Q1 2011 Reported Losses and Japan Update

LANCASHIRE HOLDINGS LIMITED 15 March 2011 Hamilton, Bermuda First Quarter Reported Losses and Japanese Earthquakes and Tsunami Update Lancashire Holdings Limited (the "Company") announces that to date in the first quarter of 2011 the Company's operating subsidiaries have pre-tax net losses estimated to be in the range of US$45 million to US$55 million (net of reinstatement premiums and reinsurance) for prospective property losses arising from the 22 February 2011 Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake, the recent Australian weather related events (the New Zealand and Australian events combined account for estimated losses in the range of US$15 million to US$25 million), an energy loss in the UK sector of the North Sea, and losses in the group's terrorism portfolio arising from the recent political unrest in Egypt. Actual losses may differ from the estimated range. The Company is monitoring its potential underwriting exposures in Japan and the Pacific region to the earthquakes and tsunami centred off the north east coast of Japan, which took place on 11 March 2011, and which have resulted in the tragic loss of life and significant property damage. The Company believes that it is premature to estimate a meaningful indicative reserving range for these events or the resulting impact on first quarter results, reinstatement premiums or market pricing. A further announcement will be made once information becomes available to make a more informed estimate of the expected losses. For further information, please contact: Lancashire Holdings Limited Christopher Head +44 (0)20 7264 4145 chris.head@lancashiregroup.com Jonny Creagh-Coen +44 (0)20 7264 4066 jonny.creagh-coen@lancashiregroup.com Haggie Financial +44 (0)20 7417 8989 Peter Rigby (Peter Rigby mobile 07803851426) About Lancashire Lancashire, through its UK and Bermuda-based insurance subsidiaries, is a global provider of specialty insurance products. The Group companies carry the following ratings: Financial Long Term Issuer Outlook Strength Rating (2) Rating (1) A.M. Best A- BBB- Positive Standard & Poor's A- BBB Stable Moody's A3 Baa2 Stable (1)Financial Strength Rating applies to Lancashire Insurance Company Limited and Lancashire Insurance Company (UK) Limited (2) Long Term Issuer Rating applies to Lancashire Holdings Limited Lancashire has capital in excess of $1 billion and its Common Shares trade on the main market of the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol LRE. Lancashire is headquartered at Power House, 7 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda. The mailing address is Lancashire Holdings Limited, P.O. Box HM 2358, Hamilton HM HX, Bermuda. For more information on Lancashire, visit the Company's website at www.lancashiregroup.com Lancashire Insurance Company (UK) Limited is regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the UK. Lancashire Marketing Services (Middle East) Limited is authorised and regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority. Lancashire Insurance Company Limited is regulated by the Bermuda Monetary Authority in Bermuda. NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: CERTAIN STATEMENTS AND INDICATIVE PROJECTIONS (WHICH MAY INCLUDE MODELED LOSS SCENARIOS) MADE THAT ARE NOT BASED ON CURRENT OR HISTORICAL FACTS ARE FORWARD-LOOKING IN NATURE INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, STATEMENTS CONTAINING THE WORDS 'BELIEVES', 'ANTICIPATES', 'PLANS', 'PROJECTS', 'FORECASTS', 'GUIDANCE', 'INTENDS', 'EXPECTS', 'ESTIMATES', 'PREDICTS', 'MAY', 'CAN', 'WILL', 'SEEKS', 'SHOULD', OR, IN EACH CASE, THEIR NEGATIVE OR COMPARABLE TERMINOLOGY. ALL STATEMENTS OTHER THAN STATEMENTS OF HISTORICAL FACTS INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THOSE REGARDING THE GROUP'S FINANCIAL POSITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, LIQUIDITY, PROSPECTS, GROWTH, CAPITAL MANAGEMENT PLANS, BUSINESS STRATEGY, PLANS AND OBJECTIVES OF MANAGEMENT FOR FUTURE OPERATIONS (INCLUDING DEVELOPMENT PLANS AND OBJECTIVES RELATING TO THE GROUP'S INSURANCE BUSINESS) ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS INVOLVE KNOWN AND UNKNOWN RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND OTHER IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE THE ACTUAL RESULTS, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE GROUP TO BE MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM FUTURE RESULTS, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED BY SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. THESE FACTORS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: THE NUMBER AND TYPE OF INSURANCE AND REINSURANCE CONTRACTS THAT WE WRITE; THE PREMIUM RATES AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF SUCH RENEWALS WITHIN OUR TARGETED BUSINESS LINES; THE LOW FREQUENCY OF LARGE EVENTS; UNUSUAL LOSS FREQUENCY; THE IMPACT THAT OUR FUTURE OPERATING RESULTS, CAPITAL POSITION AND RATING AGENCY AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS HAVE ON THE EXECUTION OF ANY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES; THE POSSIBILITY OF GREATER FREQUENCY OR SEVERITY OF CLAIMS AND LOSS ACTIVITY THAN OUR UNDERWRITING, RESERVING OR INVESTMENT PRACTICES HAVE ANTICIPATED; THE RELIABILITY OF, AND CHANGES IN ASSUMPTIONS TO, CATASTROPHE PRICING, ACCUMULATION AND ESTIMATED LOSS MODELS; LOSS OF KEY PERSONNEL; A DECLINE IN OUR OPERATING SUBSIDIARIES' RATING WITH A.M. BEST COMPANY AND/OR OTHER RATING AGENCIES; INCREASED COMPETITION ON THE BASIS OF PRICING, CAPACITY, COVERAGE TERMS OR OTHER FACTORS; A CYCLICAL DOWNTURN OF THE INDUSTRY; THE IMPACT OF A DETERIORATING CREDIT ENVIRONMENT CREATED BY THE FINANCIAL MARKETS; A RATING DOWNGRADE OF, OR A MARKET DECLINE IN, SECURITIES IN OUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO; CHANGES IN GOVERNMENTAL REGULATIONS OR TAX LAWS IN JURISDICTIONS WHERE LANCASHIRE CONDUCTS BUSINESS; LANCASHIRE OR ITS BERMUDIAN SUBSIDIARY BECOMING SUBJECT TO INCOME TAXES IN THE UNITED STATES OR THE UNITED KINGDOM; AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR LOSS LIMITATION METHODS. ANY ESTIMATES RELATING TO LOSS EVENTS INVOLVE THE EXERCISE OF CONSIDERABLE JUDGEMENT AND REFLECT A COMBINATION OF GROUND-UP EVALUATIONS, INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO DATE FROM BROKERS AND INSUREDS, MARKET INTELLIGENCE, INITIAL AND/ OR TENTATIVE LOSS REPORTS AND OTHER SOURCES. JUDGEMENTS IN RELATION TO LOSS ARISING FROM NATURAL CATASTROPHE AND MAN MADE EVENTS INVOLVE COMPLEX FACTORS POTENTIALLY CONTRIBUTING TO THESE TYPES OF LOSS, AND WE CAUTION AS TO THE PRELIMINARY NATURE OF THE INFORMATION USED TO PREPARE ANY SUCH ESTIMATES. THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS SPEAK ONLY AS AT THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. LANCASHIRE HOLDINGS LIMITED EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY OBLIGATION OR UNDERTAKING (SAVE AS REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH ANY LEGAL OR REGULATORY OBLIGATIONS (INCLUDING THE RULES OF THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE)) TO DISSEMINATE ANY UPDATES OR REVISIONS TO ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS TO REFLECT ANY CHANGES IN THE GROUP'S EXPECTATIONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES ON WHICH ANY SUCH STATEMENT IS BASED.
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