UPDATE: Endurance Specialty Offeres to Buy Aspen Insurance for $47.50/Share in Cash, Stock

Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. ("Endurance")

today announced that it has delivered a proposal to the Board of Directors of Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited ("Aspen")

to acquire all of the common shares of Aspen for $3.2 billion, or $47.50 per Aspen share, with a combination of cash and Endurance common shares.  The combined company will be a global leader in specialty insurance and reinsurance, with: o Increased scale, market presence, diversification and profit potential; o Over $5 billion of combined annual gross premiums written, diversified across products and geographies; and o Over $5 billion of pro forma common shareholders equity, yielding a large and strong capital base to compete in the global market.  Endurance's proposal provides compelling value for Aspen shareholders, including: o 21% premium to Aspen's closing share price on April 11, 2014; o 15% premium to Aspen's all-time high share price of $41.43 on December 31, 2013; o 1.16x Aspen's December 31, 2013 diluted book value per share; and o 13.4x 2014 consensus Street earnings estimates for Aspen. Each Aspen shareholder will have the right to receive for their Aspen shares, at their election: all cash ($47.50 per Aspen share); all Endurance common shares (0.8826 Endurance shares for each Aspen share); or a combination of cash and Endurance common shares.  The election will be subject to a customary proration mechanism to achieve an aggregate consideration mix of 40% cash and 60% Endurance common shares.  John R. Charman, Endurance's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "This transaction is, quite simply, a unique opportunity to deliver value to shareholders of both Aspen and Endurance, while creating a new global leader in the industry.  The proposal offers up-front value for Aspen's shareholders, who will receive a substantial premium for their shares, as well as the opportunity to participate - along with Endurance's shareholders - in future value created by a stronger and more profitable company.  "The specialized businesses of Endurance and Aspen, such as Endurance's market-leading agriculture insurance business and Aspen's Lloyd's operations, are highly complementary, and together we will create a company with increased scale, an attractive diversified platform across products and geographies, and greater market presence and relevance.  The combined company will have a strong balance sheet and capital position, with an enhanced ability to pursue growth opportunities and to withstand volatility.  Further, we believe the combined company will enjoy increased profitability driven by a strong management team comprised of industry-leading talent and world-class underwriting expertise from both companies, as well as meaningful transaction synergies," Mr. Charman said. In connection with the transaction, Endurance expects the combined company to generate synergies exceeding $100 million annually, resulting in significant ROE and EPS accretion in 2015.  These synergies will include cost savings, underwriting improvements, capital efficiencies and enhanced capital management opportunities. "Despite our repeated attempts since late January to engage in confidential and friendly discussions, Aspen's Board and management have rebuffed our proposal and refused to engage with us, thereby denying Aspen's shareholders the ability to understand and attain the clear financial, operational and strategic benefits of this transaction.  We are fully committed to this transaction and are confident that Aspen's shareholders will recognize the value of our proposal and actively encourage their Board to begin constructive discussions with Endurance without delay, with the goal of reaching a negotiated transaction," Mr. Charman added. The cash consideration to be offered to Aspen shareholders will be funded from Endurance's substantial cash resources and $1.05 billion of newly issued common shares to investors led by funds advised by CVC Capital Partners Advisory (U.S.), Inc. and its affiliates, which have already completed due diligence on Endurance and the merits of the transaction, and have provided an equity commitment letter to Endurance. Mr. Charman concluded, "Endurance shareholders will also significantly benefit from bringing these two leading companies together.  Reflecting my own deep conviction about the future of Endurance and the benefits of the combination, I will purchase $25 million of Endurance common shares in connection with this transaction in addition to the $30 million of personal capital I have already invested in Endurance."                      Endurance intends to maintain the headquarters of the combined company in Bermuda, with a significant presence in London, New York and other key markets. Endurance's financial advisors in connection with the proposed transaction are Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Jefferies LLC, and its legal counsel is Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and ASW Law Limited. Endurance's proposal to the Aspen Board of Directors was communicated in a letter sent this morning, the full text of which is set forth below. For additional information about Endurance's proposal to acquire Aspen, including a slide presentation for investors, please visit www.endurance-aspen.com or ir.endurance.bm. Text of the April 14, 2014 Letter to the Aspen Board of Directors April 14, 2014 Board of Directors c/o Mr. Glyn Jones, Chairman of the Board Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited 141 Front Street Hamilton HM 19 Bermuda Dear Members of the Board: As you know, we have been trying since late January to engage with Aspen in a confidential and friendly dialogue regarding a combination of our two companies, and have previously made a specific written proposal that offers your shareholders a substantial premium valuation.  Since you and your management have refused, despite our repeated attempts, to engage in any discussions with us regarding the compelling value proposition this transaction presents for your shareholders, we have no choice but to advise them of our proposal directly, which we are doing this morning. Our Board of Directors has unanimously approved our proposal, and we remain fully committed to pursuing this transaction.  In the paragraphs below, we (i) reiterate the key terms of our proposal, (ii) reiterate the key strategic and financial benefits of our proposal and our approach to the transaction and (iii) discuss next steps for making this mutually beneficial transaction a reality. Key Terms of Our Proposal Endurance proposes to acquire all of the common shares of Aspen for $3.2 billion, or $47.50 per Aspen share (based on 66.7 million fully diluted Aspen common shares as of February 24, 2014), with a combination of cash and Endurance common shares.  Each Aspen shareholder will have the right to receive for their Aspen shares, at their election: o All cash ($47.50 per Aspen share); o All Endurance common shares (0.8826 Endurance shares for each Aspen share); or o A combination of cash and Endurance common shares. The election will be subject to a customary proration mechanism to achieve an aggregate consideration mix of 40% cash and 60% Endurance common shares.  The cash component of the consideration will be funded from our substantial cash resources and $1.05 billion of newly issued common shares to investors led by funds advised by CVC Capital Partners Advisory (U.S.), Inc. and its affiliates, which have already completed due diligence on Endurance and the merits of the transaction, and have provided an equity commitment letter to Endurance.  We would be pleased to share with you a copy of the investors' equity commitment letter upon the commencement of discussions. We believe our proposal represents a premium valuation meaningfully in excess of the standalone potential value to Aspen shareholders: o 21% premium to Aspen's closing share price of $39.37 on April 11, 2014; o 15% premium to Aspen's all-time high share price of $41.43 on December 31, 2013;  o 1.16x Aspen's December 31, 2013 diluted book value per share; and o 13.4x 2014 consensus Street earnings estimates for Aspen. Aspen shareholders who receive cash will receive up-front value that would otherwise take over two years to achieve based on consensus Street estimates for Aspen's ROE.  For those Aspen shareholders who remain invested in the combined company, our proposal provides the same highly attractive up-front premium as well as the opportunity to participate in a combined company with meaningfully improved earnings and ROE outlook, with significant additional upside opportunity over time. Key Strategic and Financial Benefits of our Proposal We have devoted significant time and resources, both internal and external, to assessing this transaction over the past months, and continue to believe it is a unique, transformative transaction for both companies.  o Increased scale and market presence:  On a combined basis, the companies will have over $5 billion of shareholders' equity and over $5 billion of annual gross premiums written, a size equal to or greater than many of our key competitors.  This will create an enterprise of both scale and broad expertise well positioned to capitalize on the critical distribution relationships within its global markets and more effectively able to compete in an increasingly challenging market environment.   o Diversified platform across products and geographies:  While Endurance and Aspen share certain common businesses, the relative weighting of each is quite complementary.  Aspen's core strength in the London insurance market - including through Lloyd's - is an attractive area where Endurance has significant management experience but currently has limited market presence.  In addition, while Endurance has a market-leading and profitable agriculture insurance business in the U.S. that is uncorrelated with traditional property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, as well as a highly profitable global catastrophe reinsurance business, Aspen has historical strength in marine and energy lines.  These are just a few examples where each company's relative strengths are a natural fit and where, on a combined basis, the two companies can form a market leader of significant importance to brokers and customers.   o Enhanced profit potential:  While a key strategic rationale for this transaction is the enhanced scale and diversification evident in the combined company, as described above, we believe the combination of a strong management team comprised of industry-leading talent and world-class underwriting expertise from both companies, and expected transaction synergies exceeding $100 million annually (including cost savings, underwriting improvements, capital efficiencies, and enhanced capital management opportunities) will enable significantly improved profit potential.    o Strengthened balance sheet and capital position:  With a pro forma combined shareholders' equity as of December 31, 2013 of $5.4 billion and total capital of $7.6 billion, the combined Endurance and Aspen will have a significantly enhanced capital position, which will allow the combined company to more meaningfully pursue growth opportunities and better withstand volatility.  We also believe the added diversification of the business has the potential to create capital efficiencies.  Through the unique combination of our businesses we also believe this added diversification, significantly increased size, as well as the combined strength of reserves and investments from both companies, will be viewed favorably by rating agencies. Reflecting my own deep conviction about the future of Endurance and the benefits of the combination, I will purchase $25 million of Endurance common shares in connection with this transaction in addition to the $30 million of personal capital I have already invested in Endurance. Our Approach to the Transaction This transaction is not only highly beneficial to Aspen's shareholders, but also to Aspen's employees, customers, brokers and other constituencies.  In this regard, we have developed what we believe is a constructive set of guiding principles for a transaction with Aspen: o Aspen's team is crucial to the success of the combined company:  The retention of key members of the Aspen management team, underwriters and employees will be critical to the success of the combined business.    o The entrepreneurial cultures of our two companies will blend together well, yielding a combined entity that is strongly positioned to address changes facing the markets in which we operate.  Aspen's collaborative, teamwork-oriented culture will integrate seamlessly with Endurance's collegial environment.  Within the past year, many talented and experienced people in the industry have chosen to join Endurance in light of their enthusiasm for our business plan and strategic vision.    o Respect for Aspen's franchise and deep customer relationships:   We have great respect for the Aspen franchise and its relationships with its key customers, as reflected in the purchase price we are willing to pay.  As a result, we envision working together to enhance the combined company's customer and broker relations.   o The execution of this transaction will enhance the strengths of each company:  The planning of the integration of overlapping areas will be well executed, sensitive to all views and issues, and will draw and build upon the strengths of each organization.  It is our intention to maintain the headquarters of the combined company in Bermuda, with a significant presence in London, New York and other key markets. Next Steps As would be the case in any M&A transaction, consummation of the transaction is subject to completion of customary due diligence, execution of a definitive merger agreement and receipt of required shareholder and regulatory approvals.  We are confident that all required regulatory approvals will be obtained on a timely basis. We propose working in parallel on definitive documents and our mutual due diligence review in order to enter into a transaction expeditiously.  We are prepared to enter into a mutual non-disclosure agreement, deliver to you a draft merger agreement and commence due diligence immediately.  In light of the significant ownership that your shareholders will have in the combined company, we are prepared for you and your advisors to also perform customary due diligence on Endurance.  Our financial advisors at Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Jefferies LLC, and our legal advisors at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and ASW Law Limited, stand ready to coordinate with your advisors on next steps. We look forward to commencing constructive discussions with Aspen regarding our proposal in the coming days.  Yours sincerely, John R. Charman Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd.