8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): July 27, 2009

AMERICAN SAFETY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, LTD.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Bermuda (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) 001-04795 (Commission File Number) Not applicable (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

The Boyle Building, 2nd Floor

31 Queen Street

Hamilton, Bermuda HM 11

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(441) 296-8560

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) 12 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) 12 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 240.13e-2(c))

Item 5.02        Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.

On July 27, 2009, the Board of Directors of the Registrant, acting pursuant to the Registrant’s Bye-Laws, appointed Marilyn V. Hirsch to the Board of Directors. Ms. Hirsch was also appointed to the Finance Committee of the Board.

On July 31, 2009, the Registrant issued a press release announcing Ms. Hirsch’s appointment to the Board.  A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.  The following exhibit is being furnished herewith:

Exhibit No. Description

99.1 Press Release of American Safety Insurance Holdings, Ltd. issued July 31, 2009.  The information set forth in Exhibit 99.1 is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	AMERICAN SAFETY INSURANCE HOLDINGS, LTD.
	Registrant
Date:  July 31, 2009	By:	/s/ Stephen R. Crim__
		Stephen R. Crim
		President/CEO

EX-99

 

American Safety Insurance Holdings, Ltd. Announces Appointment of

Marilyn V. Hirsch to Board of Directors

Hamilton, BERMUDA (July 31, 2009). American Safety Insurance Holdings, Ltd. (NYSE:ASI) announced today that Marilyn V. Hirsch has been appointed to serve on its Board of Directors and on the Finance Committee of the Board. Ms. Hirsch’s appointment fills the vacancy on the Board created by the departure from the Board of Frank Lackner. Ms. Hirsch will stand for election at the Company’s 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

“Ms. Hirsch brings a wealth of knowledge and experience which will contribute to our continued success,” said Stephen R. Crim, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Safety Insurance Holdings, Ltd. “We are pleased to have a professional with her extensive background in the capital markets, with a particular focus on the insurance industry, join our Board.”

Ms. Hirsch joins American Safety Insurance Holdings, Ltd. with more than 20 years of experience with international finance and acquisitions and she has extensive capital markets experience and insurance sector expertise. Since April 2009, she has served as Managing Director of 787 Capital Group LLC, a New York-based merchant banking and boutique advisory firm. Prior to joining 787, Ms. Hirsch served as Senior Vice President – Financing and M&A of Delek Capital Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Delek Group, an Israeli-based diversified energy, and insurance and finance conglomerate. Ms. Hirsch served on the Board of Directors and as Chair of the Audit Committee of the Board of the Republic Group, Inc until March, 2009. Prior to her positions with Delek, Ms. Hirsch served in a number of capacities, most recently as managing director, investment banking with a particular focus on the insurance industry, at Credit Suisse from 2000 to 2006. During her time with Credit Suisse, Ms. Hirsch was responsible for client relationships and senior deal executions in the insurance industry.

Ms. Hirsch received a Bachelor of Science, cum laude, in both Economics/Finance and Civil Engineering from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and her Masters Degree in Finance and Real Estate from the University of California in Berkley, California.

About Us:

American Safety Insurance Holdings, Ltd. (NYSE:ASI), a Bermuda holding company, offers innovative insurance solutions outside the U.S. in the reinsurance and alternative risk markets through its subsidiaries American Safety Reinsurance, Ltd. and American Safety Assurance, Ltd., and in the U.S. for specialty risks

and alternative risk markets through its program administrator, American Safety Insurance Services, Inc., and insurance company subsidiaries and affiliates American Safety Casualty Insurance Company, American Safety Indemnity Company and American Safety Risk Retention Group, Inc. As a group, ASI’s insurance subsidiaries and affiliates are rated "A" (Excellent) VIII by A.M. Best. For additional information, please visit www.asih.bm.

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Contact:
Julie L. McDonald	Stephen R. Crim
American Safety Administrative Services, Inc Media Relations	American Safety Insurance Holding, Ltd Investor Relations
(770) 485-4310                                                jmcdonald@amsafety.com	(800) 388-3647 scrim@amsafety.com