Castelnau Group Regulatory News (CGL)

12 Jul 2006 12:26

Catlin Group Limited12 July 2006 CATLIN US ESTABLISHES NEW YORK OFFICE NEW YORK - Catlin Group Limited ('CGL': London Stock Exchange), theinternational speciality property/casualty insurer and reinsurer, announces thatCatlin US has established an underwriting office in New York. The New York office will be staffed by an 11-member professional liabilityunderwriting team, headed by Senior Vice President John Van Decker. He and theother members of the team have joined Catlin US from Quanta US Holdings Inc. The team will underwrite various classes of professional liability and directors& officers (D&O) liability insurance. The professional liability classes includecoverage for financial institutions, real estate agents, lawyers, accountantsand other professionals. Catlin US, which is headquartered in Atlanta, underwrites specialty classes ofproperty/casualty insurance for US clients. Catlin US has also recently acquiredan admitted property/casualty insurance company that will soon beginunderwriting business under the Catlin brand. Besides the New York and Atlantaoffices, Catlin US also has offices in Houston, New Orleans and San Francisco. Richard Banas, chief executive officer of Catlin US, said: "I am delighted that John Van Decker and his experienced team of underwritingprofessionals have joined Catlin to establish our New York office. Members ofthe team have worked together for many years, and have established a verysuccessful track record. Catlin is already well known in the US as anunderwriter of healthcare liability insurance, and the skills and expertise ofour New York team will strengthen Catlin's position in the broader professionalliability insurance market." John Van Decker was formerly president of the Professional Liability Division ofQuanta U.S. Holdings Inc, responsible for all forms of professional liability, D&O liability and fiduciary liability products. Prior to joining Quanta, he heldvarious management positions at CNA Financial Corp. and for AmericanInternational Group Inc. - ends - For more information contact: Media Relations:James Burcke, Tel: +44 (0)20 7458 5710Head of Communications, London Mobile: +44 (0)7958 767 738 E-mail: james.burcke@catlin.com Investor Relations: William Spurgin, Tel: +44 (0)20 7458 5726 Head of Investor Relations, London Mobile: +44 (0)7710 314 365 E-mail: william.spurgin@catlin.com Brokers:John Van Decker Tel: (212) 618 1338Senior Vice President, New York E-mail: john.vandecker@catlin.com Notes to editors: 1. The Catlin Group, headquartered in Bermuda, is an international specialist property/casualty insurer and reinsurer writing more than 30 classes of business worldwide. Catlin wrote gross premiums of $1.4 billion in 2005. Catlin shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: CGL). 2. Catlin operates four underwriting platforms: • The Catlin Syndicate at Lloyd's of London (Syndicate 2003), which is one of the largest syndicates at Lloyd's based on 2006 premium capacity of £450 million. It is a recognised leader of numerous classes of specialty insurance and reinsurance. • Catlin Bermuda (Catlin Insurance Company Ltd.), which underwrites property treaty and casualty treaty reinsurance and property and casualty insurance. • Catlin UK (Catlin Insurance Company (UK) Ltd.), which specialises in underwriting commercial non-life insurance for UK clients. It also writes other classes of business written by the Catlin Syndicate. • Catlin US, which encompasses all of Catlin's operations in the United States. Catlin US includes American Indemnity Company, which was acquired in May 2006 and is being renamed Catlin Insurance Company Inc. The Catlin Syndicate, Catlin Bermuda and Catlin UK have financial strength ratings of 'A' (Excellent) from A.M. Best Company. Catlin Bermuda and Catlin UK have insurance financial strength ratings of 'A-' (Strong) from Standard & Poor's; the Catlin Syndicate has a Lloyd's Syndicate Assessment of '4-' (Low Dependency) from Standard & Poor's. 3. Catlin also operates offices worldwide which allow Catlin underwriters to work closely with local policyholders and brokers. The offices are located in the United States (Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans, New York and San Francisco), Canada (Toronto), Australia (Sydney), Singapore, Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), Hong Kong, Germany (Cologne), Belgium (Antwerp) and Guernsey. Catlin UK has regional offices in Glasgow, Leeds, Derby, Birmingham and Watford. 4. More information about Catlin can be found on the Group's website: www.catlin.com. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange