Photo Release — United Fire Group Names Corey Ruehle as Branch Manager of the Midwest Region

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, June 19, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United Fire Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:UFCS), is pleased to announce that Corey Ruehle has accepted the position of branch manager for the Midwest region. Corey will begin this new role on July 1, 2012, after the current branch manager, Doug Penn, retires.

New branch manager of the Midwest region, Corey Ruehle

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In this position, Corey will be responsible for the overall performance of our commercial lines business in the Midwest region, which includes the states of Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota. Our service center is also a part of this region and handles customer service for small- and mid-sized accounts for the states in which United Fire writes its business. The Midwest region's direct written premium was $152,562,000 as of December 31, 2011.

Corey was previously the Midwest region's underwriting manager. He has been in the insurance industry for 16 years and with United Fire Group since 2001.

"I am very confident that Corey will be able to maintain the consistency and profitability that the Midwest region has achieved in the past," said President & CEO Randy Ramlo. "Corey knows the region well and has had a very successful career as its underwriting manager."

About United Fire Group, Inc.

United Fire Group, Inc., is engaged in the business of writing property and casualty insurance and life insurance and selling annuities. Our Company's net premiums written totaled $179.4 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2012, and our market capitalization was $456.3 million at March 31, 2012. Through our subsidiaries, we are licensed as a property and casualty insurer in 43 states plus the District of Columbia, and we are represented by more than 1,300 independent agencies. Both the United Fire and Mercer Insurance Company pooled groups are rated "A" (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company.

United Life Insurance Company, our life subsidiary, is licensed in 36 states, represented by more than 900 independent life agencies and rated an "A-" (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company.

For more information about United Fire Group, Inc. visit www.unitedfiregroup.com.

The United Fire Group, Inc. Logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=11691

Disclosure of Forward-looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements about our operations, anticipated performance and other similar matters. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected and/or projected. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our Company, the industry in which we operate, and beliefs and assumptions made by management. Words such as "expect(s)," "anticipate(s)," "intend(s)," "plan(s)," "believe(s)," "continue(s)," "seek(s)," "estimate(s)," "goal(s)," "target(s)," "forecast(s)," "project(s)," "predict(s)," "should," "could," "may," "will continue," "might," "hope," "can" and other words and terms of similar meaning or expression in connection with a discussion of future operating, financial performance or financial condition, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in such forward-looking statements. Information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained in Part I Item 1A "Risk Factors" of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2012 and in our report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, filed with the SEC on May 10, 2012. The risks identified on Form 10-K are representative of the risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from what is expressed in forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release or as of the date they are made. Except as required under the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we do not have any intention or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

CONTACT: Randy A. Ramlo          President & CEO          319-399-5700

Source: United Fire Group, Inc.