Raises GBP 150m subord. debt

Beazley Group PLC 04 October 2006 Press Release Beazley raises £150 million subordinated debt London, UK, October 4, 2006 - Beazley Group plc ('Beazley'), announces it has conditionally agreed to raise £150m of Lower Tier Two long term subordinated debt, through the issue of Fixed / Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2026 ('the Issue'). The proceeds of the Issue will be used to replace an existing short term facility and to support opportunities to grow the business as they arise. The Issue is callable on 17 October 2016 and bears an initial interest at the rate of 7.25 per cent, payable annually in arrear, representing a spread of 265 basis points over the benchmark gilt. Following the call date the interest rate resets at 328 basis points above the London interbank offer rate ('LIBOR'), payable quarterly in arrear. The Issue is expected to be assigned a rating of BBB- by Standard & Poor's and to be listed on the London Stock Exchange. Andrew Horton, Group Finance Director said; 'We are enthusiastic about our debut in the debt markets and are delighted that it was so heavily over subscribed. The £150m of subordinated debt, which this Issue will raise, will further strengthen our balance sheet. Andrew Beazley, Chief Executive said; 'The rating Beazley received from Standard & Poor's and investor demand for the issue are a positive endorsement of the direction the business is taking. The insurance industry is going through an exciting phase and a well-structured balance sheet will support future development.' J P Morgan Cazenove and The Royal Bank of Scotland acted as Joint Lead Managers on the Issue, which is subject to certain conditions, and is to settle and close on or before 17 October 2006. Stabilisation: FSA / ICMA ENDS For further information, please contact: Beazley Group plc Andrew Beazley T +44 (0)20 7667 0623 Andrew Horton T +44 (0)20 7667 0623 Finsbury Simon Moyse T +44 (0)20 7251 3801 Notes to Editors Based in London, UK, Beazley Group, plc (BEZ.L), founded in 1986, and floated on the LSE in 2002, is the parent company of global, specialist insurance businesses with operations in the UK, US and Hong Kong. Beazley manages two Lloyd's syndicates (Syndicate 2623 and Syndicate 623) with aggregate underwriting capacity in 2006 of £830m (US$1.5bn). Both syndicates are rated A by A.M. Best. In the US, Beazley's underwriters focus on writing specialist insurance products in the admitted market, backed by Beazley Insurance Company, Inc., an admitted carrier in all 50 states; and the Beazley syndicates at Lloyd's. Beazley Insurance Company is rated A- by A.M. Best. Beazley is a market leader in many of its chosen lines including professional indemnity, commercial property, marine, reinsurance, and personal lines. For more information please go to: www.beazley.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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