CHARLOTTE, N.C. (August 13, 2018) – AmWINS Group, Inc. (“AmWINS”), a global distributor of specialty insurance products and services, today announced the formation of two specialty managing general agencies focused on the marine industry, AmWINS Specialty Logistics Underwriters (“ASLU”) and Sentinel Marine Underwriters (“SMU”).

Alex Rosas, executive vice president (EVP), will lead ASLU from Sunrise, FL, while Mark Bernas, EVP, and Keith Blair, EVP, will lead SMU from Houston, TX and New York, NY, respectively. Rosas, Bernas and Blair are industry veterans, with over 50 years of combined cargo, transit and ocean marine underwriting experience.

“We are pleased to partner with Alex, Mark and Keith given their deep experience in the marine insurance segment,” said Scott Purviance, Chief Executive Officer of AmWINS. “Their product knowledge and underwriting expertise is industry leading.”

ASLU provides a package insurance solution for freight forwarders and third-party logistics operators. ASLU’s product offering includes marine, cargo and transport liability. Logistics liability coverages include Shippers Interest Ocean Cargo, Shippers Interest Domestic Transit, Third-Party warehousing, Carriers Legal Liability, Freight Forwarders E&O, and Warehouse Legal Liability.

SMU offers marine and cargo insurance solutions, including global risk control, for clients including importers, exporters, manufacturers, and wholesalers. SMU’s product offering includes worldwide cargo/transit, global stock throughput (transit and inventory), project cargo, and excess storage on stock throughput programs.

These MGAs will become part of the Underwriting division of AmWINS, which specializes in offering retail agents an array of P&C programs for specialty product lines and industry classes.

Argonaut Insurance Company, a member of Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd., which is rated ‘A’ (Excellent) by A.M. Best, is providing the insurance capacity for both ASLU and SMU. The policies will be issued on admitted paper and will be offered nationally across all 50 states.

For additional information on AmWINS Specialty Logistics Underwriters and Sentinel Marine Underwriters, visit amwins.com/aslu and amwins.com/smu.

About AmWINS Group, Inc.

AmWINS Group, Inc. is the largest independent wholesale distributor of specialty insurance products in the United States, dedicated to serving retail insurance agents by providing property and casualty products, specialty group benefit products and administrative services. Based in Charlotte, N.C., the company operates through more than 110 offices globally and handles premium placements in excess of $14 billion dollars annually. To learn more, visit www.amwins.com. 

About Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.

Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (NYSE: ARGO) is an international underwriter of specialty insurance and reinsurance products in the property and casualty market. Argo Group offers a full line of products and services designed to meet the unique coverage and claims handling needs of businesses in two primary segments: U.S. Operations and International Operations. Argo Group's insurance subsidiaries are A. M. Best-rated 'A' (Excellent) (third highest rating out of 16 rating classifications) with a stable outlook, and Argo Group's U.S. insurance subsidiaries are Standard and Poor's-rated 'A-' (Strong) with a stable outlook. More information on Argo Group and its subsidiaries is available at www.argolimited.com.