Attached files
file | filename |
---|---|
8-K - FORM 8-K - ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD | c14276e8vk.htm |
Exhibit 99.1
Contact Investor Relations Phone: (441) 278-0988 Email: investorrelations@endurance.bm |
ENDURANCE PROVIDES INITIAL ESTIMATE OF LOSSES FROM AUSTRALIAN FLOODS AND NEW ZEALAND EARTHQUAKE
PEMBROKE, Bermuda March 17, 2011 Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:ENH), a
Bermuda-based specialty provider of property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, today
announced that its initial loss estimate related to the floods which occurred in Queensland,
Australia in January of 2011 is $15 million and that its initial loss estimate related to the
earthquake which occurred in the vicinity of Christchurch, New Zealand on February 21, 2011 is $45
million. Endurance believes its losses related to Cyclone Yasi are not material.
Endurances loss estimates are pre-tax and net of reinsurance and reinstatement premiums.
Endurances loss estimates are largely derived from a combination of its proprietary catastrophe
modeling, standard industry models, a review of in-force contracts and preliminary indications from
clients and brokers. To date, reported claims as a result of the Australian floods, Cyclone Yasi
and New Zealand earthquake have been limited; accordingly, actual losses may ultimately differ
materially from our initial estimated losses.
Endurance has commenced the process of estimating its expected claims from the earthquake and
tsunami that occurred in northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011. However, given the limited
information received from its clients and brokers to date and the significant uncertainties
regarding the extent and nature of the damages resulting from the earthquake and tsunami, Endurance
believes it is premature at this time to estimate its losses from this event.
About Endurance Specialty Holdings
Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. is a global specialty provider of property and casualty insurance
and reinsurance. Through its operating subsidiaries, Endurance writes property, casualty,
healthcare liability, agriculture and professional lines of insurance and property, catastrophe,
casualty, aerospace and marine, and surety and other specialty lines of reinsurance. We maintain
excellent financial strength as evidenced by the ratings of A (Excellent) from A.M. Best (XV size
category) and A (Strong) from Standard & Poors. Endurances headquarters are located at Wellesley
House, 90 Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke HM 08, Bermuda and its mailing address is Endurance Specialty
Holdings Ltd., Suite No. 784, No. 48 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda. For more
information about Endurance, please visit http://www.endurance.bm.
Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements in this press release may include forward-looking statements which reflect
our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Such statements may
include forward-looking statements both with respect to us in general and the insurance and
reinsurance sectors specifically (both as to underwriting and investment matters). Statements
regarding our loss estimates with respect to the most recent Australian floods, Cyclone Yasi and
the most recent New Zealand earthquake and statements which include the words should, expect,
intend, plan, believe, project, anticipate, seek, will, and similar statements of a
future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements in this press release for
purposes of the U.S. federal securities laws or otherwise. We intend these forward-looking
statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
All forward-looking statements address matters that involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly,
there are or may be important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those
indicated in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the
effects of competitors pricing policies, greater frequency or severity of claims and loss
activity, changes in market conditions in the agriculture insurance industry, termination of or
changes in the terms of the U.S. multiple peril crop insurance program, a decreased demand for
property and casualty insurance or reinsurance, changes in the availability, cost or quality of
reinsurance or retrocessional coverage, our inability to renew business previously underwritten or
acquired, our inability to maintain our applicable financial strength ratings, our inability to
effectively integrate acquired operations, uncertainties in our reserving process, changes to our
tax status, changes in insurance regulations, reduced acceptance of our existing or new products
and services, a loss of business from and credit risk related to our broker counterparties,
assessments for high risk or otherwise uninsured individuals, possible terrorism or the outbreak of
war, a loss of key personnel, political conditions, changes in insurance regulation, changes in
accounting policies, our investment performance, the valuation of our invested assets, a breach of
our investment guidelines, the unavailability of capital in the future, developments in the worlds
financial and capital markets and our access to such markets, government intervention in the
insurance and reinsurance industry, illiquidity in the credit markets, changes in general economic
conditions and other factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2010. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no
obligation publicly to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new
information, future developments or otherwise.
# # #