Ratings from A.M. Best

Hiscox PLC
19 December 2005

For immediate release
19 December 2005

                        Hiscox Ratings from A.M. Best

A.M. Best Co. has awarded Hiscox Insurance Company (Bermuda) Limited ('Hiscox
Bermuda') a financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) with a stable outlook.
A.M. Best also affirmed the A- (Excellent) rating for the Hiscox Insurance
Company Limited and awarded Hiscox Syndicate 33 at Lloyd's an A (Excellent)
syndicate rating.

The A.M. Best rating for Hiscox's new entity in Bermuda was granted on the
strength of Hiscox Bermuda's 'excellent' capitalisation and 'excellent
prospective underwriting results' and the 'Hiscox group's strong business
profile'.

Bronek Masojada, Chief Executive of Hiscox commented: 'We set out to achieve an
A- (Excellent) rating for Bermuda and I am pleased we have been able to do this
in less than two months. We can now take full advantage of the renewal season.
Our Bermudan business complements the work we are doing in the Insurance Company
and at Lloyd's and the ratings reflect this.'

                                     ENDS

For more information:

Hiscox plc
Bronek Masojada        Chief Executive              020 7448 6012

Rebecca Olejnik        Corporate Communications     020 7448 6332

Hiscox Bermuda
Rob Childs             Chief Executive              [phone]

The Maitland Consultancy
Suzanne Bartch                                      020 7379 5151

Notes to editors

Hiscox plc is a specialist insurance group listed on the London Stock Exchange
where it has a market capitalisation of circa £850 million. There are four main
underwriting parts of the Group - Syndicate 33 at Lloyd's, UK Retail,
International Retail and Bermuda. Syndicate 33 underwrites mainly
internationally traded business in the London Market - generally large or
complex business which needs to be shared with other insurers or needs the
international licences of Lloyd's. The UK Retail business offers a wide range of
specialist insurance for professionals and business customers, as well as high
net worth individuals. It has regional offices in Birmingham, Bristol,
Colchester, Glasgow, Leeds, London and Maidenhead. The International Retail
business has offices in Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Guernsey, Madrid, Munich,
New York and Paris. The European offices write mainly high value household
business and some specialist professional indemnity business. The Guernsey
office underwrites kidnap and ransom business and fine art. Hiscox Bermuda
writes a wide spread of US and international property reinsurance business and a
number of internal Hiscox Group reinsurances. For further information, go to
www.hiscox.com






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