished and not filed in accordance with the SEC rules, including pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 on Form 8-K, and no such information shall be deemed specifically incorporated by reference hereby or in any accompanying prospectus supplement):
 
 
(i)
our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 (including portions of our definitive Proxy Statement for the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders incorporated therein by reference);
     
 
(ii)
our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010;
     
 
(iii)
our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010;


 
21

 


 
(iv)
our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2010;
     
 
(v)
our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 29, 2010, February 4, 2010, February 22, 2010, April 26, 2010, May 10, 2010, June 11, 2010, June 30, 2010, August 12, 2010 and August 20, 2010; and
     
 
(vi)
the description of our common stock set forth in Exhibit 4.5 filed herewith.
 
We also incorporate by reference all documents we may subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the initial filing date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to the termination of the offering (other than documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules). The most recent information that we file with the SEC automatically updates and supersedes older information. The information contained in any such filing will be deemed to be a part of this prospectus, commencing on the date on which the document is filed.
 
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered a copy of any or all of the information that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus, at no cost to the requestor. To receive a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, other than exhibits, unless they are specifically incorporated by reference into those documents, call or write:
 
Unitrin, Inc.
One East Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Attention: Investor Relations
Tel: (312) 661-4930
 

 
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
Item 14.         Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
 
The following table sets forth estimated expenses relating to the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, to be paid by the registrant.
 
   
Amount
To Be Paid
 
SEC registration fee
  $ *  
Trustee and transfer agent fees
    **  
Legal fees and expenses
    **  
Accounting fees and expenses
    **  
Rating agency and listing fees
    **  
Printing and engraving fees and expenses
    **  
Miscellaneous
    **  
Total
  $ **  

*
To be deferred pursuant to Rule 456(b) under the Securities Act and calculated in connection with an offering of securities under this registration statement pursuant to Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act.
**
These fees cannot be estimated at this time as they are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances. An estimate of the aggregate expenses in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being offered will be included in the applicable prospectus supplement.
 
Item 15.         Indemnification of Directors and Officers
 
Under Section 145 of the DGCL, the Company may indemnify a director or officer in connection with an action, suit or proceeding (other than in connection with actions by or in the right of the Company) against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful.  In addition, under Section 145 of the DGCL, the Company may indemnify a director or officer in connection with an action or suit by or in the right of the Company against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, except that the Company may not so indemnify the director or officer if the director or officer is adjudged to be liable to the Company, unless a court determines that, despite such adjudication but in view of all of the circumstances, the director or officer is entitled to indemnification of such expenses which such court deems proper.  Under Section 145 of the DGCL, expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized in Section 145 of the DGCL.  In accordance with DGCL Section 145, such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former directors and officers may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Company deems appropriate.
 
Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide for indemnification of the directors and officers of the Company and for advancement of expenses incurred by a director or officer in defending an action to the fullest extent permitted by current Delaware law.  Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws eliminate the personal liability of a director to the Company or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, but not with regard to a director’s liability for breach of duty of loyalty, acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, willful or negligent violation of DGCL provisions regarding dividend payments or stock purchase or redemption, or any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
 

 
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Each of the Company’s directors, including the directors who are also members of management, is a party to an indemnification and expense advancement agreement with the Company, as permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law. The provisions of these agreements are substantially the same as the indemnification provisions applicable to the directors under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, except that the agreements may not be amended or terminated without the written consent of the respective director. The Company maintains a directors and officers liability insurance policy insuring the directors and officers of the Company and its subsidiaries in certain instances.
 
The foregoing statements are subject to the detailed provisions of the DGCL, our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, and the indemnification and expense advancement agreements between Unitrin and its  directors, the form of which was filed as Exhibit 99.01 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 27, 2009.
 

 
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16.           Exhibits
 
Exhibit No.
Document
1.1
Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
   
3.1
Certificate of Incorporation (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed February 4, 2008).
   
3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 12, 2008).
   
4.1
Rights Agreement between Unitrin, Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. as successor Rights Agent, including the Form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, the Form of Rights Certificate and the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock, dated as of August 4, 2004 and amended May 4, 2006 and October 9, 2006 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed August 3, 2009).
   
4.2
Indenture dated as of June 26, 2002, by and between Unitrin, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor trustee to BNY Midwest Trust Company, as Trustee (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 14, 2007).
   
4.3
Officer’s Certificate, including form of Senior Note with respect to the Company’s 6.00% Senior Notes due May 15, 2017 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 14, 2007).
   
4.4
Officer’s Certificate, including form of Senior Note with respect to the Company’s 4.875% Senior Notes due November 1, 2010 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed November 3, 2008).
   
4.5
Form of certificate representing shares of Unitrin, Inc. common stock.
   
4.6
Form of certificate representing shares of Unitrin, Inc. preferred stock.*
   
4.7
Form of Senior Note.*
   
4.8
Form of Warrant Agreement (including form of Warrant Certificate).*
   
5.1
Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
   
12.1
Statement regarding computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.
   
23.1
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
   
23.2
Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
   
24.1
Power of Attorney (included as part of the signature pages hereto).
   
25.1
Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee under the Indenture.
   
 
*
To be filed, if necessary, after the effectiveness of this registration statement as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment hereto or to be filed with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 
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Item 17.  Undertakings
 
(a)           The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
 
(1)       To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
 
(i)      To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
 
(ii)     To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
 
(iii)    To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement;
 
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is a part of the registration statement.
 
(2)       That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time to be deemed the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
(3)       To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
 
(4)       That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
 
(i)      Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
 
(ii)     Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is a part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was a part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
 

 
II-4

 

(5)      That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
 
The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
 
 
(i)
Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
     
 
(ii)
Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
     
 
(iii)
The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
     
 
(iv)
Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
 
(b)       The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
(c)       Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 

 
II-5

 

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Chicago, State of Illinois, on November 2, 2010.
 
   
UNITRIN, INC.
 
         
         
   
By:
/s/  Donald G. Southwell  
   
Name:
Donald G. Southwell
 
   
Title:
Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
 
 
POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Donald G. Southwell, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and Scott Renwick, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, and each of them, as attorneys-in-fact, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, so long as such individual remains an executive officer of the Company, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to sign any registration statement for the same offering covered by this Registration Statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
Signature
 
 
Title
 
Date
/s/ Donald G. Southwell        
Donald G. Southwell  
Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
 
November 2, 2010
         
/s/ Richard Roeske        
Richard Roeske   Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)   November 2, 2010
         
 /s/ James E. Annable        
James E. Annable   Director   November 2, 2010
         
 /s/ Douglas G. Geoga        
Douglas G. Geoga   Director   November 2, 2010
         
/s/ Reuben L. Hedlund        
Reuben L. Hedlund
 
Director
 
November 2, 2010
         
 


 
II-6

 

 
 
         
/s/ Wayne Kauth        
Wayne Kauth
 
Director
 
November 2, 2010
         
/s/ David P. Storch        
David P. Storch
 
Director
 
November 2, 2010
         
/s/ Richard C. Vie  
 
 
 
Richard C. Vie
  Director   November 2, 2010
         
 

 

 
II-7

 

EXHIBIT INDEX
 
Exhibit No.
Document
1.1
Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
   
3.1
Certificate of Incorporation (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed February 4, 2008).
   
3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 12, 2008).
   
4.1
Rights Agreement between Unitrin, Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. as successor Rights Agent, including the Form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, the Form of Rights Certificate and the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock, dated as of August 4, 2004 and amended May 4, 2006 and October 9, 2006 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed August 3, 2009).
   
4.2
Indenture dated as of June 26, 2002, by and between Unitrin, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor trustee to BNY Midwest Trust Company, as Trustee (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 14, 2007).
   
4.3
Officer’s Certificate, including form of Senior Note with respect to the Company’s 6.00% Senior Notes due May 15, 2017 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 14, 2007).
   
4.4
Officer’s Certificate, including form of Senior Note with respect to the Company’s 4.875% Senior Notes due November 1, 2010 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed November 3, 2008).
   
4.5
Form of certificate representing shares of Unitrin, Inc. common stock.
   
4.6
Form of certificate representing shares of Unitrin, Inc. preferred stock.*
   
4.7
Form of Senior Note (included in Exhibit 4.2).
   
4.8
Form of Warrant Agreement (including form of Warrant Certificate).*
   
5.1
Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
   
12.1
Statement regarding computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.
   
23.1
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
   
23.2
Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
   
24.1
Power of Attorney (included as part of the signature pages hereto).
   
25.1
Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee under the Indenture.
 
*
To be filed, if necessary, after the effectiveness of this registration statement as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment hereto or to be filed with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

II-8