Max Capital Group Reports First Quarter 2010 Results

Max Capital Group Ltd. (NASDAQ:MXGL) (BSX:MXGL.BH) (“Max”) today reported net income of $36.4 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, compared to net income of $44.5 million, or $0.78 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2009.

Net operating income for the first quarter of 2010 was $40.7 million, or $0.71 per diluted share, compared to net operating income of $46.9 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, last year. Annualized net operating return on average shareholders’ equity for the first quarter of 2010 was 10.2%.

W. Marston (Marty) Becker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Max, said: “The continuation of Max’s very solid financial results this quarter reflects the balance, diversification and flexibility that are the cornerstones of our business model. Where market conditions continue to provide attractive returns, we are well positioned to expand our presence, while scaling back in areas with softer pricing. As a result, our combined ratios have been maintained at strong levels even as we have decreased gross premiums written.

“Another key factor in the quarter was our relatively low property catastrophe losses. Considering the size of the industry losses for the headline cat events during the first quarter, we believe our estimated losses of approximately $10.0 million illustrate our conservative underwriting strategy, which is designed to limit our exposure to property cat events.

“Looking forward, our new Latin America team is firmly establishing itself in the market, and we expect it to make a meaningful contribution to group results before the end of this year.

“Most importantly, our ability to write a broad mix of short- and long-tail product lines from multiple jurisdictions should be further enhanced as a result of our pending merger with Harbor Point, which was approved by Max’s and Harbor Point’s respective shareholders on April 29. Once the closing occurs, the combined entity, which will be branded as Alterra Capital Holdings Limited, will bring together the first-class reinsurance group at Harbor Point with Max’s broad base of established underwriting platforms in major insurance markets worldwide. We are excited by the many opportunities that the enhanced capital base and scale of Alterra will bring to all of our underwriting platforms,” Becker added.

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