20th Century Insurance Co. Announces Re-entry Into California Homeowner Insurance Market.

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 27, 1999--

20th Century Insurance Co. (NYSE:TW) Monday announced it will resume sales of new homeowner policies in California.

The company made this announcement after reaching a mutual agreement with the California Department of Insurance.

"We are extremely pleased to be able to respond to our customers' demand to provide low-cost home insurance policies in California," said William L. Mellick, chief executive officer and president of 20th Century.

"We have received numerous requests from customers asking when we would again offer homeowner coverage. Providing homeowner insurance is an important aspect of meeting our customers' insurance needs. Our goal is to become an important writer of homeowner insurance in California through attractive products, competitive rates and top- rated service."

While the company has continued to renew its existing homeowner policies, which totaled 54,524 at the end of the first quarter of 1999, it has not marketed home insurance for new customers since mid-1994 in accordance with an agreement reached with the California Department of Insurance. The company plans to begin offering new homeowner policies in the second half of 1999.

Resuming homeowner sales in California complements 20th Century's growth and expansion plans that we have been aggressively pursuing for the last year. In addition to reaching our goal of participating in the California homeowner market, we have expanded our operations into Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Washington," Mellick said. "Our financial and operational performance has never been better."

Prior to its suspension of homeowner sales, 20th Century insured more than 236,000 residences in California, of which more than 40 percent also were automobile customers. 20th Century currently insures more than 1.1 million vehicles in the state.

20th Century Insurance Co. is a wholly owned subsidiary of 20th Century Industries. With operations in the western United States, 20th Century Industries is the ninth-largest personal auto insurance stock company in the country.

Founded in 1958, the company was a pioneer of the direct-response marketing approach in the personal automobile insurance industry. 20th Century specializes in providing economical, high-quality insurance products and services direct to customers without agents.

20th Century markets personal automobile insurance in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

20th Century Industries is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol TW. The company has headquarters at 6301 Owensmouth Ave., Woodland Hills, Calif., 91367; telephone [phone]th Century's address on the Internet is www.20thCenturyInsurance.com