Update-Exposure to Japan earthquake & Thai ...

LANCASHIRE HOLDINGS LIMITED                          

30 January 2012
London, UK

         Update on exposure to Japan earthquake and Thai floods losses         

Lancashire Holdings Limited ("the Company") today announces that its estimated
loss in the fourth quarter of 2011 to the floods in Thailand, after reinsurance
and reinstatement premiums, is between $24 million and $28 million. The Company
has no direct exposure to Thai flood losses emanating from the Japanese
reinsurance treaty products, including the Japanese Interests Abroad placements
(JIA). The Company's assessment of its exposure to this event is ongoing and
the Company's actual ultimate loss may vary from today's estimate.

The Company also announces that, in line with guidance given in relation to its
third quarter earnings regarding Japanese losses, the Company has increased its
estimated exposure to the Tohoku earthquake by $42.2 million to a net loss
estimate of $117.3 million. This is after reinstatement premium. The increase
in reserves is mostly related to the Company's exposure to one significant
cedant, and the Company has now reserved in full its remaining exposure to that
client. Significant uncertainty remains on the eventual ultimate industry loss
in relation to this event.

As previously advised the Company will publish its full year results and hold
an earnings call on Thursday 23 February 2012. Full details are posted on the
Company's website at www.lancashiregroup.com

For further information, please contact:

Lancashire Holdings Limited     
Greg Lunn                       [phone]                                                    
                                [e-mail]                                          
                                                                                       
Jonny Creagh-Coen               [phone]                                                    
                                [e-mail]                                  
                                                                                       
Haggie Financial                [phone]                                                    
Peter Rigby                    (Peter Rigby mobile [phone])
                                                                         

About Lancashire

Lancashire, through its UK and Bermuda-based insurance subsidiaries, is a
global provider of specialty insurance products. The Group companies carry the
following ratings:

                              Financial        Long Term Issuer Outlook        
                              Strength                                         
                                               Rating (2)                      
                              Rating (1)                                       
                                                                               
A.M. Best                     A                bbb              Stable         
                                                                               
Standard & Poor's             A-               BBB              Stable         
                                                                               
Moody's                       A3               Baa2             Stable         

(1)Financial Strength Rating applies to Lancashire Insurance Company Limited
and Lancashire Insurance Company (UK) Limited

(2) Long Term Issuer Rating applies to Lancashire Holdings Limited

Lancashire has capital in excess of $1 billion and its Common Shares trade on
the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol LRE.
Lancashire has its corporate headquarters and mailing address at Level 11,
Vitro, 60 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4AD, United Kingdom and its registered
office at Power House, 7 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda.

For more information on Lancashire, visit the Company's website at
www.lancashiregroup.com

Lancashire Insurance Company Limited is regulated by the Bermuda Monetary
Authority in Bermuda.

Lancashire Insurance Company (UK) Limited is regulated by the Financial
Services Authority in the UK.

NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

CERTAIN STATEMENTS AND INDICATIVE PROJECTIONS (WHICH MAY INCLUDE MODELED LOSS
SCENARIOS) MADE IN THIS RELEASE OR OTHERWISE THAT ARE NOT BASED ON CURRENT OR
HISTORICAL FACTS ARE FORWARD-LOOKING IN NATURE INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION,
STATEMENTS CONTAINING THE WORDS 'BELIEVES', 'ANTICIPATES', 'PLANS', 'PROJECTS',
'FORECASTS', 'GUIDANCE', 'INTENDS', 'EXPECTS', 'ESTIMATES', 'PREDICTS', 'MAY',
'CAN', 'WILL', 'SEEKS', 'SHOULD', OR, IN EACH CASE, THEIR NEGATIVE OR
COMPARABLE TERMINOLOGY. ALL STATEMENTS OTHER THAN STATEMENTS OF HISTORICAL
FACTS INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THOSE REGARDING THE GROUP'S FINANCIAL
POSITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, LIQUIDITY, PROSPECTS, GROWTH, CAPITAL
MANAGEMENT PLANS, BUSINESS STRATEGY, PLANS AND OBJECTIVES OF MANAGEMENT FOR
FUTURE OPERATIONS (INCLUDING DEVELOPMENT PLANS AND OBJECTIVES RELATING TO THE
GROUP'S INSURANCE BUSINESS) ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. SUCH
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS INVOLVE KNOWN AND UNKNOWN RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND
OTHER IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE THE ACTUAL RESULTS, PERFORMANCE OR
ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE GROUP TO BE MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM FUTURE RESULTS,
PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED BY SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS.

THESE FACTORS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: THE NUMBER AND TYPE OF INSURANCE
AND REINSURANCE CONTRACTS THAT WE WRITE; THE PREMIUM RATES AVAILABLE AT THE
TIME OF SUCH RENEWALS WITHIN OUR TARGETED BUSINESS LINES; THE LOW FREQUENCY OF
LARGE EVENTS; UNUSUAL LOSS FREQUENCY; THE IMPACT THAT OUR FUTURE OPERATING
RESULTS, CAPITAL POSITION AND RATING AGENCY AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS HAVE ON
THE EXECUTION OF ANY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES; THE POSSIBILITY OF GREATER
FREQUENCY OR SEVERITY OF CLAIMS AND LOSS ACTIVITY THAN OUR UNDERWRITING,
RESERVING OR INVESTMENT PRACTICES HAVE ANTICIPATED; THE RELIABILITY OF, AND
CHANGES IN ASSUMPTIONS TO, CATASTROPHE PRICING, ACCUMULATION AND ESTIMATED LOSS
MODELS; THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR LOSS LIMITATION METHODS; LOSS OF KEY
PERSONNEL; A DECLINE IN OUR OPERATING SUBSIDIARIES' RATING WITH A.M. BEST,
STANDARD & POOR'S, MOODY'S OR OTHER RATING AGENCIES; INCREASED COMPETITION ON
THE BASIS OF PRICING, CAPACITY, COVERAGE TERMS OR OTHER FACTORS; A CYCLICAL
DOWNTURN OF THE INDUSTRY; THE IMPACT OF A DETERIORATING CREDIT ENVIRONMENT FOR
ISSUERS OF FIXED INCOME INVESTMENTS; THE IMPACT OF SWINGS IN MARKET INTEREST
RATES AND SECURITIES PRICES; A RATING DOWNGRADE OF, OR A MARKET DECLINE IN,
SECURITIES IN OUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO; CHANGES IN GOVERNMENTAL REGULATIONS OR
TAX LAWS IN JURISDICTIONS WHERE LANCASHIRE CONDUCTS BUSINESS; LANCASHIRE OR ITS
BERMUDIAN SUBSIDIARY BECOMING SUBJECT TO INCOME TAXES IN THE UNITED STATES OR
THE UNITED KINGDOM; THE UK TEMPORARY PERIOD EXEMPTION UNDER THE CURRENT CFC
REGIME FAILING TO REMAIN IN FORCE FOR THE PERIOD INTENDED; THE FAILURE OF THE
UK GOVERNMENT TO BRING BEFORE PARLIAMENT LEGISLATION CONTAINING A SUITABLE NEW
CFC REGIME IN LINE WITH THE PROPOSALS OUTLINED IN THE CONSULTATION DOCUMENT;
THE OMISSION FROM THE NEW CFC REGIME OF A SUITABLE EXCLUSION (E.G. RELATING TO
LARGE RISKS WRITTEN IN THE INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE MARKET); ANY CHANGE IN UK
GOVERNMENT OR THE UK GOVERNMENT POLICY WHICH IMPACTS THE TEMPORARY PERIOD
EXEMPTION, THE ANTICIPATED TERRITORIAL BUSINESS EXEMPTION OR OTHER ASPECTS OF
THE NEW CFC REGIME; AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHANGE IN TAX RESIDENCE OF
LANCASHIRE NEGATIVELY IMPACTS STAKEHOLDERS OF LANCASHIRE IN A MATERIAL WAY.

THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS SPEAK ONLY AS AT THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.
LANCASHIRE HOLDINGS LIMITED EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY OBLIGATION OR UNDERTAKING
(SAVE AS REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH ANY LEGAL OR REGULATORY OBLIGATIONS (INCLUDING
THE RULES OF THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE)) TO DISSEMINATE ANY UPDATES OR
REVISIONS TO ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS TO REFLECT ANY CHANGES IN THE
GROUP'S EXPECTATIONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES ON WHICH ANY SUCH STATEMENT IS BASED.