Allied World to Pay Quarterly Dividend

ZUG, Switzerland, May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, AG (NYSE: AWH) today announced that it has approved a quarterly dividend equal to $0.375 per share payable on August 6, 2012 to shareholders of record on July 30, 2012, subject to a required filing with the Swiss Commercial Register in Zug.  The company's transfer agent will make dividend payments in United States dollars.

This dividend payment will be made in the form of a par value reduction.  The amount of the par value reduction in Swiss francs (CHF) will be based on the USD/CHF exchange rate as published by The Wall Street Journal on July 19, 2012.  This is the first of four partial par value reductions for dividends that were approved by the company's shareholders at the Allied World 2012 Annual Shareholder Meeting held on May 3, 2012. 

About Allied World Assurance Company

Allied 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.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

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; 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