Argonaut Group's Great Central Insurance Expands into 15 Additional States

SAN ANTONIO--April 17, 2006--Great Central Insurance, a member of the Select Markets segment of Argonaut Group, Inc. , has introduced its Great Protector Select Series of coverage forms in 15 additional states. The Great Protector Select Series now is available in all states except Alaska, Hawaii, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

The specially designed Great Protector Select Series is tailored to Great Central's target industries: Food & Hospitality, Religious and Other Institutions, and Specialty Retail. Within these industries, Great Central has developed unique coverage forms that meet the specific needs of restaurants, hotels/motels, convenience stores, local union halls, strip shopping centers, laundries, dry cleaners, and related businesses.

John W. Polak, President of Great Central said, "At Great Central, we are proud of our leading edge portfolio of tailored risk management solutions for the industries we serve. This expansion into additional states and the addition of new distribution partners is consistent with our commitment to market leadership in our targeted niche industries."

Great Central offers its specialized businessowners package, along with commercial auto, umbrella, and workers compensation coverage, through a select network of appointed agents. Great Central is recognized as the leader in providing insurance and risk management services in their select industries and is the endorsed carrier for a number of leading state trade associations nationwide.

ABOUT ARGONAUT GROUP, INC.

Headquartered in San Antonio, Argonaut Group, Inc. is a national underwriter of specialty insurance products in niche areas of the property and casualty market, with approximately $3.4 billion in assets. Through its insurance subsidiaries, Argonaut Group offers a full line of high quality products and services designed to meet the unique coverage and claims handling needs of businesses in three primary segments: Excess and Surplus Lines, Select Markets, and Public Entity. Members of Argonaut Group include Colony, Argonaut Specialty, Rockwood, Great Central, Grocers Insurance, Trident, and Argonaut Insurance. Information on Argonaut Group and its subsidiaries is available at www.argonautgroup.com.