Endurance Reports Fourth Quarter 2008 Financial Results


PEMBROKE, Bermuda, Feb. 12, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:ENH) today reported net income of $16.9 million and $0.22 per diluted common share for the fourth quarter of 2008 versus net income of $152.5 million and $2.18 per diluted common share in the fourth quarter of 2007.

For the year ended December 31, 2008, net income was $98.6 million and $1.32 per diluted common share versus net income of $521.1 million and $7.17 per diluted common share for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Operating highlights for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 were as follows:



 * Gross premiums written of $235.6 million, a decrease of 15.2% over
   the same period in 2007;
 * Net premiums written of $180.1 million, a decrease of 16.4% from the
   fourth quarter of 2007;
 * Combined ratio of 83.5%, which included 9.5 percentage points of
   favorable prior year loss reserve development;
 * Net investment income of negative $4.6 million, a decrease of $69.9
   million over the same period in 2007; and
 * Operating income, which excludes after-tax realized investment gains
   and losses and foreign exchange gains and losses, of $60.0 million
   or $0.94 per diluted common share.

Operating highlights for the year ended December 31, 2008 were as follows:



 * Gross premiums written of $2,246.4 million, an increase of 26.1%
   over 2007;
 * Net premiums written of $1,784.3 million, an increase of 13.3% over
   2007;
 * Combined ratio of 93.5%, which included 8.6 percentage points of
   losses from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike and 8.9 percentage points of
   favorable prior year loss reserve development;
 * Net investment income of $130.2 million, a decrease of $151.1
   million over the same period in 2007;
 * Operating income, which excludes after-tax realized investment gains
   and losses and foreign exchange gains and losses, of $198.0 million
   or $2.91 per diluted common share;
 * Operating return on average common equity for the year of 8.5%;
 * Book value of $33.06 per diluted common share, down 5.7% since a
   year ago; and
 * $1.00 of dividends paid per common share during the year.

Kenneth J. LeStrange, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "The past year was a challenging one as catastrophe losses exceeded $20 billion for the insurance industry and global financial market turmoil created significant losses across all investment classes. Despite these challenges, Endurance performed well on an absolute and relative basis. Our prudent underwriting, investment and capital management strategies have allowed us to preserve our strong balance sheet and excellent liquidity, positioning us well to meet the needs of our clients and take advantage of market opportunities that emerge in 2009."

Operating Results

Gross and net premiums written decreased 15.2% and 16.4% in the fourth quarter of 2008 versus the same period in 2007, with declines in both our Insurance and Reinsurance segments. These declines resulted from a variety of factors, including our non-renewal of business that did not meet our underwriting requirements, rate reductions, increased client retentions and the absence of positive premium adjustments. Net premiums earned for the fourth quarter increased by $31.3 million or 7.8% from the same period in 2007, principally due to premiums earned on agriculture insurance business written throughout 2008 partially offset by declines in premiums earned on all lines in the reinsurance segment.

For the year ended December 31, 2008, gross and net premiums written increased 26.1% and 13.3% over 2007, due to growth in our Insurance segment that was partially offset by declines within the Reinsurance segment. Growth in our Insurance segment was driven by the addition of agriculture premiums written by ARMtech Insurance Services, Inc. and its affiliates ("ARMtech"), which was acquired at the end of 2007 and from targeted growth in our U.S. insurance operations. Declines in our Reinsurance segment for the year ended December 31, 2008 resulted principally from the non-renewal of business that failed to meet the Company's underwriting standards, increased client retentions, rate reductions and fewer positive premium adjustments in 2008. Net premiums earned for 2008 increased by $171.7 million or 10.8% from 2007 primarily due to increases in net written premiums.

The Company's combined ratio was 83.5% in the fourth quarter of 2008 and 93.5% for the full year. Endurance recorded favorable prior year loss reserve development for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2008 of $41.0 million and $156.5 million, compared to favorable prior year loss reserve development of $38.4 million and $159.4 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2007. Net favorable loss reserve development for the fourth quarter of 2008 resulted from lower than expected claims in the short tail, long tail and other specialty lines of the Insurance segment and the long tail and other specialty lines of the Reinsurance segment. Net favorable loss reserve development for the year ended December 31, 2008 resulted from lower than expected claims in the Insurance and Reinsurance segments in the short tail, long tail and other specialty lines.

Endurance's 2008 results included $148.0 million of losses, net of reinstatement premiums, from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, which added 8.6 percentage points to the Company's full year combined ratio. The Company's initial estimated losses related to these storms did not change materially from the third quarter of 2008. Endurance's results for the year ended December 31, 2008 also included the impact of a higher frequency of severe weather events, worse than expected growing conditions for major crops in the U.S., and losses due to declines in agricultural commodity prices.

For the year and quarter ended December 31, 2008, Endurance recorded net investment income of $130.2 million and a net investment loss of $4.6 million. The Company's fixed income investments, which includes fixed maturity investments, short term investments and preferred equity securities, which comprised 93.4% of the Company's investment portfolio as of December 31, 2008, continued to generate strong investment income for Endurance in the full year and fourth quarter of 2008. The Company's fixed income investments produced $229.7 million and $55.2 million of investment income in the year and quarter ended December 31, 2008, a decline of 3.9% and 9.1%, respectively, compared with the same periods in 2007. The Company has significantly shortened its fixed income portfolio duration through sales and the reinvestment of portfolio and operating cash flows into cash and other short term investments, generally guaranteed by the U.S. government.

For the year and quarter ended December 31, 2008, the Company recorded $111.6 million and $62.2 million of losses, respectively, related to its alternative investments and high yield loan mutual funds, compared to a gain of $21.3 million and a loss of $0.9 million in the fourth quarter and full year of 2007, respectively. Current year alternative investment and high yield loan mutual fund losses resulted from mark to market adjustments, primarily reflecting widening credit spreads and significant capital market volatility during 2008. The Company only invests directly in alternative investments and high yield loan mutual funds and does not invest in any fund of funds or feeder funds.

Insurance Segment

In the fourth quarter of 2008, the Insurance segment's gross and net premiums written decreased $20.2 million and $13.0 million, respectively, from the same period in 2007. The decline in premiums written by the Insurance segment resulted mainly from reduced workers' compensation premiums written due to non-renewals and reduced new business writings as well as reductions in agriculture insurance caused by year over year timing differences. These declines were partially offset by new business written in the Company's expanded U.S. and Bermuda insurance underwriting platforms.

For the full year ended December 31, 2008, the Insurance segment's gross and net premiums written increased $684.8 million and $428.6 million from 2007. The Insurance segment's premium growth was largely due to agriculture premiums written by ARMtech, resulting in $648.1 million of additional gross written premiums and $337.2 million of additional net earned premiums over 2007. The Company also experienced growth in 2008 in its property, casualty and professional lines from new business written by its U.S. insurance operations and from new professional lines business written by the its Bermuda insurance operations. Growth in the Insurance segment's gross premiums written for the year ended December 31, 2008 was partially offset by declines in 2008 in premiums related to the Company's workers' compensation, healthcare liability and casualty lines of businesses as compared to the same period in 2007, resulting from rate reductions and non-renewal of business that failed to meet the Company's underwriting standards. Based on current pricing considerations, increased competition and expected deterioration in future loss trends, the Company plans to cease writing California workers' compensation insurance policies at the end of February 2009.

Endurance's Insurance segment combined ratios were 93.6% and 96.6% for the fourth quarter and full year of 2008, versus combined ratios of 104.3% and 90.1% for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2007. The lower combined ratio for the fourth quarter of 2008 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2007 was driven by declines in the Insurance segment's acquisition expense and general and administrative expense ratios. Improvements in these ratios for the fourth quarter of 2008 resulted from higher earned premiums in the agriculture line of business, which benefits from third party commissions and expense reimbursements. Partially offsetting these declines was an increase in the net loss ratio from increased earned premiums in the agriculture line, which has a higher associated initial expected loss ratio than other lines of business in the Insurance segment.

The increase in the Insurance segment combined ratio for the year ended December 31, 2008 as compared to 2007 was driven predominantly by less favorable prior year reserve development than occurred in 2007 and the full year impact of the agriculture line. Although the Company's agriculture line of business generated underwriting profits in 2008, margins were adversely impacted by significant declines in commodity prices for certain agricultural products and severe weather that led to worse than expected growing conditions for major crops in the U.S. The increase in the Insurance segment's net loss ratio was partially offset by an improvement in the acquisition expense and general and administrative expense ratios for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to the same period in 2007. Improvement in these ratios resulted from growth in premiums in the agriculture line of business, which benefits from third party commissions and expense reimbursements.

Endurance's Insurance segment experienced favorable prior year loss reserve development of $24.4 million, or 10.3 percentage points for the fourth quarter and $71.0 million, or 7.7 percentage points, for the full year of 2008, compared to favorable prior year loss reserve development of $10.1 million, or 7.4 percentage points and $80.4 million, or 16.0 percentage points, for the same quarter and full year of 2007. The current periods' favorable prior year loss reserve development emerged in the short tail property, the long tail healthcare liability and the other agriculture lines, as claims in those lines have not emerged as originally estimated.

Reinsurance Segment

Total premiums written in Endurance's Reinsurance segment for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2008 were $42.1 million and $825.1 million, compared to $66.0 million and $1,068.1 million in the same periods in 2007. The decline in premiums written in the fourth quarter of 2008 was primarily experienced in the casualty and agriculture lines due to the absence of positive premium adjustments in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007. For the year ended December 31, 2008, total premiums written in the Reinsurance segment declined by $243.0 million compared to 2007, with decreases recorded in each of its lines of business. Premiums declined in the agriculture business line due to expected attrition stemming from the acquisition of ARMtech, which competes with many of the Company's agriculture reinsurance clients, and the non-renewal of contracts that no longer met the Company's underwriting standards. Declines in the Company's other reinsurance business lines resulted from the non-renewal of contracts that no longer met the Company's underwriting standards, changes in client retentions, rate reductions and reduced positive premium adjustments.

For the quarter and year ended December 31, 2008, the Reinsurance segment's combined ratios were 73.5% and 90.9%, versus 56.1% and 76.4% during the same periods in 2007. The combined ratio for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 increased from the same period in 2007 due to less favorable prior year reserve development than for the same period in 2007. The combined ratio for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 also increased due to pricing decreases and acquisition cost increases as a result of reduced earned premiums from the Agriculture reinsurance line, which has lower commission rates than other reinsurance lines. The Reinsurance segment's combined ratio for the year ended December 31, 2008 increased from the same period in 2007 due to increased levels of catastrophe losses, as the Company recorded combined losses, net of reinstatement premiums, of $148.0 million or 18.0 percentage points on the Reinsurance segment's combined ratio from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike as compared to 2007, which was impacted by $33.9 million of net losses or 3.1 combined ratio points due to Windstorm Kyrill.

The Reinsurance segment recorded $22.0 million or 11.1 percentage points of favorable prior year loss reserve development in the current quarter as compared to $34.8 million or 13.0 percentage points of favorable prior year loss reserve development in the fourth quarter of 2007. For the year ended December 31, 2008, the Reinsurance segment recorded $88.6 million or 10.4 percentage points of favorable prior year loss reserve development, compared to $74.4 million or 6.4 percentage points of favorable prior year loss reserve development for the same period in 2007. The favorable prior year loss reserve development resulted from lower than expected claims reported across the Reinsurance segment's lines of business for the year ended December 31, 2008.

The Reinsurance segment recorded increases in the acquisition expense and general and administrative expense ratios for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2008 as compared to the same periods in 2007. The increases in the acquisition expense ratios for the current periods were generally due to pronounced decreases in the agriculture line of business, which has lower acquisition expenses than the Company's other reinsurance lines. The increases in the general and administrative expense ratios for the fourth quarter and full year of 2008 resulted principally from declines in premiums earned.

Investments

Endurance recorded net investment income of $130.2 million and a net investment loss of $4.6 million for the year and quarter ended December 31, 2008. During the year and quarter ended December 31, 2008, the Company's net investment results included mark to market losses of $111.6 million and $62.2 million on alternative investments and high yield loan mutual funds included in other investments, as compared to a gain of $21.3 million and a loss of $0.9 million in the same periods in 2007. The investment income generated by the Company's fixed income investments declined by 3.9% and 9.1% for the full year and fourth quarter of 2008, as compared with the same periods in 2007. The ending book yield on the Company's fixed income portfolio and managed cash at December 31, 2008 was 4.45%, down from 5.15% at December 31, 2007 as a result of lower reinvestment rates during the current period and increased cash and cash equivalent balances held by the Company.

Endurance's fixed income investments of $3.9 billion, including fixed maturity investments and preferred equity securities, had an average credit quality of AAA as of December 31, 2008. The Company's cash and cash equivalents and short term investments at December 31, 2008 increased to $1.2 billion or by 102.1% over December 31, 2007. In the near term, the Company expects to continue investing its portfolio and operating cash flows in highly liquid, short duration high quality securities. To date, Endurance's fixed income investments have not been materially impacted by credit downgrades or defaults. Endurance's fixed income portfolio experienced an increase in net unrealized investment losses of $27.8 million during the fourth quarter of 2008, or less than 0.5% of Endurance's cash and invested assets, including net receivables on pending investment sales, as of December 31, 2008. In addition, the Company recorded net realized investment losses of $11.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2008, which included $41.1 million of losses from other-than-temporary impairments ("OTTI") and $29.3 million of net realized gains on sales of investments. For the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company recorded $57.4 million of net realized investment losses consisting of $82.1 million of OTTI losses, partially offset by $24.7 million of net realized gains on sales of investments. The Company's OTTI losses were primarily due to the widening of credit spreads experienced in the fixed income markets in the fourth quarter and full year of 2008. Endurance continues to record its fixed income investments at fair value, with differences between amortized cost and fair value reflected as a component of other comprehensive (loss) income, provided such differences are deemed to be temporary.

Foreign Exchange Gains and Losses

For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2008, the Company revalued its monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, which resulted in net foreign exchange losses of $40.7 million and $53.7 million, respectively, compared to $6.7 million and $8.0 million of net foreign exchange losses for the same periods in 2007. The current periods' net foreign exchange losses resulted from the strengthening of the U.S. dollar and weakening of the U.K. pound sterling compared to other currencies during 2008. The Company had offsetting net unrealized foreign exchange gains for the fourth quarter and full year of 2008 of $38.1 million and $54.8 million (2007 -- $7.1 million and $10.8 million), respectively, from the revaluation of its foreign currency invested assets included in the change in net unrealized holding (losses) gains on investments within other comprehensive (loss) income.

Capitalization and Shareholders' Equity

At December 31, 2008, Endurance's GAAP shareholders' equity was $2.2 billion or $33.06 per diluted common share, versus $2.5 billion or $35.05 per diluted common share at December 31, 2007, a decline of 5.7% in book value per share since a year ago. During the three months ended December 31, 2008, the Company repurchased approximately 0.7 million of its common shares and share equivalents for an aggregate repurchase price of $18.1 million. In 2008 the Company repurchased approximately 4.6 million of its common shares and share equivalents for an aggregate repurchase price of $152.7 million and paid dividends of $58.7 million or $1.00 per share.

Earnings Call

Endurance will host a conference call on February 13, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time to discuss its financial results. The conference call can be accessed via telephone by dialing (877) 672-9216 or (706) 634-9637 (international) and entering pass code: 68800182. Those who intend to participate in the conference call should register at least ten minutes in advance to ensure access to the call. A telephone replay of the conference call will be available through February 27, 2009 by dialing (800) 642-1687 or (706) 645-9291 (international) and entering the pass code: 68800182.

The public may access a live broadcast of the conference call at the "Investors" section of Endurance's website, www.endurance.bm.

A copy of Endurance's financial supplement for the fourth quarter of 2008 will be available on Endurance's website at www.endurance.bm shortly after the release of earnings.

Operating income, operating return on average common equity, operating income per dilutive common share, total premiums written and combined ratio are non-GAAP measures. Reconciliations of these measures to the appropriate GAAP measures are included in the attached tables.

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, workers' compensation, professional lines of insurance and property, catastrophe, casualty, agriculture, marine, aerospace, 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 and Poor's on our operating subsidiaries (other than American Agri-Business Insurance Company) and A- (Excellent) from A.M. Best for American Agri-Business Insurance Company. Endurance's 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 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 which include the words "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, developments in the world's financial and capital markets that could adversely affect the performance of Endurance's investment portfolio or access to capital, changes in the composition of Endurance's investment portfolio, competition, possible terrorism or the outbreak of war, the frequency or severity of unpredictable catastrophic events, changes in demand for insurance or reinsurance, rating agency actions, uncertainties in our reserving process, a change in our tax status, acceptance of our products, the availability of reinsurance or retrocessional coverage, retention of key personnel, political conditions, the impact of current regulatory investigations, changes in accounting policies, changes in general economic conditions and other factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and our Form 10-Q for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008.

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.



                   ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.

                      CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                (in thousands of United States dollars,
                 except share and per share amounts)

                                               Dec. 31,     Dec. 31,
                                                 2008         2007
                                             -----------  -----------
 Assets
 Cash and cash equivalents                   $ 1,061,994  $   567,825
 Fixed maturity investments available for
  sale, at fair value                          3,875,137    4,589,053
 Short term investments available for sale,
  at fair value                                  111,333       12,646
 Preferred equity securities, available
  for sale, at fair value                         25,360       58,537
 Other investments                               284,263      358,128
 Premiums receivable, net                        609,387      723,832
 Deferred acquisition costs                      160,870      168,968
 Securities lending collateral                   112,940      173,041
 Prepaid reinsurance premiums                    149,591      122,594
 Losses recoverable                              587,533      276,261
 Accrued investment income                        30,872       38,543
 Goodwill and intangible assets                  200,791      206,632
 Deferred tax assets                              20,691           --
 Other assets                                     71,407       64,000
                                             -----------  -----------
 Total Assets                                $ 7,302,169  $ 7,360,060
                                             ===========  ===========

 Liabilities
 Reserve for losses and loss expenses        $ 3,235,456  $ 2,892,224
 Reserve for unearned premiums                   885,488      855,085
 Net deposit liabilities                          58,622      108,943
 Securities lending payable                      115,603      173,041
 Reinsurance balances payable                    263,260      251,806
 Debt                                            447,468      448,753
 Deferred tax liability                               --          922
 Other liabilities                                88,989      117,027
                                             -----------  -----------
 Total Liabilities                             5,094,886    4,847,801
                                             -----------  -----------

 Shareholders' Equity
 Preferred shares
   Series A, non-cumulative - 8,000,000
    issued and outstanding (2007 -
    8,000,000)                                     8,000        8,000
 Common shares
   57,203,454 issued and outstanding
   (2007 - 60,364,488)                            57,203       60,364
 Additional paid-in capital                    1,029,363    1,165,300
 Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)
  income                                        (132,665)      57,725
 Retained earnings                             1,245,382    1,220,870
                                             -----------  -----------
 Total Shareholders' Equity                    2,207,283    2,512,259
                                             -----------  -----------

 Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity  $ 7,302,169  $ 7,360,060
                                             ===========  ===========

 Book Value per Common Share
 Dilutive common shares outstanding           60,718,312   65,978,030
 Diluted book value per common share(a)      $     33.06  $     35.05
                                             ===========  ===========

 Note: All financial information contained herein is unaudited,
 except the balance sheet data for the year ended December 31,
 2007, which was derived from Endurance's audited financial
 statements.

 (a) Excludes the $200 million liquidation value of the preferred
     shares.


                    ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.                
                                                                      
                    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME                 
                                                                      
                 (in thousands of United States dollars,              
                   except share and per share amounts)                
                                                                      
                    Quarter Ended             For the Year Ended     
              --------------------------  ---------------------------
               December 31,  December 31,  December 31,  December 31, 
                    2008         2007          2008          2007     
              ------------- ------------  -------------  ------------ 
 Revenues                                                             
 Gross                                                                
  premiums                                                            
  written      $    235,622  $    277,750  $  2,246,420  $  1,781,115 
               ============  ============  ============  ============
 
 Net premiums                                                         
  written           180,095       215,468     1,784,290     1,574,975 
 Change in                                                            
  unearned                                                            
  premiums          251,633       184,994       (17,805)       19,825 
               ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------ 
                                                                      
 Net premiums                                                         
  earned            431,728       400,462     1,766,485     1,594,800 
 Other                                                                
  under-                                                              
  writing                                                             
  (loss)                                                              
  income             (2,454)        9,044        (3,973)        1,602 
 Net                                                                  
  investment                                                          
  (loss)                                                              
  income             (4,594)       65,310       130,176       281,276 
 Net                                                                  
  realized                                                            
  losses on                                                           
  investments       (11,800)       (4,125)      (57,366)      (18,302)
               ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Total                                                                
  revenues          412,880       470,691     1,835,322     1,859,376 
               ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------ 
                                                                      
 Expenses                                                             
 Losses and                                                           
  loss                                                                
  expenses          225,103       144,852     1,135,431       749,081 
 Acquisition                                                          
  expenses           79,306        89,501       299,913       307,576 
 General and                                                          
  admini-                                                             
  strative                                                            
  expenses           56,059        64,655       216,365       217,269 
 Amortization                                                         
  of                                                                  
  intangibles         2,762         1,905        10,675         5,286 
 Net foreign                                                          
  exchange                                                            
  losses             40,741         6,729        53,704         7,970 
 Interest                                                             
  expense             7,568         7,532        30,171        30,125 
               ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Total                                                                
  expenses          411,539       315,174     1,746,259     1,317,307 
               ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------      
 Income                                                               
  before                                                              
  income                                                              
  taxes               1,341       155,517        89,063       542,069 
 Income tax                                                           
  benefit                                                             
  (expense)          15,523        (2,987)        9,561       (20,962)
               ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
 Net income          16,864       152,530        98,624       521,107 
 Preferred                                                            
  dividends          (3,875)       (3,875)      (15,500)      (15,500)
               ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Net income                                                           
  available                                                           
  to common                                                           
  shareholders $     12,989  $    148,655  $     83,124  $    505,607 
               ============  ============  ============  ============

 Per share                                                            
  data                                                                
 Weighted                                                             
  average                                                             
  number of                                                           
  common and                                                          
  common                                                              
  equivalent                                                          
  shares                                                              
 outstanding:                                                         
 Basic           56,093,432    62,225,248    57,755,959    64,696,669 
 Diluted         59,616,251    68,326,005    62,795,085    70,539,647 
 Basic                                                                
  earnings                                                            
  per common                                                          
  share        $       0.23  $       2.39  $       1.44  $       7.82  
               ============  ============  ============  ============ 
 Diluted                                                              
  earnings                                                            
  per common                                                          
  share        $       0.22  $       2.18  $       1.32  $       7.17 
               ============  ============  ============  ============ 


                     ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.                
                                                                      
                            RESULTS BY SEGMENT                        
                (in thousands of United States dollars)               
                                                                      
                                                                      
                      For the quarter ended December 31, 2008         
           -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      
                                      Total                           
                                     Company    Deposit      Reported 
            Insurance  Reinsurance  Subtotal  Accounting(1)   Totals  
           -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                
 Revenues                                                              
 Gross                                                                 
  premiums                                                             
  written   $ 196,323   $  42,053   $ 238,376   $  (2,754)  $ 235,622   
 Ceded                                                                
  premiums                                                            
  written     (54,857)       (670)    (55,527)         --     (55,527)
            ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   --------- 
 Net                                                                  
  premiums                                                            
  written   $ 141,466   $  41,383   $ 182,849   $  (2,754)  $ 180,095 
            ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   --------- 
 Net                                                                  
  premiums                                                            
  earned    $ 236,726   $ 198,361   $ 435,087   $  (3,359)  $ 431,728 
 Other                                                                
  under-                                                              
  writing                                                             
  loss             --          --          --      (2,454)     (2,454)
            ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   --------- 
 Total                                                                
  under-                                                              
  writing                                                             
  revenues  $ 236,726   $ 198,361   $ 435,087   $  (5,813)  $ 429,274 
            ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   --------- 
                                                                      
 Expenses                                                             
 Net                                                                  
  losses                                                              
  and loss                                                            
  expenses  $ 168,137   $  53,962   $ 222,099   $   3,004   $ 225,103 
 Acquisition                                                          
  expenses     27,601      61,728      89,329     (10,023)     79,306 
 General                                                              
  and                                                                 
  admini-                                                             
  strative                                                            
  expenses     25,904      30,155      56,059          --      56,059 
            ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   --------- 
            $ 221,642   $ 145,845   $ 367,487   $  (7,019)  $ 360,468 
            ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   
 Under-                                                               
  writing                                                             
  income    $  15,084   $  52,516   $  67,600   $   1,206   $  68,806 
            =========   =========   =========   =========   ========= 
                                                                      
 Net loss                                                             
  ratio          71.0%       27.2%       51.1%                   52.1%
 Acquisition                                                          
  expense 
  ratio          11.7%       31.1%       20.5%                    8.4% 
 General                                                              
  and                                                                 
  admini-                                                             
  strative                                                            
  expense        
  ratio          10.9%       15.2%       12.9%                   13.0%
            ---------   ---------   ---------               ---------
 Combined                                                             
  ratio          93.6%       73.5%       84.5%                   83.5%
            =========   =========   =========               =========
                                                                      
                                                                      
 (1)  Reconciles the Company's underwriting results by segment to the 
      Company's financial statement presentation.                     


                     ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.                
                                                                      
                           RESULTS BY SEGMENT                         
                (in thousands of United States dollars)               
                                                                      
                                                                      
                        For the quarter ended December 31, 2007       
          ------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      
                                        Total     Deposit             
                                       Company   Accounting   Reported
             Insurance   Reinsurance   Subtotal     (1)        Totals 
          ------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      
 Revenues                                                              
 Gross                                                                 
  premiums                                                             
  written   $ 216,510   $  66,039   $ 282,549   $  (4,799)  $ 277,750 
 Ceded                                                                
  premiums                                                            
  written     (62,034)       (248)    (62,282)         --     (62,282)
            ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   --------- 
 Net                                                                  
  premiums                                                            
  written   $ 154,476   $  65,791   $ 220,267   $  (4,799)  $ 215,468 
            ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   --------- 
 Net                                                                  
  premiums                                                            
  earned    $ 137,060   $ 267,772   $ 404,832   $  (4,370)  $ 400,462 
 Other                                                                
  under-                                                              
  writing                                                             
  income           --          --          --       9,044       9,044 
            ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   --------- 
 Total                                                                
  under-                                                              
  writing                                                             
  revenues  $ 137,060   $ 267,772   $ 404,832   $   4,674   $ 409,506 
            ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   --------- 
                                                                      
 Expenses                                                             
 Net losses                                                           
  and loss                                                            
  expenses  $  93,553   $  42,134   $ 135,687   $   9,165   $ 144,852 
 Acquis-                                                              
  ition                                                               
  expenses     22,145      70,641      92,786      (3,285)     89,501 
 General                                                              
  and                                                                 
  admini-                                                             
  strative                                                            
  expenses     27,200      37,455      64,655          --      64,655 
            ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   --------- 
            $ 142,898   $ 150,230   $ 293,128   $   5,880   $ 299,008 
            ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   --------- 
 Under-                                                               
  writing                                                             
  (loss)                                                              
  income    $  (5,838)  $ 117,542   $ 111,704   $  (1,206)  $ 110,498 
            =========   =========   =========   =========   ========= 
                                                              
 Net loss                                                             
  ratio          68.3%       15.7%       33.5%                   36.2% 
 Acquis-                                                              
  ition                                                               
  expense                                                             
  ratio          16.2%       26.4%       22.9%                   22.3%
 General                                                              
  and                                                                 
  admini-                                                             
  strative                                                            
  expense        
  ratio          19.8%       14.0%       16.0%                   16.2%
 Combined                                                             
  ratio         104.3%       56.1%       72.4%                   74.7%
            =========   =========   =========               =========
                                                                      
 (1)  Reconciles the Company's underwriting results by segment to the 
      Company's financial statement presentation.                     


                   ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.

                          RESULTS BY SEGMENT

                (in thousands of United States dollars)


                        For the year ended December 31, 2008
               -------------------------------------------------------
                                       Total
                                       Company    Deposit     Reported
               Insurance  Reinsurance  Subtotal Accounting(1)  Totals
               -------------------------------------------------------
 Revenues
 Gross
  premiums
  written      $1,426,366  $ 825,145  $2,251,511  $ (5,091) $2,246,420
 Ceded
  premiums
  written        (445,768)   (16,362)   (462,130)       --    (462,130)
               ----------  ---------  ----------  --------  ----------
 Net premiums
  written      $  980,598  $ 808,783  $1,789,381  $ (5,091) $1,784,290
               ----------  ---------  ----------  --------  ----------
 Net premiums
  earned       $  920,389  $ 855,072  $1,775,461  $ (8,976) $1,766,485
 Other
  underwriting
  loss                 --         --          --    (3,973)     (3,973)
               ----------  ---------  ----------  --------  ----------
 Total
  underwriting
  revenues     $  920,389  $ 855,072  $1,775,461  $(12,949) $1,762,512
               ----------  ---------  ----------  --------  ----------

 Expenses
 Net losses
  and loss
  expenses     $  681,735  $ 459,413  $1,141,148  $ (5,717) $1,135,431
 Acquisition
  expenses        103,783    204,912     308,695    (8,782)    299,913
 General and
  administrat-
  ive expenses    103,211    113,154     216,365        --     216,365
               ----------  ---------  ----------  --------  ----------
               $  888,729  $ 777,479  $1,666,208  $(14,499) $1,651,709
               ----------  ---------  ----------  --------  ----------
 Underwriting
  income       $   31,660  $  77,593  $  109,253  $  1,550  $  110,803
               ==========  =========  ==========  ========  ==========

 Net loss
  ratio              74.1%      53.7%       64.3%                 64.3%
 Acquisition
  expense
  ratio              11.3%      24.0%       17.4%                 17.0%
 General and
  administrat-
  ive expense        11.2%      13.2%       12.2%                 12.2%
  ratio
               ----------  ---------  ----------            ----------
 Combined
  ratio              96.6%      90.9%       93.9%                 93.5%
               ==========  =========  ==========  ========  ==========

 (1) Reconciles the Company's underwriting results by segment to the
     Company's financial statement presentation.


                   ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.

                          RESULTS BY SEGMENT

                (in thousands of United States dollars)


                        For the year ended December 31, 2007
              --------------------------------------------------------
                                       Total      Deposit
                                      Company    Accounting  Reported
              Insurance  Reinsurance  Subtotal      (1)       Totals
              --------------------------------------------------------
 Revenues
 Gross
  premiums
  written     $ 741,556  $1,068,114  $1,809,670  $(28,555)  $1,781,115
 Ceded
  premiums
  written     (189,586)    (16,554)   (206,140)         --   (206,140)
              ---------  ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------
 Net
  premiums
  written     $ 551,970  $1,051,560  $1,603,530  $(28,555)  $1,574,975
              ---------  ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------
 Net premiums
  earned      $ 502,082  $1,159,261  $1,661,343  $(66,543)  $1,594,800
 Other
  underwriting
  income             --          --          --      1,602       1,602
              ---------  ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------
 Total
  underwriting
  revenues    $ 502,082  $1,159,261  $1,661,343  $(64,941)  $1,596,402
              ---------  ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------

 Expenses
 Net losses
  and loss
  expenses    $ 290,213  $  502,804  $  793,017  $(43,936)  $  749,081
 Acquisition
  expenses       72,044     255,091     327,135   (19,559)     307,576
 General and
  administrative
  expenses       89,996     127,273     217,269         --     217,269
              ---------  ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------
              $ 452,253  $  885,168  $1,337,421  $(63,495)  $1,273,926
              ---------  ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------
 Underwriting
  income
  (loss)      $  49,829  $  274,093  $  323,922  $ (1,446)  $  322,476
              =========  ==========  ==========  =========  ==========

 Net loss
  ratio           57.8%       43.4%       47.7%                  47.0%
 Acquisition
  expense
  ratio           14.4%       22.0%       19.7%                  19.3%
 General and
  administrative
  expense
  ratio           17.9%       11.0%       13.1%                  13.6%
              ---------  ----------  ----------             ----------
 Combined
  ratio           90.1%       76.4%       80.5%                  79.9%
              =========  ==========  ==========             ==========

 (1) Reconciles the Company's underwriting results by segment to the
     Company's financial statement presentation.


                   ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.

                     CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL RATIOS

 As Reported
                        ----------------------------------------------
                              For the quarter ended December 31
                        ----------------------------------------------
                          Insurance      Reinsurance        Total
                        --------------  --------------  --------------
                         2008    2007    2008    2007    2008    2007

 Loss ratio              71.0%   68.3%   27.2%   15.7%   52.1%   36.2%
 Acquisition expense
  ratio                  11.7%   16.2%   31.1%   26.4%   18.4%   22.3%
 General and
  administrative
  expense ratio          10.9%   19.8%   15.2%   14.0%   13.0%   16.2%
                        ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 Combined ratio          93.6%  104.3%   73.5%   56.1%   83.5%   74.7%
                        ======  ======  ======  ======  ======  ======


 Effect of Prior Year Net Loss Reserve Development

 Favorable / (Unfavorable)

                        ----------------------------------------------
                              For the quarter ended December 31
                        ----------------------------------------------
                          Insurance      Reinsurance        Total
                        --------------  --------------  --------------
                         2008    2007    2008    2007    2008    2007

 Loss ratio              10.3%    7.4%   11.1%   13.0%    9.5%    9.6%
                        ======  ======  ======  ======  ======  ======


 Net of Prior Year Net Loss Reserve Development

                        ----------------------------------------------
                              For the quarter ended December 31
                        ----------------------------------------------
                          Insurance      Reinsurance        Total
                        --------------  --------------  --------------
                         2008    2007    2008    2007    2008    2007

 Loss ratio              81.3%   75.7%   38.3%   28.7%   61.6%   45.8%
 Acquisition
  expense ratio          11.7%   16.2%   31.1%   26.4%   18.4%   22.3%
 General and
  administrative
  expense ratio          10.9%   19.8%   15.2%   14.0%   13.0%   16.2%
                        ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
 Combined ratio         103.9%  111.7%   84.6%   69.1%   93.0%   84.3%
                        ======  ======  ======  ======  ======  ======
 The combined ratio is the sum of the loss, acquisition expense
 and general and administrative expense ratios. Endurance presents
 the combined ratio as a measure that is commonly recognized as a
 standard of performance by investors, analysts, rating agencies
 and other users of its financial information. The combined ratio,
 excluding prior year net loss reserve development, enables
 investors, analysts, rating agencies and other users of its
 financial information to more easily analyze Endurance's results
 of underwriting activities in a manner similar to how management
 analyzes Endurance's underlying business performance. The
 combined ratio, excluding prior year net loss reserve
 development, should not be viewed as a substitute for the
 combined ratio.


                    ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.

                      CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL RATIOS

 As Reported

                       --------------------------------------------
                             For the year ended December 31
                       --------------------------------------------
                        Insurance      Reinsurance        Total
                       ------------    ------------    ------------
                       2008    2007    2008    2007    2008    2007

 Loss ratio            74.1%   57.8%   53.7%   43.4%   64.3%   47.0%
 Acquisition expense
  ratio                11.3%   14.4%   24.0%   22.0%   17.0%   19.3%
 General and
  administrative
  expense ratio        11.2%   17.9%   13.2%   11.0%   12.2%   13.6%
                       ----    ----    ----    ----    ----    ----
 Combined ratio        96.6%   90.1%   90.9%   76.4%   93.5%   79.9%
                       ====    ====    ====    ====    ====    ====



 Effect of Prior Year Net Loss Reserve Development

 Favorable / (Unfavorable)

                --------------------------------------------
                       For the year ended December 31
                --------------------------------------------
                Insurance        Reinsurance        Total
                -----------      -----------     -----------
                2008   2007      2008   2007     2008   2007

 Loss ratio      7.7%  16.0%     10.4%   6.4%     8.9%  10.0%
                ====   ====      ====   ====     ====   ====


 Net of Prior Year Net Loss Reserve Development

                     ------------------------------------------------
                               For the year ended December 31
                     ------------------------------------------------
                       Insurance        Reinsurance         Total
                     --------------    --------------   -------------
                      2008     2007     2008     2007    2008    2007

 Loss ratio           81.8%    73.8%    64.1%    49.8%   73.2%   57.0%
 Acquisition expense
  ratio               11.3%    14.4%    24.0%    22.0%   17.0%   19.3%
 General and
  administrative
  expense ratio       11.2%    17.9%    13.2%    11.0%   12.2%   13.6%
                     -----    -----    -----    -----   -----   -----
 Combined ratio      104.3%   106.1%   101.3%    82.8%  102.4%   89.9%
                     =====    =====    =====    =====   =====   =====

 The combined ratio is the sum of the loss, acquisition expense and
 general and administrative expense ratios. Endurance presents the
 combined ratio as a measure that is commonly recognized as a standard
 of performance by investors, analysts, rating agencies and other users
 of its financial information. The combined ratio, excluding prior year
 net loss reserve development, enables investors, analysts, rating
 agencies and other users of its financial information to more easily
 analyze Endurance's results of underwriting activities in a manner
 similar to how management analyzes Endurance's underlying business
 performance. The combined ratio, excluding prior year net loss reserve
 development, should not be viewed as a substitute for the combined
 ratio.


                   ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.

                            RECONCILIATION

                   TOTAL PREMIUMS WRITTEN BY SEGMENT

                (in thousands of United States dollars)

 The following is a reconciliation of Endurance's total premiums
 written including gross premiums written and deposit premiums (a
 non-GAAP measure) to gross premiums written for the quarters and year
 ended December 31, 2008 and 2007:

                      Quarter Ended               Quarter Ended
                    December 31, 2008           December 31, 2007
               --------------------------  ---------------------------
               Gross               Total    Gross               Total
               Premiums Deposit  Premiums  Premiums  Deposit   Premiums
               Written  Premiums  Written  Written   Premiums  Written
               --------------------------  ---------------------------

 Insurance
  Property     $ 40,291       -- $ 40,291  $ 37,905       --  $ 37,905
  Casualty       27,810       --   27,810    25,851       --    25,851
  Healthcare
   liability     10,704       --   10,704    15,256       --    15,256
  Workers'
   compensation  37,752       --   37,752    73,054       --    73,054
  Agriculture    30,126       --   30,126    42,242       --    42,242
  Professional
   lines         49,640       --   49,640    22,202       --    22,202
               -------- -------- --------  -------- --------  --------
  Subtotal
   Insurance   $196,323       -- $196,323  $216,510       --  $216,510
               -------- -------- --------  -------- --------  --------

 Reinsurance
  Casualty     $  2,445 $    573 $  3,018  $ 11,024 $  4,277  $ 15,301
  Property       10,352    1,283   11,635    13,919      293    14,212
  Catastrophe    13,986       --   13,986    13,499       --    13,499
  Agriculture     1,298       --    1,298     7,230       --     7,230
  Aerospace
   and Marine     9,920      814   10,734    11,526      134    11,660
  Surety and
   other
   specialty      1,298       84    1,382     4,042       95     4,137
               -------- -------- --------  -------- --------  --------
  Subtotal
   Reinsurance $ 39,299 $  2,754 $ 42,053  $ 61,240 $  4,799  $ 66,039
               -------- -------- --------  -------- --------  --------

 Total         $235,622 $  2,754 $238,376  $277,750 $  4,799  $282,549
               ======== ======== ========  ======== ========  ========




 Total premiums written is a non-GAAP internal performance measure used
 by Endurance in the management of its operations. Total premiums
 written represents gross premiums written and deposit premiums, which
 are premiums on contracts that are deemed as either transferring only
 significant timing risk or transferring only significant underwriting
 risk and thus are required to be accounted for under GAAP as deposits.
 Endurance believes these amounts are significant to its business and
 underwriting process and excluding them distorts the analysis of its
 premium trends. In addition to presenting gross premiums written
 determined in accordance with GAAP, Endurance believes that total
 premiums written enables investors, analysts, rating agencies and
 other users of its financial information to more easily analyze
 Endurance's results of underwriting activities in a manner similar to
 how management analyzes Endurance's underlying business performance.
 Total premiums written should not be viewed as a substitute for gross
 premiums written determined in accordance with GAAP.


                  ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.

                           RECONCILIATION

                  TOTAL PREMIUMS WRITTEN BY SEGMENT

               (in thousands of United States dollars)

          Year Ended December 31, 2008   Year Ended December 31, 2007
         ------------------------------ ------------------------------

           Gross               Total      Gross               Total
          Premiums  Deposit   Premiums   Premiums  Deposit   Premiums
          Written   Premiums  Written    Written   Premiums  Written
         ------------------------------ ------------------------------

 Insurance
  Property $159,408       --   $159,408   $134,161       --   $134,161

  Casualty  120,867       --    120,867    125,124       --    125,124
  Health-
   care
   liability 80,692       --     80,692     92,361       --     92,361
  Workers'
   compen-
   sation   232,828       --    232,828    262,228       --    262,228
  Agricul-
   ture     690,318       --    690,318     42,242       --     42,242
  Profess-
   ional
   lines    142,253       --    142,253     85,440       --     85,440
         ---------- -------- ---------- ---------- -------- ----------
  Subtotal
   Insur-
   ance  $1,426,366       -- $1,426,366   $741,556       --   $741,556
         ---------- -------- ---------- ---------- -------- ----------

 Reinsurance
  Casualty $161,583 $    870   $162,453   $187,472  $13,560   $201,032
  Property  192,652    3,197    195,849    214,999   13,797    228,796
  Catastro-
   phe      315,262       --    315,262    345,187       --    345,187
  Agricul-
   ture      21,483       --     21,483    131,126      199    131,325
  Aerospace
   and
   Marine    80,521      813     81,334     91,672    1,210     92,882
  Surety
   and
  other
  Specialty  48,553      211     48,764    69,103      (211)    68,892
         ---------- -------- ---------- ---------- -------- ----------
  Subtotal
   Reinsur-
   ance    $820,054   $5,091   $825,145 $1,039,559  $28,555 $1,068,114
         ---------- -------- ---------- ---------- -------- ----------

 Total   $2,246,420   $5,091 $2,251,511 $1,781,115  $28,555 $1,809,670
         ========== ======== ========== ========== ======== ==========

 Total premiums written is a non-GAAP internal performance measure used
 by Endurance in the management of its operations. Total premiums
 written represents gross premiums written and deposit premiums, which
 are premiums on contracts that are deemed as either transferring only
 significant timing risk or transferring only significant underwriting
 risk and thus are required to be accounted for under GAAP as deposits.
 Endurance believes these amounts are significant to its business and
 underwriting process and excluding them distorts the analysis of its
 premium trends. In addition to presenting gross premiums written
 determined in accordance with GAAP, Endurance believes that total
 premiums written enables investors, analysts, rating agencies and
 other users of its financial information to more easily analyze
 Endurance's results of underwriting activities in a manner similar
 to how management analyzes Endurance's underlying business
 performance. Total premiums written should not be viewed as a
 substitute for gross premiums written determined in accordance with
 GAAP.


                   ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.

                            RECONCILIATIONS

                (in thousands of United States dollars,
                 except share and per share amounts)

 The following is a reconciliation of Endurance's net income and net 
 income per diluted common share to operating income, operating income 
 per diluted common share and annualized operating return on average 
 common equity (all non-GAAP measures) for the quarter and year ended  
 December 31, 2008 and 2007:

                          Quarter Ended              Year Ended
                    ------------------------  ------------------------
                          December 31,               December 31,   
                       2008         2007         2008         2007
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
 Net income         $    16,864  $   152,530  $    98,624  $   521,107
 Add after-tax
  items:
   Net foreign
    exchange losses      32,129        4,175       44,925        3,258
   Net realized
    losses on
    investments          11,035        4,003       54,490       16,585
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
 Operating income
  before preferred
  dividends         $    60,028  $   160,708  $   198,039  $   540,950
   Preferred
    dividends            (3,875)      (3,875)     (15,500)     (15,500)
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
 Operating income
  available to
  common
  shareholders      $    56,153  $   156,833  $   182,539  $   525,450
                    ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========

 Weighted average
  dilutive common
  shares             59,616,251   68,326,005   62,795,085   70,539,647
                    ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========


 Operating income
  per diluted share $      0.94  $      2.30  $      2.91  $      7.45
                    ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========

 Average common
  equity(a)         $ 2,038,000  $ 2,318,940  $ 2,159,771  $ 2,205,067


 Operating return on
  average common
  equity                    2.8%         6.8%         8.5%        23.8%
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
 Annualized
  operating return
  on average common
  equity                   11.0%        27.1%         8.5%        23.8%
                    ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========

 Diluted per common
  share data
 Net income         $    16,864  $   152,530  $    98,624  $   521,107
  Preferred
   dividends             (3,875)      (3,875)     (15,500)     (15,500)
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
 Net income
  available to
  common
  shareholders      $    12,989  $   148,655  $    83,124  $   505,607
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------

 Return on average
  common equity,
  Net income                0.6%         6.4%         3.8%        22.9%
                    ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========
 Annualized return
  on average common
  equity, Net income        2.6%        25.6%         3.8%        22.9%
                    ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========
 
 (a) Average common equity is calculated as the arithmetic average of
 the beginning and ending common equity balances for the stated period,
 which excludes the $200 million liquidation value of the preferred
 shares.

 Operating income and operating income per diluted common share are
 internal performance measures used by Endurance in the management of
 its operations. Operating income per diluted common share represents
 operating income divided by weighted average dilutive common shares.
 Operating income represents after-tax operational results excluding,
 as applicable, after-tax net realized capital gains or losses and
 after-tax net foreign exchange gains or losses because the amount of
 these gains or losses is heavily influenced by, and fluctuates in
 part, according to the availability of market opportunities. Endurance
 believes these amounts are largely independent of its business and
 underwriting process and including them distorts the analysis of
 trends in its operations. In addition to presenting net income and net
 income per dilutive common share determined in accordance with GAAP,
 Endurance believes that showing operating income and operating income
 per dilutive common share enables investors, analysts, rating agencies
 and other users of its financial information to more easily analyze
 Endurance's results of operations in a manner similar to how
 management analyzes Endurance's underlying business performance.
 Operating income and operating income per dilutive common share should
 not be viewed as substitutes for GAAP net income and net income per
 dilutive common share, respectively.

 Endurance presents return on equity as a measure that is commonly
 recognized as a standard of performance by investors, analysts, rating
 agencies and other users of its financial information.


            

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