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Distinguished Programs Announces the Acquisition of The Colonial Group
Distinguished Programs Acquires Controlling Interest in GreenLine Underwriters
Hitzig takes over as TMPAA President
Distinguished Programs and Ironshore Form Joint Venture

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Distinguished Programs Announces the Acquisition of The Colonial Group 
Expanded Product Offering Will Provide Comprehensive Solutions for Brokers

NEW YORK, NY, November 1st, 2011—Distinguished Programs Group LLC (Distinguished) has acquired the assets of The Colonial Group (Colonial), a managing general agency specializing in insuring small mercantile businesses in New York, such as restaurants, laundromats and nail salons.

The Colonial product mix will complement Distinguished’s product portfolio, notably the New York Brick & Brownstone program, which features a package product designed for brownstones, condos, co-ops and rental buildings. The acquisition will allow Distinguished to provide insurance to both the building owners and their small commercial tenants, extending better and broader business solutions to the marketplace.

"Colonial’s underwriting experience and longstanding prominence in New York will be a valuable asset to our organization," said Carla Vel, President and Chief Operating Officer of Distinguished. "The mutual focus on small accounts will allow us to leverage our distribution networks and profitably grow our book of business. We are thrilled to welcome the talented team at Colonial to the Distinguished Programs Group."

Jeremy R. Hitzig, Chief Executive Officer of Distinguished commented, "This acquisition is a great strategic fit for both of our organizations. We’re confident that our customers and insurance company partners will realize significant additional value through the combination."

Distinguished was advised by Gill & Roeser Holdings, Inc. For more information on Colonial, please visit www.dpcolonial.com.

About Distinguished Programs

About Distinguished Programs

The Target Markets Program Administrators Association formally introduced Jeremy Hitzig as its new President.  Hitzig comes to the position of president as Bill Kronenberg steps down after completing his two year term.

Jeremy Hitzig is the CEO of The Distinguished Programs Group, a New York-based program administrator specializing in the real estate industry. Mr. Hitzig began his insurance career in 1995 as a principal at Capital Risk Strategies where he focused on emerging risk transfer tools including catastrophe bonds and other blended capital markets/insurance products. He joined Distinguished Programs in 1997 and held a number of executive positions before being named CEO in 2006. He has been a TMPAA Board Member since 2008. Distinguished Programs was a founding member of Target Markets and is a recipient of the Best Practices designation. Mr. Hitzig is a graduate of McGill University and received his MBA from Columbia Business School in New York. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter designations. He has been a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) since 2006.

"I welcome the challenge to continue building the TMPAA which has become an important resource for Program Administrators, and for this industry segment in setting benchmarks for Best Practice standards,” stated Jeremy Hitzig.  “The next two years will see the implementation of additional supports for program business professionals, the most exciting of which will be Target University and our CPL (Certified Programs Leader) Designation. Our most important role, however, continues to be in expanding the opportunities for business development between the administrators, carriers and vendor members of the Association.  I am fortunate to have a group of dedicated program business experts working with me to accomplish these important tasks, and would like to acknowledge the tremendous job Bill Kronenberg did moving the TMPAA forward over the past two years."

The Target Markets Program Administrators Association is a U.S. based group devoted to meeting the unique needs of insurance program specialists. The association is skills-based, providing assistance with technology, program specific education, access to insurance carrier decision makers, networking with peers/vendors, and product cross selling among members.  The Associations Mid Year Meeting is scheduled for May 9-11, 2011 in Boston, MA with Keynote Speaker Tom Peters, bestselling author of management revolution, and Industry Speaker John Doyle, President and Chief Executive Officer, Chartis U.S.

Program Specialists / MGA’s interested in learning more about the TMPAA, can visit the Association website at www.targetmarkets.com, or by calling 877-347-5700.

IRONSHORE AND DISTINGUISHED PROGRAMS FORM JOINT VENTURE ACQUISITION VEHICLE

                -“IDP Holdings” to Target MGU and Program Manager Segments –

Hamilton, Bermuda, October 8, 2010 - Ironshore Inc. (“Ironshore”) and New York’s Distinguished Programs Group LLC (“Distinguished”) announced the formation of IDP Holdings LLC (“IDP Holdings”), a joint venture acquisition vehicle targeting the Managing General Underwriter and Program Manager segments of the insurance distribution business. IDP’s business plan contemplates multiple acquisitions of small to mid-sized program managers as well as the development of start-up operations built around key underwriting teams.

IDP Holdings is targeting acquisitions of companies with $5 to $25 million in premium, experienced management and solid underwriting results. Distinguished will provide strategic and financial management and Ironshore will provide insurance 2 capacity to acquired companies. Financial terms will vary from acquisition to acquisition.

"We’re very excited to have joined forces with Ironshore both as a capital provider and underwriting partner" commented Jeremy R. Hitzig, CEO of both Distinguished and IDP Holdings, "Ironshore’s long-term partnership approach and strong capital position will be key elements to the success of our joint venture."

Kevin Kelley, CEO of Ironshore and Chairman of IDP Holdings added, "We’re pleased to be entering into a partnership with Distinguished Programs, one of the leading program managers in the business. Our investment in IDP Holdings reflects our long-term commitment to program business."

"With Ironshore’s capacity and broad underwriting capabilities, acquisition candidates in a number of industry segments and product lines will be considered although an emphasis will be placed on quality of management and demonstrated underwriting profitability," said Hitzig. "We believe that IDP Holdings is a great option for business owners seeking to exit the business over the short to medium term or those seeking a partial liquidity event but with a desire to have an ongoing stake in the business. Either way, we will look to leverage the full resources of Distinguished and Ironshore to support and build the business in the future."

Distinguished Programs was advised by Gill & Roeser Holdings, Inc.

About Ironshore

Ironshore provides broker-sourced specialty commercial property and casualty coverages for risks located throughout the world. Through its platform in Bermuda, including Iron-Starr Excess, Ironshore writes property and excess casualty insurance for 3 global commercial risks. Ironshore’s U.S. operations write commercial property and casualty insurance, including a variety of coverages in the Management & Professional Liability, Healthcare Liability, Construction, Select Personal Lines as well as Environmental, Energy Property and Specialty Casualty within its Global division. Specialty coverages are underwritten at Lloyd’s through Ironshore’s Pembroke Syndicate 4000.

The Ironshore group of insurance companies is rated A- (Excellent) by A.M. Best with a Financial Size Category of Class XIII. Pembroke Syndicate 4000 operates within Lloyd’s where the market rating is A (Excellent) by A.M. Best and A+ (Strong) from both Standard & Poor’s and Fitch. For more information, please visit www.ironshore.com.

About Distinguished Programs

Distinguished Programs is a leading insurance underwriter and program manager for the real estate industry. Distinguished offers tailored programs for residential and commercial real estate owners and property managers including property, liability, directors & officers’ liability, crime and high limits of umbrella insurance. Products are distributed through a growing network of more than 2,000 independent agents and brokers. Distinguished’s subsidiary companies include SES Insurance Brokerage Services, Inc., the premier insurance program manager and service provider for bank-managed trust property portfolios and China-based ReSource Pro, the leading business process outsourcing company for insurance intermediaries. Distinguished is the recipient of the "Best Practices Designation" by the Target Markets Program Administrators 4 Association and was named by Inc. Magazine as one of the Fastest Growing Companies in America. For more information, please visit www.distinguished.com.

The information contained herein is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any product or service. Any description set forth herein does not include all policy terms, conditions and exclusions. Bound insurance policies, rather than summaries thereof, govern. Not all insurance coverages or products are available in all states and policy terms may vary based on individual state requirements. Some policies may be placed with a surplus lines insurer. Surplus lines insurers generally do not participate in state guaranty funds and coverage may only be obtained through duly licensed surplus lines brokers.

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