Argo Group International subsidiary Alteris has acquired John Sutak Insurance Brokers, the firm that developed first specialty insurance program for the wine industry, known as WineRe.
The acquisition of WineRe program will complement Alteris' WineryPlus program to provide coverage including general liability, liquor, auto, property, equipment breakdown, inland marine, crime, excess liability, employment practices liability, and professional liability in wine-producing regions throughout the US.
Under the direction of Strategic Markets vice president Paul Fuller, WineRe program will be managed through Alteris Insurance Services in San Francisco, while the existing carriers will issue policies through John Sutak Insurance Brokers.
Alteris president Hilbert "Van" Schenck II said, "This acquisition underscores our commitment to the wine industry and creates the nation's largest and only vertically integrated winery insurance program."
"Our own WineryPlus Program has grown significantly over the past two years and the merger of its operations with John Sutak's well known WineRe Program will materially augment the products, services, and expertise we currently provide our clients and brokers," Schenck II added.