AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. Enters Into Agreement to Acquire Sagicor Europe Limited

NEW YORK, July 29, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. (Nasdaq:AFSI) ("the Company") announced today that one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries has entered into an agreement to acquire Sagicor Europe Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (SEL), including Sagicor at Lloyd's Limited, from Sagicor Financial Corporation for approximately £56 million, which is £15 million above SEL's net asset value as of December 31, 2012. The Company expects to fund the purchase using existing working capital. Sagicor of Lloyd's Limited, is a managing agency and owner of Lloyd's property/casualty insurance syndicate 1206 with stamp capacity of £200 million and Lloyd's life insurance syndicate 44 with stamp capacity of £7 million. In addition, SEL includes a Cayman Islands domiciled reinsurance entity. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2013, pending regulatory and other necessary approvals.

"We are excited about the addition of SEL's managing agency and Lloyd's syndicates to our organization. Access to Lloyd's global resources greatly expands the capabilities of our insurance business," said AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. President and CEO, Barry Zyskind. "Lloyd's brand, rating, and efficient capital structure contributes significantly to our global insurance platform. We believe the combined organizations' talent, experience and commitment to underwriting discipline will enhance shareholder value."

About AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.

AmTrust Financial Services, Inc., headquartered in New York City, is a multinational insurance holding company, which, through its insurance carriers, offers specialty property and casualty insurance products, including workers' compensation, commercial automobile and general liability; extended service and warranty coverage. For more information about AmTrust, visit www.amtrustgroup.com, or call AmTrust toll-free at 866.203.3037.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company. There can be no assurance that actual developments will be those anticipated by the Company. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements as a result of significant risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, non-receipt of expected payments from insureds or reinsurers, changes in interest rates, a downgrade in the financial strength ratings of our insurance subsidiaries, the effect of the performance of financial markets on our investment portfolio, our estimates of the fair value of our life settlement contracts, development of claims and the effect on loss reserves, accuracy in projecting loss reserves, the cost and availability of reinsurance coverage, the effects of emerging claim and coverage issues, changes in the demand for our products, our degree of success in integrating acquired businesses, the effect of general economic conditions, state and federal legislation, regulations and regulatory investigations into industry practices, risks associated with conducting business outside the United States, developments relating to existing agreements, disruptions to our business relationships with Maiden Holdings, Ltd., National General Holdings Corp., or third party agencies and warranty administrators, breaches in data security or other disruptions with our technology, heightened competition, changes in pricing environments, and changes in asset valuations. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made only as of the date of this release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements except as may be required by law. Additional information about these risks and uncertainties, as well as others that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, is contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 10-K and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

AFSI-F

CONTACT: AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.           Investor Relations          Elizabeth Malone CFA          beth.malone@amtrustgroup.com          646.458.7924           Hilly Grosshilly.gross@amtrustgroup.com          646.458.7925

Source: AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.