Chilean Earthquake Update - Preliminary Loss Es...
Lancashire Holdings Limited
24 March 2010
Hamilton, Bermuda
Chilean Earthquake Update - Preliminary Loss Estimates
Lancashire Holdings Limited ("Lancashire") today announced that it estimates
its net losses before tax from the earthquake in Chile and subsequent
aftershocks range from approximately US$65 million to US$125 million including
the sum of gross claims and claims expenses, reinsurance recoveries and
reinstatement premiums.
Lancashire has exposure to risks in Chile in the following classes: property
retrocession, property direct and facultative, property catastrophe, marine and
onshore energy.
Loss information after a severe earthquake can take longer to obtain than for
other events, particularly in the property retrocession portfolio which
accounts for the majority of Lancashire's exposure. Lancashire's estimate is
based on a market loss of US$6 billion to US$10 billion and the best available
information obtained to date from its client base. As additional information
emerges Lancashire's actual ultimate net loss from the Chile earthquake may
vary materially from this preliminary estimate.
Lancashire does not believe it has any material exposure to losses caused by
European windstorm Xynthia, or to losses from any other major catastrophe
events that have occurred so far in the first quarter of 2010.
Lancashire expects to recommence its previously announced share repurchase
programme, in accordance with its stated intention of managing capital to
enhance shareholder return.
For further information, please contact:
Lancashire Holdings Limited
Jonny Creagh-Coen +44 (0)20 7264 4066
Greg Lunn +1 441 278 8953
Haggie Financial +44 (0)20 7417 8989
Peter Rigby
Henny Breakwell
About Lancashire
Lancashire, through its UK and Bermuda-based insurance subsidiaries, is a
global provider of specialty insurance products. Its insurance subsidiaries
carry the Lancashire group rating of A minus (Excellent) from A.M. Best with a
stable outlook. 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
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
CERTAIN STATEMENTS AND INDICATIVE PROJECTIONS MADE, OR TO BE MADE FOLLOWING
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, 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 AND CREDIT CRISIS; 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 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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