Allied World U.S. Announces James Finke is First Plus Member To Receive RPLU+ Designation

PEMBROKE, Bermuda, May 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, Ltd (NYSE: AWH) announced today that James Finke, who underwrites Lawyers Professional Liability business for the company's U.S. affiliates, is the first member of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) to receive the RPLU+ designation. PLUS is a non-profit organization with membership open to persons interested in the promotion and development of the professional liability industry. The RPLU+ designation is conferred by the Society on persons who complete the necessary parts of study in the program and meet the PLUS experience and ethics requirements.

Mr. Finke joined the company in 2007 following his graduation from Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island. As an underwriter in the i-Bind division, he learned to work on both E&O and D&O product lines. In April 2008, Mr. Finke earned a Completion Certificate from PLUS University which prompted him to earn his RPLU designation in 2009, after joining the Lawyers Professional Liability division to assist in a national new product launch. Mr. Finke began the process of completing the five additional exams to earn the advanced designation in late 2009. He completed his final exam in April 2010, becoming the first ever RPLU+ designee. Mr. Finke will be officially recognized for his efforts at the 2010 PLUS International Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

Nicole Haggerty, Senior Vice President, Errors & Omissions Practice Lead, commented, "We are truly proud of James' hard work and dedication. Achieving the RPLU+ designation is a testament to his drive and commitment to the industry. I am confident that he will meet with continued success moving forward in his career."

About Allied World Assurance Company

Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, Ltd, through its subsidiaries, is a global provider of innovative property, casualty and specialty insurance and reinsurance solutions, offering superior client service through offices in Bermuda, Europe, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United States. Our insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries are rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company. For further information on Allied World, please visit our website at www.awac.com.

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Any 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; investigations of market practices and related settlement terms; 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, Ltd