VALIDUS HOLDINGS, LTD. ANNOUNCES
CAPITALIZATION OF PaCRe, LTD.

PEMBROKE, Bermuda, April 4, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Validus Holdings, Ltd. (NYSE: VR) (“Validus” or the “Company”) announced today the capitalization of PaCRe, Ltd. (“PaCRe”), a new Bermuda Class 4 reinsurer. PaCRe has been formed to combine the attractive returns available from underwriting top layer reinsurance programs with a long term approach to asset management.

PaCRe is funded with $500.0 million of contributed capital and is rated “A-” (Excellent) by AM Best Co. Validus Underwriting Services, Ltd. will underwrite business for PaCRe for which it will be paid a profit commission based on the company’s underwriting results. PaCRe will commence deploying capacity for the June 1, 2012 renewal season. Validus has invested $50.0 million in PaCRe’s common equity.

PaCRe’s investment portfolio will be managed under a long term investment management agreement by Paulson & Co. Inc. (“Paulson & Co.”). Paulson & Co. has approximately US$24 billion in assets under management and has offices in New York, London and Hong Kong.

About Validus Holdings, Ltd.

Validus Holdings, Ltd. is a provider of reinsurance and insurance, conducting its operations worldwide through two wholly-owned subsidiaries, Validus Reinsurance, Ltd. (“Validus Re”) and Talbot Holdings Ltd. (“Talbot Holdings”). Validus Re is a Bermuda based reinsurer focused on short-tail lines of reinsurance. Talbot Holdings is the Bermuda parent of the specialty insurance group primarily operating within the Lloyd’s insurance market through Syndicate 1183. For more information about Validus Holdings, Ltd. please visit www.validusholdings.com.

Contacts:

Investors:
Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Jon Levenson, Executive Vice President
+1-441-278-9000

or

Media:
Media:
Brunswick Group
Gemma Hart / Greg Faje
+1-212-333-3810

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may include forward-looking statements, both with respect to us and our industry, that reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Statements that include the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “project,” “anticipate,” “will,” “may” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements address matters that involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements and, therefore, you should not place undue reliance on any such statements. We believe that these factors include, but are not limited to, the following: 1) unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events; 2) rating agency actions; 3) adequacy of Validus’ risk management and loss limitation methods; 4) cyclicality of demand and pricing in the insurance and reinsurance markets; 5) statutory or regulatory developments including tax policy, reinsurance and other regulatory matters; 6) Validus’ ability to implement its business strategy during “soft” as well as “hard” markets; 7) adequacy of Validus’ loss reserves; 8) continued availability of capital and financing; 9) retention of key personnel; 10) competition; 11) potential loss of business from one or more major insurance or reinsurance brokers; 12) Validus’ ability to implement, successfully and on a timely basis, complex infrastructure, distribution capabilities, systems, procedures and internal controls, and to develop accurate actuarial data to support the business and regulatory and reporting requirements; 13) general economic and market conditions (including inflation, volatility in the credit and capital markets, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates); 14) the integration of businesses Validus may acquire or new business ventures Validus may start; 15) the effect on Validus’ investment portfolios of changing financial market conditions including inflation, interest rates, liquidity and other factors; 16) acts of terrorism or outbreak of war; and 17) availability of reinsurance and retrocessional coverage, as well as management’s response to any of the aforementioned factors.

The foregoing review of important factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the Risk Factors included in our most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and other documents on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by us will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, us or our business or operations. We undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.