Half Yearly Report

Date : 08/25/2009 @ 2:01AM
Source : UK Regulatory (RNS & others)
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Half Yearly Report

 

TIDMHSX 
 
RNS Number : 9327X 
Hiscox Ltd 
25 August 2009 
 
? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HISCOX LTD 
Interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2009 
 
 
Another record profit 
 
 
Hamilton, Bermuda (25 August 2009) - Hiscox Ltd (LSE: HSX), the international 
specialist insurer, today announces its interim results for the half year ended 
30 June 2009. 
 
 
+------------------------------------+-----------------+------------------+ 
|                                    |         H1 2009 |          H1 2008 | 
+------------------------------------+-----------------+------------------+ 
| Gross premiums written             |       GBP906.0m |        GBP639.4m | 
+------------------------------------+-----------------+------------------+ 
| Net premiums earned                |       GBP565.2m |        GBP486.8m | 
+------------------------------------+-----------------+------------------+ 
| Profit before tax                  |       GBP141.4m |        GBP109.2m | 
+------------------------------------+-----------------+------------------+ 
| Profit before tax and FX*          |       GBP243.7m |        GBP114.9m | 
+------------------------------------+-----------------+------------------+ 
| Earnings per share                 |           33.2p |            21.7p | 
+------------------------------------+-----------------+------------------+ 
| Interim dividend per share         |            4.5p |            4.25p | 
+------------------------------------+-----------------+------------------+ 
| Net asset value per share          |          259.3p |           222.1p | 
+------------------------------------+-----------------+------------------+ 
| Group combined ratio               |           88.3% |            79.7% | 
+------------------------------------+-----------------+------------------+ 
| Group combined ratio before        |           79.5% |            81.0% | 
| monetary FX                        |                 |                  | 
+------------------------------------+-----------------+------------------+ 
| Return on equity                   |           27.5% |            21.8% | 
+------------------------------------+-----------------+------------------+ 
 
Financial highlights 
 
 
  *  Record interim pre-tax profit up by 29.5% to GBP141.4m (2008: GBP109.2m) 
  *  Gross written premiums increased 41.7% to GBP906.0m (2008: GBP639.4m) 
  *  Earnings per share up 53.0% to 33.2p (2008: 21.7p) 
  *  Interim dividend increased by 5.9% to 4.5p (2008: 4.25p) in line with the 
  Group's progressive dividend policy 
  *  Improved combined ratio before monetary FX of 79.5% (2008: 81.0%) 
  *  Strong annualised return on investments of 7.0% (2008: 1.6%) 
  *  Return on equity 27.5% (2008: 21.8%) 
 
 
 
*excludes foreign exchange losses arising on monetary items of GBP42.8m (2008 : 
GBP9.6m profit) and includes an uplift of GBP59.5m to adjust for the impact of 
the non retranslation of non monetary items (2008 : GBP15.3m), as described in 
note 19. 
 
 
Operational highlights 
 
 
  *  All three divisions: Hiscox Global Markets, Hiscox International and Hiscox UK 
  and Europe saw increases in GWP of 41%, 72% and 24%, respectively 
  *  Management strengthened to support profitable growth across all geographies 
  *  Experienced Hiscox USA team set for steady growth 
 
 
 
Robert Hiscox, Chairman, Hiscox Ltd, commented: 
"This is a great result considering it is after significant accounting losses 
from foreign exchange differences during the period. I am writing this in 
Bermuda as the island battens down the hatches with the onset of Hurricane Bill, 
but our catastrophe account is well able to withstand a normal hurricane season. 
Good underwriting and investing has helped to keep our long term strategy firmly 
in place, which is to continue to build a first class, balanced, international 
insurance business to the benefit of our customers, shareholders and staff." 
 
 
ENDS 
 
 
Contacts 
 
 
+-----------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ 
| Hiscox                                        |                                     | 
+-----------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ 
| Charles Dupplin, Company Secretary, Bermuda   | +1 441 278 8300                     | 
+-----------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ 
| Kylie O'Connor, Director of Communications,   | +44 (0) 20 7448 6656                | 
| London                                        |                                     | 
+-----------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ 
|                                               |                                     | 
+-----------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ 
| Maitland                                      | +44 (0) 20 7379 5151                | 
+-----------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ 
| Suzanne Bartch                                |                                     | 
+-----------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ 
| Richard Farnsworth                            |                                     | 
+-----------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ 
  Notes to editors 
 
 
About Hiscox 
Hiscox, headquartered in Bermuda, is a specialist insurance group listed on the 
London Stock Exchange (LSE:HSX). There are three main underwriting parts of the 
Group - Hiscox London Market, Hiscox UK and Europe and Hiscox International. 
Hiscox London Market underwrites mainly internationally traded business in the 
London Market - generally large or complex business which needs to be shared 
with other insurers or needs the international licences of Lloyd's. Hiscox UK 
and Hiscox Europe offer a range of specialist insurance for professionals and 
business customers, as well as high net worth individuals. Hiscox International 
includes operations in Bermuda, Guernsey and USA. Hiscox Insurance Company 
Limited, Hiscox Underwriting Limited and Hiscox Syndicates Ltd are regulated by 
the Financial Services Authority. 
 
 
For further information, visit www.hiscox.com. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chairman's statement 
 
 
Another record first half year result reinforces the strength of the Hiscox 
business and its resilience to the continuing international financial turmoil. 
This was achieved, despite adverse currency fluctuations, by strong underwriting 
results from Global Markets, Bermuda and Guernsey and by greatly improved 
investment returns. 
 
 
Insurance rates remain very strong in the obvious catastrophe prone areas. 
However, they are weaker in non-catastrophe business as underwriters worldwide 
seek diversity, and those who have reduced their catastrophe exposures seek to 
replace the income. Competition is normal and disappears only occasionally for a 
short while following an abnormal event - but you would think that the financial 
crisis and credit crunch was such an event. Hiscox has a good business mix for 
these market conditions with around half our account in the high rate areas, and 
with our specialist emphasis giving us an edge in our regional businesses. 
 
 
Results 
Record profits before tax for the half year to 30 June 2009 of GBP141.4 million 
(2008: GBP109.2 million). Gross written premiums have increased to GBP906.0 
million (2008: GBP639.4 million). Net earned premium increased to GBP565.2 
million (2008: GBP486.8 million). The combined ratio increased to 88.3% (2008: 
79.7%) and decreased before monetary FX to 79.5% (2008: 81.0%). Earnings per 
share increased to 33.2p (2008: 21.7p) and net assets per share rose to 259.3p 
(2008: 222.1p). 
 
 
The rise in net asset value since the year end has been achieved despite a 
considerable reduction from the strengthening Pound against the US Dollar. We 
are in the middle of the hurricane season and the financial markets continue to 
be challenging, but this strong start to the year bodes well. 
 
 
Dividend, balance sheet and capital management 
In line with our policy of progressive dividend increases, the Board has 
approved an increase in the interim dividend of 5.9% to 4.5p per share (2008: 
4.25p per share) which will be paid on 6 October 2009 to shareholders on the 
register at the close of business on 4 September 2009. 
 
 
The Group is in a strong financial position with no significant changes to the 
balance sheet since the 2008 year end. Following our successful share buyback 
last year, we have not made any further purchases this year as the share price 
rightly moved above net asset value. We remain focussed on generating a high 
return on our equity and growing the net asset value per share for our 
shareholders. In that regard, we did not raise equity earlier in the year as we 
have sufficient capital to take advantage of the opportunities we are currently 
pursuing. 
 
 
Overall comment 
The general insurance industry has weathered the financial storm well (with some 
notable exceptions). Apart from some modest rights issues (and it is usually 
better to have money put into existing players than into new ones), 
exceptionally little capital has entered the industry so we are not assaulted by 
the usual fresh capacity full of optimism but empty of experience. However, 
despite what should be a firming market due to shortage of capital, some 
existing players are competing for non-catastrophe prone business to an 
unnecessary extent. We are in a hard market for any business exposed to 
catastrophes and a weaker market in standard non-catastrophe lines. The strength 
of our business is its balance which enables us currently to profit from the 
high catastrophe rates in a large part of our account, whilst keeping our tinder 
dry on the non-catastrophe business and focusing on our specialist areas in 
which we have competitive advantages. 
 
 
Our regional businesses have generally performed well, but Europe has suffered 
from some large individual losses which have distorted figures in the short 
term. The strategy remains firmly in place to grow those businesses to balance 
the internationally traded large and catastrophe-exposed business. We continued 
to make a big push into the USA acquiring new staff and opening new offices. The 
near break-even result there is extremely encouraging considering the costs of 
setting up and is a testament to their underwriting. 
 
 
In our investment portfolio, David Astor, our chief investment officer, held his 
nerve and his faith that our investments would weather the credit crisis has 
been rewarded. 
 
 
Hiscox Global Markets 
This division uses the global licences, distribution network and credit rating 
available through Lloyd's to serve clients throughout the world. It has 
underwriting bases in London, Paris, New York and San Francisco. 
 
 
+----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+ 
| Profit before tax                | GBP77.3 million (2008: GBP80.4 million)            | 
+----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+ 
| Gross written premiums           | GBP485.4 million (2008: GBP344.3 million)          | 
+----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+ 
| Combined ratio                   | 88.7% (2008: 75.7%)                                | 
+----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+ 
| Combined ratio before monetary   | 70.6% (2008: 76.0%)                                | 
| FX                               |                                                    | 
+----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+ 
 
 
GWP increased by 41% in Sterling and 11% at static exchange rates. This has been 
driven by the strong reinsurance and energy rates, offset by caution on property 
and global errors and omissions where we wanted higher prices. 
 
 
A strong profit, albeit less than last year at the same time due to the effect 
of foreign exchange, last year's lower 2008 rates earning through and some 
losses on political risk business, mitigated by reserve releases from the 
Professional Indemnity and Marine accounts on older underwriting years. The 
combined ratio has also been affected by the weakening of the US Dollar since 
the year end and the resulting foreign exchange loss. Stripping out foreign 
exchange, the combined ratio improved from 76.0% to 70.6%. 
 
 
As usual, I am writing this in the middle of the wind season, and Mother Nature 
likes to be unpredictable. I read that El Nino is back which is bad for local 
flooding and droughts, but reduces the likelihood of Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico 
hurricanes. 
 
 
The capacity of Syndicate 33 will be increased to GBP1 billion for 2010 (2009: 
GBP750 million). In addition, we manage two smaller syndicates, Cougar Syndicate 
6104 (with a capacity of GBP43 million in 2009) supported fully by third-party 
capital to underwrite catastrophe business, and Syndicate 3624 (with a capacity 
of GBP80 million in 2009) supported entirely by Hiscox capital to take business 
from our new US expansion. 
 
 
Hiscox International 
This division covers Bermuda, the USA and Guernsey. 
 
 
+----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+ 
| Profit before tax                | GBP71.5 million (2008: GBP20.3 million)            | 
+----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+ 
| Gross written premiums           | GBP200.6 million (2008: GBP117.0 million)          | 
+----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+ 
| Combined ratio                   | 62.6% (2008: 84.6%)                                | 
+----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+ 
| Combined ratio before monetary   | 72.3% (2008: 86.1%)                                | 
| FX                               |                                                    | 
+----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+ 
 
 
Bermuda: Gross written premiums increased 74% including the effect of the 
strengthening dollar since June last year, or 32% at static exchange rates. The 
underwriters took advantage of hardening rates when in the first half last year 
they were cutting back due to weakening rates. 
 
 
Guernsey: Gross written premiums increased by 61% including currency 
fluctuations and 22% without, helped by the new Marine Piracy business. A 
partnership between the Kidnap team in Guernsey and the London Marine team 
pioneered a marine piracy policy in rapid response to the need in the Gulf of 
Aden with great success. 
 
 
USA: Gross written premiums grew 75% in Sterling or 33% in original currency. 
The quality of Ed Donnelly and his team's underwriting has shown up already with 
the release of reserves cautiously made in his first years of 2006-7, in 
particular from the Miscellaneous Errors and Omissions, Allied Healthcare and 
Technology and Media accounts. Work continues apace to obtain licences to 
underwrite admitted business through our own insurance company, Hiscox Insurance 
Company Inc., in addition to the surplus lines business we can underwrite 
through Syndicate 33 and Syndicate 3624. 
 
 
A substantial proportion of our business has always come from the USA but been 
written in London. We are now building a significant on-shore business there 
with some excellent new people and some seasoned warriors from London. 
 
 
Hiscox UK and Europe 
This segment covers our regional businesses throughout the UK and mainland 
Europe. 
 
 
+----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+ 
| Profit before tax                | GBP4.5 million (2008: GBP16.3 million)             | 
+----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+ 
| Gross written premiums           | GBP220.1 million (2008: GBP178.0 million)          | 
+----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+ 
| Combined ratio                   | 105.7% (2008: 86.3%)                               | 
+----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+ 
| Combined ratio before monetary   | 102.4% (2008: 90.4%)                               | 
| FX                               |                                                    | 
+----------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+ 
 
 
UK: GWP increased by a strong 20%, and did well to have an improved result on 
last year despite the January freeze losses in the household account. 
 
 
We continue to build the brand, this year with extensive print, poster and 
online advertising (but not on TV). This continues to generate good business 
with growth of our direct business up around 50% at the half year. Our marketing 
campaign also benefits the broker market not only from the fast increasing brand 
awareness but also by reinforcing the message that we sell on service and not 
price. 
 
 
The UK is leading the drive in our regional businesses to cut costs as, although 
the underwriting ratios are good, reducing the cost of doing business through 
operating efficiency and scale can add significantly to the profit. 
 
 
Europe: GWP increased by 32% year on year including currency fluctuations or 11% 
without. Our European offices looked set fair at the last year end for future 
profitable growth. During the period they have had a series of large, unrelated 
losses which have had a bad short term effect on the figures. Whilst not 
significant in terms of the whole Group, they are disappointing to the European 
teams, but under the new leadership of Pierre-Olivier Desaulle, I am confident 
their disciplined underwriting will have them back on profit track in no time. 
 
 
Investments 
Assets under management at 30 June 2009 totalled GBP2,379 million (2008: 
GBP1,931 million) and the yield for the half year was 7% annualised (2008: 
1.6%), giving an investment return on financial assets of GBP85.4 million (2008: 
GBP16.5 million). 
 
 
After the extraordinary investment challenges of 2008 and the first quarter of 
2009, it is satisfactory to report a healthy return for the first half of the 
year. We held on to solid investments which were marked down heavily at the 
depths of the credit crisis, and they have recovered sharply. 
 
 
The safest investments of cash and government securities are now offering very 
poor returns, but we have to remain cautious which will reduce investment 
yields. In the current environment, we prefer credit risk to interest rate risk 
and have taken advantage of attractive spreads to increase our exposure to 
investment grade corporate bonds. Duration remains short as the next move in 
interest rates is likely to be up. Our equity portfolio is modest and has 
outperformed the broader indices comfortably but we are unlikely to add to it 
meaningfully while the outlook is still gloomy. Warren Buffett's analogy that 
"we may have got past Pearl Harbour but we are still fighting a war" is apt and 
we expect further volatility. 
 
 
People 
It is incredibly satisfying to have been able to fill four senior appointments 
from within. Richard Watson, previously head of Global Markets in London, has 
relocated to the USA to lead our expansion there, and has been replaced by the 
senior reinsurance underwriter, Russell Merrett. Charles Dupplin has relocated 
from London to be CEO of our Bermuda operation.  Pierre-Olivier Desaulle, the 
managing director of our French operation has become head of Europe. 
 
 
We have been recruiting and retaining excellent people for a number of years, 
and their willingness to move around the Group, both geographically and between 
sectors, is a real strength. The credit crunch has enhanced the attractions of 
the insurance industry and we strive to be an employer of choice. 
 
 
Robert Childs has returned to the UK having set up the Bermuda and USA 
operations (we owe him a big thank you) and is concentrating fully on the vital 
role of Chief Underwriting Officer. With Bronek Masojada, the CEO, and Stuart 
Bridges, the CFO, they make a formidable top team with 50 years experience at 
Hiscox. (And if you add my experience, you get 94 years). 
 
Outlook 
This time last year we had a weakening in catastrophe business and strong 
results from our regional businesses. The tide turned at the end of last year 
for the catastrophe business and it has remained high, but it has ebbed 
elsewhere this year against logic. I am sure when insurance company CEOs analyse 
their underwriting figures they will crack a whip and insist on more discipline, 
but at present the cycle is alive and well, albeit split. 
 
 
One strength of our business is its diversity and its focus. We focus on areas 
of business we know well, both volatile and non-volatile, and spread them into 
geographical areas where we have done business for decades. The other strength, 
the core strength, is the quality of our people. The combination is powerful and 
I look forward to the future with confidence. 
 
 
Robert Hiscox 
Chairman 
25 August 2009 
 
 
 
 
Condensed consolidated interim income statement 
for the six month period ended 30 June 2009 
 
 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
|                                            |   Notes    |    6 months | 6 months to |    Year to | 
|                                            |            |          to |     30 June |     31 Dec | 
|                                            |            |     30 June |        2008 |       2008 | 
|                                            |            |        2009 |             |            | 
+                                            +------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
|                                            |                                            |     GBP000 |      GBP000 |      GBP000 | 
+--------------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Income                                     |            |             |             |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Gross premiums written                     |     7      |     906,029 |     639,360 |  1,147,364 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Outward reinsurance premiums               |            |   (190,876) |   (125,413) |  (216,900) | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Net premiums written                       |            |     715,153 |     513,947 |    930,464 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Gross premiums earned                      |            |     668,169 |     574,934 |  1,171,511 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Premiums ceded to reinsurers               |            |   (103,004) |    (88,111) |  (218,491) | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Net premiums earned                        |            |     565,165 |     486,823 |    953,020 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
|                                            |            |             |             |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Investment result - financial assets       |    10      |      85,433 |      16,455 |   (27,632) | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Investment result - derivatives            |    10      |       2,476 |         821 |   (52,978) | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Other revenues                             |    11      |       8,228 |       8,381 |     19,858 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Revenue                                    |            |     661,302 |     512,480 |    892,268 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Expenses                                   |            |             |             |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Claims and claim adjustment expenses, net  |            |   (231,071) |   (206,980) |  (479,380) | 
| of reinsurance                             |            |             |             |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Expenses for the acquisition of insurance  |            |   (147,619) |   (125,792) |  (252,868) | 
| contracts                                  |            |             |             |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Administration expenses                    |            |    (47,566) |    (38,750) |   (83,198) | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Other expenses                             |    11      |    (48,409) |    (37,813) |   (76,499) | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Foreign exchange (losses)/gains            |    19      |    (42,820) |       9,594 |    109,755 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Total expenses                             |            |   (517,485) |   (399,741) |  (782,190) | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Results of operating activities            |            |     143,817 |     112,739 |    110,078 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Finance costs                              |    12      |     (2,429) |     (3,556) |    (5,158) | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Share of profit of associates after tax    |            |           - |          38 |        260 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Profit before tax                          |            |     141,388 |     109,221 |    105,180 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Tax expense                                |    13      |    (19,309) |    (24,869) |   (34,372) | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Profit for the period (all attributable    |            |     122,079 |      84,352 |     70,808 | 
| to owners of the Company)                  |            |             |             |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
|                                            |            |             |             |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Earnings per share on profit attributable  |            |             |             |            | 
| to owners of the Company                   |            |             |             |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Basic                                      |    15      |       33.2p |       21.7p |      18.8p | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Diluted                                    |    15      |       31.8p |       20.9p |      18.1p | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The notes to the condensed consolidated interim financial statements are an 
integral part of this document. 
 
 
 
 
Condensed consolidated interim statement of comprehensive income 
For the six month period ended 30 June 2009, after tax 
 
 
+---------------------------------------------+------+------------+-------------+------------+ 
|                                             |      |   6 months | 6 months to |    Year to | 
|                                             |      |         to |     30 June |     31 Dec | 
|                                             |      |    30 June |        2008 |       2008 | 
|                                             |      |       2009 |      GBP000 |     GBP000 | 
|                                             |      |     GBP000 |             |            | 
+---------------------------------------------+------+------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Profit for the period                       |      |    122,079 |      84,352 |     70,808 | 
+---------------------------------------------+------+------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Other comprehensive income                  |      |            |             |            | 
+---------------------------------------------+------+------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Currency translation differences (net of    |      |   (78,075) |     (1,093) |    151,179 | 
| tax of GBPnil (30 June 2008: GBPnil, 31 Dec |      |            |             |            | 
| 2008: GBPnil)                               |      |            |             |            | 
+---------------------------------------------+------+------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Net investment hedge (net of tax GBPnil (30 |      |          - |       (835) |      (597) | 
| June 2008: GBP325,000, 31 Dec               |      |            |             |            | 
| 2008 GBP238,000)                            |      |            |             |            | 
+---------------------------------------------+------+------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Total other comprehensive (expense)/income  |      |   (78,075) |     (1,928) |    150,582 | 
+---------------------------------------------+------+------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Total comprehensive income recognised (all  |      |     44,004 |      82,424 |    221,390 | 
| attributable to owners of Company)          |      |            |             |            | 
+---------------------------------------------+------+------------+-------------+------------+ 
 
 
 
 
Condensed consolidated interim balance sheet 
at 30 June 2009 
 
 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
|                                            |   Notes    |     30 June | 30 June     |     31 Dec | 
|                                            |            |        2009 | 2008        |       2008 | 
+                                            +------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
|                                            |                                            |     GBP000 |      GBP000 |      GBP000 | 
+--------------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+ 
|                                            |            |             |             |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Assets                                     |            |             |             |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Intangible assets                          |    20      |      49,775 |      41,547 |     48,557 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Property, plant and equipment              |            |      19,120 |      21,035 |     19,668 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Investment in associates                   |            |       7,200 |       4,924 |      7,200 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Deferred acquisition costs                 |            |     172,991 |     137,496 |    131,130 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Financial assets carried at fair value     |    17      |   1,945,448 |   1,639,526 |  2,081,772 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Reinsurance assets                         |    14      |     508,012 |     315,510 |    487,720 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Loans and receivables including insurance  |            |     592,496 |     442,319 |    494,315 | 
| receivables                                |            |             |             |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Current tax                                |            |           - |           - |     26,289 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Cash and cash equivalents                  |            |     434,099 |     291,554 |    440,622 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Total assets                               |            |   3,729,141 |   2,893,911 |  3,737,273 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
|                                            |            |             |             |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Equity and liabilities                     |            |             |             |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Shareholders' equity                       |            |             |             |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Share capital                              |            |      20,115 |      19,989 |     20,067 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Share premium                              |            |      10,701 |       7,254 |      9,418 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Contributed surplus                        |            |     320,300 |     367,693 |    352,078 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Currency translation reserve               |            |      29,242 |    (45,193) |    107,317 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Retained earnings                          |            |     584,493 |     467,835 |    462,146 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Total equity (all attributable to owners   |            |     964,851 |     817,578 |    951,026 | 
| of the Company)                            |            |             |             |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
|                                            |            |             |             |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Deferred tax                               |            |      20,134 |      34,136 |     68,649 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Insurance liabilities                      |    14      |   2,289,707 |   1,824,711 |  2,277,416 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Financial liabilities                      |    17      |      98,000 |          19 |    143,350 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Current tax                                |            |      34,790 |      11,736 |          - | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Trade and other payables                   |            |     321,659 |     205,731 |    296,832 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Total liabilities                          |            |   2,764,290 |   2,076,333 |  2,786,247 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Total equity and liabilities               |            |   3,729,141 |   2,893,911 |  3,737,273 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+ 
 
 
The notes to the condensed consolidated interim financial statements are an 
integral part of this document. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Condensed consolidated interim statement of changes in equity 
for the six month period ended 30 June 2009 
 
 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
|                                         |       Share |      Share | Contributed |     Currency |             |      Total | 
|                                         |     capital |    premium |     surplus |  translation |    Retained |            | 
|                                         |             |            |             |      reserve |    earnings |            | 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
|                                         |      GBP000 |     GBP000 |      GBP000 |       GBP000 |      GBP000 |     GBP000 | 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
|                                         |             |            |             |              |             |            | 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Balance at 1 January 2009               |      20,067 |      9,418 |     352,078 |      107,317 |     462,146 |    951,026 | 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Total recognised comprehensive          |           - |            |           - |     (78,075) |     122,079 |     44,004 | 
| income/(expense) for the period (all    |             |          - |             |              |             |            | 
| attributable to owners of the Company)  |             |            |             |              |             |            | 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
|                                         |             |            |             |              |             |            | 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Employee share options :                |             |            |             |              |             |            | 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
|   Equity settled share based payments   |           - |          - |           - |            - |       2,049 |      2,049 | 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
|   Proceeds from shares issued           |          48 |      1,283 |           - |            - |           - |      1,331 | 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Deferred tax                            |           - |          - |           - |            - |     (1,781) |    (1,781) | 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Dividends paid to owners of the Company |           - |          - |    (31,778) |            - |           - |   (31,778) | 
| (note 16)                               |             |            |             |              |             |            | 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Balance at 30 June 2009                 |      20,115 |     10,701 |     320,300 |       29,242 |     584,493 |    964,851 | 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Condensed consolidated interim statement of changes in equity 
for the six month period ended 30 June 2008 
 
 
 
 
 
 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
|                                         |       Share |      Share | Contributed |     Currency |             |      Total | 
|                                         |     capital |    premium |     surplus |  translation |    Retained |            | 
|                                         |             |            |             |      reserve |    earnings |            | 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
|                                         |      GBP000 |     GBP000 |      GBP000 |       GBP000 |      GBP000 |     GBP000 | 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
|                                         |             |            |             |              |             |            | 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Balance at 1 January 2008               |      19,898 |      4,955 |     398,834 |     (43,265) |     443,882 |    824,304 | 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Total recognised comprehensive          |           - |          - |           - |      (1,928) |      84,352 |     82,424 | 
| income/(expense) for the period (all    |             |            |             |              |             |            | 
| attributable to owners of the Company)  |             |            |             |              |             |            | 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
|                                         |             |            |             |              |             |            | 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Employee share options :                |             |            |             |              |             |            | 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
|   Equity settled share based payments   |           - |          - |           - |            - |       2,778 |      2,778 | 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
|   Proceeds from shares issued           |          91 |      2,299 |           - |            - |           - |      2,390 | 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Purchase of own shares held in treasury |           - |          - |           - |            - |    (60,428) |   (60,428) | 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Deferred tax                            |           - |          - |           - |            - |     (2,749) |    (2,749) | 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Dividends to paid to owners of the      |           - |          - |    (31,141) |            - |           - |   (31,141) | 
| Company (note 16)                       |             |            |             |              |             |            | 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
| Balance at 30 June 2008                 |      19,989 |      7,254 |     367,693 |     (45,193) |     467,835 |    817,578 | 
+-----------------------------------------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ 
 
 
The notes to the condensed consolidated interim financial statements are an 
integral part of this document. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Condensed consolidated interim cash flow statement 
for the six month period ended 30 June 2009 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
|                                            |      Notes |   6 months |   6 months |    Year to | 
|                                            |            |         to |         to |     31 Dec | 
|                                            |            |    30 June |    30 June |       2008 | 
|                                            |            |       2009 |       2008 |            | 
+                                            +------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
|                                            |                                            |     GBP000 |     GBP000 |     GBP000 | 
+--------------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Profit before tax                          |            |    141,388 |    109,221 |    105,180 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Adjustments for:                           |            |            |            |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Interest and equity dividend income        |            |   (36,568) |   (42,169) |   (92,227) | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Interest expense                           |         12 |      2,429 |      3,556 |      5,158 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Net fair value (gains)/losses on financial |            |   (40,821) |     33,428 |    180,085 | 
| investments, derivatives and borrowings    |            |            |            |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Depreciation                               |            |      2,797 |      2,402 |      5,323 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Charges in respect of share based payments |            |      2,049 |      2,778 |      5,269 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Other non-cash movements                   |            |    (1,842) |    (1,229) |      (766) | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on    |            |     38,154 |    (4,164) |   (62,086) | 
| cash presented separately                  |            |            |            |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Changes in operational assets and          |            |            |            |            | 
| liabilities:                               |            |            |            |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Insurance and reinsurance contracts        |            |   (88,751) |      2,745 |    281,633 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Financial assets                           |            |     63,266 |     74,873 |  (284,069) | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Financial liabilities                      |            |   (48,430) |          - |          - | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Other assets and liabilities               |            |        753 |   (28,551) |   (10,474) | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Cash flows from operations                 |            |     34,424 |    152,890 |    133,026 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Interest received                          |            |     33,956 |     40,441 |     89,608 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Equity dividends received                  |            |      2,612 |      1,727 |      2,619 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Interest paid                              |            |    (2,240) |    (4,023) |    (5,327) | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Current tax paid                           |            |    (8,526) |   (16,208) |   (18,982) | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Net cash flows from operating activities   |            |     60,226 |    174,827 |    200,944 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Cash outflow from the acquisition of       |         20 |          - |    (1,225) |    (3,137) | 
| subsidiary                                 |            |            |            |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Cash outflow from the sale of subsidiary   |         20 |          - |          - |       (42) | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Cash outflow from acquisition of           |            |          - |    (3,384) |    (5,438) | 
| associates                                 |            |            |            |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Cash flows from the purchase of property,  |            |    (4,644) |    (4,009) |    (4,521) | 
| plant and equipment                        |            |            |            |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Cash flows from the purchase of intangible |            |    (2,949) |          - |    (3,530) | 
| assets                                     |            |            |            |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Net cash flows from investing activities   |            |    (7,593) |    (8,618) |   (16,668) | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Proceeds from the issue of ordinary shares |            |      1,331 |      2,390 |      4,632 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Cash flow from the purchase of own shares  |            |          - |   (60,428) |   (65,066) | 
| including those arising on share buy-back  |            |            |            |            | 
| program                                    |            |            |            |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Dividends paid to owners of the Company    |         16 |   (31,778) |   (31,141) |   (46,756) | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Net increase/(repayments) of borrowings    |            |      9,445 |   (92,382) |    (1,292) | 
| and financial liabilities                  |            |            |            |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Net cash flows from financing activities   |            |   (21,002) |  (181,561) |  (108,482) | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash   |            |     31,631 |   (15,352) |     75,794 | 
| equivalents                                |            |            |            |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January     |            |    440,622 |    302,742 |    302,742 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Net  increase/(decrease) in cash and cash  |            |     31,631 |   (15,352) |     75,794 | 
| equivalents                                |            |            |            |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on    |            |   (38,154) |      4,164 |     62,086 | 
| cash and cash equivalents                  |            |            |            |            | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |         21 |    434,099 |    291,554 |    440,622 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+ 
 
 
The notes to the condensed consolidated interim financial statements are an 
integral part of this document. 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the condensed consolidated interim financial statements 
 
 
1. Reporting entity 
 
 
Hiscox Ltd (the "Company") is a public limited company registered and domiciled 
in Bermuda. The condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the 
Company as at, and for the six months ended, 30 June 2009 comprise the Company 
and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the "Group") and the Group's 
interest in associates. The Chairman's statement accompanying these condensed 
consolidated interim financial statements forms the Interim Management Report 
for the half year ended 30 June 2009. 
 
 
The Directors of Hiscox Ltd are listed in the Group's 2008 Report and Accounts. 
A list of current Directors is maintained and available for inspection at the 
registered office of the company located at 4th Floor, Wessex House, 45 Reid 
Street, Hamilton, Bermuda HM 12. There have been no changes in the composition 
of the Board of Directors during the period under review. 
 
 
2. Basis of preparation 
 
 
These condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in 
accordance with the Listing Rules issued by the Financial Services Authority. 
The information presented herein does not include all of the disclosures 
typically required for full consolidated financial statements. Consequently 
these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the full 
consolidated financial statements of the Group as at, and for the year ended, 31 
December 2008 which are available from the Company's registered office or at 
www.hiscox.com. Except where otherwise indicated, all amounts are presented in 
Pounds Sterling, rounded to the nearest thousand. 
 
 
The Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company and the Group have 
adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable 
future. For this reason the condensed consolidated interim financial statements 
have been prepared on a going concern basis and are prepared on the historical 
cost basis except that pension scheme assets included in the measurement of the 
employee retirement benefit obligation, and certain financial instruments 
including derivative instruments are measured at fair value. 
 
 
The independent auditors have reported on the Group's full consolidated 
financial statements as at, and for the year ended, 31 December 2008. The report 
of the independent auditors was not qualified. The amounts presented for the 30 
June 2009 and 30 June 2008 period are unaudited. 
 
 
These condensed consolidated interim financial statements were approved by the 
Board of Directors on 25 August 2009. 
 
 
3. Accounting policies and methods of computation 
 
 
The accounting policies applied in these condensed consolidated interim 
financial statements are consistent with those applied by the Group in its 
consolidated financial statements as at, and for the year ended, 31 December 
2008. The consolidated financial statements as at, and for the year ended, 31 
December 2008 were compliant with International Financial Reporting Standards as 
adopted by the European Union and in accordance with the provisions of the 
Bermuda Companies Act 1981.   The interim report is compliant with IAS 34 
Interim Financial Reporting as adopted by the European Union. 
 
 
There were no new accounting standards required to be adopted by the Group 
during the period which were not already adopted as at 31 December 2008.  The 
accounting policies applied in these condensed consolidated interim financial 
statements are consistent with those that the Group expects to apply for the 
year ending 31 December 2009. 
 
 
4. Financial, Insurance and other risk management 
 
 
The Group's financial, insurance and other risk management objectives and 
policies are consistent with that disclosed in note 3 of the full consolidated 
financial statements as at, and for the year ended, 31 December 2008. The 
principal risks and uncertainties are unchanged and may be summarised as 
insurance risk, equity price risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk, credit 
risk, currency risk, capital risk and operational risk. 
 
 
Since the onset of global concerns regarding sub prime and credit issues during 
Autumn 2007, the Group has been mindful of the ongoing dislocation in specific 
asset classes and their resultant impact on investment markets and the solvency 
of counterparties more generally. The Group continues to monitor all aspects of 
its financial risk appetite and the resultant exposure taken with caution, and 
has consequently suffered insignificant defaults on investments held during the 
period under review. As detailed in note 17, the Group's investment allocation 
is broadly comparable to that at 31 December 2008 as outlined in the Group 
Report and Accounts. The Group also continues to be mindful of the processes 
required for establishing the reliability of fair values obtained for some 
classes of financial assets affected by ongoing periods of diminished liquidity. 
  In order to assist users, the Group has disclosed the measurement attributes 
of its investment portfolio in a fair value hierarchy in note 18 in accordance 
with the Amendments to IFRS 7, Financial Instruments Disclosures which has not 
yet been endorsed by the European Union. 
 
 
The Group remains susceptible to changes in rates of foreign exchange, in 
particular between Pound Sterling and the US Dollar. 
 
 
Profitable trading and strong treasury management has ensured that the Group's 
balance sheet remains well capitalised and its operations are financed to 
accommodate foreseen liquidity demands together with a high level of capital 
sufficient to meet future catastrophe obligations even if difficult investment 
market conditions were to prevail for a period of time. 
 
 
5. Seasonality and weather 
 
 
Historically the Group's most material exposure to catastrophe losses on certain 
lines of business such as reinsurance inwards and marine and major property risk 
have been greater during the second half of the calendar year, broadly in line 
with the most active period of the North Atlantic hurricane season. In contrast 
a majority of gross premium income written in these lines of business occurs 
during the first half of the calendar year. The Group actively participates in 
many regions and if any catastrophic events do occur, it is likely that the 
Group will share some of the market's losses. Consequently, the potential for 
significantly greater volatility in expected returns remains during the second 
half of the year. Details of the Group's recent exposures to these classes of 
business are disclosed in note 3 of the Group's 2008 Report and Accounts. 
 
 
6. Related party transactions 
 
 
Transactions with related parties during the period are consistent in nature and 
scope with those disclosed in note 38 of the Group's 2008 Report and Accounts. 
 
 
7. Operating Segments 
 
 
The Group's operating segments consist of four segments which recognise the 
differences between products and services, customer groupings and geographical 
areas. Financial information is used in this format by the chief operating 
decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing 
performance.  There have been no changes in reportable segments during the 
period under review. 
 
 
The Group's four operating segments are identified as follows: 
 
 
-  Global Markets comprises the results of Syndicate 33, excluding Syndicate 
33's fine art, UK regional events coverage, non-US household business and 
underwriting result of Hiscox Inc. It includes the results of the larger retail 
TMT business written by Hiscox Insurance Company Limited. 
 
 
-  UK and Europe comprises the results of Hiscox Insurance Company Limited, the 
results of Syndicate 33's  fine art,  UK regional events coverage and non-US 
household business, together with the income and expenses arising from the 
Group's retail agency activities in the UK and in continental Europe. It 
excludes the results of the larger retail TMT business written by Hiscox 
Insurance Company Limited. 
 
 
-  International comprises the results of Hiscox Insurance Company (Guernsey) 
Limited, Hiscox Inc., Hiscox Insurance Company (Bermuda) Limited and the ALTOHA 
sub-group. 
 
 
-  Corporate Centre comprises the investment return and administrative costs 
associated with the Group management activities.   Corporate Centre also 
includes the majority of foreign currency items on economic hedges.  Corporate 
Centre forms a reportable segment due to its investment activities which earn 
significant external revenues. 
 
 
Information regarding the Group's operating segments is presented below. All 
amounts reported below represent transactions with external parties only, with 
all intra-segment amounts eliminated. Performance is measured based on each 
reportable segment's profit before tax. 
 
 
 
 
+-------------------------+--+--+----+--+---+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
|                         |  |  |    |  |                               6 Months ended 30 June 2009 | 
+-------------------------+--+--+----+--+-----------------------------------------------------------+ 
|                         |          Global |    UK and | International |   Corporate |       Total | 
|                         |         Markets |    Europe |        GBP000 |      Centre |      GBP000 | 
|                         |          GBP000 |    GBP000 |               |      GBP000 |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Gross premiums written  |         485,376 |   220,069 |       200,584 |           - |     906,029 | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Net premiums written    |         353,518 |   204,153 |       157,482 |           - |     715,153 | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Net premiums earned     |         266,701 |   174,237 |       124,227 |           - |     565,165 | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
|                         |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Investment result -     |          46,239 |    11,431 |        25,629 |       2,134 |      85,433 | 
| financial assets        |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Investment result -     |               - |     2,213 |             - |         263 |       2,476 | 
| derivatives             |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Other revenues          |           5,763 |     1,303 |         1,162 |           - |       8,228 | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Revenue                 |         318,703 |   189,184 |       151,018 |       2,397 |     661,302 | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Claims and claim        |        (86,210) |  (97,413) |      (47,448) |           - |   (231,071) | 
| adjustment expenses,    |                 |           |               |             |             | 
| net of reinsurance      |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Expenses for the        |        (77,813) |  (40,763) |      (29,043) |           - |   (147,619) | 
| acquisition of          |                 |           |               |             |             | 
| insurance contracts     |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Administration expenses |        (14,516) |  (24,685) |       (8,365) |           - |    (47,566) | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Other expenses          |        (14,313) |  (15,941) |       (6,912) |    (11,243) |    (48,409) | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Foreign exchange        |        (48,350) |   (5,910) |        12,465 |     (1,025) |    (42,820) | 
| (losses)/gains          |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Total expenses          |       (241,202) | (184,712) |      (79,303) |    (12,268) |   (517,485) | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Results of operating    |          77,501 |     4,472 |        71,715 |     (9,871) |     143,817 | 
| activities              |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Finance costs           |           (234) |      (12) |         (199) |     (1,984) |     (2,429) | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Share of profit of      |               - |         - |             - |           - |           - | 
| associates after tax    |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Profit before tax       |          77,267 |     4,460 |        71,516 |    (11,855) |     141,388 | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| 100% ratio analysis     |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Claims ratio (%)        |            32.0 |      55.9 |          37.8 |           - |        39.5 | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Expense ratio (%)       |            38.6 |      46.5 |          34.5 |           - |        40.0 | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Combined ratio          |            70.6 |     102.4 |          72.3 |           - |        79.5 | 
| excluding foreign       |                 |           |               |             |             | 
| exchange impact (%)     |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Foreign exchange impact |            18.1 |       3.3 |         (9.7) |           - |         8.8 | 
| (%)                     |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Combined ratio (%)      |            88.7 |     105.7 |          62.6 |           - |        88.3 | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Total assets before     |       2,308,525 |   730,477 |     1,248,299 |     844,322 |   5,131,623 | 
| intragroup items and    |                 |           |               |             |             | 
| eliminations            |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Intragroup items and    |                 |           |               |             | (1,402,482) | 
| eliminations            |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Total assets            |                 |           |               |             |   3,729,141 | 
+-------------------------+--+--+----+--+---+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
+--------------------------+--+--+----+--+----+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
|                          |  |  |    |  |                                6 Months ended 30 June 2008 | 
+--------------------------+--+--+----+--+------------------------------------------------------------+ 
|                          |           Global |    UK and | International |   Corporate |       Total | 
|                          |          Markets |    Europe |        GBP000 |      Centre |      GBP000 | 
|                          |           GBP000 |    GBP000 |               |      GBP000 |             | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Gross premiums written   |          344,341 |   178,038 |       116,981 |           - |     639,360 | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Net premiums written     |          249,252 |   163,772 |       100,923 |           - |     513,947 | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Net premiums earned      |          259,491 |   143,189 |        84,143 |           - |     486,823 | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
|                          |                  |           |               |             |             | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Investment result -      |           13,792 |   (3,414) |         6,556 |       (479) |      16,455 | 
| financial assets         |                  |           |               |             |             | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Investment result -      |                - |       514 |             - |         307 |         821 | 
| derivatives              |                  |           |               |             |             | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Other revenues           |            6,379 |     1,092 |           906 |           4 |       8,381 | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Revenue                  |          279,662 |   141,381 |        91,605 |       (168) |     512,480 | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Claims and claim         |        (107,779) |  (57,964) |      (41,237) |           - |   (206,980) | 
| adjustment expenses, net |                  |           |               |             |             | 
| of reinsurance           |                  |           |               |             |             | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Expenses for the         |         (69,439) |  (36,337) |      (20,016) |           - |   (125,792) | 
| acquisition of insurance |                  |           |               |             |             | 
| contracts                |                  |           |               |             |             | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Administration expenses  |         (11,143) |  (21,582) |       (6,025) |           - |    (38,750) | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Other expenses           |         (11,687) |  (15,019) |       (5,278) |     (5,829) |    (37,813) | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Foreign exchange         |              739 |     5,835 |         1,354 |       1,666 |       9,594 | 
| gains/(losses)           |                  |           |               |             |             | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Total expenses           |        (199,309) | (125,067) |      (71,202) |     (4,163) |   (399,741) | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Results of operating     |           80,353 |    16,314 |        20,403 |     (4,331) |     112,739 | 
| activities               |                  |           |               |             |             | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Finance costs            |                - |         - |          (93) |     (3,463) |     (3,556) | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Share of profit of       |                - |         - |             - |          38 |          38 | 
| associates after tax     |                  |           |               |             |             | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Profit before tax        |           80,353 |    16,314 |        20,310 |     (7,756) |     109,221 | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| 100% ratio analysis      |                  |           |               |             |             | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Claims ratio (%)         |             41.5 |      39.9 |          50.0 |           - |        42.3 | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Expense ratio (%)        |             34.5 |      50.5 |          36.1 |           - |        38.7 | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Combined ratio excluding |             76.0 |      90.4 |          86.1 |           - |        81.0 | 
| foreign exchange impact  |                  |           |               |             |             | 
| (%)                      |                  |           |               |             |             | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Foreign exchange impact  |            (0.3) |     (4.1) |         (1.5) |           - |       (1.3) | 
| (%)                      |                  |           |               |             |             | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Combined ratio (%)       |             75.7 |      86.3 |          84.6 |           - |        79.7 | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Total assets before      |        1,971,336 |   681,025 |       780,381 |     803,028 |   4,235,770 | 
| intragroup items and     |                  |           |               |             |             | 
| eliminations             |                  |           |               |             |             | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Intragroup items and     |                  |           |               |             | (1,341,859) | 
| eliminations             |                  |           |               |             |             | 
+--------------------------+------------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Total assets             |                  |           |               |             |   2,893,911 | 
+--------------------------+--+--+----+--+----+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
 
 
 
 
+-------------------------+--+--+----+--+---+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
|                         |  |  |    |  |                               Year ended 31 December 2008 | 
|                         |  |  |    |  |                                                           | 
+-------------------------+--+--+----+--+-----------------------------------------------------------+ 
|                         |          Global |    UK and | International |   Corporate |       Total | 
|                         |         Markets |    Europe |        GBP000 |      Centre |      GBP000 | 
|                         |          GBP000 |    GBP000 |               |      GBP000 |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Gross premiums written  |         586,458 |   354,899 |       206,007 |           - |   1,147,364 | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Net premiums written    |         425,056 |   328,744 |       176,664 |           - |     930,464 | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Net premiums earned     |         477,814 |   302,418 |       172,788 |           - |     953,020 | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
|                         |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Investment result -     |         (5,785) |  (11,935) |       (8,114) |     (1,798) |    (27,632) | 
| financial assets        |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Investment result -     |               - |  (10,483) |             - |    (42,495) |    (52,978) | 
| derivatives             |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Other revenues          |          15,606 |     2,929 |         1,323 |           - |      19,858 | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Revenue                 |         487,635 |   282,929 |       165,997 |    (44,293) |     892,268 | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Claims and claim        |       (275,679) | (129,889) |      (73,812) |           - |   (479,380) | 
| adjustment expenses,    |                 |           |               |             |             | 
| net of reinsurance      |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Expenses for the        |       (137,379) |  (74,625) |      (40,864) |           - |   (252,868) | 
| acquisition of          |                 |           |               |             |             | 
| insurance contracts     |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Administration expenses |        (23,157) |  (46,228) |      (13,813) |           - |    (83,198) | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Other expenses          |        (19,149) |  (33,042) |      (14,112) |    (10,196) |    (76,499) | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Foreign exchange        |         108,536 |    32,507 |      (22,291) |     (8,997) |     109,755 | 
| gains/(losses)          |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Total expenses          |       (346,828) | (251,277) |     (164,892) |    (19,193) |   (782,190) | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Results of operating    |         140,807 |    31,652 |         1,105 |    (63,486) |     110,078 | 
| activities              |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Finance costs           |           (273) |      (35) |         (186) |     (4,664) |     (5,158) | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Share of profit of      |               - |         - |             - |         260 |         260 | 
| associates after tax    |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Profit before tax       |         140,534 |    31,617 |           919 |    (67,890) |     105,180 | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| 100% ratio analysis     |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Claims ratio (%)        |            57.8 |      41.9 |          43.0 |           - |        51.1 | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Expense ratio (%)       |            36.7 |      50.3 |          38.8 |           - |        40.8 | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Combined ratio          |            94.5 |      92.2 |          81.8 |           - |        91.9 | 
| excluding foreign       |                 |           |               |             |             | 
| exchange impact (%)     |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Foreign exchange impact |          (26.0) |    (10.7) |          12.4 |           - |      (15.8) | 
| (%)                     |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Combined ratio (%)      |            68.5 |      81.5 |          94.2 |           - |        76.1 | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Total assets before     |       2,208,887 |   716,495 |     1,148,668 |     870,296 |   4,944,346 | 
| intragroup items and    |                 |           |               |             |             | 
| eliminations            |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Intragroup items and    |                 |           |               |             | (1,207,073) | 
| eliminations            |                 |           |               |             |             | 
+-------------------------+-----------------+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
| Total assets            |                 |           |               |             |   3,737,273 | 
+-------------------------+--+--+----+--+---+-----------+---------------+-------------+-------------+ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8. Net asset value per share 
+------------------------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+---------+--------+ 
|                              | 30 June 2009         |                     | 31 Dec 2008      | 
|                              |                      |                     |                  | 
|                              |                      |    30 June 2008     |                  | 
+------------------------------+----------------------+---------------------+------------------+ 
|                              | Net asset |      NAV |      Net |      NAV |     Net |    NAV | 
|                              |     value |      per |    asset |      per |   asset |    per | 
|                              |    (total |    share |    value |    share |   value |  share | 
|                              |   equity) |    pence |   (total |    pence |  (total |  pence | 
|                              |    GBP000 |          |  equity) |          | equity) |        | 
|                              |           |          |   GBP000 |          |  GBP000 |        | 
+------------------------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+---------+--------+ 
|                              |           |          |          |          |         |        | 
+------------------------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+---------+--------+ 
| Net asset value              |   964,851 |    259.3 |  817,578 |    222.1 | 951,026 |  258.1 | 
+------------------------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+---------+--------+ 
| Net tangible asset value     |   915,076 |    246.0 |  776,031 |    210.8 | 902,469 |  244.9 | 
+------------------------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+---------+--------+ 
The net asset value per share is based on 372,035,093 shares (30 June 2008: 
368,139,361; 31 December 2008: 368,477,595), being the adjusted number of shares 
in issue at each reference date. Net tangible assets comprise total shareholders 
equity excluding intangible assets. 
 
 
9. Return on equity 
+----------------------------------------------------+----------+-----------+------------+ 
|                                                    | 6 months |  6 months |   Year to  | 
|                                                    |       to |        to |     31 Dec | 
|                                                    |  30 June |   30 June |       2008 | 
|                                                    |     2009 |      2008 |     GBP000 | 
|                                                    |   GBP000 |    GBP000 |            | 
+----------------------------------------------------+----------+-----------+------------+ 
|                                                    |          |           |            | 
+----------------------------------------------------+----------+-----------+------------+ 
| Profit for the period                              |  122,079 |    84,352 |     70,808 | 
+----------------------------------------------------+----------+-----------+------------+ 
| Opening shareholders' equity                       |  951,026 |   824,304 |    824,304 | 
+----------------------------------------------------+----------+-----------+------------+ 
| Adjusted for the time weighted impact of:          |          |           |            | 
+----------------------------------------------------+----------+-----------+------------+ 
| - Distribution and other movements in capital      |  (4,565) |  (11,222) |   (55,700) | 
+----------------------------------------------------+----------+-----------+------------+ 
| Adjusted opening shareholders' equity              |  946,461 |   813,082 |    768,604 | 
+----------------------------------------------------+----------+-----------+------------+ 
| Annualised return on equity (%)                    |     27.5 |      21.8 |        9.2 | 
+----------------------------------------------------+----------+-----------+------------+ 
 
 
10. Investment result 
i) Analysis of investment result 
 
 
+----------------------------------------------------+----------+-----------+------------+ 
| The total result for the Group before taxation     | 6 months |  6 months |    Year to | 
| comprises:                                         |       to |        to |     31 Dec | 
|                                                    |  30 June |   30 June |       2008 | 
|                                                    |     2009 |      2008 |     GBP000 | 
|                                                    |   GBP000 |    GBP000 |            | 
+----------------------------------------------------+----------+-----------+------------+ 
|                                                    |          |           |            | 
+----------------------------------------------------+----------+-----------+------------+ 
| Investment income including interest receivable    |   38,947 |    46,497 |     94,678 | 
+----------------------------------------------------+----------+-----------+------------+ 
| Net realised gains on financial investments at     |    8,141 |     4,207 |      4,743 | 
| fair value through profit or loss                  |          |           |            | 
+----------------------------------------------------+----------+-----------+------------+ 
| Net fair value gains/(losses) on financial         |   38,345 |  (34,249) |  (127,053) | 
| investments at fair value through profit or loss   |          |           |            | 
+----------------------------------------------------+----------+-----------+------------+ 
| Investment result - financial assets               |   85,433 |    16,455 |   (27,632) | 
+----------------------------------------------------+----------+-----------+------------+ 
| Fair value gains/(losses) on derivative            |    2,476 |       821 |   (52,978) | 
| instruments                                        |          |           |            | 
+----------------------------------------------------+----------+-----------+------------+ 
| Total result                                       |   87,909 |    17,276 |   (80,610) | 
+----------------------------------------------------+----------+-----------+------------+ 
Investment expenses are presented within other expenses (note 11).  Included 
within fair value gains/(losses) on derivative instruments above, are derivative 
gains/(losses) on foreign exchange contracts as detailed in note 19. 
 
 
ii) Annualised investment yields 
+----------------------------------------------+---------+-------+----------+--------+----------+--------+ 
|                                              |     6 months to |       6 months to |           Year to | 
|                                              |    30 June 2009 |      30 June 2008 |       31 Dec 2008 | 
+----------------------------------------------+-----------------+-------------------+-------------------+ 
|                                              |  Return | Yield |   Return |  Yield |   Return | Yield  | 
|                                              |  GBP000 |     % |   GBP000 |      % |          |      % | 
|                                              |         |       |          |        |   GBP000 |        | 
+----------------------------------------------+---------+-------+----------+--------+----------+--------+ 
|                                              |         |       |          |        |          |        | 
+----------------------------------------------+---------+-------+----------+--------+----------+--------+ 
| Debt and fixed income securities             |  77,611 |   8.3 |   20,407 |    2.8 |  (4,027) |  (0.3) | 
+----------------------------------------------+---------+-------+----------+--------+----------+--------+ 
| Equities and shares in unit trusts           |   6,141 |  10.6 | (12,686) | (16.8) | (38,267) | (28.4) | 
+----------------------------------------------+---------+-------+----------+--------+----------+--------+ 
| Deposits with credit institutions/cash and   |   1,681 |   0.7 |    8,734 |    4.2 |   14,662 |    3.7 | 
| cash equivalents                             |         |       |          |        |          |        | 
+----------------------------------------------+---------+-------+----------+--------+----------+--------+ 
|                                              |  85,433 |   7.0 |   16,455 |    1.6 | (27,632) |  (1.3) | 
+----------------------------------------------+---------+-------+----------+--------+----------+--------+ 
 
 
 
 
11. Other revenues and expenses 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
|                                                      |  6 months |  6 months |   Year to | 
|                                                      |        to |        to |    31 Dec | 
|                                                      |   30 June |   30 June |      2008 | 
|                                                      |      2009 |      2008 |    GBP000 | 
|                                                      |    GBP000 |    GBP000 |           | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
|                                                      |           |           |           | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Agency related income                                |     3,166 |     2,601 |     5,324 | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Profit commission                                    |     5,049 |     5,780 |    14,382 | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Other income                                         |        13 |         - |       152 | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Other revenues                                       |     8,228 |     8,381 |    19,858 | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
|                                                      |           |           |           | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Managing agency expenses                             |    12,366 |    13,316 |    19,513 | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Overseas underwriting agency expenses                |    14,566 |     9,965 |    28,787 | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Connect agency expenses                              |     5,599 |     7,994 |    13,343 | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Investment expenses                                  |     1,193 |       798 |     1,899 | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Other Group expenses including central overheads     |    14,685 |     5,740 |    12,957 | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Other expenses                                       |    48,409 |    37,813 |    76,499 | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
 
 
 
 
12. Finance costs 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
|                                                      |  6 months |           |   Year to | 
|                                                      |        to |  6 months |    31 Dec | 
|                                                      |   30 June |        to |      2008 | 
|                                                      |      2009 |   30 June |    GBP000 | 
|                                                      |    GBP000 |      2008 |           | 
|                                                      |           |    GBP000 |           | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
|                                                      |           |           |           | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Interest and expenses associated with bank           |     1,118 |     2,701 |     3,201 | 
| borrowings                                           |           |           |           | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Interest and charges associated with Letters of      |     1,299 |       837 |     1,922 | 
| Credit                                               |           |           |           | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Interest charges arising on finance leases           |        12 |        18 |        35 | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
|                                                      |     2,429 |     3,556 |     5,158 | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
As at 30 June 2009, the total amount drawn by way of Letter of Credit to support 
the Funds at Lloyd's requirement was GBP180.0 million (June and December 2008: 
GBP137.5 million). 
 
 
13. Tax expense 
The Group's subsidiaries are subject to enacted tax laws in the jurisdictions in 
which they are incorporated and domiciled. 
The amounts charged in the condensed consolidated income statement comprise the 
following: 
 
 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
|                                                     |  6 months |  6 months |   Year to | 
|                                                     |        to |        to |    31 Dec | 
|                                                     |   30 June |   30 June |      2008 | 
|                                                     |      2009 |      2008 |    GBP000 | 
|                                                     |    GBP000 |   GBP000  |           | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Current tax expense/(credit)                        |    69,606 |     3,233 |  (32,341) | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Deferred tax (credit)/expense                       |  (50,297) |    21,636 |    66,713 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Tax expense                                         |    19,309 |    24,869 |    34,372 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
 
 
The Group records its income tax expense based on the expected effective rate 
for the full year. 
Included in deferred tax assets, is GBP7,700,000 (June 2008: GBP5,319,000; 
December 2008: GBP5,996,000) relating to losses arising in overseas companies 
which the Group considers will be utilised in part against future trading 
profits of the overseas entities. 
 
 
14. Insurance liabilities and reinsurance assets 
 
 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
|                                                     |   30 June |   30 June |    31 Dec | 
|                                                     |      2009 |      2008 |      2008 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
|                                                     |    GBP000 |    GBP000 |    GBP000 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
|                                                     |           |           |           | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Gross                                               |           |           |           | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Claims outstanding                                  | 1,556,483 | 1,262,454 | 1,767,728 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Unearned premiums                                   |   733,224 |   562,257 |   509,688 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Total insurance liabilities, gross                  | 2,289,707 | 1,824,711 | 2,277,416 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Recoverable from reinsurers                         |           |           |           | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Claims outstanding                                  |   358,314 |   220,095 |   426,303 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Unearned premiums                                   |   149,698 |    95,415 |    61,417 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Total reinsurers' share of insurance liabilities    |   508,012 |   315,510 |   487,720 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Net                                                 |           |           |           | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Claims outstanding                                  | 1,198,169 | 1,042,359 | 1,341,425 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Unearned premiums                                   |   583,526 |   466,842 |   448,271 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Total insurance liabilities, net                    | 1,781,695 | 1,509,201 | 1,789,696 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
Net claims and claim adjustment expenses include releases of GBP73m (30 June 
2008: GBP66m) of reserves established in prior reporting periods. 
The development of net claims reserves by accident years are detailed below. 
Insurance claims and claims expenses reserves - net at 100% 
 
 
+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
| Accident   |      2001 |      2002 |      2003 |      2004 |      2005 |      2006 |      2007 |      2008 |     2009 |       Total | 
| year       |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| ending 31  |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| December   |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| **         |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
|            |    GBP000 |    GBP000 |    GBP000 |    GBP000 |    GBP000 |    GBP000 |    GBP000 |    GBP000 |   GBP000 |      GBP000 | 
+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
| Estimate   |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| of         |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| ultimate   |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| claims     |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| costs as   |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| adjusted   |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| for        |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| foreign    |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| exchange*: |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
|   at end   |   325,343 |   268,903 |   351,921 |   563,608 |   662,365 |   516,453 |   675,586 |   749,100 |  322,185 |   4,435,464 | 
|   of       |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
|   accident |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
|   year**   |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
| one period |   365,897 |   293,359 |   370,854 |   615,097 |   759,884 |   508,598 |   613,513 |   715,691 |        - |   4,242,893 | 
| later**    |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
| two        |   435,706 |   302,940 |   338,517 |   590,924 |   750,555 |   491,846 |   599,047 |         - |        - |   3,509,535 | 
| periods    |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| later**    |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
| three      |   473,480 |   281,061 |   349,427 |   553,755 |   726,367 |   471,831 |         - |         - |        - |   2,855,921 | 
| periods    |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| later**    |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
| four       |   462,343 |   274,600 |   340,483 |   554,639 |   726,730 |         - |         - |         - |        - |   2,358,795 | 
| periods    |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| later**    |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
| five       |   448,093 |   260,984 |   335,541 |   542,262 |         - |         - |         - |         - |        - |   1,586,880 | 
| periods    |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| later**    |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
| six        |   442,656 |   255,025 |   334,677 |         - |         - |         - |         - |         - |        - |   1,032,358 | 
| periods    |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| later**    |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
| seven      |   445,063 |   259,227 |         - |         - |         - |         - |         - |         - |        - |     704,290 | 
| periods    |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| later**    |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
| eight      |   440,951 |         - |         - |         - |         - |         - |         - |         - |        - |     440,951 | 
| periods    |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| later**    |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
|            |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
| Current    |   440,951 |   259,227 |   334,677 |   542,262 |   726,730 |   471,831 |   599,047 |   715,691 |  322,185 |   4,412,601 | 
| estimate   |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| of         |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| cumulative |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| claims     |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
| Cumulative | (364,743) | (200,004) | (268,121) | (444,006) | (595,565) | (362,998) | (337,165) | (313,283) | (41,541) | (2,927,426) | 
| payments   |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| to date    |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
| Liability  |    76,208 |    59,223 |    66,556 |    98,256 |   131,165 |   108,833 |   261,882 |   402,408 |  280,644 |   1,485,175 | 
| recognised |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| at 100%    |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| level      |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
| Liability  |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |      45,842 | 
| recognised |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| in respect |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| of prior   |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| accident   |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| years at   |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| 100% level |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
| Total net  |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |   1,531,017 | 
| liability  |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| to         |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| external   |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| parties at |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| 100% level |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
 
 
Reconciliation of 100% disclosures above to Group's share - net 
 
 
+--------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
| Accident     |      2001 |      2002 |      2003 |      2004 |      2005 |      2006 |      2007 |      2008 |     2009 |       Total | 
| year         |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+--------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
|              |    GBP000 |    GBP000 |    GBP000 |    GBP000 |    GBP000 |    GBP000 |    GBP000 |    GBP000 |   GBP000 |      GBP000 | 
+--------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
|              |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+--------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
| Current      |   440,951 |   259,227 |   334,677 |   542,262 |   726,730 |   471,831 |   599,047 |   715,691 |  322,185 |   4,412,601 | 
| estimate     |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| of           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| cumulative   |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| claims       |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+--------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
| Less:        | (102,419) |  (50,606) |  (73,078) | (124,851) | (173,494) |  (98,188) | (114,446) | (138,232) | (52,904) |   (928,218) | 
| attributable |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| to external  |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| Names        |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+--------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
| Group        |   338,532 |   208,621 |   261,599 |   417,411 |   553,236 |   373,643 |   484,601 |   577,459 |  269,281 |   3,484,383 | 
| share of     |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| current      |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| ultimate     |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| claims       |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| estimate     |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+--------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
|              |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+--------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
|              |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+--------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
| Cumulative   | (364,743) | (200,004) | (268,121) | (444,006) | (595,565) | (362,998) | (337,165) | (313,283) | (41,541) | (2,927,426) | 
| payments     |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| to date      |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+--------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
| Less:        |    81,758 |    35,098 |    55,737 |   102,887 |   142,343 |    74,694 |    59,581 |    48,979 |    4,782 |     605,859 | 
| attributable |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| to external  |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| Names        |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+--------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
| Group        | (282,985) | (164,906) | (212,384) | (341,119) | (453,222) | (288,304) | (277,584) | (264,304) | (36,759) | (2,321,567) | 
| share of     |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| cumulative   |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| payments     |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+--------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
|              |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+--------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
| Liability    |    55,547 |    43,715 |    49,215 |    76,292 |   100,014 |    85,339 |   207,017 |   313,155 |  232,522 |   1,162,816 | 
| for 2001     |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| to 2009      |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| accident     |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| years        |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| recognised   |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| on Group's   |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| balance      |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| sheet        |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+--------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
| Liability    |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |      35,353 | 
| for          |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| accident     |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| years        |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| before       |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| 2001         |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| recognised   |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| on Group's   |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| balance      |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| sheet        |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+--------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
| Total net    |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |   1,198,169 | 
| liability    |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| to           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| external     |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| parties      |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| included     |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| in the       |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| balance      |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
| sheet|       |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |           |          |             | 
+--------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+-------------+ 
* The foreign exchange adjustment arises from the retranslation of the estimates 
at each date using the exchange rate ruling at 30 June 2009. 
** With the exception of the most recent development data for each accident 
year, which only relates to the 6 months ending 30 June 2009, the term period 
refers to one full calendar year. 
| This represents the claims element of the Group's insurance liabilities. 
 
 
15. Earnings per share 
Basic 
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to 
equity holders of the Company by the weighted average number of ordinary shares 
in issue during the period, excluding ordinary shares purchased by the Group and 
held in treasury as own shares. 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
|                                                     |  6 months |  6 months |   Year to | 
|                                                     |        to |        to |    31 Dec | 
|                                                     |   30 June |   30 June |      2008 | 
|                                                     |      2009 |     2008  |           | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Profit attributable to the Company's equity holders |   122,079 |    84,352 |    70,808 | 
| (GBP000)                                            |           |           |           | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Weighted average number of ordinary shares          |   368,209 |   389,488 |   377,506 | 
| (thousands)                                         |           |           |           | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Basic earnings per share (pence per share)          |     33.2p |     21.7p |     18.8p | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
Diluted 
Diluted earnings per share is calculated by adjusting the assumed conversion of 
all dilutive potential ordinary shares. The Company has one category of dilutive 
potential ordinary shares, share options and awards. For the share options, a 
calculation is made to determine the number of shares that could have been 
acquired at fair value (determined as the average annual market share price of 
the Company's shares) based on the monetary value of the subscription rights 
attached to outstanding share options. The number of shares calculated as above 
is compared with the number of shares that would have been issued assuming the 
exercise of the share options. 
 
 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
|                                                     |  6 months |  6 months |  Year to  | 
|                                                     |        to |        to |        31 | 
|                                                     |   30 June |   30 June |  Dec 2008 | 
|                                                     |      2009 |     2008  |           | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Profit attributable to the Company's equity holders |   122,079 |    84,352 |    70,808 | 
| (GBP000)                                            |           |           |           | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue |   368,209 |   389,488 |   377,506 | 
| (thousands)                                         |           |           |           | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Adjustment for share options (thousands)            |    15,139 |    13,193 |    13,351 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Weighted average number of ordinary shares for      |   383,348 |   402,681 |   390,857 | 
| diluted earnings per share                          |           |           |           | 
| (thousands)                                         |           |           |           | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Diluted earnings per share (pence per share)        |     31.8p |     20.9p |     18.1p | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
Diluted earnings per share has been calculated after taking account of 
outstanding options under both employee share schemes and also SAYE schemes. 
 
 
16.  Dividends paid to owners of the Company 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
|                                                     |  6 months |  6 months |   Year to | 
|                                                     |        to |        to |    31 Dec | 
|                                                     |   30 June |   30 June |      2008 | 
|                                                     |      2009 |      2008 |    GBP000 | 
|                                                     |    GBP000 |    GBP000 |           | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
|                                                     |           |           |           | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Final dividend for the year ended:                  |           |           |           | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| - 31 December 2008 of 8.5p (net) per share          |    31,778 |         - |         - | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| - 31 December 2007 of 8.0p (net) per share          |         - |    31,141 |    31,141 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Interim dividend for the year ended:                |           |           |           | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| - 31 December 2008 of 4.25p (net) per share         |         - |         - |    15,615 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
|                                                     |    31,778 |    31,141 |    46,756 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
An interim dividend of 4.5p (net) per ordinary share has been declared payable 
on 6 October 2009 to shareholders registered on 4 September 2009 in respect of 
the six months to 30 June 2009 (30 June 2008: 4.25p (net) per ordinary share). 
The dividend was approved by the Board on 25 August 2009 and accordingly has not 
been included as a distribution or liability in this interim consolidated 
financial information in accordance with IAS 10 Events after the Balance Sheet 
Date. 
 
 
17. Financial assets and liabilities 
i) Analysis of financial assets carried at fair value 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
|                                                     |   30 June |   30 June |        31 | 
|                                                     |      2009 |      2008 |  Dec 2008 | 
|                                                     |    GBP000 |    GBP000 |    GBP000 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
|                                                     |           |           |           | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Debt and fixed income securities                    | 1,815,855 | 1,456,712 | 1,928,599 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Equities and shares in unit trusts                  |   120,748 |   131,442 |   124,864 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Deposits with credit institutions                   |     8,745 |    50,840 |    28,269 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Total investments                                   | 1,945,348 | 1,638,994 | 2,081,732 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Derivative instruments                              |       100 |       532 |        40 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Total financial assets carried at fair value        | 1,945,448 | 1,639,526 | 2,081,772 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
 
 
ii) Analysis of financial liabilities carried at fair value 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
|                                                     |   30 June |   30 June |    31 Dec | 
|                                                     |      2009 |      2008 |      2008 | 
|                                                     |    GBP000 |    GBP000 |    GBP000 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
|                                                     |           |           |           | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Borrowing from credit institutions                  |    98,000 |         - |    90,278 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Derivative instruments                              |         - |        19 |    53,072 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Total financial liabilities                         |    98,000 |        19 |   143,350 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
 
 
iii) Investment and cash allocation 
+------------------------------------------+-----------+------+-----------+------+-----------+------+ 
|                                          |     30 June 2009 |     30 June 2008 |      31 Dec 2008 | 
+------------------------------------------+------------------+------------------+------------------+ 
|                                          |    GBP000 |    % |    GBP000 |    % |    GBP000 |    % | 
+------------------------------------------+-----------+------+-----------+------+-----------+------+ 
|                                          |           |      |           |      |           |      | 
+------------------------------------------+-----------+------+-----------+------+-----------+------+ 
| Debt and fixed income securities         | 1,815,855 | 76.3 | 1,456,712 | 75.5 | 1,928,599 | 76.4 | 
+------------------------------------------+-----------+------+-----------+------+-----------+------+ 
| Equities and shares in unit trusts       |   120,748 |  5.1 |   131,442 |  6.8 |   124,864 |  5.0 | 
+------------------------------------------+-----------+------+-----------+------+-----------+------+ 
| Deposits with credit institutions/cash   |   442,844 | 18.6 |   342,394 | 17.7 |   468,891 | 18.6 | 
| and cash equivalents                     |           |      |           |      |           |      | 
+------------------------------------------+-----------+------+-----------+------+-----------+------+ 
| Total                                    | 2,379,447 |      | 1,930,548 |      | 2,522,354 |      | 
+------------------------------------------+-----------+------+-----------+------+-----------+------+ 
 
 
iv) Investment and cash allocation by currency 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
|                                                     |   30 June |   30 June |    31 Dec | 
|                                                     |     2009  |     2008  |     2008  | 
|                                                     |         % |         % |         % | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
|                                                     |           |           |           | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Sterling                                            |      23.6 |      27.0 |      19.7 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| US Dollars                                          |      66.1 |      59.7 |      65.8 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Euro and other currencies                           |      10.3 |      13.3 |      14.5 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
 
 
18. Fair value measurements 
 
 
The tables below summarise the fair value hierarchy for the Group in accordance 
with Improving Disclosures about Financial Instruments - Amendments to IFRS 
7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures. 
 
 
The levels of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows: 
- Level 1 - fair values measured using quoted prices (unadjusted) in active 
markets for identical instruments, 
- Level 2 - fair values measured using directly or indirectly observable inputs 
or other similar valuation techniques for which all significant inputs are based 
on observable market data, 
- Level 3 - fair values measured using valuation techniques for which 
significant inputs are not based on market observable data. 
 
 
The Group measures the fair value of its financial assets based on prices 
provided by investment managers who obtain market data from independent pricing 
services. The pricing services used by the investment manager obtain actual 
transaction prices for securities that have quoted prices in active markets. For 
those securities which are not actively traded, the pricing services use common 
market valuation pricing models. Observable inputs used in common market 
valuation pricing models include, but are not limited to, broker quotes, credit 
ratings, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, default rates and 
other such inputs which are available from market sources. 
 
 
Investments in mutual funds comprise a portfolio of stock investments in trading 
entities which are invested in various quoted investments. The fair value of 
shares in unit trusts are based on the net asset value of the fund as reported 
by independent pricing sources or the fund manager. 
 
 
 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| As at 30 June 2009                      |    Level 1 |   Level 2 |   Level 3 |     Total | 
|                                         |     GBP000 |    GBP000 |    GBP000 |    GBP000 | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
|                                         |            |           |           |           | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Debt and fixed income securities        |    562,915 | 1,252,940 |         - | 1,815,855 | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Equities and shares in unit trusts      |        210 |   118,516 |     2,022 |   120,748 | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Deposits with credit institutions       |      8,745 |         - |         - |     8,745 | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Derivative instruments                  |          - |         - |       100 |       100 | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Total                                   |    571,870 | 1,371,456 |     2,122 | 1,945,448 | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
|                                         |            |           |           |           | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| As at 30 June 2008                      |    Level 1 |   Level 2 |   Level 3 |     Total | 
|                                         |     GBP000 |    GBP000 |    GBP000 |    GBP000 | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Debt and fixed income securities        |    407,879 | 1,048,833 |         - | 1,456,712 | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Equities and shares in unit trusts      |      2,251 |   129,191 |         - |   131,442 | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Deposits with credit institutions       |     50,840 |         - |         - |    50,840 | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Derivative instruments                  |          - |         - |       532 |       532 | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Total                                   |    460,970 | 1,178,024 |       532 | 1,639,526 | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
|                                         |            |           |           |           | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| As at 31 December 2008                  |    Level 1 |   Level 2 |   Level 3 |     Total | 
|                                         |     GBP000 |    GBP000 |    GBP000 |    GBP000 | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Debt and fixed income securities        |    605,222 | 1,323,377 |         - | 1,928,599 | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Equities and shares in unit trusts      |      2,043 |   122,282 |       539 |   124,864 | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Deposits with credit institutions       |     22,392 |         - |     5,877 |    28,269 | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Derivative instruments                  |          - |         - |        40 |        40 | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
| Total                                   |    629,657 | 1,445,659 |     6,456 | 2,081,772 | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 
 
 
 
 
Included within Level 1 of the hierarchy are Government bonds and Treasury bills 
which are measured based on quoted market prices. 
 
 
Level 2 of the hierarchy contains US Government Agencies, Corporate Securities, 
Asset Backed Securities and Mortgage Backed Securities. The fair value of these 
assets are based on prices derived from models with observable market inputs as 
discussed above. Also included within Level 2 are units held in traditional long 
funds and long and short special funds. 
 
 
Level 3 contains investments in a limited partnership and investment in a mutual 
fund which at 31 December 2008 had limited observable transactions on which to 
measure fair value. Redemptions from the fund were suspended throughout 2008 and 
the fund was deemed illiquid. In 2009 the fund was redeemed in full. 
 
 
Derivative instruments included within Level 3 represent event linked future 
contracts which are transacted on the Chicago Climate Futures Exchange. Pricing 
models based on unobservable inputs are used by the exchange to determine the 
fair value of the contracts. 
 
 
In certain cases, the inputs used to measure the fair value of a financial 
instrument may fall into different levels within the fair value hierarchy. In 
this instance, the fair value of the instrument in its entirety is classified 
based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value 
measurement. 
 
 
During the period, there were no significant transfers made between Level 1 and 
Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. 
 
 
The following table shows the reconciliation of opening and closing balances for 
financial instruments classified under Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy for 
the six months to 30 June 2009: 
 
 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+--------------+-------------+-----------+ 
|                                         |   Equities |     Deposits |  Derivative |     Total | 
|                                         | and shares |         with | instruments |    GBP000 | 
|                                         |    in unit |       credit |      GBP000 |           | 
|                                         |     trusts | institutions |             |           | 
|                                         |     GBP000 |       GBP000 |             |           | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+--------------+-------------+-----------+ 
|                                         |            |              |             |           | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+--------------+-------------+-----------+ 
| Balance at 1 January                    |        539 |        5,877 |          40 |     6,456 | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+--------------+-------------+-----------+ 
| Net gains recognised in the income      |         58 |            - |          60 |       118 | 
| statement*                              |            |              |             |           | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+--------------+-------------+-----------+ 
| Net purchases, sales, issues and        |      1,425 |      (5,877) |           - |   (4,452) | 
| settlements                             |            |              |             |           | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+--------------+-------------+-----------+ 
| Transfers to other levels               |          - |            - |           - |         - | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+--------------+-------------+-----------+ 
| Closing balance                         |      2,022 |            - |         100 |     2,122 | 
+-----------------------------------------+------------+--------------+-------------+-----------+ 
* Net gains are included within the investment result in the income statement. 
 
 
19. Impact of foreign exchange related items 
The net foreign exchange gains/(losses) for the year include the following 
amounts: 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+----------+ 
|                                                      |  6 months |  6 months | Year to  | 
|                                                      |        to |        to |   31 Dec | 
|                                                      |   30 June |   30 June |     2008 | 
|                                                      |      2009 |      2008 |   GBP000 | 
|                                                      |    GBP000 |    GBP000 |          | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+----------+ 
|                                                      |           |           |          | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+----------+ 
| Exchange (losses)/gains recognised in the            |  (42,820) |     9,594 |  109,755 | 
| consolidated income statement                        |           |           |          | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+----------+ 
| Exchange (losses)/gains classified as a separate     |  (78,075) |   (1,928) |  150,582 | 
| component of equity                                  |           |           |          | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+----------+ 
| Overall impact of foreign exchange related items on  | (120,895) |     7,666 |  260,337 | 
| net assets                                           |           |           |          | 
+------------------------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+----------+ 
The above excludes profit or losses on foreign exchange derivative contracts 
which are included within the investment result. 
Net unearned premiums and deferred acquisition costs are treated as non monetary 
items in accordance with IFRS. As a result, a foreign exchange mismatch 
arises caused by these items being translated at historical rates of 
exchange prevailing at the original transaction date and not being retranslated 
at the end of each period. The impact of this mismatch on the income statement 
is shown below. 
 
 
+------------------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-----------+ 
|                                                      |   6 months |    6 months |  Year to  | 
|                                                      |         to |          to |    31 Dec | 
|                                                      |    30 June |     30 June |      2008 | 
|                                                      |       2009 |        2008 |    GBP000 | 
|                                                      |     GBP000 |      GBP000 |           | 
+------------------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-----------+ 
| Opening balance sheet impact of non monetary items   |    50,525  |      14,438 |   14,438  | 
+------------------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-----------+ 
| Closing balance sheet impact of non monetary items   |   (8,943)  |      (849)  |   50,525  | 
+------------------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-----------+ 
| Impact of non retranslation of non monetary items on |   (59,468) |   (15,287)  |   36,087  | 
| the income statement                                 |            |             |           | 
+------------------------------------------------------+------------+-------------+-----------+ 
 
 
 
 
The following is an analysis of the foreign exchange gains and losses recognised 
in the consolidated income statement:- 
 
 
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+--------------+---------------+------------+ 
|                                                                                           6 months to 30 June 2009 | 
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ 
|                                                                        | Economic     | Other         | Total      | 
|                                                                        | hedges and   |               |            | 
|                                                                        | intragroup   |               |            | 
|                                                                        | borrowings   |               |            | 
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+--------------+---------------+------------+ 
|                                                                        | GBP000       | GBP000        | GBP000     | 
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+--------------+---------------+------------+ 
| Foreign exchange losses on intragroup borrowings                       | (7,689)      | -             | (7,689)    | 
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+--------------+---------------+------------+ 
| Other foreign exchange losses                                          | -            | (35,131)      | (35,131)   | 
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+--------------+---------------+------------+ 
| Foreign exchange losses arising on retranslation of monetary items     | (7,689)      | (35,131)      | (42,820)   | 
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+--------------+---------------+------------+ 
| Derivative gains on foreign exchange contracts included within         | 263          | 2,175         | 2,438      | 
| investment return                                                      |              |               |            | 
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+--------------+---------------+------------+ 
| Total foreign exchange losses recognised in the consolidated income    | (7,426)      | (32,956)      | (40,382)   | 
| statement                                                              |              |               |            | 
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+--------------+---------------+------------+ 
 
 
 
 
 
+------------------------------------------------------+------------+-----------+---------+ 
|                                                                6 months to 30 June 2008 | 
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ 
|                                                      |   Economic |     Other |   Total | 
|                                                      |     hedges |           |         | 
|                                                      |        and |           |         | 
|                                                      | intragroup |           |         | 
|                                                      | borrowings |           |         | 
+------------------------------------------------------+------------+-----------+---------+ 
|                                                      |     GBP000 |    GBP000 |  GBP000 | 
+------------------------------------------------------+------------+-----------+---------+ 
| Foreign exchange losses on intragroup borrowings     |          - |         - |      -- | 
+------------------------------------------------------+------------+-----------+---------+ 
| Other foreign exchange gains                         |          - |     9,594 |   9,594 | 
+------------------------------------------------------+------------+-----------+---------+ 
| Foreign exchange gains arising on retranslation of   |          - |     9,594 |   9,594 | 
| monetary items                                       |            |           |         | 
+------------------------------------------------------+------------+-----------+---------+ 
| Derivative gains on foreign exchange contracts       |        514 |         - |     514 | 
| included within investment return                    |            |           |         | 
+------------------------------------------------------+------------+-----------+---------+ 
| Total foreign exchange gains recognised in the       |        514 |     9,594 |  10,108 | 
| consolidated income statement                        |            |           |         | 
+------------------------------------------------------+------------+-----------+---------+ 
 
 
+------------------------------------------------------+------------+-----------+----------+ 
|                                                      |            |  Year to 31 December | 
|                                                      |            |                 2008 | 
+------------------------------------------------------+------------+----------------------+ 
|                                                      |   Economic |     Other |    Total | 
|                                                      |     hedges |           |          | 
|                                                      |        and |           |          | 
|                                                      | intragroup |           |          | 
|                                                      | borrowings |           |          | 
+------------------------------------------------------+------------+-----------+----------+ 
|                                                      |     GBP000 |    GBP000 |   GBP000 | 
+------------------------------------------------------+------------+-----------+----------+ 
| Foreign exchange losses on intragroup borrowings     |    (8,463) |         - |  (8,463) | 
+------------------------------------------------------+------------+-----------+----------+ 
| Other foreign exchange gains                         |          - |   118,218 |  118,218 | 
+------------------------------------------------------+------------+-----------+----------+ 
| Foreign exchange gains arising on retranslation of   |    (8,463) |   118,218 |  109,755 | 
| monetary items                                       |            |           |          | 
+------------------------------------------------------+------------+-----------+----------+ 
| Derivative losses on foreign exchange contracts      |   (42,540) |  (10,123) | (52,663) | 
| included within investment return                    |            |           |          | 
+------------------------------------------------------+------------+-----------+----------+ 
| Total foreign exchange (losses)/gains recognised in  |   (51,003) |   108,095 |   57,092 | 
| the consolidated income statement                    |            |           |          | 
+------------------------------------------------------+------------+-----------+----------+ 
 
 
 
 
20. Business combinations 
 
 
On 30 September 2008, the Group acquired 100% of issued share capital of 
Amershill Limited. Cash consideration of GBP2,000,000 was paid and goodwill of 
GBP1,909,000 was recognised. The fair value of the identifiable net asset 
acquired was GBP91,000. 
 
 
On 16 August 2007 the Group acquired 100% of the share capital of ALTOHA Inc. in 
the USA. The total consideration was GBP29,052,000 which included contingent 
consideration of GBP7,530,000. No goodwill arose on acquisition.Intangible 
assets of GBP5,083,000 were initially recognised in respect of the US State 
authorisation licenses held by ALTOHA Inc.'s consolidated operations. During 
2008, further cash consideration of GBP1,225,000 was paid in finalisation of 
their ultimate purchase value. 
 
 
21. Condensed consolidated interim cash flow statement 
 
 
The purchase, maturity and disposal of financial assets is part of the Group's 
insurance activities and is therefore classified as an operating cash flow. The 
purchase, settlement and disposal of derivative contracts is also classified as 
an operating cash flow. 
 
 
Included within cash and cash equivalents held by the Group are balances 
totalling GBP85,321,000 (30 June 2008: GBP69,388,000; 31 December 2008: 
GBP47,094,000) not available for use by the Group outside of the Lloyd's 
Syndicates within which they are held. 
 
 
Directors' responsibility statement 
 
 
The Directors confirm, to the best of our knowledge, that the Chairman's 
statement and condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been 
prepared in accordance with IAS 34 as adopted by the European Union and the 
Interim Statement includes a fair review of the information required by sections 
4.2.7R and 4.2.8R of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the United 
Kingdom's Financial Services Authority, being: 
 
 
1) an indication of important events during the first six months of the current 
financial year and their impact on the condensed, consolidated interim financial 
statements, and a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the 
remaining six months of the year; and 
 
 
2) related party transactions that have taken place in the first six months of 
the current year and that have materially affected the consolidated financial 
position or performance of Hiscox Ltd during that period, and any changes in the 
related party transactions described in the last annual report that could have 
such a material effect. 
 
 
The individuals responsible for authorising the responsibility statement on 
behalf of the Board are the Chairman, RRS Hiscox and the Group Finance Director, 
SJ Bridges. The statements were approved for issue on 25 August 2009. 
 
 
 
This information is provided by RNS 
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange 
   END 
 
 IR PUUWPRUPBGBC 
 


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