RNS Number:5231P
BRIT Insurance Holdings PLC
09 September 2003

For immediate release

9 September 2003

                          Brit Insurance Holdings PLC

            Ken Culley appointed Chairman of Brit Insurance Limited

                     A.M. Best affirms A (Excellent) rating

Brit Insurance Holdings PLC ("Brit"), the UK general insurer, announces the
appointment of Ken Culley as Non Executive Chairman of its subsidiary company,
Brit Insurance Limited. Ken Culley has been a non-executive director of Brit
Insurance Limited ('BIL') since 15th February 2000.

Clive Coates, who has performed the duties of both Chairman of Brit Insurance
Holdings PLC and Brit Insurance Limited, will now concentrate on his position as
Chairman of Brit Insurance Holdings PLC.  Clive will remain as a Non-Executive
Director of Brit Insurance Limited.

Ken Culley has an extensive knowledge and wide experience within the Financial
Services sector. He was formerly Chief Executive and main Board Director of the
Portman Building Society, one of the country's leading building societies and he
is Chairman of Fleming Managed Growth Plc. He is also a Director of Marks &
Spencer Financial Services Plc (Chairman of the Audit Committee), the Financial
Services Compensation Scheme Limited (Chairman of Pension Trustees) and the
Football Licensing Authority.  He is a past Chairman of the Building Societies
Association and represented building societies on the Council of Mortgage
Lenders.  He retired as Deputy President of the International Union for Housing
Finance Institutions in October 1999.

Ken Culley was appointed a CBE in the 1998 New Year's Honours for services to
the Building Society movement.

Clive Coates, Chairman of Brit Insurance Holdings plc, said: "Our group has
grown substantially during the last two years and my role as Chairman of Brit
Insurance Holdings PLC has grown with it. Our subsidiary, Brit Insurance Limited
is also growing rapidly and we therefore feel that now is an appropriate time to
appoint a separate chairman.

We are delighted that Ken has accepted this role, he knows the company well
having served as a non-executive director for three and half years and is
experienced and extremely well regarded in the financial services arena."

Dane Douetil, CEO of Brit Insurance Limited, said:  "A.M. Best have affirmed the
A (Excellent) financial strength rating of Brit Insurance Limited and removed
the 'under review' status of the rating which followed Brit's acquisition of PRI
Group.  A.M. Best's press release states that 'The affirmation reflects the
company's excellent capitalisation and performance prospects, its improved
underwriting diversification and raised business profile'."

Contacts:

Dane Douetil, CEO of Brit Insurance Limited                  020 7984 8500

David Haggie, Haggie Financial
                                                             020 7417 8989


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

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