Syndicate 33 Estimates

Hiscox PLC
14 December 2005


14 December 2005
For immediate release

                            HISCOX PLC ANNOUNCEMENT
                             Syndicate 33 Estimates

Specialist insurance group, Hiscox plc, today announces its estimate for
Syndicate 33's results for the 2003 and 2004 years of account following the Q3
reserving process.

Year of   Current estimate   Previous estimate      Capacity   Hiscox plc share
account

2003       15.0% to 20.0%      12.5% to 17.5%         £842m            65%
2004        5.0% to 12.5%       5.0% to 12.5%         £846m            65%

                                    - ends -

For further information:

Hiscox plc

Bronek Masojada                  Chief Executive           020 7448 6012
Stuart Bridges                   Finance Director          020 7448 6013

The Maitland Consultancy

Suzanne Bartch                                             020 7379 5151

Notes to editors

1. The Syndicate results and estimates are after standard personal expenses, 
   such as Managing Agent fees and profit commission and all charges levied 
   directly on syndicates by Lloyd's, but before Members Agents' charges.

2. Hiscox plc is a specialist insurance group listed on the London Stock
   Exchange where it has a market capitalisation of circa £850 million. There 
   are three main underwriting parts of the Group - Syndicate 33 at Lloyd's of 
   London, UK Retail and International Retail. Syndicate 33 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. The UK Retail business offers a wide range
   of specialist insurance for professionals and business customers, as well as
   high net worth individuals. Hiscox has offices throughout the UK in 
   Birmingham, Bristol, Colchester, Glasgow, Leeds, London and Maidenhead. 
   Hiscox's international offices are located in Amsterdam, Bermuda, Brussels, 
   Dublin, Guernsey, Madrid, Munich and Paris.  For further information, go to
   www.hiscox.com



                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange