Allied World U.S. And Alteris Launch WineryPlus Progam

ZUG, Switzerland, Dec. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, AG (NYSE:  AWH) announced today that Allied World U.S. and Alteris Insurance Services, Inc. have entered into an agreement to provide a comprehensive coverage program to wineries in the United States. The program will be available to wineries of all sizes throughout the United States, but will specifically target operations in California, New York, Oregon, Texas and Washington.

Grace Meek, Senior Vice President, U.S. Programs, commented, "We look forward to working with Alteris on this customized program for wineries in the United States. Their vast experience in developing market-leading, specialty risk solutions will be an asset for our team, our trading partners and our clients."

Alteris President, Hilbert "Van" Schenck II, stated, "Allied World offers the security, customization and sustainability required by our WineryPlus customers. Their commitment to product specialization and access to global capacity makes Allied World the natural carrier partner for this signature program."

The comprehensive package program will include property, general liability, automobile liability, excess liability, cyber liability, employment practices liability and professional liability coverages.

For more information on this Program, please contact Paul Fuller, Vice President, Alteris at:

Alteris Insurance Services, Inc.One Embarcadero Center, Suite 1040 San Francisco, CA 94111 [e-mail]415 205 8648

About Allied World Assurance CompanyAllied World Assurance Company Holdings, AG, through its subsidiaries, is a global provider of innovative property, casualty and specialty insurance and reinsurance solutions, offering superior client service through a global network of offices and branches. All of Allied World's rated insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries are rated A by A.M. Best Company, A by Standard & Poor's, and A2 by Moody's, and our Lloyd's Syndicate 2232 is rated A+ by Standard & Poor's and Fitch. Please visit www.awac.com for further information on Allied World.

About Alteris

Alteris Inc. and Alteris Insurance Services, Inc., members of Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (NasdaqGS: AGII), provide services-oriented, complete solutions, operating through three business divisions: Strategic Markets, Alternative Risk, and Commercial Subsets. Alteris offers managing general agencies and insureds access to a broad array of exclusive risk solutions for specialty programs and alternative risks including program placement, risk bearing solutions, capital support, strategic alliances, policy systems solutions, claims services, and reinsurance solutions. Information on Alteris is available at www.alterisus.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsAny forward-looking statements made in this press release reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in these statements.  For example, our forward-looking statements could be affected by pricing and policy term trends; increased competition; the impact of acts of terrorism and acts of war; greater frequency or severity of unpredictable catastrophic events; negative rating agency actions; the adequacy of our loss reserves; the company or its subsidiaries becoming subject to significant income taxes in the United States or elsewhere; changes in regulations or tax laws; changes in the availability, cost or quality of reinsurance or retrocessional coverage; adverse general economic conditions; and judicial, legislative, political and other governmental developments, as well as management's response to these factors, and other factors identified in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. We are under no obligation (and expressly disclaim any such obligation) to update or revise any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

SOURCE Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, AG

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