Validus Holdings, Ltd. Announces Executive Appointment in Its Reinsurance Business

Charles Cooper Named Head of North American Property Catastrophe Reinsurance Underwriting of Validus Reinsurance, Ltd.

• Press Release
• Source: Validus Holdings, Ltd.
• On 4:10 pm EDT, Tuesday September 8, 2009

HAMILTON, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Validus Holdings, Ltd. (NYSE: VR - News) (“Validus”) announced today that Charles F.A. Cooper has been appointed Head of North American Property Catastrophe Reinsurance Underwriting of Validus’ wholly-owned subsidiary Validus Reinsurance, Ltd. (“Validus Re”), effective immediately.

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Symbol	Price	Change
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Conan Ward, Chief Executive Officer of Validus Reinsurance, Ltd., said, “We are excited by the addition of Charles to the Validus team. With over fourteen years of international underwriting experience, Charles will be an important asset to the Company as we build on our track record of superior underwriting performance. I look forward to working with Charles to serve our clients and capitalize on opportunities for growth.”

Prior to his appointment at Validus Re, Mr. Cooper served as Senior Vice President, Vice President and Underwriter of XL Re Ltd., where he was responsible for co-managing and underwriting the U.S. and international property business. Prior to joining XL Re in October 2005, Mr. Cooper held the positions of Vice President, Assistant Vice President and Casualty Treaty Underwriter at XL Reinsurance America, Inc. Mr. Cooper, who is a Bermudian citizen, received an MBA degree from Columbia University and BA degree from the University of Colorado.

About Validus Holdings, Ltd.

Validus Holdings, Ltd. is a provider of reinsurance and insurance, conducting its operations worldwide through two wholly-owned subsidiaries, Validus Reinsurance, Ltd. (“Validus Re”) and Talbot Holdings Ltd. (“Talbot”). Validus Re is a Bermuda based reinsurer focused on short-tail lines of reinsurance. Talbot is the Bermuda parent of the specialty insurance group primarily operating within the Lloyd’s insurance market through Syndicate 1183. For more information about Validus Holdings, Ltd. please visit www.validusre.bm.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may include forward-looking statements, both with respect to us and our industry, that reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Statements that include the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “project,” “anticipate,” “will,” “may” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements address matters that involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements and, additionally, you should not place undue reliance on any such statements. We believe that these factors include, but are not limited to, the following: 1) unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events; 2) rating agency actions; 3) adequacy of Validus’ risk management and loss limitation methods; 4) cyclicality of demand and pricing in the insurance and reinsurance markets; 5) Validus’ limited operating history; 6) Validus’ ability to implement its business strategy during “soft” as well as “hard” markets; 7) adequacy of Validus’ loss reserves; 8) continued availability of capital and financing; 9) retention of key personnel; 10) competition; 11) potential loss of business from one or more major insurance or reinsurance brokers; 12) Validus’ ability to implement, successfully and on a timely basis, complex infrastructure, distribution capabilities, systems, procedures and internal controls, and to develop accurate actuarial data to support the business and regulatory and reporting requirements; 13) general economic and market conditions (including inflation, volatility in the credit and capital markets, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates); 14) the integration of Talbot, IPC and other businesses Validus may acquire or new business ventures Validus may start; 15) the effect on Validus’ investment portfolios of changing financial market conditions including inflation, interest rates, liquidity and other factors; 16) acts of terrorism or outbreak of war; 17) availability of reinsurance and retrocessional coverage; and 18) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the amalgamation, including as a result of failure or delay in integrating the businesses of Validus and IPC, as well as management’s response to any of the aforementioned factors.

The foregoing review of important factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the Risk Factors included in our most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and other documents on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by us will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, us or our business or operations. We undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Investors:
Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Jon Levenson, 441-278-9000
Senior Vice President
or
Media:
Sard Verbinnen & Co
Jamie Tully/Jonathan Doorley
212-687-8080
or
College Hill
Roddy Watt/Tony Friend
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