UPDATE: Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Assumes Coverage on Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, AG. with Market Perform Rating, $45 PT on Positive Outlook

In a report published Monday, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods analyst Vincent DeAugustino assumed coverage on Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, AG. AWH with a Market Perform rating and $45.00 price target. In the report, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods noted, "Allied World's shareholder value creation track record is certainly admirable, and we find its success resulting more from its thoughtful construction over the last decade and half, than from a reliance on hard markets or weather windfalls. As such, we expect it to perform well on a relative basis in what is becoming an increasingly difficult underwriting and investment environment. We expect its diversified casualty underwriting focus and differentiated investment strategy to deliver steady book value growth, which we think supports a 105% P/BVPS multiple underlying our $45 target price." Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, AG. closed on Friday at $41.19.