Exhibit 99.1

ALLEGHANY CORPORATION REPORTS 2011 THIRD QUARTER RESULTS — STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY PER COMMON SHARE INCREASES 0.6 PERCENT SINCE 2010 YEAR END

     NEW YORK, NY, November 7, 2011 — Stockholders’ equity per common share of Alleghany Corporation (NYSE-Y) at September 30, 2011 was $327.34, an increase of 0.6% from stockholders’ equity per common share of $325.31 at December 31, 2010 (all as adjusted for the stock dividend declared in February 2011), Weston M. Hicks, President and chief executive officer of Alleghany, announced today. Alleghany’s 2011 third quarter net earnings were $19.2 million, or $2.17 per common share (presented on a basic basis throughout), compared with net earnings of $36.6 million, or $4.07 per common share, in the third quarter of 2010. For the first nine months of 2011, net earnings were $105.6 million, or $11.89 per common share, compared with net earnings of $161.1 million, or $17.67 per common share, in the first nine months of 2010. Consolidated cash and invested assets were approximately $4.80 billion at September 30, 2011, compared with $4.88 billion at December 31, 2010.

     Commenting on Alleghany’s results, Mr. Hicks stated that “Alleghany reported a small increase in stockholders’ equity per common share at September 30, 2011 from year-end 2010 despite a challenging investment environment, elevated catastrophe and weather-related losses, and other large property losses at RSUI resulting from the Northern Virginia earthquake in August 2011. Although we continue to see a competitive property and casualty insurance market, renewal price changes in many lines are no longer negative, and we continue to be cautiously optimistic about the prospect for improvements in catastrophe-exposed property insurance and workers’ compensation pricing.”

     “The total return on our consolidated investment portfolio, excluding other invested assets consisting primarily of our Homesite and ORX investments, was a negative 3.4% in the third quarter and a positive 1.0% in the first nine months of 2011. The total return on our fixed income portfolio was a positive 2.0% in the third quarter and a positive 5.3% in the first nine months of 2011. The total return on our equity portfolio was a negative 13.5% in the third quarter and a negative 7.9% in the first nine months of 2011, compared with the S&P 500’s total return of negative 13.9% for the third quarter and negative 8.7% for the first nine months of 2011.”

     Net earnings amounts include the following components:

		Three Months ended September 30,																Nine Months ended September 30,
(in millions, except per		Amount								Per Share								Amount								Per Share
share amounts)		2011				2010				2011				2010				2011				2010				2011				2010
Net catastrophe (losses) after tax		$	(18.0	)		$	(3.4	)		$	(2.05	)		$	(0.38	)		$	(36.0	)		$	(16.3	)		$	(4.05	)		$	(1.79	)
Net realized capital gains after tax		$	14.8			$	17.7			$	1.67			$	1.97			$	41.5			$	56.6			$	4.68			$	6.21
Other than temporary impairment (losses) after tax		$	(1.8	)		$	(1.6	)		$	(0.20	)		$	(0.18	)		$	(1.8	)		$	(6.0	)		$	(0.20	)		$	(0.66	)

A summary of Alleghany’s pre-tax results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 is as follows:

		Three Months ended												Nine Months ended
		September 30,												September 30,
(in millions)		2011				2010				Change				2011				2010				Change
AIHL insurance group (1):
Underwriting profit (loss) (2)
RSUI		$	7.1			$	26.6			$	(19.5	)		$	75.6			$	107.2			$	(31.6	)
CATA			0.1				(0.2	)			0.3				(0.9	)			2.8				(3.7	)
PCC			(7.0	)			(6.4	)			(0.6	)			(33.9	)			(17.3	)			(16.6	)
			0.2				20.0				(19.8	)			40.8				92.7				(51.9	)
Net investment income			29.7				30.5				(0.8	)			90.9				96.9				(6.0	)
Net realized capital gains			22.1				27.2				(5.1	)			63.3				82.6				(19.3	)
Other than temporary impairment losses (3)			(2.8	)			(2.5	)			(0.3	)			(2.8	)			(9.2	)			6.4
Other income, less other expenses			(1.2	)			(9.1	)			7.9				(18.1	)			(25.1	)			7.0
Total AIHL insurance group		$	48.0			$	66.1			$	(18.1	)		$	174.1			$	237.9			$	(63.8	)
Corporate activities (4):
Net investment income (5)			(7.6	)			(1.1	)			(6.5	)			(8.7	)			(3.3	)			(5.4	)
Net realized capital gains			0.6				0.1				0.5				0.6				4.4				(3.8	)
Other than temporary impairment losses			—				—				—				—				—				—
Other income			—				5.2				(5.2	)			0.9				6.5				(5.6	)
Corporate administration and other expenses			3.8				9.3				5.5				17.0				21.9				4.9
Interest expense			4.3				0.6				(3.7	)			13.0				0.7				(12.3	)
Total Corporate activities			(15.1	)			(5.7	)			(9.4	)			(37.2	)			(15.0	)			(22.2	)
Total		$	32.9			$	60.4			$	(27.5	)		$	136.9			$	222.9			$	(86.0	)
Income taxes			13.7				23.8				10.1				31.3				61.8				30.5
Net earnings		$	19.2			$	36.6			$	(17.4	)		$	105.6			$	161.1			$	(55.5	)

		Three Months ended								Nine Months ended
		September 30,								September 30,
		2011				2010				2011				2010
Homesite		$	(9.6	)		$	(3.6	)		$	(16.7	)		$	(5.2	)
ORX			(1.2	)			2.3				(3.4	)			(0.5	)
Interest, dividends and other — net			3.2				0.2				11.4				2.4
Net investment income		$	(7.6	)		$	(1.1	)		$	(8.7	)		$	(3.3	)

     Results for the third quarter of 2011, compared with the corresponding 2010 period, reflect a decrease in pre-tax net earnings at AIHL resulting primarily from lower underwriting profits and higher pre-tax net losses at Corporate activities.

     AIHL’s 2011 third quarter results reflect an increase in loss and loss adjustment expenses at RSUI during the period, primarily resulting from higher catastrophe and other large property losses, partially offset by a net $13.1 million release of prior year casualty reserves during the 2011 third quarter, compared with no release of such reserves during the corresponding 2010 period.

     Results at Corporate activities in the 2011 third quarter reflect higher negative net investment income due primarily to an increase in catastrophe losses related to Alleghany’s investment in Homesite, partially offset by higher dividend income; an absence of other income resulting from the absence of a non-recurring gain recognized by Alleghany Properties in the 2010 third quarter; and higher interest expenses reflecting Alleghany’s issuance in the 2010 third quarter of senior long-term debt, partially offset by lower corporate administration and other expenses due primarily to lower incentive compensation and pension accruals.

     Results for the first nine months of 2011, compared with the corresponding 2010 period, reflect a decrease in pre-tax net earnings at AIHL and higher pre-tax net losses at Corporate activities.

     The decrease in AIHL’s pre-tax earnings in the first nine months of 2011 reflects lower underwriting profits at AIHL compared with the corresponding 2010 period, primarily resulting from an increase in loss and loss adjustment expenses at RSUI and PCC, and a decrease in net realized capital gains. The increase in RSUI’s loss and loss adjustment expenses in the first nine months of 2011 reflects the impact of higher catastrophe and other large property losses, partially offset by a net $41.0 million release of prior year casualty reserves during the 2011 period, compared with a net $13.8 million release of prior year casualty reserves during the corresponding 2010 period. The increase in PCC’s loss and loss adjustment expenses in the first nine months of 2011 substantially reflects the impact of a $15.0 million increase in prior year reserves as of June 30, 2011, compared with no such increase during the first nine months of 2010. Information regarding the pre-tax results of AIHL’s operating units is attached as Exhibit A.

     Results at Corporate activities in the first nine months of 2011 were impacted by the same items discussed above with respect to Corporate activities’ third quarter results.

     During the first nine months of 2011, Alleghany repurchased in the open market an aggregate of 251,897 shares of its common stock for approximately $76.4 million, at an average price per share of $303.34 (such share and average price amounts are not adjusted for the stock dividend declared in February 2011), pursuant to the previously announced authorization by its Board of Directors to repurchase up to $300.0 million of Alleghany’s common stock. As of November 2, 2011, Alleghany had 8,566,272 shares of its common stock outstanding, adjusted to reflect the stock dividend declared in February 2011.

     Additional information regarding Alleghany’s 2011 results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2011, including management’s discussion and analysis of Alleghany’s financial condition and results of operations, is contained in Alleghany’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2011, to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on or about November 7, 2011. The Form 10-Q will be available on Alleghany’s website at www.alleghany.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Readers are urged to review the Form 10-Q for a more complete discussion of Alleghany’s financial performance.

Comment on Regulation G

     This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures. The reconciliations of such measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures are included in Exhibit A of this press release. Throughout this press release Alleghany presents its operations in the way it believes will be most meaningful and useful to the investing public and others who use such information in evaluating Alleghany’s results.

     Alleghany shows earnings before income taxes (a GAAP financial measure), as well as underwriting profit (a non-GAAP financial measure), which is earnings before income taxes, adjusted to exclude the impact of net investment income, net realized capital gains, other-than-temporary impairment losses and other income, less other expenses. The presentation of underwriting profit is intended to enhance the understanding of AIHL’s insurance operating units’ operating results by highlighting earnings attributable to their underwriting performance. With respect to AIHL’s insurance operating units, earnings before income taxes may show a profit despite an underlying underwriting loss. If underwriting losses persist over extended periods, an insurance company’s ability to continue as an ongoing concern may be at risk. Investors should consider the non-GAAP measures contained herein in addition to, and not as a substitute for, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

# # #

Forward-looking Statements

     This release contains disclosures which are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts, and can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “project,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “should,” “continue” or the negative versions of those words or other comparable words. These forward-looking statements are based upon Alleghany’s current plans or expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect current plans, anticipated actions and Alleghany’s future financial condition and results. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, and Alleghany has no specific intention to update these statements. The uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, risks relating to

	•		significant weather-related or other natural or human-made catastrophes and disasters;
	•		the cyclical nature of the property and casualty insurance industry;
	•		adverse loss development for events insured by Alleghany’s insurance operating units in either the current year or prior years;
	•		changes in market prices of Alleghany’s significant equity investments and changes in value of Alleghany’s debt securities portfolio;
	•		the long-tail and potentially volatile nature of certain casualty lines of business written by Alleghany’s insurance operating units;
	•		the cost and availability of reinsurance;
	•		exposure to terrorist acts;
	•		the willingness and ability of Alleghany’s insurance operating units’ reinsurers to pay reinsurance recoverable owed to such insurance operating units;
	•		changes in the ratings assigned to Alleghany’s insurance operating units;
	•		claims development and the process of estimating reserves;

	•		legal and regulatory changes, including the new federal financial regulatory reform of the insurance industry established by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act;
	•		the uncertain nature of damage theories and loss amounts; and
	•		increases in the levels of risk retention by Alleghany’s insurance operating units.

     Additional risks and uncertainties include general economic and political conditions, including the effects of a prolonged U.S. or global economic downturn or recession; changes in costs; variations in political, economic or other factors; risks relating to conducting operations in a competitive environment; effects of acquisition and disposition activities, inflation rates or recessionary or expansive trends; changes in interest rates; extended labor disruptions, civil unrest or other external factors over which Alleghany has no control; and changes in Alleghany’s plans, strategies, objectives, expectations or intentions, which may happen at any time at its discretion. As a consequence, current plans, anticipated actions and future financial condition and results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by Alleghany or on Alleghany’s behalf.

ALLEGHANY CORPORATION

(dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

		THREE MONTHS ENDED 9/30/11												THREE MONTHS ENDED 9/30/10
		ALLEGHANY												ALLEGHANY
		INSURANCE				CORPORATE								INSURANCE				CORPORATE
		HOLDINGS				ACTIVITIES				COMBINED				HOLDINGS				ACTIVITIES				COMBINED
Revenues
Net premiums earned		$	190,209			$	0			$	190,209			$	190,632			$	0			$	190,632
Net investment income			29,704				(7,654	)			22,050				30,544				(1,120	)			29,424
Net realized capital (losses) gains			22,135				571				22,706				27,151				97				27,248
Other than temporary impairment losses			(2,756	)			0				(2,756	)			(2,453	)			0				(2,453	)
Other income			284				37				321				146				5,166				5,312
Total revenues		$	239,576				($7,046	)		$	232,530			$	246,020			$	4,143			$	250,163
Costs and expenses
Loss and loss adjustment expenses			121,777				0				121,777				106,416				0				106,416
Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses			68,239				0				68,239				64,202				0				64,202
Other operating expenses			1,443				1,152				2,595				9,160				768				9,928
Corporate administration			11				2,638				2,649				10				8,543				8,553
Interest expense			64				4,265				4,329				145				551				696
Total costs and expenses		$	191,534			$	8,055			$	199,589			$	179,933			$	9,862			$	189,795
Earnings before income taxes		$	48,042				($15,101	)		$	32,941			$	66,087				($5,719	)		$	60,368
Income taxes											13,783												23,736
Net earnings										$	19,158											$	36,632

ALLEGHANY CORPORATION
COMBINING STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)

		NINE MONTHS ENDED 9/30/11												NINE MONTHS ENDED 9/30/10
		ALLEGHANY												ALLEGHANY
		INSURANCE				CORPORATE								INSURANCE				CORPORATE
		HOLDINGS				ACTIVITIES				COMBINED				HOLDINGS				ACTIVITIES				COMBINED
Revenues
Net premiums earned		$	555,067			$	0			$	555,067			$	574,141			$	0			$	574,141
Net investment income			90,882				(8,708	)			82,174				96,882				(3,335	)			93,547
Net realized capital gains			63,317				571				63,888				82,595				4,428				87,023
Other than temporary impairment losses			(2,756	)			0				(2,756	)			(9,233	)			0				(9,233	)
Other income			581				873				1,454				433				6,513				6,946
Total revenues		$	707,091				($7,264	)		$	699,827			$	744,818			$	7,606			$	752,424
Costs and expenses
Loss and loss adjustment expenses			315,418				0				315,418				286,070				0				286,070
Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses			198,899				0				198,899				195,331				0				195,331
Other operating expenses			18,556				2,958				21,514				25,071				1,790				26,861
Corporate administration			34				13,996				14,030				34				20,077				20,111
Interest expense			88				12,961				13,049				439				692				1,131
Total costs and expenses		$	532,995			$	29,915			$	562,910			$	506,945			$	22,559			$	529,504
Earnings before income taxes		$	174,096				($37,179	)		$	136,917			$	237,873				($14,953	)		$	222,920
Income taxes											31,337												61,848
Net earnings										$	105,580											$	161,072

ALLEGHANY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in thousands, except share amounts)

		September 30,
		2011				December 31,
		(unaudited)				2010
Assets
Investments
Available for sale securities at fair value:
Equity securities (cost: 2011 $1,428,239; 2010 $1,310,009)		$	1,405,351			$	1,500,686
Debt securities (amortized cost: 2011 $2,822,548; 2010 $2,778,117)			2,942,191				2,832,411
Short-term investments			176,631				264,811
			4,524,173				4,597,908
Other invested assets			189,222				207,294
Total investments			4,713,395				4,805,202
Cash			90,479				76,741
Premium balances receivable			134,139				128,075
Reinsurance recoverables			858,502				873,295
Ceded unearned premium reserves			151,894				144,065
Deferred acquisition costs			72,351				67,692
Property and equipment at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization			18,827				19,504
Goodwill and other intangibles, net of amortization			139,796				142,312
Current taxes receivable			9,467				0
Net deferred tax assets			120,445				77,147
Other assets			103,029				97,666
		$	6,412,324			$	6,431,699
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Loss and loss adjustment expenses		$	2,328,167			$	2,328,742
Unearned premiums			577,643				523,927
Senior Notes			299,007				298,923
Reinsurance payable			45,821				41,500
Current taxes payable			0				3,220
Other liabilities			314,031				326,519
Total liabilities			3,564,669				3,522,831
Common stock (shares authorized: 2011 and 2010 - 22,000,000; issued and outstanding:
2011 - 9,117,787; 2010 - 9,300,448)			9,118				9,118
Contributed capital			937,547				928,816
Accumulated other comprehensive income			71,757				170,262
Treasury stock, at cost (2011 - 418,470 shares; 2010 - 351,532 shares)			(123,404	)			(99,686	)
Retained earnings			1,952,637				1,900,358
Total stockholders’ equity			2,847,655				2,908,868
		$	6,412,324			$	6,431,699

Exhibit A

AIHL Operating Unit Pre-Tax Results

		Three months ended September 30, 2011																Nine months ended September 30, 2011
(in millions, except ratios)		RSUI				CATA				PCC				AIHL				RSUI				CATA				PCC				AIHL
Gross premiums written		$	230.2			$	38.8			$	1.4			$	270.4			$	763.1			$	115.0			$	2.5			$	880.6
Net premiums written			151.8				36.6				1.5				189.9				489.2				108.3				3.6				601.1
Net premiums earned (1)		$	152.2			$	36.7			$	1.3			$	190.2			$	438.2			$	113.9			$	3.0			$	555.1
Loss and loss adjustment expenses			101.0				19.0				1.8				121.8				236.3				60.6				18.5				315.4
Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses (2)			44.1				17.6				6.5				68.2				126.3				54.2				18.4				198.9
Underwriting profit (loss) (3)		$	7.1			$	0.1			$	(7.0	)		$	0.2			$	75.6			$	(0.9	)		$	(33.9	)		$	40.8
Net investment income (1)															29.7																90.9
Net realized capital gains (1)															22.1																63.3
Other than temporary impairment losses (1)															(2.8	)															(2.8	)
Other income (1)															0.3																0.6
Other expenses (2)															1.5																18.7
Earnings before income taxes														$	48.0															$	174.1
Loss ratio (4)			66.4	%			51.8	%			135.6	%			64.0	%			53.9	%			53.2	%			626.3	%			56.8	%
Expense ratio (5)			29.0	%			47.9	%			519.7	%			35.9	%			28.8	%			47.6	%			621.4	%			35.8	%
Combined ratio (6)			95.4	%			99.7	%			655.3	%			99.9	%			82.7	%			100.8	%			1247.7	%			92.6	%

		Three months ended September 30, 2010																Nine months ended September 30, 2010
(in millions, except ratios)		RSUI				CATA				PCC				AIHL				RSUI				CATA				PCC				AIHL
Gross premiums written		$	214.2			$	44.0			$	(0.5	)		$	257.7			$	736.9			$	131.5			$	1.3			$	869.7
Net premiums written			133.0				41.5				(0.5	)			174.0				448.5				124.0				1.2				573.7
Net premiums earned (1)		$	148.5			$	42.0			$	0.1			$	190.6			$	445.1			$	124.1			$	4.9			$	574.1
Loss and loss adjustment expenses			80.2				25.8				0.4				106.4				215.4				66.4				4.3				286.1
Commissions, brokerage and other underwriting expenses (2)			41.7				16.4				6.1				64.2				122.5				54.9				17.9				195.3
Underwriting profit (loss) (3)		$	26.6			$	(0.2	)		$	(6.4	)		$	20.0			$	107.2			$	2.8			$	(17.3	)		$	92.7
Net investment income (1)															30.5																96.9
Net realized capital gains (1)															27.2																82.6
Other than temporary impairment losses (1)															(2.5	)															(9.2	)
Other income (1)															0.2																0.4
Other expenses (2)															9.3																25.5
Earnings before income taxes														$	66.1															$	237.9
Loss ratio (4)			54.0	%			61.5	%			377.6	%			55.8	%			48.4	%			53.5	%			87.1	%			49.8	%
Expense ratio (5)			28.1	%			38.9	%			7220.0	%			33.7	%			27.5	%			44.2	%			361.7	%			34.0	%
Combined ratio (6)			82.1	%			100.4	%			7597.6	%			89.5	%			75.9	%			97.7	%			448.8	%			83.8	%