FORM 10-Q
Table of Contents

 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2008
Commission file number 001-33606
 
VALIDUS HOLDINGS, LTD.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
     
BERMUDA   98-0501001
(State or other jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)   Identification No.)
19 Par-La-Ville Road, Hamilton, Bermuda HM 11
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
(441) 278-9000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes þ  No o
      Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
             
Large accelerated filer o   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer þ   Smaller reporting company o
        (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes o  No þ
     As of August 13, 2008, there were 74,243,477 outstanding Common Shares, $0.175 par value per share, of the registrant.
 
 

 


 

INDEX
         
        Page
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION    
   
 
   
Item 1.      
   
 
   
      2
   
 
   
      3
   
 
   
      4
   
 
   
      5
   
 
   
      6
   
 
   
Item 2.     34
   
 
   
Item 3.     80
   
 
   
Item 4.     81
   
 
   
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION    
   
 
   
Item 1.     83
   
 
   
Item 1A.     83
   
 
   
Item 2.     83
   
 
   
Item 3.     83
   
 
   
Item 4.     83
   
 
   
Item 5.     84
   
 
   
Item 6.     84
   
 
   
      85
   
 
   
 EX-10.21.1: AMENDMENT TO SERVICE AGREEMENT
 EX-10.39: FORM OF RESTRICTED SHARE AGREEMENT
 EX-31.1: CERTIFICATION
 EX-31.2: CERTIFICATION
 EX-32: CERTIFICATIONS

 


Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
As at June 30, 2008 (unaudited) and December 31, 2007

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
                 
    June 30,     December 31,  
    2008     2007  
    (Unaudited)          
Assets
               
Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost: 2008 - $2,644,329; 2007 - $2,403,074)
  $   2,601,315     $ 2,411,398  
Short-term investments, at fair value (amortized cost: 2008 - $141,570; 2007 - $251,150)
    141,638       250,623  
Cash and cash equivalents
    487,260       444,698  
 
           
Total cash and investments
    3,230,213       3,106,719  
Premiums receivable
    609,757       401,241  
Deferred acquisition costs
    146,216       105,562  
Prepaid reinsurance premiums
    45,717       22,817  
Securities lending collateral
    199,075       164,324  
Loss reserves recoverable
    132,880       134,404  
Paid losses recoverable
    2,683       7,810  
Income taxes recoverable
    3,258       3,325  
Intangible assets
    129,298       131,379  
Goodwill
    20,393       20,393  
Accrued investment income
    16,177       19,960  
Other assets
    34,075       26,290  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 4,569,742     $ 4,144,224  
 
           
 
               
Liabilities
               
Reserve for losses and loss expenses
  $ 1,029,739     $ 926,117  
Unearned premiums
    793,356       557,344  
Reinsurance balances payable
    66,386       36,848  
Securities lending payable
    199,968       164,324  
Deferred income taxes
    20,173       16,663  
Net payable for investments purchased
    9,105       31,426  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    89,934       126,702  
Debentures payable
    304,300       350,000  
 
           
Total liabilities
    2,512,961       2,209,424  
 
               
Commitments and contingent liabilities
               
 
               
Shareholders’ equity
               
Ordinary shares, 571,428,571 authorized, par value $0.175 Issued and outstanding (2008 - 74,243,477; 2007 - 74,199,836)
    12,993       12,985  
Additional paid-in capital
    1,398,913       1,384,604  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    28       (49 )
Retained earnings
    644,847       537,260  
 
           
Total shareholders’ equity
    2,056,781       1,934,800  
 
           
 
               
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 4,569,742     $ 4,144,224  
 
           
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income
For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
                                 
    Three months     Three months     Six months     Six months  
    ended June 30,     ended June 30,     ended June 30,     ended June 30,  
    2008     2007     2008     2007  
    (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  
Revenues
                               
Gross premiums written
  $ 379,919     $ 174,300     $ 901,513     $ 552,370  
Reinsurance premiums ceded
    (1,399 )     (26,780 )     (86,299 )     (57,738 )
 
                       
Net premiums written
    378,520       147,520       815,214       494,632  
Change in unearned premiums
    (69,222 )     (14,490 )     (214,052 )     (250,110 )
 
                       
Net premiums earned
    309,298       133,030       601,162       244,522  
Net investment income
    36,435       19,742       72,478       38,239  
Realized gain on repurchase of debentures
    8,752             8,752        
Net realized (losses) gains on investments
    (2,425 )     (232 )     5,319       (186 )
Net unrealized (losses) gains on investments
    (42,982 )     (6,189 )     (57,959 )     (4,546 )
Other income
    1,462             2,397        
Foreign exchange gains
    911       2,003       9,090       3,392  
 
                       
Total revenues
    311,451       148,354       641,239       281,421  
 
                               
Expenses
                               
Losses and loss expense
    122,089       42,675       262,113       89,162  
Policy acquisition costs
    56,419       17,837       113,120       30,056  
General and administrative expenses
    33,912       11,107       71,019       22,335  
Share compensation expense
    7,271       1,978       13,806       3,922  
Finance expenses
    12,762       4,003       34,279       8,444  
 
                       
Total expenses
    232,453       77,600       494,337       153,919  
 
                       
 
                               
Net income before taxes
    78,998       70,754       146,902       127,502  
Income tax expense
    3,077             4,506        
 
                       
Net income
  $ 75,921     $ 70,754     $ 142,396     $ 127,502  
 
                       
 
                               
Comprehensive income
                               
Currency translation adjustments
    10             77        
 
                       
Comprehensive income
  $ 75,931     $ 70,754     $ 142,473     $ 127,502  
 
                       
 
                               
Earnings per share
                               
Weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding
                               
Basic
    74,233,425       58,482,600       74,221,398       58,482,601  
Diluted
    77,257,545       60,647,354       77,793,636       60,431,373  
 
                               
Basic earnings per share
  $ 1.00     $ 1.21     $ 1.87     $ 2.18  
 
                       
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 0.98     $ 1.17     $ 1.83     $ 2.11  
 
                       
 
                               
Cash dividends declared per share
  $ 0.20     $     $ 0.40     $  
 
                       
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
                 
    Six months ended  
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007  
    (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  
Common shares
               
Balance – Beginning of period
  $ 12,985     $ 10,234  
Issue of common shares
    8        
 
           
Balance – End of period
  $ 12,993     $ 10,234  
 
           
 
               
Additional paid-in capital
               
Balance – Beginning of period
  $ 1,384,604     $ 1,048,025  
Issue of common shares, net of expenses
    503        
Stock option expense
    2,091       1,845  
Share compensation expense
    11,715       2,077  
 
           
Balance – End of period
  $ 1,398,913     $ 1,051,947  
 
           
 
               
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
               
Balance – Beginning of period
  $ (49 )   $ 875  
Currency translation adjustments
    77        
Cumulative effect of adoption of fair value option
          (875 )
 
           
Balance – End of period
    28        
 
           
 
               
Retaining earnings
               
Balance – Beginning of period
    537,260       133,389  
Cumulative effect of adoption of fair value option
          875  
Dividends
    (34,809 )      
Net income
    142,396       127,502  
 
           
Balance – End of period
  $ 644,847     $ 261,766  
 
           
 
               
Total shareholders’ equity
  $ 2,056,781     $ 1,323,947  
 
           
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
                 
    Six months ended     Six months ended  
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007  
    (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  
Cash flows provided by operating activities
               
Net income for the period
  $ 142,396     $ 127,502  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
               
Share compensation expense
    13,806       3,922  
Net realized (gains) losses on sales of investments
    (5,319 )     186  
Net unrealized losses on investments
    57,959       4,546  
Amortization of intangible assets
    2,081        
Foreign exchange on cash and cash equivalents included in net income
    (6,254 )     (4,598 )
Amortization of discounts on fixed maturities
    1,753       (3,740 )
Realized gain on repurchase of debentures
    (8,752 )      
Changes in:
               
Premiums receivable
    (208,431 )     (234,406 )
Deferred acquisition costs
    (40,715 )     (44,315 )
Prepaid reinsurance premiums
    (22,867 )     (32,502 )
Losses recoverable
    1,480       (158 )
Paid losses recoverable
    5,122        
Taxes recoverable
    482        
Accrued investment income
    (4,520 )     (2,898 )
Other assets
    (700 )     (3,196 )
Reserve for losses and loss expense
    104,284       60,769  
Unearned premiums
    236,193       282,612  
Reinsurance balances payable
    29,501       38,489  
Deferred taxation
    3,489        
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    (53,581 )     (4,824 )
 
           
Net cash provided by operating activities
    247,407       187,389  
 
           
 
               
Cash flows used in investing activities
               
Proceeds on maturity of investments
    100,787        
Proceeds on sales of investments
    1,109,536       420,622  
Purchases of fixed maturities
    (1,460,975 )     (722,688 )
Sales of short-term investments, net
    109,580       163,391  
Increase in securities lending collateral
    (35,644 )     (22,867 )
 
           
Net cash used in investing activities
    (176,716 )     (161,542 )
 
           
 
               
Cash flows provided by financing activities
               
Issue of common shares, net of expenses
    511        
Dividends paid
    (33,642 )      
Increase in securities lending payable
    35,644       22,867  
Repurchase of debentures
    (36,948 )      
Net proceeds on issuance of debentures payable
          198,000  
 
           
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    (34,435 )     220,867  
 
           
 
               
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    6,306       4,598  
 
               
Net increase in cash
    42,562       251,312  
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents – Beginning of period
    444,698       63,643  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents – End of period
  $ 487,260     $ 314,955  
 
           
Net taxes paid during the period
  $ 410     $  
 
           
Interest paid during the period
  $ 14,625     $ 6,802  
 
           
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
1. Basis of preparation and consolidation
     These unaudited consolidated financial statements include Validus Holdings, Ltd. and its wholly owned subsidiaries (together, the “Company”) and have been prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In addition, the year-end balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. This Quarterly Report should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
     In the opinion of management, these unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position and results of operations as at the end of and for the periods presented. Certain amounts in prior periods have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results for a full year. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. The major estimates reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements include the reserve for losses and loss expenses, premium estimates for business written on a line slip or proportional basis, and reinsurance recoverable balances. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The terms “FAS” and “FASB” used in these notes refer to Statements of Financial Accounting Standards issued by the United States Financial Accounting Standards Board. The unaudited consolidated financial statements include the results of operations and cash flows of Talbot since the date of acquisition of July 2, 2007 and not any prior periods (including for comparative purposes).
2. Recent accounting pronouncements
     In March 2008, the FASB issued FAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, an Amendment of FASB Statement 133” (“FAS 161”). This statement expands the disclosure requirements of FAS 133 and requires the reporting entity to provide enhanced disclosures about the objectives and strategies for using derivative instruments, quantitative disclosures about the fair values and amounts of gains and losses on derivative contracts, and credit risk related contingent features in derivative agreements. The statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. The adoption of FAS 161 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
     In May 2008, the FASB issued FAS No. 162, “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” (“FAS 162”). This statement improves financial reporting by providing a consistent framework for determining what accounting principles should be used when preparing U.S. GAAP financial statements. This statement assigns a hierarchical rank to the various sources of accounting literature from Level A through Level D. FAS 162 will be effective 60 days after the SEC’s approval of the PCAOB’s amendments to AU Section 411. The adoption of FAS 162 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
     In May 2008, the FASB issued FAS No. 163, “Accounting for Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 60” (“FAS 163”). This statement decreases the inconsistencies in Statement No. 60 in the accounting for financial guarantee insurance contracts by insurance companies. FAS 163 addresses the differing views in Statement No. 60 regarding the recognition and measurement of premium revenues and claim liabilities and enhances the disclosure requirements for insurance contracts. FAS 163 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The adoption of FAS 163 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
     In June 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position EITF 03-6-1, “Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities” (“FSP EITF 03-6-1”). FSP EITF 03-6-1 addresses whether instruments granted in share-based payment transactions may be participating securities prior to vesting and, therefore, need to be included in the earnings allocation in computing basic earnings per share (“EPS”) pursuant to the two-class method described in paragraphs 60 and 61 of FASB Statement No. 128, “Earnings per Share.” FSP EITF 03-6-1 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The adoption of FSP EITF 03-6-1 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
3. Investments
     During the first quarter of 2007, the Company adopted FAS 157 and FAS 159. Prior to January 1, 2007, the Company’s investments in fixed maturities were classified as available-for-sale and carried at fair value, with related net unrealized gains or losses excluded from earnings and included in shareholders’ equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. The Company believes that accounting for its investment portfolio as trading more closely reflects its investment guidelines. Beginning on January 1, 2007, the Company’s investments in fixed maturities were classified as trading and carried at fair value, with related net unrealized gains or losses included in earnings.
     a) Classification within the fair value hierarchy under FAS 157
     Under FAS 157, a company must determine the appropriate level in the fair value hierarchy for each fair value measurement. The fair value hierarchy in FAS 157 prioritizes the inputs, which refer broadly to assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability, into three levels. It gives the highest priority to quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs. The level in the fair value hierarchy within which a fair value measurement in its entirety falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.
     Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. A significant adjustment to a Level 2 input could result in the Level 2 measurement becoming a Level 3 measurement. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.
     Level 1 primarily consists of financial instruments whose value is based on quoted market prices or alternative approaches but for which the Company typically obtained independent external valuation information including, cash and certain cash instruments such as money market funds, overnight repos and commercial paper. Level 2 includes financial instruments that are valued using models or other valuation methodologies. These models are primarily industry-standard models that consider various assumptions, including time value, yield curve, prepayment speeds, default rates, loss severity, current market and contractual prices for the underlying financial instruments, as well as other relevant economic measures. Substantially all of these assumptions are observable in the marketplace, can be derived from observable data or are supported by observable levels at which transactions are executed in the marketplace. Financial instruments in this category include U.S. Treasuries, sovereign debt, corporate debt and U.S. agency and non-agency mortgage and asset-backed securities. The Company currently believes that none of its marketable securities are being valued based on unobservable inputs and so does not consider any securities to be classified as Level 3.
     At June 30, 2008, the Company’s investments are allocated between Levels 1, 2 and 3 as follows:
                                 
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
U.S. Government and Government Agency
  $     $ 671,587     $     $ 671,587  
Other Sovereign and Sovereign Agency
          170,362             170,362  

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
                                 
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
Corporate
          483,595             483,595  
Asset-backed securities
          167,775             167,775  
Foreign Corporate
          209,623             209,623  
Residential mortgage-backed securities
          675,292             675,292  
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
          223,081             223,081  
 
                       
Total fixed maturities
          2,601,315             2,601,315  
Total short-term investments
    135,216       6,422             141,638  
 
                       
Total
  $ 135,216     $ 2,607,737     $     $ 2,742,953  
 
                       
     At December 31, 2007, the Company’s investments are allocated between Levels 1, 2 and 3 as follows:
                                 
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
U.S. Government and Government Agency
  $     $ 707,703     $     $ 707,703  
Other Sovereign and Sovereign Agency
          141,493             141,493  
Corporate
          488,127             488,127  
Asset-backed securities
          191,455             191,455  
Residential mortgage-backed securities
          723,632             723,632  
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
          158,988             158,988  
 
                       
Total fixed maturities
          2,411,398             2,411,398  
Total short-term investments
    215,052       35,571             250,623  
 
                       
Total
  $ 215,052     $ 2,446,969     $     $ 2,662,021  
 
                       
     The table in section (c) below shows the aggregate cost (or amortized cost) and fair value of the Company’s marketable securities, by investment type, as of the periods indicated.
     b) Net investment income
          Net investment income is derived from the following sources:
                                 
    Three months ended     Six months ended  
    June 30,     June 30,     June 30,     June 30,  
    2008     2007     2008     2007  
Fixed maturities and short-term investments
  $ 34,519     $ 19,027     $ 66,210     $ 37,103  
Securities lending income
    455       8       890       8  
Cash and cash equivalents
    2,378       1,252       7,216       2,182  
 
                       
Total gross investment income
    37,352       20,287       74,316       39,293  
Investment expenses
    (917 )     (545 )     (1,838 )     (1,054 )
 
                       
Net investment income
  $ 36,435     $ 19,742     $ 72,478     $ 38,239  
 
                       
     The following represents an analysis of net realized gains (losses) and the change in unrealized gains (losses) of investments:
                                 
    Three months ended     Six months ended  
    June 30,     June 30,     June 30,     June 30,  
    2008     2007     2008     2007  
Fixed maturities, short-term investments and cash equivalents
                               
Gross realized gains
  $ 2,957     $ 156     $ 11,313     $ 245  
Gross realized losses
    (5,382 )     (388 )     (5,994 )     (431 )
 
                       

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
                                 
    Three months ended     Six months ended  
    June 30,     June 30,     June 30,     June 30,  
    2008     2007     2008     2007  
Net realized gains (losses) on investments
    (2,425 )     (232 )     5,319       (186 )
Change in unrealized gains (losses) of securities lending
    317             (895 )      
Change in unrealized gains (losses) of investments
    (43,299 )     (6,189 )     (57,064 )     (4,546 )
 
                       
Total net realized (losses) gains and change in unrealized gains (losses) of investments
  $ (45,407 )   $ (6,421 )     (52,640 )     (4,732 )
 
                       
     c) Fixed maturity and short-term investments
     The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and estimated fair value of investments at June 30, 2008 are as follows:
                                 
    Amortized     Gross     Gross unrealized     Estimated fair  
    Cost     unrealized gains     losses     value  
U.S. Government and Government Agency
  $ 668,642     $ 6,572     $ (3,627 )   $ 671,587  
Other Sovereign and Sovereign Agency
    174,435       1,277       (5,350 )     170,362  
Corporate
    488,097       1,834       (6,336 )     483,595  
Foreign Corporate
    212,002       1,473       (3,852 )     209,623  
Asset-backed securities
    168,125       976       (1,326 )     167,775  
Residential mortgage-backed securities
    707,795       4,814       (37,317 )     675,292  
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
    225,233       866       (3,018 )     223,081  
 
                       
Total fixed maturities
    2,644,329       17,812       (60,826 )     2,601,315  
Total short-term investments
    141,570       96       (28 )     141,638  
 
                       
Total
  $ 2,785,899     $ 17,908     $ (60,854 )   $ 2,742,953  
 
                       
          The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and estimated fair value of investments at December 31, 2007 are as follows:
                                 
            Gross     Gross     Estimated fair  
    Amortized Cost     unrealized gains     unrealized losses     value  
U.S. Government and Government Agency
  $ 700,697     $ 7,163     $ (157 )   $ 707,703  
Other Sovereign and Sovereign Agency
    143,744       1,003       (3,254 )     141,493  
Corporate
    486,752       4,346       (2,971 )     488,127  
Asset-backed securities
    191,413       641       (599 )     191,455  
Residential mortgage-backed securities
    722,749       6,362       (5,479 )     723,632  
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
    157,719       1,317       (48 )     158,988  
 
                       
Total fixed maturities
    2,403,074       20,832       (12,508 )     2,411,398  
Total short-term investments
    251,150       63       (590 )     250,623  
 
                       
Total
  $ 2,654,224     $ 20,895     $ (13,098 )   $ 2,662,021  
 
                       
          The following table sets forth certain information regarding the investment ratings of the Company’s fixed maturities portfolio as at June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007. Investment ratings are the lower of Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s rating for each investment security, presented in Standard & Poor’s equivalent rating. For investments where Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s ratings are not available, Fitch ratings are used and presented in Standard & Poor’s equivalent rating.

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
                                 
    June 30, 2008     December 31, 2007  
    Estimated             Estimated        
    fair value     % of total     fair value     % of total  
AAA
  $ 2,062,956       79.2 %   $ 2,029,573       84.2 %
AA+
    46,100       1.8 %     37,458       1.6 %
AA
    68,724       2.6 %     51,091       2.1 %
AA-
    122,228       4.7 %     96,578       4.0 %
A+
    131,562       5.1 %     88,181       3.7 %
A
    126,446       4.9 %     70,666       2.9 %
A-
    37,913       1.5 %     29,948       1.2 %
BBB+
    5,386       0.2 %     7,903       0.3 %
 
                       
Total
  $ 2,601,315       100.0 %   $ 2,411,398       100.0 %
 
                       
          The amortized cost and estimated fair value amounts for fixed maturity securities held at June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 are shown by contractual maturity. Actual maturity may differ from contractual maturity because certain borrowers may have the right to call or prepay certain obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
                                 
    June 30, 2008     December 31, 2007  
    Amortized     Estimated     Amortized     Estimated  
    cost     fair value     cost     fair value  
Due in one year or less
  $ 144,188     $ 144,338     $ 197,833     $ 198,466  
Due after one year through five years
    1,335,786       1,327,723       1,083,470       1,087,758  
Due after five years through ten years
    36,923       36,901       29,509       30,427  
Due after ten years
    26,279       26,205       20,381       20,672  
 
                       
 
    1,543,176       1,535,167       1,331,193       1,337,323  
 
                               
Asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities
    1,101,153       1,066,148       1,071,881       1,074,075  
 
                       
Total
  $ 2,644,329     $ 2,601,315     $ 2,403,074     $ 2,411,398  
 
                       
     The Company has a five year, $500,000 secured letter of credit facility provided by a syndicate of commercial banks. At June 30, 2008 approximately $101,922 (December 31, 2007: $104,524) of letters of credit were issued and outstanding under this facility for which $104,262 of investments were pledged as collateral (December 31, 2007: $109,164). During the prior year the Company entered into a $100,000 standby letter of credit facility which provides Funds at Lloyd’s. At June 30, 2008, $100,000 (December 31, 2007: $100,000) of letters of credit were issued and outstanding under this facility for which $116,558 of investments were pledged as collateral (December 31, 2007: $118,121).
     Cash and cash equivalents and investments in Talbot of $999,123 at June 30, 2008 were held in trust for the benefit of cedants and policyholders, and to facilitate the accreditation as an alien insurer/reinsurer by certain regulators (December 31, 2007: $1,064,430).
     d) Securities lending
     The Company participates in a securities lending program whereby certain securities from its portfolio are loaned to third parties for short periods of time through a lending agent. The Company retains all economic interest in the securities it lends and receives a fee from the borrower for the temporary use of the securities. Collateral in the form of cash, government securities and letters of credit is required at a rate of 102% of the market value of the loaned securities and is held by a third party. As at June 30, 2008, the Company had $196,204 (December 31, 2007: $161,579) in securities on loan. At June 30, 2008, the Company had recorded an $895 unrealized loss on this collateral on its statements of operations (December 31, 2007: $nil).
     Securities lending collateral reinvested is primarily comprised of corporate floating rate securities with an average reset period of 29.3 days (December 31, 2007: 42.9 days). As at June 30, 2008, the securities lending

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
collateral reinvested by the Company in connection with its securities lending program is allocated between Levels 1, 2 and 3 as follows:
                                 
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
Corporate
  $     $ 79,315     $     $ 79,315  
Asset-backed securities
          20,727             20,727  
Short-term investments
    69,850       16,907             86,757  
Agency
          12,276             12,276  
 
                       
 
  $ 69,850     $ 129,225     $     $ 199,075  
 
                       
     As at December 31, 2007, the securities lending collateral reinvested by the Company in connection with its securities lending program are allocated between Levels 1, 2 and 3 as follows:
                                 
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
Corporate
  $     $ 49,055     $     $ 49,052  
Asset-backed securities
          11,515             11,518  
Short-term investments
    97,797       5,957             103,754  
 
                       
 
  $ 97,797     $ 66,527     $     $ 164,324  
 
                       
     The following table sets forth certain information regarding the investment ratings of the Company’s securities lending collateral reinvested as at June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007. Investment ratings are the lower of Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s rating for each investment security, presented in Standard & Poor’s equivalent rating. For investments where Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s ratings are not available, Fitch ratings are used and presented in Standard & Poor’s equivalent rating.
                                 
    June 30, 2008     December 31, 2007  
    Estimated             Estimated        
    fair value     % of total     fair value     % of total  
AAA
  $ 58,867       45.6 %   $ 18,611       28.0 %
AA+
          0.0 %     2,999       4.5 %
AA
    37,801       29.2 %     15,997       24.0 %
AA-
    13,777       10.7 %     11,954       18.0 %
A+
    14,969       11.6 %     9,010       13.5 %
A
    3,811       2.9 %     7,956       12.0 %
 
                       
Total
  $ 129,225       100.0 %   $ 66,527       100.0 %
 
                       
     The amortized cost and estimated fair value amounts for securities lending collateral reinvested held at June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 are shown by contractual maturity. Actual maturity may differ from contractual maturity because certain borrowers may have the right to call or prepay certain obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
                                 
    June 30, 2008     December 31, 2007  
    Amortized     Estimated     Amortized     Estimated  
    cost     fair value     cost     fair value  
Due in one year or less
  $ 99,097     $ 99,033     $ 103,793     $ 104,151  
Due after one year through five years
    100,833       100,042       60,469       60,173  
 
                       
Total
  $ 199,930     $ 199,075     $ 164,262     $ 164,324  
 
                       

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
4. Reinsurance
     The Company enters into reinsurance and retrocession agreements in order to mitigate its accumulation of loss, reduce its liability on individual risks, enable it to underwrite policies with higher limits, and increase aggregate capacity. The cession of insurance and reinsurance does not legally discharge the Company from its primary liability for the full amount of the policies, and the Company is required to pay the loss and bear collection risk if the reinsurer fails to meet its obligations under the reinsurance agreement. Amounts recoverable from reinsurers are estimated in a manner consistent with the underlying liabilities.
     a) Credit risk
     The Company evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers and monitors concentration of credit risk arising from its exposure to individual reinsurers. The reinsurance program is generally placed with reinsurers whose rating, at the time of placement, was A- or better rated by Standard & Poor’s or the equivalent with other rating agencies. Exposure to a single reinsurer is also controlled with restrictions dependent on rating. 100.0% of reinsurance recoverables (which includes loss reserves recoverable and recoverables on paid losses) at June 30, 2008 were from reinsurers rated A- or better or were fully collateralized and included $35,922 of IBNR recoverable (December 31, 2007: $35,340). Reinsurance recoverables by reinsurer are as follows:
                                 
    June 30, 2008     December 31, 2007  
    Reinsurance     % of     Reinsurance     % of  
    recoverable     Total     recoverable     Total  
Top 10 reinsurers
  $ 121,701       89.7 %   $ 129,978       91.4 %
Other reinsurers balances > $1 million
    11,730       8.7 %     8,700       6.1 %
Other reinsurers balances < $1 million
    2,132       1.6 %     3,536       2.5 %
 
                       
Total
  $ 135,563       100.0 %   $ 142,214       100.0 %
 
                       
                         
            June 30, 2008  
            Reinsurance     % of  
Top 10 Reinsurers   Rating     recoverable     Total  
Hannover Ruck -AG
  AA-   $ 31,008       25.4 %
Lloyd’s syndicates
  A+     27,610       22.7 %
Swiss Re
  AA-     14,948       12.3 %
Allianz
  AA-     14,230       11.7 %
Muenchener Ruckversicherungs
  AA     13,898       11.4 %
Aspen Insurance UK
  A     5,661       4.7 %
Petrel Re Ltd.
  NR     4,517       3.7 %
Transatlantic Reinsurance
  AA-     3,871       3.2 %
Platinum Underwriters Bermuda Ltd.
  A     3,061       2.5 %
Axa Re
  AA     2,897       2.4 %
 
                   
 
          $ 121,701       100.0 %
 
                   
                         
            December 31, 2007  
            Reinsurance     % of  
Top 10 Reinsurers   Rating     recoverable     Total  
Hannover Ruck -AG
  AA-   $ 31,630       24.4 %
Lloyd’s syndicates
  A+     29,613       22.8 %
Swiss Re
  AA-     18,758       14.4 %
Muenchener Ruckversicherungs
  AA-     14,322       11.0 %
Allianz
  AA     13,461       10.4 %
Axa Re
  AA     7,418       5.7 %

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
                         
            December 31, 2007  
            Reinsurance     % of  
Top 10 Reinsurers   Rating     recoverable     Total  
Aspen Insurance UK
  A     4,978       3.8 %
National Indemnity Company
  AAA     4,738       3.6 %
Transatlantic Reinsurance
  AA-     2,970       2.3 %
Max Re Ltd.
  A-     2,090       1.6 %
 
                   
 
          $ 129,978       100.0 %
 
                   
     At June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the provision for uncollectible reinsurance relating to losses recoverable was $2,810 and $3,106. To estimate the provision for uncollectible reinsurance recoverable, the reinsurance recoverable must first be allocated to applicable reinsurers. This determination is based on a process rather than an estimate, although an element of judgment must be applied. As part of this process, ceded IBNR is allocated by reinsurer. Of the $135,563 reinsurance recoverable at June 30, 2008, $4,517 was collateralized (December 31, 2007: $nil).
     The Company uses a default analysis to estimate uncollectible reinsurance. The primary components of the default analysis are reinsurance recoverable balances by reinsurer and default factors used to determine the portion of a reinsurer’s balance deemed to be uncollectible. Default factors require considerable judgment and are determined using the current rating, or rating equivalent, of each reinsurer as well as other key considerations and assumptions.
     At June 30, 2008, the use of different assumptions within the model could have a material effect on the provision for uncollectible reinsurance reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. To the extent the creditworthiness of the Company’s reinsurers was to deteriorate due to an adverse event affecting the reinsurance industry, such as a large number of major catastrophes, actual uncollectible amounts could be significantly greater than the Company’s provision.
     b) Collateralized quota share retrocession treaties
     Between May 8, 2006 and July 28, 2006, Validus Re entered into retrocessional reinsurance agreements with Petrel Re Limited (“Petrel”), a Bermuda reinsurance company. These agreements include quota share reinsurance agreements (“Petrel Collateralized Quota Shares”) whereby Petrel assumes a quota share of certain lines of marine & energy and other lines of business assumed by Validus Re for unaffiliated third parties for the 2006 and 2007 underwriting years. Under the terms of the reinsurance agreements, the Company has determined it is not required to consolidate the assets, liabilities and results of operations of Petrel under the terms of FIN 46(R). Petrel is a separate legal entity in which the Company has no equity investment, management or board interests or related party relationships. The collateralized quota share retrocessional reinsurance agreement with Petrel Re Limited was not extended beyond the 2007 underwriting year.
     Petrel is required to contribute funds into a trust (the “Petrel Trust”) for the benefit of Validus Re. Under the Petrel Collateralized Quota Shares, the amount required to be on deposit in the Petrel Trust is the sum of (i) full aggregate outstanding limits in excess of unpaid premium and related ceding commission on all in force covered policies plus (ii) an amount determined by Validus Re in its discretion to support known losses under covered policies (the “Required Amount of Available Assets”). If the actual amounts on deposit in the Petrel Trust, together with certain other amounts (the “Available Assets”), do not at least equal the Required Amount of Available Assets, Validus Re will, among other things, cease ceding business on a prospective basis.
     Validus Re pays a reinsurance premium to Petrel in the amount of the ceded percentage of the original gross premiums written on the business reinsured with Petrel less a ceding commission, which includes a reimbursement of direct acquisition expenses as well as a commission to Validus Re for generating the business. The Petrel Collateralized Quota Shares also provides for a profit commission to Validus Re based on the underwriting results for the 2006 and 2007 underwriting years on a cumulative basis.

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
     For the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 Validus Re ceded $(1,944) and $21,318 of premiums written through the Petrel Collateralized Quota Shares. The earned portion of premiums ceded to Petrel for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 was $2,154 and $10,863. For the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 Validus Re ceded $(1,944) and $45,904 of premiums written through the Petrel Collateralized Quota Shares. The earned portion of premiums ceded to Petrel for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 was $8,267 and $21,416.
     On December 22, 2007, Validus Re entered into a collateralized retrocessional reinsurance agreement with an unaffiliated third party whereby the Company cedes certain business underwritten in the marine offshore energy lines. For the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 Validus Re ceded $2,828 and $nil of premiums written through this agreement. The earned portions of premiums ceded for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 were $3,721 and $nil. For the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 Validus Re ceded $14,560 and $nil of premiums written through this agreement. The earned portions of premiums ceded for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 were $6,485 and $nil.
5. Share capital
     A reverse stock split of the outstanding shares of the Company was approved by the shareholders effective immediately following the Company’s Annual General Meeting on March 1, 2007, whereby each 1.75 outstanding shares was consolidated into 1 share, and the par value of the Company’s shares was increased to $0.175 per share. This share consolidation has been reflected retroactively in these financial statements.
     a) Authorized and issued
     The Company’s authorized share capital is 571,428,571 ordinary voting and non-voting ordinary shares with a par value of $0.175 each. The holders of ordinary voting shares are allocated one vote per share, provided that, if the controlled shares of any shareholder or group of related shareholders constitute more than 9.09 percent of the outstanding common             shares of the Company, their voting power will be reduced to 9.09 percent.
     As of December 31, 2005, the Company had issued 58,423,173 common shares at a price of $17.50 in a private offering. Shares issued consisted of both voting common shares and non-voting common shares which are identical in all respects, other than with respect to voting and conversion of non-voting common shares. Of the shares issued at December 31, 2005, 14,057,138 were non-voting and an additional 5,714,285 shares converted to non-voting upon the filing of the Company’s registration statement for its initial public offering (“IPO”). Proceeds from this issuance, after offering expenses, were $999,997. These proceeds were used for general corporate purposes.
     The Company issued an additional 59,427 voting shares in a private offering in February 2006 at a price of $17.50 for net proceeds of $1,030.
     On July 2, 2007, the Company acquired Talbot and agreed to issue an additional 18,415 common shares to certain employees of Talbot. These employees had elected to receive common shares of the Company in lieu of a cash settlement for the purchase of their Talbot shares. The issued common shares of the Company were valued at $23.00 per share and were issued on July 2, 2007.
     On July 30, 2007, the Company completed its IPO, selling 15,244,888 common shares at a price of $22.00 per share. The net proceeds to the Company from the IPO were approximately $310,731, after deducting the underwriters’ discount and fees. On July 31, 2007, the Company used $188,971 of the net proceeds to fully repay borrowings and to pay accrued interest under its unsecured credit facility. The Company used the remaining $121,760 of net proceeds to make a capital contribution to Validus Reinsurance, Ltd. to support the

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
future growth of reinsurance operations and to pay certain expenses related to the Talbot acquisition and make a $3,000 payment to Aquiline in connection with the termination of the Advisory Agreement.
     On August 27, 2007, the Company issued an additional 453,933 common shares at a price of $22.00 per share pursuant to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional common shares. The net proceeds to the Company of $9,349 were contributed to Validus Reinsurance, Ltd. Inclusive of the net proceeds from the underwriters’ option to purchase additional common shares, total proceeds from the IPO were approximately $320,080 and capital contributed to Validus Reinsurance, Ltd. was approximately $127,312.
     During the three months ended June 30, 2008, 13,068 warrants were exercised, resulting in the net share issuance of 13,067 common shares. During the three months ended June 30, 2008, no options were exercised. During the six months ended June 30, 2008, 31,580 warrants were exercised, resulting in the net share issuance of 18,980 common shares. During the six months ended June 30, 2008, 24,661 options were exercised resulting in the issuance of 24,661 common shares
     b) Warrants
     The Company’s founder and sponsoring investors provided their insurance industry expertise, resources and relationships during the period ended December 31, 2005 to ensure that the Company would be fully operational with key management in place in time for the January 2006 renewal season. In return for these services the founder and sponsoring investors were issued warrants. Until July 30, 2007, the IPO date, agreements with the founder and sponsoring investors provided that the warrants represented, in the aggregate, 12.0% of the fully diluted shares of the Company (assuming exercise of all options, warrants and any other rights to purchase common shares) and were subject to adjustment such that the warrants would continue to represent, in the aggregate, 12.0% of the fully diluted shares of the Company until such time as the Company consummated an initial public offering, amalgamation, merger or another such similar corporate event. In consideration for the founder’s and sponsoring investors’ commitments, the Company had issued as at June 30, 2008 warrants to the founding shareholder and sponsoring investors to purchase, in the aggregate, up to 8,680,149 (December 31, 2007 — to 8,711,729) common shares. Of those issued 2,090,815 (December 31, 2007 — 2,090,815) of the warrants are to purchase non-voting common shares. The 12.0% agreement expired on the consummation of the IPO. No further warrants are anticipated to be issued.
     In February 2006 and July 2007 additional warrants were issued to the founding shareholder and sponsoring investors to maintain the allocation at 12.0% of the fully diluted shares of the Company pursuant to the anti-dilution provision of the warrants. 8,593 warrants were issued in February 2006 and 256,409 warrants were issued in July 2007.
     The warrants may be settled using either the physical settlement or net-share settlement methods. The warrants have been classified as equity instruments, in accordance with EITF 00-19: “Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock”. The warrants were initially measured at an aggregate fair value of $75,091 and recorded to additional paid-in capital. The founding shareholder’s warrants in the amount of $25,969 were accounted for as a deduction from additional paid-in capital and the balance of $49,122 was expensed. The additional warrants issued for the period ended December 31, 2006 increased the fair value to $75,168 with the increase of $77 expensed. The additional warrants issued for the period ended December 31, 2007 increased the fair value to $78,060 with the increase of $2,893 expensed.
     The fair value of each warrant issued was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The volatility assumption used, of approximately 30.0%, was derived from the historical volatility of the share price of a range of publicly-traded Bermuda reinsurance companies of a similar business nature to the Company. No allowance was made for any potential illiquidity associated with the private trading of the Company’s shares. The other assumptions in the warrant-pricing model were as follows:

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
                         
    December 15, 2005   February 3, 2006   July 24, 2007
    issuance   issuance   issuance
Warrants issued
    8,446,727       8,593       256,409  
Average strike price
  $ 17.50     $ 17.50     $ 20.00  
Volatility
    30.0 %     30.0 %     30.0 %
Risk-free rate
    4.5 %     4.5 %     4.5 %
Expected dividend yield
    0.0 %     0.0 %     0.0 %
Expected term (years)
    10       10       8  
Calculated fair-value per warrant
  $ 8.89     $ 8.89     $ 11.28  
     During the three months ended June 30, 2008, 13,068 warrants were exercised, resulting in the net share issuance of 13,067 common shares. During the six months ended June 30, 2008, 31,580 warrants were exercised, resulting in the net share issuance of 18,980 common shares.
     c) Dividends
     On February 20, 2008 the Company announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per common share and $0.20 per common share equivalent for which each outstanding warrant is then exercisable, payable on March 17, 2008 to holders of record on March 3, 2008.
     On May 9, 2008 the Company announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per common share and $0.20 per common share equivalent for which each outstanding warrant is then exercisable, payable on June 5, 2008 to holders of record on May 22, 2008. The Company did not declare any dividends for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007.
6. Stock plans
     a) Long-term incentive plan
     The Company’s Long Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) provides for grants to employees of any option, stock appreciation right (“SAR”), restricted share, restricted share unit, performance share, performance unit, dividend equivalent or other share-based award. The total number of shares reserved for issuance under the LTIP is 13,126,896 shares. The LTIP is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. No SARs, performance shares, performance units or dividend equivalents have been granted to date. Grant prices are established at the estimated fair market value of the Company’s common shares at the date of grant. The company uses the simplified method outlined in the SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 110 to estimate expected lives for options granted during the period as historical exercise data is not available and the options meet the requirement as set out in the bulletin.
     b) LTIP options
     Options granted under the LTIP may be exercised for voting common shares upon vesting. Options have a life of 10 years and vest ratably. Grant prices are established at the estimated fair value of the Company’s common shares at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions used: risk free interest rate of 3.88%,(2007: 4.5%) expected life of 7 years, (2007:7 years) expected volatility of 30% (2007: 30%) and a dividend yield of 3.2% (2007: nil). Expected volatility is based on stock price volatility of comparable publicly-traded companies. The company uses the simplified method outlined in the SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 110 to estimate expected lives for options granted during the period as historical exercise data is not available and the options meet the requirement as set out in the bulletin. Share expense of $1,068 was recorded for the three months ended June 30, 2008 (2007: $930) related to the options, with a corresponding increase to additional paid-in capital. Share expense of $2,091 was recorded for the six months ended June 30, 2008 (2007: $1,845) related to the options, with a corresponding increase to

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
additional paid-in capital. The expense represents the proportionate accrual of the fair value of each grant based on the remaining vesting period. Activity with respect to the options for the six months ended June 30, 2008 is as follows:
                         
            Weighted     Weighted average  
            average grant     grant date  
    Options     date fair value     exercise price  
Options outstanding, December 31, 2007
    2,761,176     $ 7.61     $ 17.82  
Options granted
    164,166       6.73       24.73  
Options exercised
    (24,661 )     7.35       17.50  
Options forfeited
    (1,850 )     10.30       20.39  
 
                 
Options outstanding, June 30, 2008
    2,898,831     $ 7.56     $ 18.21  
 
                 
Options exercisable at June 30, 2008
    1,030,296     $ 7.49     $ 17.67  
 
                 
     Activity with respect to options for the year ended December 31, 2007 is as follows:
                         
            Weighted     Weighted average  
            average grant     grant date  
    Options     date fair value     exercise price  
Options outstanding, December 31, 2006
    2,568,894     $ 7.35     $ 17.50  
Options granted
    206,464       10.88       21.44  
Options exercised
                 
Options forfeited
    (14,182 )     10.30       20.39  
 
                 
Options outstanding, December 31, 2007
    2,761,176     $ 7.61     $ 17.82  
 
                 
Options exercisable at December 31, 2007
    908,361     $ 7.36     $ 17.52  
 
                 
     At June 30, 2008 there was $11,299 (December 31, 2007: $12,340) of total unrecognized compensation expense related to the outstanding options that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.7 years (December 31, 2007: 3.1 years).
     c) LTIP restricted shares
     Restricted shares granted under the LTIP vest either ratably or at the end of the required service period and contain certain restrictions for the vesting period, relating to, among other things, forfeiture in the event of termination of employment and transferability. Share expense of $3,625 (2007: $1,048) was recorded for the three months ended June 30, 2008 related to the restricted shares. Share expense of $6,567 (2007: $2,077) was recorded for the six months ended June 30, 2008 related to the restricted shares. The expense represents the proportionate accrual of the fair value of each grant based on the remaining vesting period. Activity with respect to unvested restricted shares for the six months ended June 30, 2008 is as follows:
                 
            Weighted  
    Restricted     average grant  
    Shares     date fair value  
Restricted shares outstanding, December 31, 2007
    2,158,220     $ 20.44  
Restricted shares granted
    843,477       24.34  
Restricted shares vested
           
Restricted shares forfeited
    (6,189 )     24.10  
 
           
Restricted shares outstanding, June 30, 2008
    2,995,508     $ 21.56  
 
           
     Activity with respect to unvested restricted shares for the period ended December 31, 2007 is as follows:

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
                 
            Weighted  
    Restricted     average grant  
    shares     date fair value  
Restricted shares outstanding, December 31, 2006
    733,964     $ 17.52  
Restricted shares granted
    1,428,306       21.94  
Restricted shares vested
           
Restricted shares forfeited
    (4,050 )     (20.39 )
 
           
Restricted shares outstanding, December 31, 2007
    2,158,220     $ 20.44  
 
           
     At June 30, 2008 there was $36,448 (December 31, 2007: $25,116) of total unrecognized compensation expense related to the outstanding restricted shares that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.3 years (December 31, 2007: 3.4 years).
     d) Employee Seller Shares
     Pursuant to the Share Sale Agreement for the purchase of Talbot, the Company issued 1,209,741 restricted shares to Talbot employees (the “Employee Seller Shares”). Upon consummation of the acquisition, the Employee Seller Shares were validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable and entitled to vote and participate in distributions and dividends in accordance with the Company’s bye-laws. However, the Employee Seller Shares are subject to a restricted period during which the Employee Seller Shares are subject to forfeiture (as implemented by repurchase by the Company for a nominal amount). Forfeiture of Employee Seller Shares will generally occur in the event that any such Talbot employee’s employment terminates, with certain exceptions, prior to the end of the restricted period. The restricted period will end for 25% of the Employee Seller Shares on each anniversary of the closing date of July 2, 2007 for all Talbot employees other than Talbot’s Chairman, such that after four years forfeiture will be completely extinguished. Share expense of $2,567 and $nil, respectively, was recorded for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007. Share expense of $5,134 and $nil, respectively, was recorded for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007. The expense represents the proportionate accrual of the fair value of each grant based on the remaining vesting period. Activity with respect to unvested restricted shares for the six months ended June 30, 2008 is as follows:
                 
            Weighted  
    Restricted     average grant  
    shares     date fair value  
Employee seller shares outstanding, December 31, 2007
    1,209,741     $ 22.01  
Employee seller shares granted
           
Employee seller shares vested
           
Employee seller shares forfeited
           
 
           
Employee seller shares outstanding, June 30, 2008
    1,209,741     $ 22.01  
 
           
     Activity with respect to unvested restricted shares for the year ended December 31, 2007 is as follows:
                 
            Weighted  
    Restricted     average grant  
    shares     date fair value  
Employee seller shares outstanding, December 31, 2006
           
Employee seller shares granted
    1,209,741     $ 22.01  
Employee seller shares vested
           
Employee seller shares forfeited
           
 
           
Employee seller shares outstanding, December 31, 2007
    1,209,741     $ $22.01  
 
           

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
     At June 30, 2008 there was $13,718 (December 31, 2007: $18,852) of total unrecognized compensation expense related to the outstanding restricted shares that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.0 years (December 31, 2007: 3.1 years).
     e) Restricted Share Units
     Restricted share units under the LTIP vest either ratably or at the end of the required service period and contain certain restrictions for the vesting period, relating to, among other things, forfeiture in the event of termination of employment and transferability. Share expense of $11 (2007: $nil) was recorded for the three months ended June 30, 2008 related to the restricted shares units. Share expense of $14 (2007: $nil) was recorded for the six months ended June 30, 2008 related to the restricted shares units. The expense represents the proportionate accrual of the fair value of each grant based on the remaining vesting period. Activity with respect to unvested restricted shares units for the six months ended June 30, 2008 is as follows:
                 
            Weighted  
    Restricted     average grant  
    shares units     date fair value  
Restricted share units outstanding, December 31, 2007
        $  
Restricted share units granted
    11,853       25.28  
Restricted share units vested
           
Restricted share units forfeited
           
 
           
Restricted share units outstanding, June 30, 2008
    11,853     $ 25.28  
 
           
     At June 30, 2008 there was $235 of total unrecognized compensation expense related to the outstanding restricted shares units that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 4.8 years.
     f) Total Share Expense
     The breakdown of share expense is as follows:
                                 
    Three months     Three months     Six months     Six months  
    ended June     ended June     ended June     ended June  
    30, 2008     30, 2007     30, 2008     30, 2007  
LTIP options
  $ 1,068     $ 930     $ 2,091     $ 1,845  
LTIP restricted shares
    3,625       1,048       6,567       2,077  
LTIP restricted share units
    11             14        
Employee seller shares
    2,567             5,134        
 
                       
Total share compensation expense
  $ 7,271     $ 1,978     $ 13,806     $ 3,922  
 
                       
7. Debt and financing arrangements
     a) Financing structure and finance expenses
     The financing structure at June 30, 2008 was:
                 
            In Use /  
    Commitment     Outstanding  
9.069% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures
  $ 150,000     $ 150,000  
8.480% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures
    200,000       154,300  
$200,000 unsecured letter of credit facility
    200,000        
$500,000 secured letter of credit facility
    500,000       101,922  

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
                 
            In Use /  
    Commitment     Outstanding  
Talbot FAL facility
    100,000       100,000  
Talbot third party FAL facility (1)
    144,015       144,015  
 
           
Total
  $ 1,294,015     $ 650,237  
 
           
 
(1)   Talbot operates in Lloyd’s through a corporate member, Talbot 2002 Underwriting Capital Ltd (“T02”), which is the sole participant in Syndicate 1183. Lloyd’s sets T02’s required capital annually based on syndicate 1183’s business plan, rating environment, reserving environment together with input arising from Lloyd’s discussions with, inter alia, regulatory and rating agencies. Such capital, called Funds at Lloyd’s (“FAL”), comprises: cash, investments and undrawn letters of credit provided by various banks. For the 2005, 2006 and 2007 years of account, Talbot’s underwriting was supported by various third parties (“Talbot third party FAL facility”). Of this facility, $30,350 was provided in respect of the 2005 year of account only. This year of account has now closed and the funds have been returned to the appropriate FAL providers. The members of the Talbot third party FAL facility provided FAL, in the form of cash, investments and undrawn letters of credit provided by various banks, in exchange for payment calculated principally by reference to the Syndicate 1183’s 2005, 2006 and 2007 results, as appropriate, when they are declared.
     The financing structure at December 31, 2007 was:
                 
            In Use /  
    Commitment     Outstanding  
9.069% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures
  $ 150,000     $ 150,000  
8.480% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures
    200,000       200,000  
$200,000 unsecured letter of credit facility
    200,000        
$500,000 secured letter of credit facility
    500,000       104,524  
Talbot FAL facility
    100,000       100,000  
Talbot third party FAL facility
    174,365       174,365  
 
           
Total
  $ 1,324,365     $ 728,889  
 
           
     Finance expenses consist of interest on our junior subordinated deferrable debentures, the amortization of debt offering costs, fees relating to our credit facilities and the costs of FAL. Finance expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 were as follows:
                                 
    Three months     Three months     Six months     Six months  
    ended June 30,     ended June     ended June     ended June  
    2008     30, 2007     30, 2008     30, 2007  
9.069% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures
  $ 3,589     $ 3,589     $ 7,177     $ 7,177  
8.480% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures
    3,650       318       8,008       318  
Credit facilities
    123       96       474       949  
Talbot FAL facilities
    62             125        
Talbot other interest
    (19 )           112        
Talbot third party FAL facility
    5,357             18,383        
 
                       
Total
  $ 12,762     $ 4,003     $ 34,279     $ 8,444  
 
                       
     b) Junior subordinated deferrable debentures
     On June 15, 2006, the Company participated in a private placement of $150,000 of junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures due 2036 (the “9.069% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures”). The 9.069% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures mature on June 15, 2036, are redeemable at the Company’s option at par beginning June 15, 2011, and require quarterly interest payments by the Company to the holders

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
of the 9.069% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures. Interest will be payable at 9.069% per annum through June 15, 2011, and thereafter at a floating rate of three-month LIBOR plus 355 basis points, reset quarterly. The proceeds of $150,000 from the sale of the 9.069% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures, after the deduction of commissions paid to the placement agents in the transaction and other expenses, are being used by the Company to fund Validus Re segment operations and for general working capital purposes. Debt issuance costs of $3,750 were deferred as an asset and are amortized to income over the five year optional redemption period.
     On June 21, 2007, the Company participated in a private placement of $200,000 of junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures due 2037 (the “8.480% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures”). The 8.480% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures mature on June 15, 2037, are redeemable at the Company’s option at par beginning June 15, 2012, and require quarterly interest payments by the Company to the holders of the 8.480% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures. Interest will be payable at 8.480% per annum through June 15, 2012, and thereafter at a floating rate of three-month LIBOR plus 295 basis points, reset quarterly. The proceeds of $200,000 from the sale of the 8.480% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures, after the deduction of commissions paid to the placement agents in the transaction and other expenses, were used by the Company to fund the purchase of Talbot Holdings Ltd. Debt issuance costs of $2,000 were deferred as an asset and are amortized to income over the five year optional redemption period.
     On April 29, 2008, the Company repurchased from an unaffiliated financial institution $45,700 principal amount of its 8.480% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures due 2037 at an aggregate price of $36,560, plus accrued and unpaid interest of $474. The repurchase resulted in the recognition of a realized gain of $8,752 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008.
     Carrying value of the Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures approximates fair value.
     Future expected payments of interest and principal on the Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures are as follows:
         
2008
  $ 13,344  
2009
    26,688  
2010
    26,688  
2011
    169,886  
2012 and thereafter
    160,842  
 
     
Total minimum future payments
  $ 397,448  
 
     
     c) Credit facilities
     On March 14, 2006 (the “effective date”), the Company entered into a 364-day $100,000 revolving credit facility and a three-year $200,000 secured letter of credit facility. The credit facilities were provided by a syndicate of commercial banks arranged by J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. Associated with each of these bank facilities are various covenants that include, among other things, (i) the requirement under the revolving credit facility that the Company at all times maintain a minimum level of consolidated net worth of at least 65% of consolidated net worth calculated as of the effective date, (ii) the requirement under the letter of credit facility that the Company initially maintain a minimum level of consolidated net worth of at least 65% of the consolidated net worth as calculated as of the effective date, and thereafter to be increased quarterly by an amount equal to 50% of consolidated net income (if positive) for such quarter plus 50% of any net proceeds received from any issuance of common shares of the Company during such quarter, and (iii) the requirement under each of the facilities that the Company maintain at all times a consolidated total debt to consolidated total capitalization ratio not greater than 0.30:1.00. The Company was in compliance with the covenants at December 31, 2006 and for the period then ended.

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
     On March 12, 2007, the Company entered into a new $200,000 three-year unsecured facility, as subsequently amended on October 25, 2007, which provides for letter of credit availability for Validus Reinsurance Ltd. and our other subsidiaries and revolving credit availability for the Company (the full $200,000 of which is available for letters of credit and/or revolving loans), and a new $500,000 five-year secured letter of credit facility, as subsequently amended, which provides for letter of credit availability for Validus Reinsurance Ltd. and our other subsidiaries. The new credit facilities were provided by a syndicate of commercial banks arranged by J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. The new credit facilities replaced our existing 364-day $100,000 senior unsecured revolving credit facility and our existing three-year $200,000 senior secured letter of credit facility, which have each been terminated.
     The credit facilities contain affirmative covenants that include, among other things, (i) the requirement that we initially maintain a minimum level of consolidated net worth of at least $872,000, and commencing with the end of the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2007 to be increased quarterly by an amount equal to 50% of our consolidated net income (if positive) for such quarter plus 50% of any net proceeds received from any issuance of common shares during such quarter, (ii) the requirement that we maintain at all times a consolidated total debt to consolidated total capitalization ratio not greater than 0.35:1.00, and (iii) the requirement that Validus Re Ltd. and any other material insurance subsidiaries maintain a financial strength rating by A.M. Best of not less than “B++” (Fair). The credit facilities also contain restrictions on our ability to pay dividends and other payments in respect of equity interests at any time that we are otherwise in default with respect to certain provisions under the credit facilities, make investments, incur debt at our subsidiaries, incur liens, sell assets and merge or consolidate with others. As of June 30, 2008 and throughout the reporting periods presented, where appropriate, the Company was in compliance with all covenants and restrictions under the credit facilities.
     On July 2, 2007, the Company made a draw upon the $200,000 unsecured credit facility in the amount of $188,000. These funds were used to fund a portion of the cash purchase price for the Company’s acquisition of Talbot and associated expenses. The interest rate set in respect of borrowing amounts under its credit facility borrowings as of July 2, 2007 was 6.0% per annum. On July 31, 2007, the Company fully repaid these borrowings and paid accrued interest with $188,971 of proceeds from its initial public offering. As of June 30, 2008, we have $101,922 in outstanding letters of credit under our five-year secured letter of credit facility (December 31, 2007: $104,524) and no amounts outstanding under our three-year unsecured facility (December 31, 2007: $Nil).
     On November 25, 2003, Talbot entered into a standby Letter of Credit facility as subsequently amended (the “2003 Talbot FAL facility”). The 2003 Talbot FAL facility provided for dollar-based letter of credit availability for Talbot and designated subsidiaries for the purpose of providing funds at Lloyd’s. The commitment amount under the 2003 Talbot FAL facility was $30,000 was provided by Lloyds TSB Bank plc. The 2003 Talbot FAL facility contains affirmative covenants that include, among other things, (i) the requirement that Talbot maintain a minimum level of consolidated tangible net worth, (ii) the requirement that Talbot maintain at all times a consolidated net borrowings to consolidated tangible net worth ratio not greater than 0.35:1.00, (iii) the requirement that Talbot’s subordinated FAL (Funds at Lloyd’s which in accordance with the applicable providers agreement, is intended to be drawn in priority to any letters of credit under the 2003 Talbot FAL facility ) be at least $200,000, and (iv) a requirement that the forecast losses of the syndicate not exceed 7.5% of the syndicate premium limit in any one open year of account and a requirement that the per scenario estimated net losses not exceed 15% of the syndicate premium limit in any year of account. The 2003 Talbot FAL facility also contained restrictions on Talbot’s ability to incur debt at the parent or subsidiary level, sell assets, incur liens, merge or consolidate with others and make investments or change investment strategy. This facility was cancelled in November 2007 and replaced by a $100,000 standby Letter of Credit facility.
     On March 10, 2006, Talbot entered into $25,000 revolving loan facility, as subsequently amended (the “Talbot Revolving Loan Facility“), which provided for dollar or sterling-based revolving credit availability for Talbot. The facility limit for the Talbot Revolving Loan Facility automatically reduced to $7,500 at July 1,

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
2007. The Talbot Revolving Loan Facility was provided by Lloyds TSB Bank plc. The Talbot Revolving Loan Facility contains affirmative covenants that include, among other things the requirement that Talbot maintain a minimum level of consolidated tangible net worth and also contains restrictions on Talbot’s ability to incur debt, incur liens and sell or transfer assets on non-arms length terms. As of December 31, 2006 and throughout the reporting periods presented, where appropriate, the Company was in compliance with all covenants and restrictions. This facility was cancelled in November 2007 and Lloyds TSB Bank plc entered into the $200,000 three-year unsecured facility by assuming $7,500 from the existing syndicate of commercial banks.
     On October 25, 2007, the Company entered into the First Amendment to each of its Three-Year Unsecured Letter of Credit Facility Agreement, dated as of March 12, 2007 and its Five-Year Secured Letter of Credit Facility Agreement, dated as of March 12, 2007 (together, the “Credit Facilities”), among the Company, Validus Reinsurance, Ltd., the Lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, to provide for, among other things, additional capacity to incur up to $100,000 under a new Funds at Lloyd’s Letter of Credit Facility (“FAL LoC Facility”) to support underwriting capacity provided to Talbot 2002 Underwriting Ltd through Syndicate 1183 at Lloyd’s of London for the 2008 and 2009 underwriting years of account. The amendment also modifies certain provisions in the Credit Facilities in order to permit dividend payments on existing and future preferred and hybrid securities notwithstanding certain events of default.
     On November 28, 2007, Talbot entered into a $100,000 standby Letter of Credit facility (the “Talbot FAL facility”) to provide funds at Lloyd’s; this facility is guaranteed by the Company and is secured against the assets of Validus Re Ltd. The Talbot FAL facility was provided by a syndicate of commercial banks arranged by Lloyds TSB Bank plc and ING Bank N.V., London Branch. The Talbot FAL Facility contains affirmative covenants that include, among other things, (i) the requirement that we initially maintain a minimum level of consolidated net worth of at least $1,164,265, and commencing with the end of the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2007 to be increased quarterly by an amount equal to 50% of our consolidated net income (if positive) for such quarter plus 50% of any net proceeds received from any issuance of common shares during such quarter, and (ii) the requirement that we maintain at all times a consolidated total debt to consolidated total capitalization ratio not greater than 0.35:1.00. This Talbot FAL facility replaced the 2003 Talbot FAL facility.
     The Talbot FAL facility also contains restrictions on our ability to make investments, incur debt at our subsidiaries, incur liens, sell assets and merge or consolidate with others. Other than in respect of existing and future preferred and hybrid securities, the payment of dividends and other payments in respect of equity interests are not permitted at any time that we are in default with respect to certain provisions under the credit facilities. As of June 30, 2008, the Company had $100,000 in outstanding letters of credit and was in compliance with all covenants and restrictions.
     d) Funds at Lloyd’s
     Talbot’s underwriting at Lloyd’s is supported by Funds at Lloyd’s (“FAL”) comprising: cash, investments and undrawn letters of credit provided by various banks on behalf of various companies and persons under reinsurance and other agreements. The FAL are provided in exchange for payment calculated principally by reference to the syndicate’s results, as appropriate, when they are declared. The amounts of cash, investments and letters of credit at June 30, 2008 supporting the 2008 underwriting year amount to $316,483, all of which is provided by the Company. A third party FAL facility comprising $144,015 which supports the 2007 and prior underwriting years has now been withdrawn from Lloyd’s and placed in escrow, however, the funds remain available to pay losses on those years for which that FAL has been contracted to support.

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
8. Commitments and contingencies
     a) Concentrations of credit risk
     The Company’s investments are managed following prudent standards of diversification. The Company attempts to limit its credit exposure by purchasing high quality fixed income investments to maintain an average portfolio credit quality of AA- or higher with mortgage and commercial mortgage-backed issues having an aggregate weighted average credit quality of triple-A. In addition, the Company limits its exposure to any single issuer to 3% or less of its investment portfolio, excluding treasury and agency securities. The minimum credit rating of any security purchased is A-/A3 and where investments are downgraded, the Company permits a holding of up to 2% in aggregate market value, or 10% with written pre-authorization. At June 30, 2008, 0.2% of the portfolio had ratings below A-/A3, none of which are rated below BBB- or Baa3. Also at June 30, 2008, the Company did not have an aggregate exposure to any single issuer of more than 2.6% of our investment portfolio, other than with respect to U.S. government securities.
     b) Funds at Lloyd’s
     Talbot operates in Lloyd’s through a corporate member, Talbot 2002 Underwriting Capital Ltd (“T02”), which is the sole participant in Syndicate 1183. Lloyd’s sets T02’s required capital annually based on syndicate 1183’s business plan, rating environment, reserving environment together with input arising from Lloyd’s discussions with, inter alia, regulatory and rating agencies. Such capital, called Funds at Lloyd’s (“FAL”), comprises: cash, investments and undrawn letters of credit provided by various banks. The amounts of cash, investments and letters of credit at June 30, 2008 amount to $316,483 (December 31, 2007: $316,483).
     For the 2006 and 2007 years of account, the Company’s underwriting was supported by various third parties (“Talbot third party FAL facility”). The members of the Talbot third party FAL facility provided FAL, in the form of cash, investments and undrawn letters of credit provided by various banks, in exchange for payment calculated principally by reference to the Syndicate 1183’s 2006 and 2007 results, as appropriate, when they are declared.
     The Talbot third party FAL facility support each year of account as follows:
                 
    2006     2007  
    Underwriting year     Underwriting year  
Common to both years
  $ 105,990     $ 105,990  
2006 only
    22,500        
2007 only
          15,525  
 
           
Total
  $ 128,490     $ 121,515  
 
           
     The FAL are provided for each year of account as follows:
                         
    2006     2007     2008  
    Underwriting year     Underwriting year     Underwriting year  
Group funds
  $ 110,075     $ 115,000     $ 216,483  
Talbot third party FAL facility
    128,490       121,515        
Talbot FAL facility
    30,000       30,000       100,000  
 
                 
Total FAL
  $ 268,565     $ 266,515     $ 316,483  
 
                 
     The amounts provided under the Talbot FAL facility would become a liability of the group in the event of the syndicate declaring a loss at a level which would call on this arrangement.

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
     The amounts provided under the Talbot third party FAL facility would not become a liability of the group in the event of the syndicate declaring a loss at a level which would call on such arrangements.
     The amounts which the Company provides as FAL is not available for distribution to the Company for the payment of dividends. Talbot’s corporate member may also be required to maintain funds under the control of Lloyd’s in excess of its capital requirement and such funds also may not be available for distribution to the Company for the payment of dividends.
     c) Lloyd’s New Central Fund
     Whenever a member of Lloyd’s is unable to pay its debts to policyholders, such debts may be payable by the Lloyd’s Central Fund. If Lloyd’s determines that the Central Fund needs to be increased, it has the power to assess premium levies on current Lloyd’s members up to 3.0% of a member’s underwriting capacity in any one year. The Company does not believe that any assessment is likely in the foreseeable future and has not provided any allowance for such an assessment. However, based on the Company’s 2008 capacity at Lloyd’s of £325,000 the June 30, 2008 exchange rate of £0.50 equals $1.00 and assuming the maximum 3.0% assessment the Company could be assessed approximately $19,403.
9. Related party transactions
     The transactions listed below are classified as related party transactions as each counterparty has either a direct or indirect shareholding in the Company.
a) Merrill Lynch entities own 5,714,285 non-voting shares in the Company, hold warrants to purchase 1,067,187 shares and have an employee on the Board of Directors who does not receive compensation from the Company. Merrill Lynch warrants are convertible to non-voting shares as described in note 5. In addition, entities affiliated with Merrill Lynch were the initial purchasers of $40,000 of the 9.069% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures.
b) The Company entered into an agreement on December 8, 2005 with BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. (“BlackRock”) under which BlackRock was appointed as an investment manager of part of its investment portfolio. The Company incurred $613 and $350 during the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 and $1,223 and $661 during the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, of which $874 was included in accounts payable and accrued expenses at June 30, 2008 (December 31, 2007: $787). Merrill Lynch is a shareholder of Blackrock.
c) The Company entered into an agreement on December 8, 2005 with Goldman Sachs Asset Management and its affiliates (“GSAM”) under which GSAM was appointed as an investment manager of part of the Company’s investment portfolio. Goldman Sachs entities, which own 14,057,137 non-voting shares in the Company, hold warrants to purchase 1,604,410 non-voting shares, and have an employee on the Board of Directors who does not receive compensation from the Company. The Company incurred $364 and $194 during the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 and $747 and $387 during the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, of which $686 was included in accounts payable and accrued expenses at June 30, 2008 (December 31, 2007: $460).
d) Vestar Capital entities, which own 8,571,427 shares in the Company and hold warrants to purchase 972,810 shares, are shareholders of PARIS RE Holdings Limited (“Paris Re”). Pursuant to reinsurance agreements with Paris Re, the Company recognized $nil of gross premiums written during both three month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 and $6,079 and $nil during the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, of which $4,922 was included in premiums receivable at June 30, 2008 (December 31, 2007: $nil).

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
e) Aquiline entities, which own 6,857,143 shares in the Company, hold warrants to purchase 3,193,865 shares, and have three employees on the Board of Directors who do not receive compensation from the Company, are shareholders of Group Ark Insurance Holdings Ltd. (“Group Ark”). Pursuant to reinsurance agreements with Group Ark, the Company recognized $nil of gross premiums written during both three month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 and $688 and $nil during the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, of which $309 was included in premiums receivable at June 30, 2008 (December 31, 2007: $nil). The Company also recognized $nil of reinsurance premiums ceded during both three month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 and $1,098 and $nil during the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, of which $78 was included in reinsurance balances payable at June 30, 2008 (December 31, 2007: $91) and $782 was included in prepaid reinsurance premiums at June 30, 2008 (December 31, 2007: $nil).
f) Certain members of the Company’s management and staff have provided guarantees to 1384 Capital Ltd, a company formed to facilitate the provision of Funds at Lloyd’s (“FAL”) by such management and staff. The Company incurred $182 and $nil of finance expenses to such management and staff in respect of such provision of FAL for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 and $579 and $nil during the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, of which $574 was included in accounts payable and accrued expenses at June 30, 2008 (December 31, 2007: $889).
10. Earnings per share
     In 2007 a reverse stock split of the outstanding shares of the Company was approved by a vote by the shareholders, whereby each 1.75 outstanding shares was consolidated into 1 share. This reverse stock split has been reflected retroactively in the calculation of earnings per share.
     The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007:
                                 
    Three months     Three months     Six months     Six months  
    ended     ended     ended     ended  
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007     June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007  
Basic earnings per share
                               
Net income
  $ 75,921     $ 70,754     $ 142,396     $ 127,502  
Less: Dividends and distributions declared on outstanding warrants
    (1,739 )           (3,478 )      
 
                       
Net income available to common shareholders
  $ 74,182     $ 70,754     $ 138,918     $ 127,502  
 
                               
Weighted average shares – basic ordinary shares outstanding
    74,233,425       58,482,600       74,221,398       58,482,601  
 
                       
Basic earnings per share
  $ 1.00     $ 1.21     $ 1.87     $ 2.18  
 
                       
 
                               
Diluted earnings per share
                               
Net income
  $ 75,921     $ 70,754     $ 142,396     $ 127,502  
 
                               
Weighted average shares – basic ordinary shares outstanding
    74,233,425       58,482,600       74,221,398       58,482,601  
Share equivalents:
                               
Warrants
    1,631,819       1,732,297       2,074,835       1,551,227  
Options
    32,894             171,366        
Restricted Shares
    1,359,407       432,457       1,326,037       397,545  
 
                       
Weighted average shares – diluted
    77,257,545       60,647,354       77,793,636       60,431,373  
 
                       
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 0.98     $ 1.17     $ 1.83     $ 2.11  
 
                       

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
     Share equivalents that would result in the issuance of common shares of 192,534 and 116,122 were outstanding for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would be antidilutive. Share equivalents that would result in the issuance of common shares of 63,021 and 211,049 were outstanding for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would be antidilutive.
     In the basic earnings per share calculation, dividends and distributions declared on warrants outstanding are deducted from net income. In calculating diluted earnings per share, we also consider the impact of increasing the number of dilutive shares by a portion of the warrants outstanding, calculated using the treasury stock method. Whichever adjustment is more dilutive is incorporated in the calculation of diluted earnings per share.
11. Segment information
     The Company conducts its operations worldwide through two wholly-owned subsidiaries, Validus Reinsurance, Ltd. and Talbot Holdings Ltd. from which two operating segments, “Validus Re” and “Talbot” respectively, have been determined under FAS 131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information”. The Company’s operating segments are strategic business units that offer different products and services. They are managed and have capital allocated separately because each business requires different strategies.
Validus Re
     The Validus Re segment is focused on short-tail lines of reinsurance. The primary lines in which the segment conducts business is property, marine and specialty which includes aerospace, terrorism, life and accident & health and workers’ compensation catastrophe.
Talbot
     The Talbot segment writes a wide range of marine, property and specialty classes of business. The specialty lines include; political violence, political risk, marine & aviation war, accident & health, bloodstock/livestock, financial institutions, aviation treaty, and contingency.
Corporate and other reconciling items
     The Company has a “Corporate” function, which includes the activities of the parent company, and which carries out functions for the group. “Corporate” also denotes the activities of certain key executives such as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The only revenue earned by “Corporate” is a minor amount of interest income that is incidental to the activities of the enterprise. For internal reporting purposes, “Corporate” is reflected separately as a business unit, however “Corporate” is not considered an operating segment under these circumstances and FAS 131. Other reconciling items include, but are not limited to, the elimination of intersegment revenues and expenses and unusual items that are not allocated to segments.
     The following tables summarize the underwriting results of our operating segments and corporate segment:

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
                                 
                    Corporate and        
                    other        
                    reconciling        
Quarter ended June 30, 2008   Validus Re     Talbot     items     Total  
Gross premiums written
  $ 187,820     $ 197,235     $ (5,136 )   $ 379,919  
Reinsurance premiums ceded
    (1,208 )     (5,327 )     5,136       (1,399 )
 
                       
Net premiums written
    186,612       191,908             378,520  
Change in unearned premiums
    (22,500 )     (46,722 )           (69,222 )
 
                       
Net premiums earned
    164,112       145,186             309,298  
 
Losses and loss expense
    48,677       73,412             122,089  
Policy acquisition costs
    25,309       31,134       (24 )     56,419  
General and administrative expenses
    9,955       19,787       4,170       33,912  
Share compensation expense
    1,597       1,126       4,548       7,271  
 
                       
 
                               
Underwriting income (loss)
  $ 78,574     $ 19,727     $ (8,694 )   $ 89,607  
 
                       
 
                               
Net investment income
    25,725       11,726       (1,016 )     36,435  
Realized gain on repurchase of debentures
                8,752       8,752  
Net realized gains (losses) on investments
    (3,260 )     835             (2,425 )
Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments
    (24,059 )     (18,923 )           (42,982 )
Foreign exchange gains
    (403 )     1,314             911  
Other income
    24       1,462       (24 )     1,462  
Finance expenses
    (88 )     (5,400 )     (7,274 )     (12,762 )
 
                       
 
                               
Net income (loss) before taxes
    76,513       10,741       (8,256 )     78,998  
 
                               
Taxes
    20       3,057             3,077  
 
                       
 
                               
Net income (loss)
  $ 76,493     $ 7,684     $ (8,256 )   $ 75,921  
 
                       
 
                               
Loss and loss expense ratio (1)
    29.7 %     50.6 %             39.5 %
Policy acquisition cost ratio(1)
    15.4 %     21.4 %             18.2 %
General and administrative expense ratio(1)
    7.0 %     14.4 %             13.3 %
 
                         
Expense ratio
    22.4 %     35.8 %             31.5 %
 
                         
 
                               
Combined ratio(1)
    52.1 %     86.4 %             71.0 %
 
                         
 
                               
Total assets
  $ 2,784,016     $ 1,781,576     $ 4,150     $ 4,569,742  
 
                       
 
(1)   Ratios are based on net premiums earned. The general and administrative expense ratio includes share expenses.

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
                                 
                    Corporate and        
                    other        
                    reconciling        
Quarter ended June 30, 2007   Validus Re     Talbot     items     Total  
Gross premiums written
  $ 174,300     $     $     $ 174,300  
Reinsurance premiums ceded
    (26,780 )                 (26,780 )
 
                       
Net premiums written
    147,520                   147,520  
Change in unearned premiums
    (14,490 )                 (14,490 )
 
                       
Net premiums earned
    133,030                   133,030  
 
Losses and loss expense
    42,675                   42,675  
Policy acquisition costs
    17,837                   17,837  
General and administrative expenses
    6,773             4,334       11,107  
Share compensation expense
    779             1,199       1,978  
 
                       
 
                               
Underwriting income (loss)
  $ 64,966     $     $ (5,533 )   $ 59,433  
 
                       
 
                               
Net investment income
    19,740             2       19,742  
Net realized (losses) gains on investments
    (232 )                 (232 )
Net unrealized (losses) gains on investments
    (6,189 )                 (6,189 )
Foreign exchange gains
    2,003                   2,003  
Finance expenses
    (112 )           (3,891 )     (4,003 )
 
                       
 
                               
Net income (loss) before taxes
    80,176             (9,422 )     70,754  
 
                               
Taxes
                       
 
                       
 
                               
Net income (loss)
  $ 80,176     $     $ (9,422 )   $ 70,754  
 
                       
 
                               
Loss and loss expense ratio(1)
    32.1 %     0.0 %             32.1 %
Policy acquisition cost ratio(1)
    13.4 %     0.0 %             13.4 %
General and administrative expense ratio(1)
    5.7 %     0.0 %             9.8 %
 
                         
Expense ratio
    19.1 %     0.0 %             23.2 %
 
                         
 
                               
Combined ratio(1)
    51.2 %     0.0 %             55.3 %
 
                         
 
                               
Total assets
  $ 2,159,594     $     $ 205,317     $ 2,364,911  
 
                       
 
(1)   Ratios are based on net premiums earned. The general and administrative expense ratio includes share expenses.

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
                                 
                    Corporate and        
                    other reconciling        
Six months ended June 30, 2008   Validus Re     Talbot     items     Total  
Gross premiums written
  $ 518,869     $ 399,028     $ (16,384 )   $ 901,513  
Reinsurance premiums ceded
    (24,951 )     (77,732 )     16,384       (86,299 )
 
                       
Net premiums written
    493,918       321,296             815,214  
Change in unearned premiums
    (186,151 )     (27,901 )           (214,052 )
 
                       
Net premiums earned
    307,767       293,395             601,162  
 
Losses and loss expense
    107,591       154,522             262,113  
Policy acquisition costs
    45,712       67,432       (24 )     113,120  
General and administrative expenses
    19,334       40,710       10,975       71,019  
Share compensation expense
    2,823       2,102       8,881       13,806  
 
                       
 
                               
Underwriting income (loss)
  $ 132,307     $ 28,629     $ (19,832 )   $ 141,104  
 
                       
 
                               
Net investment income
    50,752       22,708       (982 )     72,478  
Net realized gains (losses) on investments
    (1,183 )     6,502             5,319  
Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments
    (42,671 )     (15,288 )           (57,959 )
Realized gain on repurchase of debentures
                    8,752       8,752  
Foreign exchange gains
    7,272       1,818             9,090  
Other income
    24       2,397       (24 )     2,397  
Finance expenses
    (442 )     (18,620 )     (15,217 )     (34,279 )
 
                       
 
                               
Net income (loss) before taxes
    146,059       28,146       (27,303 )     146,902  
 
                               
Taxes
    48       4,458             4,506  
 
                       
 
                               
Net income (loss)
  $ 146,011     $ 23,688     $ (27,303 )   $ 142,396  
 
                       
 
                               
Loss and loss expense ratio (1)
    35.0 %     52.7 %             43.6 %
Policy acquisition cost ratio(1)
    14.9 %     23.0 %             18.8 %
General and administrative expense ratio(1)
    7.1 %     14.6 %             14.1 %
 
                         
Expense ratio
    22.0 %     37.6 %             32.9 %
 
                         
 
                               
Combined ratio(1)
    57.0 %     90.3 %             76.5 %
 
                         
 
                               
Total assets
  $ 2,784,016     $ 1,781,576     $ 4,150     $ 4,569,742  
 
                       
 
(1)   Ratios are based on net premiums earned. The general and administrative expense ratio includes share expenses.

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
                                 
                    Corporate and        
                    other        
                    reconciling        
Six months ended June 30, 2007   Validus Re     Talbot     items     Total  
Gross premiums written
  $ 552,370     $     $     $ 552,370  
Reinsurance premiums ceded
    (57,738 )                 (57,738 )
 
                       
Net premiums written
    494,632                   494,632  
 
Change in unearned premiums
    (250,110 )                 (250,110 )
 
                       
Net premiums earned
    244,522                   244,522  
Losses and loss expense
    89,162                   89,162  
Policy acquisition costs
    30,056                   30,056  
General and administrative expenses
    14,065             8,269       22,334  
Share compensation expense
    1,544             2,379       3,923  
 
                       
 
                               
Underwriting income (loss)
  $ 109,695     $     $ (10,648 )   $ 99,047  
 
                       
 
                               
Net investment income
    38,236             3       38,239  
Net realized (losses) gains on investments
    (186 )                 (186 )
Net unrealized (losses) gains on investments
    (4,546 )                 (4,546 )
Foreign exchange gains
    3,392                   3,392  
Finance expenses
    (968 )           (7,476 )     (8,444 )
 
                       
 
                               
Net income (loss) before taxes
    145,623             (18,121 )     127,502  
 
                               
Taxes
                       
 
                       
 
                               
Net income (loss)
  $ 145,623     $     $ (18,121 )   $ 127,502  
 
                       
 
                               
Loss and loss expense ratio (1)
    36.5 %       %             36.5 %
Policy acquisition cost ratio (1)
    12.3 %       %             12.3 %
General and administrative expense ratio (1)
    6.4 %       %             10.7 %
 
                         
Expense ratio
    18.7 %       %             23.0 %
 
                         
 
                               
Combined ratio (1)
    55.1 %       %             59.5 %
 
                         
 
                               
Total assets
  $ 2,159,594     $     $ 205,317     $ 2,364,911  
 
                       
 
(1)   Ratios are based on net premiums earned. The general and administrative expense ratio includes share expenses.

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
     The Company’s exposures are generally diversified across geographic zones. The following tables set forth the gross premiums written allocated to the territory of coverage exposure for the periods indicated:
                                         
    Three months ended June 30, 2008  
    Gross premiums written  
    Validus Re     Talbot     Eliminations(3)     Total     %  
United States
  $ 132,341     $ 18,347     $ (5,136 )   $ 145,552       38.3 %
Worldwide excluding United States (1)
    662       58,939             59,601       15.7 %
Europe
    5,391       15,343             20,734       5.5 %
Latin America and Caribbean
    1,264       9,727             10,991       2.9 %
Japan
    9,093       2,335             11,428       3.0 %
Canada
          3,095             3,095       0.8 %
 
                             
Sub-total, non United States
    16,410       89,439             105,849       27.9 %
Worldwide including United States (1)
    29,632       21,226             50,858       13.4 %
Marine and Aerospace (2)
    9,437       68,223             77,660       20.4 %
 
                             
Total
  $ 187,820     $ 197,235     $ (5,136 )   $ 379,919       100.0 %
 
                             
                                         
    Three months ended June 30, 2007  
    Gross premiums written  
    Validus Re     Talbot     Eliminations(3)     Total     %  
United States
  $ 122,189     $     $     $ 122,189       70.1 %
Worldwide excluding United States (1)
    6,534                   6,534       3.7 %
Europe
    11,962                   11,962       6.9 %
Latin America and Caribbean
    4,244                   4,244       2.4 %
Japan
    7,423                   7,423       4.3 %
Canada
                            0.0 %
 
                             
Sub-total, non United States
    30,163                   30,163       17.3 %
Worldwide including United States (1)
    9,171                   9,171       5.3 %
Marine and Aerospace (2)
    12,777                   12,777       7.3 %
 
                             
Total
  $ 174,300     $     $     $ 174,300       100.0 %
 
                             
                                         
    Six months ended June 30, 2008  
    Gross premiums written  
    Validus Re     Talbot     Eliminations(3)     Total     %  
United States
  $ 260,193     $ 37,078     $ (16,384 )   $ 280,887       31.1 %
Worldwide excluding United States (1)
    26,541       117,236             143,777       15.9 %
Europe
    39,734       31,010             70,744       7.8 %
Latin America and Caribbean
    5,635       15,527             21,162       2.3 %
Japan
    9,448       2,898             12,346       1.4 %
Canada
          5,715             5,715       0.6 %
 
                             
Sub-total, non United States
    81,358       172,386             253,744       28.0 %
Worldwide including United States (1)
    64,912       37,272             102,184       11.3 %
Marine and Aerospace (2)
    112,406       152,292             264,698       29.6 %
 
                             
Total
  $ 518,869     $ 399,028     $ (16,384 )   $ 901,513       100.0 %
 
                             

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Validus Holdings, Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
                                         
    Six months ended June 30, 2007  
    Gross premiums written  
    Validus Re     Talbot     Eliminations(3)     Total     %  
United States
  $ 261,070     $     $     $ 261,070       47.3 %
Worldwide excluding United States (1)
    29,469                   29,469       5.3 %
Europe
    44,364                   44,364       8.0 %
Latin America and Caribbean
    7,105                   7,105       1.3 %
Japan
    7,416                   7,416       1.3 %
Canada
                            0.0 %
 
                             
Sub-total, non United States
    88,354                   88,354       15.9 %
Worldwide including United States (1)
    69,278                   69,278       12.5 %
Marine and Aerospace (2)
    133,668                   133,668       24.3 %
 
                             
Total
  $ 552,370     $     $     $ 552,370       100.0 %
 
                             
 
(1)   Represents risks in two or more geographic zones.
 
(2)   Not classified as geographic area as marine and aerospace risks can span multiple geographic areas and are not fixed locations in some instances.
 
(3)   Intersegment premiums of $16,384 have been eliminated for the six months ended June 30, 2008 (June 30, 2007: $nil). Intersegment premiums of $5,136 have been eliminated for the three months ended June 30, 2008 (June 30, 2007: $nil).

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
     The following is a discussion and analysis of the Company’s consolidated results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 and the Company’s consolidated financial condition and liquidity and capital resources at June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007. The results of operations and cash flows for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year. The Company completed the acquisition of Talbot Holdings Ltd. (“Talbot”) on July 2, 2007. As a result, Talbot is only included in the Company’s consolidated results from July 2, 2007 through June 30, 2008. Talbot is not included in consolidated results for the first six months of 2007. This discussion and analysis pertains to the results of the Company inclusive of Talbot from the date of acquisition. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, the discussions of critical accounting policies and the qualitative and quantitative disclosure about market risk contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
     The Company was formed on October 19, 2005 and has limited historical financial and operating information. Insurance and reinsurance companies face substantial risk in their initial stages of development. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”. In addition, for a variety of reasons, including the Company’s recent formation, the acquisition of Talbot and relatively few significant catastrophe events in 2006, 2007 and the first half of 2008, the Company’s historical financial results may not accurately indicate future performance. The Risk Factors set forth in Item 1A of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 present a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein.
Executive Overview
     The Company underwrites from two distinct global operating subsidiaries, Validus Re and Talbot. Validus Re, the Company’s principal reinsurance operating subsidiary, operates as a Bermuda-based provider of short-tail reinsurance products on a global basis. Talbot, the Company’s principal insurance operating subsidiary, operates through its two underwriting platforms: Talbot Underwriting Ltd, which manages syndicate 1183 at Lloyd’s of London (“Lloyd’s”), and Underwriting Risk Services Ltd, which is an underwriting agency writing primarily yachts, marinas and fine art business on behalf of the Talbot syndicate and others.
     The Company’s strategy is to concentrate primarily on short-tail risks, which is an area where management believes current prices and terms provide an attractive risk adjusted return and the management team has proven expertise. The Company’s profitability in any given period is based upon premium and investment revenues less net losses and loss expenses, acquisition expenses and operating expenses. Financial results in the insurance and reinsurance industry are influenced by the frequency and/or severity of claims and losses, including as a result of catastrophic events, changes in interest rates, financial markets and general economic conditions, the supply of insurance and reinsurance capacity and changes in legal, regulatory and judicial environments.
Business Outlook and Trends
     The Company was formed in October 2005 in response to the supply/demand imbalance resulting from the large industry losses in 2004 and 2005. In the aggregate, the Company observed substantial increases in premium rates in 2006 compared to 2005 levels. During the year ended December 31, 2007 and the six months ended June 30, 2008, the Company has experienced increased competition in most lines of business. Capital provided by new entrants or by the commitment of additional capital by existing insurers and reinsurers has increased the supply of insurance and reinsurance which has resulted in a softening of rates in most lines. In addition, during the six months ended June 30, 2008, Company observed cedents retaining more risk as their capital bases have increased.
Financial Measures
     The Company believes the following financial indicators are important in evaluating performance and measuring the overall growth in value generated for shareholders:

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     Annualized return on average equity represents the level of net income available to shareholders generated from the average shareholders’ equity during the period. The Company’s objective is to generate superior returns on capital that appropriately reward shareholders for the risks assumed and to grow revenue only when returns meet or exceed internal requirements. Details of annualized return on average equity are provided below.
                                         
    Three months   Three months   Six months   Six months    
    ended   ended   ended   ended   Year ended
    June 30, 2008   June 30, 2007   June 30, 2008   June 30, 2007   December 30, 2007
Annualized return on average equity
    15.0 %     22.0 %     14.3 %     20.3 %     29.9 %
     Diluted book value per common share is considered by management to be an appropriate measure of our returns to common shareholders, as we believe growth in our book value on a diluted basis ultimately translates into growth of our stock price. Diluted book value per common share increased from $24.00 at December 31, 2007 to $25.12 at June 30, 2008. The increase was substantially due to earnings generated in the first six months of 2008, offset in part by dividends declared on our common shares and common share equivalents.
     Cash dividends per common share are an integral part of the value created for shareholders. The Company declared quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per common share in the first two quarters of 2008. On August 7, 2008, the Company announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per each common share and $0.20 per common share equivalent for which each outstanding warrant is then exercisable, payable on September 4, 2008 to holders of record on August 21, 2008.
     Underwriting income measures the performance of the Company’s core underwriting function, excluding revenues and expenses such as net investment income (loss), other income, finance expenses, net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments, and foreign exchange gains (losses). The Company believes the reporting of underwriting income enhances the understanding of our results by highlighting the underlying profitability of the Company’s core insurance and reinsurance operations. Underwriting income for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and June 30, 2007 was $89.6 million and $59.4 million, respectively. Underwriting income for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and June 30, 2007 was $141.1 million and $99.0 million, respectively. Underwriting income is a Non-GAAP financial measure as described in detail in the section below entitled “Underwriting Income.”
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
     There are certain accounting policies that the Company considers to be critical due to the judgment and uncertainty inherent in the application of those policies. In calculating financial statement estimates, the use of different assumptions could produce materially different estimates. The Company believes the following critical accounting policies affect significant estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements:
    Reserve for losses and loss expenses;
 
    Premiums; and
 
    Reinsurance premiums ceded and reinsurance recoverables.
     Critical accounting policies and estimates are discussed further in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
Segment Reporting
     Management has determined that the Company operates in two reportable segments. The two segments are its significant operating subsidiaries, Validus Re and Talbot.

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Results of Operations
     Validus Holdings, Ltd. and Validus Re were formed on October 19, 2005, and Validus Re commenced operations on December 16, 2005. Neither company had prior operating histories. The Company began writing reinsurance contracts on January 1, 2006. On July 2, 2007, the Company acquired Talbot Holdings Ltd. (“Talbot”) and consolidates Talbot as of that date. The Company’s fiscal year ends on December 31. Financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and relevant SEC guidance.

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     The following table presents results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 and the pro forma results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007:
                                                 
    Three months                     Six months        
    ended     Three months ended     ended     Six months ended  
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007     June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007  
    Actual     Actual     Pro Forma (1)     Actual     Actual     Pro Forma (1)  
    (Dollars in thousands)     (Dollars in thousands)  
Gross premiums written
  $ 379,919     $ 174,300     $ 377,169     $ 901,513     $ 552,370     $ 941,681  
Reinsurance premiums ceded
    (1,399 )     (26,780 )     (29,329 )     (86,299 )     (57,738 )     (134,361 )
 
                                   
Net premiums written
    378,520       147,520       347,840       815,214       494,632       807,320  
Change in unearned premiums
    (69,222 )     (14,490 )     (65,380 )     (214,052 )     (250,110 )     (277,963 )
 
                                   
Net premiums earned
    309,298       133,030       282,460       601,162       244,522       529,357  
 
                                               
Losses and loss expenses
    122,089       42,675       118,163       262,113       89,162       232,377  
Policy acquisition costs
    56,419       17,837       49,255       113,120       30,056       91,521  
General and administrative expenses
    33,912       11,107       35,431       71,019       22,334       65,891  
Share compensation expense
    7,271       1,978       1,947       13,806       3,923       6,257  
 
                                   
Total underwriting expenses
    219,691       73,597       204,796       460,058       145,475       396,046  
 
                                               
Underwriting income (2)
    89,607       59,433       77,664       141,104       99,047       133,311  
Net investment income
    36,435       19,742       29,920       72,478       38,239       58,120  
Other income
    1,462             1,222       2,397             2,165  
Finance expenses
    (12,762 )     (4,003 )     (15,903 )     (34,279 )     (8,444 )     (34,336 )
 
                                   
Operating income before taxes
    114,742       75,172       92,903       181,700       128,842       159,260  
 
                                               
Taxes
    3,077             570       4,506             1,236  
 
                                   
 
Operating income after tax
    111,665       75,172       92,333       177,194       128,842       158,024  
 
                                   
 
                                               
Net realized gains (losses) on investments
    (2,425 )     (232 )     (140 )     5,319       (186 )     (1,416 )
Net unrealized losses on investments
    (42,982 )     (6,189 )     (6,189 )     (57,959 )     (4,546 )     (4,546 )
Realized gain on repurchase of debentures
    8,752                   8,752              
Foreign exchange gains (losses)
    911       2,003       3,354       9,090       3,392       4,575  
 
                                   
Net income after taxes
  $ 75,921     $ 70,754     $ 89,358     $ 142,396     $ 127,502     $ 156,637  
 
                                   
Comprehensive income
                                               
Foreign currency translation Adjustments
    10                   77              
 
                                   
 
Comprehensive income
  $ 75,931     $ 70,754     $ 89,358     $ 142,473     $ 127,502     $ 156,637  
 
                                   
Selected ratios
                                               
Net premiums written/ Gross premiums written
    99.6 %     84.6 %     92.2 %     90.4 %     89.5 %     85.7 %
Losses and loss expenses ratio
    39.5 %     32.1 %     41.8 %     43.6 %     36.5 %     43.9 %
Policy acquisition cost ratio
    18.2 %     13.4 %     17.4 %     18.8 %     12.3 %     17.3 %
General and administrative expense ratio
    13.3 %     9.8 %     13.2 %     14.1 %     10.7 %     13.6 %
 
                                   
Expense ratio
    31.5 %     23.2 %     30.6 %     32.9 %     23.0 %     30.9 %
 
                                   
 
Combined ratio
    71.0 %     55.3 %     72.4 %     76.5 %     59.5 %     74.8 %
 
                                   
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. The pro forma results of operations including Talbot are presented for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 for comparative purposes only.
 
(2)   Non-GAAP Financial Measures. In presenting the Company’s results, management has included and discussed underwriting income (loss) that is not calculated under standards or rules that comprise U.S. GAAP. Such measures are referred to as non-GAAP. Non-GAAP measures may be defined or calculated differently by other companies. These measures should not be viewed as a substitute for those determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. A reconciliation of this measure to net income, the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, is presented in the section below entitled “Underwriting Income.”

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    Three months ended     Three months ended     Six months ended     Six months ended  
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007 (1)     June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007 (1)  
    (Dollars in thousands)     (Dollars in thousands)  
VALIDUS RE
                               
Gross premiums written
  $ 187,820     $ 174,300     $ 518,869     $ 552,370  
Reinsurance premiums ceded
    (1,208 )     (26,780 )     (24,951 )     (57,738 )
 
                       
Net premiums written
    186,612       147,520       493,918       494,632  
Change in unearned premiums
    (22,500 )     (14,490 )     (186,151 )     (250,110 )
 
                       
Net premiums earned
    164,112       133,030       307,767       244,522  
 
                               
Losses and loss expenses
    48,677       42,675       107,591       89,162  
Policy acquisition costs
    25,309       17,837       45,712       30,056  
General and administrative expenses
    9,955       6,773       19,334       14,065  
Share compensation expense
    1,597       779       2,823       1,544  
 
                       
Total underwriting expenses
    85,538       68,064       175,460       134,827  
 
                               
Underwriting income (2)
    78,574       64,966       132,307       109,695  
 
                       
 
                               
TALBOT
                               
Gross premiums written
  $ 197,235     $     $ 399,028     $  
Reinsurance premiums ceded
    (5,327 )           (77,732 )      
 
                       
Net premiums written
    191,908             321,296        
Change in unearned premiums
    (46,722 )           (27,901 )      
 
                       
Net premiums earned
    145,186             293,395        
 
                               
Losses and loss expenses
    73,412             154,522        
Policy acquisition costs
    31,134             67,432        
General and administrative expenses
    19,787             40,710        
Share compensation expense
    1,126             2,102        
 
                       
Total underwriting expenses
    125,459             264,766        
 
                       
 
                               
Underwriting income (2)
    19,727             28,629        
 
                       
 
                               
CORPORATE & ELIMINATIONS
                               
Gross premiums written
  $ (5,136 )   $     $ (16,384 )   $  
Reinsurance premiums ceded
    5,136             16,384        
 
                       
Net premiums written
                       
Policy acquisition costs
    (24 )           (24 )      
General and administrative expenses
    4,170       4,334       10,975       8,269  
Share compensation
    4,548       1,199       8,881       2,379  
 
                       
Total underwriting expenses
    8,694       5,533       19,832       10,648  
 
                               
Underwriting income (loss) (2)
    (8,694 )     (5,533 )     (19,832 )     (10,648 )
 
                       
 
                               
Total underwriting income (2)
  $ 89,607     $ 59,433     $ 141,104     $ 99,047  
 
                       
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. No pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented in the analysis above.
 
(2)   Non-GAAP Financial Measures. In presenting the Company’s results, management has included and discussed underwriting income (loss) that is not calculated under standards or rules that comprise U.S. GAAP. Such measures are referred to as non-GAAP. Non-GAAP measures may be defined or calculated differently by other companies. These measures should not be viewed as a substitute for those determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. A reconciliation of this measure to net income, the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, is presented in the section below entitled “Underwriting Income.”

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Three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to three months ended June 30, 2007
     Net income for the three months ended June 30, 2008 was $75.9 million compared to $70.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $5.1 million or 7.3%. The primary factors driving the increase in net income were:
  Underwriting income increased in the quarter by $30.2 million primarily due to:
  o   the consolidation of Talbot, which contributed $19.7 million; and
 
  o   increased Validus Re underwriting income of $13.6 million as a result of an increase in net premiums earned of $31.1 million or 23.4% compared to the same period in 2007, partially offset by increased underwriting deductions as discussed below;
  Increased net investment income of $16.7 million or 84.6% as a result of growth in the Validus Re investment portfolio and the addition of the Talbot portfolio; and
  $8.8 million realized gain on the repurchase of a portion of the 8.480% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures.
     The increases above were partially offset by the following factors:
  Increased net realized and unrealized losses on investments of $39.0 million; and
  Increased finance expenses of $8.8 million, resulting primarily from an increase of $3.3 million finance expense on the 8.480% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures and $5.4 million of Talbot Funds at Lloyd’s (“FAL”) finance expense.
     The increase in net income for the three months ended June 30, 2008 of $5.2 million is attributable to:
                                 
    Three months ended June 30, 2008  
    Increase (decrease) over the three months ended June 30, 2007  
                    Corporate        
                    and other        
                    reconciling        
    Validus Re     Talbot (1)     items     Total  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Underwriting income
  $ 13,608     $ 19,727     $ (3,161 )   $ 30,174  
Net investment income
    5,985       11,726       (1,018 )     16,693  
Other income
    24       1,462       (24 )     1,462  
Finance expenses
    24       (5,400 )     (3,383 )     (8,759 )
 
                       
 
    19,641       27,515       (7,586 )     39,570  
Taxes
    (20 )     (3,057 )           (3,077 )
 
                       
 
    19,621       24,458       (7,586 )     36,493  
 
                               
Realized gain on repurchase of debentures
                8,752       8,752  
Net realized gains (losses) on investments
    (3,028 )     835             (2,193 )
Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments
    (17,870 )     (18,923 )           (36,793 )
Foreign exchange gains
    (2,406 )     1,314             (1,092 )
 
                       
 
                               
Net income (loss)
  $ (3,683 )   $ 7,684     $ 1,166     $ 5,167  
 
                       

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(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. No pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented in the analysis above.
Gross Premiums Written
     Gross premiums written for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $379.9 million compared to $174.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $205.6 million or 118.0%. The increase in gross premiums written was driven primarily by the addition of Talbot which contributed $197.2 million. Validus Re’s property line also contributed $14.6 million of the increase, as discussed below.
     Details of gross premiums written by line of business are provided below.
                                         
    Three months ended     Three months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007(1)        
    Gross premiums     Gross premiums     Gross premiums     Gross premiums        
    written     written (%)     written     written (%)     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 216,764       57.1 %   $ 156,681       89.9 %     38.3 %
Marine
    79,041       20.8 %     9,147       5.2 %     764.1 %
Specialty
    84,114       22.1 %     8,472       4.9 %     892.8 %
 
                               
Total
  $ 379,919       100.0 %   $ 174,300       100.0 %     118.0 %
 
                               
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. No pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented in the analysis above.
Validus Re. Validus Re gross premiums written for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $187.8 million compared to $174.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $13.5 million or 7.8%. Details of Validus Re gross premiums written by line of business are provided below.
                                         
    Three months ended     Three months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007        
    Gross premiums     Gross premiums     Gross premiums     Gross premium        
    written     written (%)     written     written (%)     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 171,308       91.2 %   $ 156,681       89.9 %     9.3 %
Marine
    8,750       4.7 %     9,147       5.2 %     (4.3 )%
Specialty
    7,762       4.1 %     8,472       4.9 %     (8.4 )%
 
                               
Total
  $ 187,820       100.0 %   $ 174,300       100.0 %     7.8 %
 
                               
     The increase in Validus Re gross premiums written was driven by an increase in the property line of $14.6 million. The increase in the property line was due primarily to an increase of $23.0 million of proportional contracts. This increase is principally in the Florida and international markets but also includes $4.9 million under a Talbot surplus share agreement and compares to a prior period which contained an $11.5 million reduction in gross premiums written due to changes in estimates.
Talbot. In the three months ended June 30, 2008, Talbot gross premiums written were $197.2 million compared to $202.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, a decrease of $5.2 million or 2.5%. Details of gross premiums written by line of business are provided below.

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    Three months ended     Three months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007(1)        
    Gross premiums     Gross premiums     Gross premiums     Gross premiums        
    written     written (%)     written     written (%)     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 47,423       24.0 %   $ 52,483       25.9 %     (9.6 )%
Marine
    73,126       37.1 %     72,175       35.7 %     1.3 %
Specialty
    76,686       38.9 %     77,723       38.4 %     (1.3 )%
 
                               
Total
  $ 197,235       100.0 %   $ 202,381       100.0 %     (2.5 )%
 
                               
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. The pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented for the three months ended June 30, 2007 for comparative purposes only.
     The decrease was due primarily to a reduction of $5.1 million in the property lines in accordance with the syndicate’s plan, although softening market conditions have resulted in further reductions in premium.
Reinsurance Premiums Ceded
     Reinsurance premiums ceded for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $1.4 million compared to $26.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, a decrease of $25.4 million or 94.8%. Validus Re reduced its property ceded reinsurance premiums by $25.1 million, as discussed below.
                                         
    Three months ended     Three months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007 (1)        
            Reinsurance             Reinsurance        
    Reinsurance     Premiums     Reinsurance     Premiums        
    Premiums Ceded     Ceded (%)     Premiums Ceded     Ceded (%)     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 2,040       145.8 %   $ 23,674       88.4 %     (91.4 )%
Marine
    793       56.7 %     3,106       11.6 %     (74.5 )%
Specialty
    (1,434 )     (102.5 )%           0.0 %     NM  
 
                               
Total
  $ 1,399       100.0 %   $ 26,780       100.0 %     (94.8 )%
 
                               
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. No pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented in the analysis above.
 
NM   Not Meaningful
Validus Re. Validus Re reinsurance premiums ceded for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $1.2 million compared to $26.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, a decrease of $25.6 million or 95.5%.
                                         
    Three months ended     Three months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007        
            Reinsurance             Reinsurance        
    Reinsurance     Premiums     Reinsurance     Premiums        
    Premiums Ceded     Ceded (%)     Premiums Ceded     Ceded (%)     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ (1,470 )     (121.7 )%   $ 23,674       88.4 %     (106.2 )%
Marine
    2,678       221.7 %     3,106       11.6 %     (13.8 )%
Specialty
          0.0 %           0.0 %     NM  
 
                               
Total
  $ 1,208       100.0 %   $ 26,780       100.0 %     (95.5 )%
 
                               
 
NM   Not Meaningful
     The decrease in Validus Re reinsurance premiums ceded was due to a decrease in the property line of $25.1 million or 106.2%. The decrease was due to $21.3 million ceded to Petrel Re during the three months ended June 30, 2007 under an agreement which was not renewed for 2008. The $(1.5) million of property reinsurance premiums ceded during the three months ended June 30, 2008 was due to adjustments to minimums from deposits on reinstatement premium contracts ceded to Petrel Re.
     Effective July 1, 2008, Validus Re purchased retrocessional coverage providing $87.5 million of limit via an ultimate net loss agreement.

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Talbot. Talbot reinsurance premiums ceded for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $5.3 million compared to $2.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $3.2 million or 158.4%.
                                         
    Three months ended     Three months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007(1)        
            Reinsurance             Reinsurance        
    Reinsurance     Premiums     Reinsurance     Premiums        
    Premiums Ceded     Ceded (%)     Premiums Ceded     Ceded (%)     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 5,477       102.8 %   $ 1,173       56.9 %     366.9 %
Marine
    950       17.8 %     (6 )     (0.3 )%     NM  
Specialty
    (1,100 )     (20.6 )%     894       43.4 %     (223.3 )%
 
                               
Total
  $ 5,327       100.0 %   $ 2,061       100.0 %     158.4 %
 
                               
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. The pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented for the three months ended June 30, 2007 for comparative purposes only.
 
NM   Not Meaningful
     The quarter contains a reduction of $6.0 million in respect of working layer reinsurance cover which was expected to be concluded in the first quarter of 2008 but was not completed. This is offset by surplus and quota share reinsurance of $5.1 million which is ceded to Validus Re and eliminated in consolidation.
Net Premiums Written
     Net premiums written for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $378.5 million compared to $147.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $231.0 million or 156.6%. Details of net premiums written by line of business are provided below.
                                         
    Three months ended     Three months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007 (1)        
    Net premiums     Net premiums     Net premiums     Net premiums        
    written     written (%)     written     written (%)     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 214,724       56.7 %   $ 133,007       90.2 %     61.4 %
Marine
    78,248       20.7 %     6,041       4.1 %     1195.3 %
Specialty
    85,548       22.6 %     8,472       5.7 %     909.8 %
 
                               
Total
  $ 378,520       100.0 %   $ 147,520       100.0 %     156.6 %
 
                               
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. No pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented in the analysis above.
     The increase in net premiums written was driven primarily by $191.9 million resulting from the consolidation of Talbot and a $39.8 million increase in Validus Re’s property lines.
Validus Re. Validus Re net premiums written for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $186.6 million compared to $147.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $39.1 million or 26.5%. Details of net premiums written by line of business are provided below.
                                         
    Three months ended     Three months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007        
    Net premiums     Net premiums     Net premiums     Net premiums        
    written     written (%)     written     written (%)     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 172,778       92.6 %   $ 133,007       90.2 %     29.9 %
Marine
    6,072       3.3 %     6,041       4.1 %     0.5 %
Specialty
    7,762       4.1 %     8,472       5.7 %     (8.4 )%
 
                               
Total
  $ 186,612       100.0 %   $ 147,520       100.0 %     26.5 %
 
                               

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     The increase in Validus Re net premiums written was driven primarily by the property line which accounted for $39.8 million of the increase. The increase in property line net premiums written is a result of the increased gross premiums written and decreased reinsurance premium ceded as discussed above.
     The ratios of net premiums written to gross premiums written were 99.4% and 84.6% for the three month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The increase in the ratio is attributable to reduced reinsurance premiums ceded in the three months ended June 30, 2008.
Talbot. Talbot net premiums written for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $191.9 million compared to $200.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, a decrease of $8.4 million or 4.2%. Details of net premiums written by line of business are provided below.
                                         
    Three months ended     Three months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007(1)        
    Net premiums     Net premiums     Net premiums     Net premiums        
    written     written (%)     written     written (%)     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 41,946       21.9 %   $ 51,310       25.6 %     (18.2 )%
Marine
    72,176       37.6 %     72,181       36.0 %     NM  
Specialty
    77,786       40.5 %     76,829       38.4 %     1.2 %
 
                               
Total
  $ 191,908       100.0 %   $ 200,320       100.0 %     (4.2 )%
 
                               
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. The pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented for the three months ended June 30, 2007 for comparative purposes only.
NM   Not Meaningful
     The decrease in net premiums written was driven by the factors highlighted above in respect of gross premiums written and reinsurance premiums ceded. The ratio of net premiums written to gross premiums written for the three month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 was 97.3% and 99.0%, respectively.
Change in Unearned Premiums
     Change in unearned premiums for the three months ended June 30, 2008 was $69.2 million compared to $14.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $54.7 million or 377.7%.
Validus Re. Validus Re’s change in unearned premiums for the three months ended June 30, 2008 was $22.5 million compared to $14.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $8.0 million or 55.3%.
Talbot. The Talbot change in unearned premiums for the three months ended June 30, 2008 was $46.7 million compared to $50.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, a decrease of $4.2 million or 8.2%.
                         
    Three months     Three months        
    ended June 30,     ended June 30,        
    2008     2007(1)     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)          
Change in gross unearned premiums
  $ 31,661     $ 30,381       4.2 %
Change in prepaid reinsurance premiums
    15,061       20,509       (26.6 )%
 
                   
Net change in unearned premiums
  $ 46,722     $ 50,890       (8.2 )%
 
                   
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. The pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented for the three months ended June 30, 2007 for comparative purposes only.
     The difference in gross unearned premiums arises from a change in business mix and premium volume. In respect of prepaid reinsurance premiums, the difference arises from the lower cost of the 2008 excess of loss reinsurance program.

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Net Premiums Earned
     Net premiums earned for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $309.3 million compared to $133.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $176.3 million or 132.5%. The increase in net premiums earned was driven by $145.2 million resulting from the consolidation of Talbot and increased premiums earned at Validus Re which accounted for $31.1 million of the increase.
                                         
    Three months ended     Three months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007 (1)        
    Net Premiums     Net Premiums     Net Premiums     Net Premiums     %  
    Earned     Earned %     Earned     Earned %     Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 149,431       48.3 %   $ 97,762       73.5 %     52.9 %
Marine
    86,794       28.1 %     19,823       14.9 %     337.8 %
Specialty
    73,073       23.6 %     15,445       11.6 %     373.1 %
 
                               
Total
  $ 309,298       100.0 %   $ 133,030       100.0 %     132.5 %
 
                               
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. No pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented in the analysis above.
Validus Re. Validus Re net premiums earned for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $164.1 million compared to $133.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $31.1 million or 23.4%.
                                         
    Three months ended     Three months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007        
    Net Premiums     Net Premiums     Net Premiums     Net Premiums     %  
    Earned     Earned %     Earned     Earned %     Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 120,916       73.7 %   $ 97,762       73.5 %     23.7 %
Marine
    26,403       16.1 %     19,823       14.9 %     33.2 %
Specialty
    16,793       10.2 %     15,445       11.6 %     8.7 %
 
                               
Total
  $ 164,112       100.0 %   $ 133,030       100.0 %     23.4 %
 
                               
     The increase in net premiums earned reflects the benefit of earning premiums on business written in 2007 and 2006. Contracts written on a risks-attaching basis are generally earned over 24 months and therefore have less immediate effect on premiums earned than contracts written on a losses-occurring basis which are generally earned on a 12 month basis.
Talbot. Talbot net premiums earned for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $145.2 million compared to $149.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, a decrease of $4.2 million or 2.8%.
                                         
    Three months ended     Three months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007 (1)        
    Net Premiums     Net Premiums     Net Premiums     Net Premiums     %  
    Earned     Earned %     Earned     Earned %     Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 28,515       19.6 %   $ 35,905       24.0 %     (20.6 )%
Marine
    60,391       41.6 %     60,009       40.2 %     0.6 %
Specialty
    56,280       38.8 %     53,516       35.8 %     5.2 %
 
                               
Total
  $ 145,186       100.0 %   $ 149,430       100.0 %     (2.8 )%
 
                               
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. The pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented for the three months ended June 30, 2007 for comparative purposes only.
     The reduction of $7.4 million on the property lines arises from the reduction in premiums written for the year as discussed above.

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Losses and Loss Expenses
     Losses and loss expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $122.1 million compared to $42.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $79.4 million or 186.1%. $73.4 million of the increase is attributable to the consolidation of Talbot. The loss ratios, defined as losses and loss expenses divided by net premiums earned, for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 were 39.5% and 32.1%, respectively. Details of loss ratios by line of business are provided below.
                         
    Three months ended   Three months ended   Percentage point
    June 30, 2008   June 30, 2007 (1)   change
Property
    33.0 %     37.6 %     (4.6 )
Marine
    54.1 %     17.8 %     36.3  
Specialty
    35.3 %     15.6 %     19.7  
All lines
    39.5 %     32.1 %     7.4  
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. No pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented in the analysis above.
     The following table sets forth a reconciliation of gross and net reserves for losses and loss expenses by segment for the three months ended June 30, 2008:
                                 
    Three months ended June 30, 2008  
    Validus Re     Talbot     Eliminations     Total  
            (Dollars in thousands)  
Gross reserves at period beginning
  $ 242,897     $ 738,839     $ (4,500 )   $ 977,236  
Losses recoverable at period beginning
          (123,075 )     4,500       (118,575 )
 
                       
Net reserves at period beginning
    242,897       615,764             858,661  
 
                               
Incurred losses — current year
    49,157       84,034             133,191  
Incurred losses — change in prior accident years
    (480 )     (10,622 )           (11,102 )
 
                       
Incurred losses
    48,677       73,412             122,089  
 
                               
Paid losses
    (28,452 )     (55,592 )           (84,044 )
Foreign exchange
          153             153  
 
                       
Net reserves at period end
    263,122       633,737             896,859  
Losses recoverable at period end
    4,517       133,050       (4,687 )     132,880  
 
                       
Gross reserves at period end
  $ 267,639     $ 766,787     $ (4,687 )   $ 1,029,739  
 
                       
     The amount recorded represents management’s best estimate of expected losses and loss expenses on premiums earned. The increase in losses and loss expenses reflects the consolidation of Talbot. The relative absence of major catastrophes in the second quarter of 2008 has contributed to the overall low level of losses experienced. Favorable loss development on prior years totaled $11.1 million. The $10.6 million favorable loss reserve development in the Talbot segment relates primarily to the 2006 and prior underwriting years as described below. Favorable loss reserve development benefitted the Company’s second quarter 2008 loss ratio by 3.6 percentage points.
     The loss ratio in 2008 is not necessarily comparable to the 2007 loss ratio due to the consolidation of Talbot effective July 2, 2007. In general, Talbot has experienced a higher loss ratio than Validus Re in the periods since inception of Validus Re, attributable to the different mix of business written by Validus Re and Talbot. In periods of light natural catastrophe activity, Validus Re can generally be expected to have a lower loss ratio than Talbot.
     At June 30, 2008 and 2007, gross and net reserves for losses and loss expenses were estimated using the methodology as outlined in the critical accounting policies and estimates as discussed in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. The Company did not make any significant changes in the assumptions or methodology used in its reserving process during the three months ended June 30, 2008.

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    At June 30, 2008  
                    Total gross  
                    reserve for losses  
    Gross case reserves     Gross IBNR     and loss expenses  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Property
  $ 207,805     $ 127,671     $ 335,476  
Marine
    259,447       200,091       459,538  
Specialty
    73,907       160,818       234,725  
 
                 
Total
  $ 541,159     $ 488,580     $ 1,029,739  
 
                 
                         
    At June 30, 2008  
                    Total net reserve  
                    for losses and  
    Net case reserves     Net IBNR     loss expenses  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Property
  $ 204,360     $ 119,592     $ 323,952  
Marine
    179,958       183,045       363,003  
Specialty
    63,928       145,976       209,904  
 
                 
Total
  $ 448,246     $ 448,613     $ 896,859  
 
                 
     Validus Re. Validus Re losses and loss expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $48.7 million compared to $42.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $6.0 million or 14.1%. The loss ratio, defined as losses and loss expenses divided by net premiums earned, was 29.7% and 32.1% for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. During the three months ended June 30, 2008, Validus Re’s property lines incurred $10.2 million of loss expense attributable to certain U.S. storm and flood loss events, which represented 6.2 percentage points of the segment loss ratio. During the three months ended June 30, 2007, Validus Re incurred $24.0 million of loss expense attributable to UK flood and Australian storm events, which represented 18.0 percentage points of the segment loss ratio. Details of loss ratios by line of business and period of incurrence are provided below.
                         
    Three months ended June 30,   Percentage
    2008   2007   point change
Property — current year
    29.0 %     44.8 %     (15.8 )
Property — change in prior accident years
    (3.0 )%     (7.2 )%     4.2  
 
                       
Property — loss ratio
    26.0 %     37.6 %     (11.6 )
 
                       
Marine — current year
    31.0 %     28.8 %     2.2  
Marine — change in prior accident years
    15.3 %     (11.0 )%     26.3  
 
                       
Marine — loss ratio
    46.3 %     17.8 %     28.5  
 
                       
Specialty — current year
    35.4 %     17.3 %     18.1  
Specialty — change in prior accident years
    (5.1 )%     (1.7 )%     (3.4 )
 
                       
Specialty — loss ratio
    30.3 %     15.6 %     14.7  
 
                       
All lines — current year
    30.0 %     39.2 %     (9.2 )
All lines — change in prior accident years
    (0.3 )%     (7.1 )%     6.8  
 
                       
All lines - loss ratio
    29.7 %     32.1 %     (2.4 )
     Validus Re paid losses of $28.5 million and $15.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Validus Re experienced favorable development of $0.5 million and $9.5 million during the three month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
     During the three months ended June 30, 2008, Validus Re’s property lines incurred $10.2 million of loss expense attributable to certain U.S. storm and flood loss events, which represented 8.4 percentage points of the property lines loss ratio. During the three months ended June 30, 2007, Validus Re incurred $24.0 million of loss expense attributable to UK flood and Australian storm events, which represented 24.5 percentage points of the property lines loss ratio.

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     The marine lines experienced adverse development in prior accident years loss ratio of $4.1 million, or 15.3 percentage points of the marine lines loss ratio, for the three months ended June 30, 2008. This was due primarily to $4.7 million of adverse development on a 2007 off-shore drilling loss.
     The specialty lines include $5.9 million related to current year losses. These were partially offset by $0.9 million of favorable development relating to prior accident years.
Talbot. Talbot losses and loss expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $73.4 million compared to $75.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, a decrease of $2.5 million or 3.3%. The loss ratio was 50.6% and 50.8% for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Details of loss ratios by line of business and period of incurrence are provided below.
                         
    Three months ended June 30   Percentage
    2008   2007   point change
Property — current year
    61.8 %     47.1 %     14.7  
Property — change in prior accident years
    1.2 %     0.0 %     1.2  
 
                       
Property — loss ratio
    63.0 %     47.1 %     15.9  
 
                       
Marine — current year
    63.4 %     57.2 %     6.2  
Marine — change in prior accident years
    (5.9 )%     0.0 %     (5.9 )
 
                       
Marine — loss ratio
    57.5 %     57.2 %     0.3  
 
                       
Specialty — current year
    49.9 %     46.1 %     3.8  
Specialty — change in prior accident years
    (13.1 )%     0.0 %     (13.1 )
 
                       
Specialty — loss ratio
    36.8 %     46.1 %     (9.3 )
 
                       
All lines — current year
    57.9 %     50.8 %     7.1  
All lines — change in prior accident years
    (7.3 )%     0.0 %     (7.3 )
 
                       
All lines - loss ratio
    50.6 %     50.8 %     (0.2 )
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. The pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented for the three months ended June 30, 2007 for comparative purposes only.
     The property lines include $17.7 million related to current year losses and $0.3 million of adverse development on prior accident year reserves. The loss ratio has increased as a result of the significant number of non-catastrophe events in the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the same period in 2007.
     The marine lines include $38.3 million related to current year marine losses. These were partially offset by $3.6 million of favorable development relating to prior accident years. The current year loss ratio has increased primarily due to increases in our initial expected loss ratios based on market and loss trends.
     The specialty lines include $28.1 million relating to current year losses offset by $7.4 million due to favorable development on prior accident year reserves; this reduction is mainly due to a reduction in the war line ratios due to continued low claims activity and reduced provisions for late reported claims in the more developed underwriting years of the financial institutions line.
Policy Acquisition Costs
     Policy acquisition costs for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $56.4 million compared to $17.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $38.6 million or 216.3%. Policy acquisition costs were higher due to $31.1 million resulting from the consolidation of Talbot and an increase at Validus Re which accounted for $7.5 million of the increase.

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    Three months ended     Three months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007 (1)        
    Policy Acquisition     Policy Acquisition     Policy Acquisition     Policy Acquisition     %  
    Costs     Costs %     Costs     Costs %     Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 24,623       43.6 %   $ 13,874       77.8 %     77.5 %
Marine
    16,464       29.2 %     2,349       13.2 %     600.9 %
Specialty
    15,332       27.2 %     1,614       9.0 %     849.9 %
 
                               
Total
  $ 56,419       100.0 %   $ 17,837       100.0 %     216.3 %
 
                               
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. No pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented in the analysis above.
Validus Re. Validus Re policy acquisition costs for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $25.3 million compared to $17.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $7.5 million or 41.9%.
                                         
    Three months ended     Three months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007 (1)        
    Policy Acquisition     Policy Acquisition     Policy Acquisition     Policy Acquisition     %  
    Costs     Costs %     Costs     Costs %     Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 19,430       76.7 %   $ 13,874       77.8 %     40.0 %
Marine
    3,356       13.3 %     2,349       13.2 %     42.9 %
Specialty
    2,523       10.0 %     1,614       9.0 %     56.3 %
 
                               
Total
  $ 25,309       100.0 %   $ 17,837       100.0 %     41.9 %
 
                               
     Policy acquisition costs include brokerage, commission and excise tax and are generally driven by contract terms and are normally a set percentage of premiums. Policy acquisition costs were higher as a result of the higher level of premiums earned in the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the same period in 2007. Policy acquisition costs as a percent of net premiums earned for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 were 15.4% and 13.4%, respectively. The policy acquisition ratio increased largely due to an increase in the policy acquisition ratio on property lines of 1.9 percentage points. A number of proportional property contracts that incepted during the six months ended June 30, 2007 that carry a high acquisition cost ratio are now at their peak earnings period. These contracts increase the acquisition cost ratio for the three months ended June 30, 2008.
Talbot. Talbot policy acquisition costs for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $31.1 million compared to $31.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, a decrease of $0.3 million or 0.9%.
                                         
    Three months ended     Three months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007 (1)        
    Policy Acquisition     Policy Acquisition     Policy Acquisition     Policy Acquisition     %  
    Costs     Costs %     Costs     Costs %     Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 5,217       16.8 %   $ 6,544       20.8 %     (20.3 )%
Marine
    13,108       42.1 %     13,102       41.7 %     NM  
Specialty
    12,809       41.1 %     11,772       37.5 %     8.8 %
 
                               
Total
  $ 31,134       100.0 %   $ 31,418       100.0 %   NM
 
                               
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. The pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented for the three months ended June 30, 2007 for comparative purposes only.
NM   Not Meaningful
     Policy acquisition costs as a percent of net premiums earned were 21.4% and 21.0%, respectively, for the three month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007. On a gross basis, policy acquisition costs as a percent of gross premiums earned were 18.8% and 18.3%, respectively, for the three month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007.

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General and Administrative Expenses
     General and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $33.9 million compared to $11.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $22.8 million or 205.3%. The increase is primarily a result of Talbot expenses of $19.8 million.
                                         
    Three months ended     Three months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007 (1)        
    General and     General and     General and     General and        
    Administrative     Administrative     Administrative     Administrative     %  
    Expenses     Expenses (%)     Expenses     Expenses (%)     Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Validus Re
  $ 9,955       29.4 %   $ 6,773       61.0 %     47.0 %
Talbot
    19,787       58.3 %               NM
Corporate & Eliminations
    4,170       12.3 %     4,334       39.0 %     (3.8 )%
 
                               
Total
  $ 33,912       100.0 %   $ 11,107       100.0 %     205.3 %
 
                               
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. No pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented in the analysis above.
 
NM   Not meaningful
     General and administrative expense ratios for the three month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 were 13.3% and 9.8%, respectively. General and administrative expense ratio is the sum of general and administrative expenses and share compensation expense divided by net premiums earned.
                                 
    Three months ended     Three months ended  
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007 (1)  
            Expenses as %             Expenses as %  
            of Net Earned             of Net Earned  
    Expenses     Premiums     Expenses     Premiums  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)          
General and Administrative
  $ 33,912       10.9 %   $ 11,107       8.3 %
Share Compensation
    7,271       2.4 %     1,978       1.5 %
 
                       
Total
  $ 41,183       13.3 %   $ 13,085       9.8 %
 
                       
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. No pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented in the analysis above.
     General and administrative expenses of $33.9 million in the three months ended June 30, 2008 represents 10.9 percentage points of the expense ratio. Share compensation expense is discussed in the following section.
Validus Re. Validus Re general and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $10.0 million compared to $6.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $3.2 million or 47.0%. The increase in expenses reflects the increase in staff to 80 at June 30, 2008 from 52 at June 30, 2007. General and administrative expenses are generally comprised of salaries and benefits, professional fees, rent and office expenses. General and administrative expenses as a percent of net premiums earned for the three month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 were 6.1% and 5.1%, respectively.
Talbot. Talbot general and administrative expenses were $19.8 million and $24.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007. General and administrative expenses decreased primarily as a result of $4.5 million of Talbot Holdings Ltd stock option expenses incurred during the three months ended June 30, 2007 as a result of the exercise of Talbot stock options prior to the closing of the Talbot acquisition on July 2, 2007. This is offset by $1.0 million of intangible asset amortization related to the Company’s acquisition of Talbot. General and administrative expenses as a percent of net premiums earned were 13.6% and 16.5% for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007.
Corporate & Eliminations. Corporate general and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $4.2 million compared to $4.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007. Corporate general and administrative expenses are comprised of executive

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and board expenses, internal and external audit expenses and other costs relating to the Company as a whole.
Share Compensation Expense
     Share compensation expense for the three months ended June 30, 2008 was $7.3 million compared to $2.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $5.3 million or 267.6%. The increase is a result of $2.6 million in respect of the Employee Seller shares issued to Talbot employees as part of the purchase of the group by the Company and an increase of $3.3 million related to Corporate segment staff. This expense is non-cash and has no net effect on total shareholders’ equity, as it balanced by an increase in additional paid-in capital.
                                         
    Three months ended     Three months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007 (1)        
    Share     Share     Share     Share        
    Compensation     Compensation     Compensation     Compensation     %  
    Expense     Expense (%)     Expense     Expense (%)     Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Validus Re
  $ 1,597       22.0 %   $ 779       39.4 %     105.0 %
Talbot
    1,126       15.5 %           0.0 %     NM  
Corporate & Eliminations
    4,548       62.5 %     1,199       60.6 %     279.3 %
 
                               
Total
  $ 7,271       100.0 %   $ 1,978       100.0 %     267.6 %
 
                               
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. No pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented in the analysis above.
 
NM   Not meaningful
     Share compensation expense of $7.3 million in the three months ended June 30, 2008 represents 2.4 percentage points of the general and administrative expense ratio.
Validus Re. Validus Re share compensation expense for the three months ended June 30, 2008 was $1.6 million compared to $0.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $0.8 million or 105.0%. Share compensation expense as a percent of net premiums earned for the three month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 were 1.0% and 0.6%, respectively.
Talbot. Talbot share compensation expense for the three months ended June 30, 2008 was $1.1 million. Share compensation expense as a percent of net premiums earned for the three month period ended June 30, 2008 was 0.8%. There was no share compensation cost incurred during the three months ended June 30, 2007 as restricted shares were first awarded in the third quarter of 2007.
Corporate & Eliminations. Corporate share compensation expense for the three months ended June 30, 2008 was $4.5 million compared to $1.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $3.3 million or 279.3%. The increase is primarily a result of $2.6 million in respect of the Employee Seller shares issued to Talbot employees as part of the acquisition of Talbot by the Company.
Selected Ratios
     The underwriting results of an insurance or reinsurance company are often measured by reference to its combined ratio, which is the sum of the loss ratio and the expense ratio. The net loss ratio is calculated by dividing losses and loss expenses incurred (including estimates for incurred but not reported losses) by net premiums earned. The expense ratio is calculated by dividing acquisition costs combined with general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned. The following table presents the losses and loss expenses ratio, policy acquisition cost ratio, general and administrative expense ratio, expense ratio and combined ratio for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007.

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    Three months ended   Three months ended   Percentage
    June 30, 2008   June 30, 2007 (1)   point change
Losses and loss expenses ratio
    39.5 %     32.1 %     7.4  
Policy acquisition cost ratio
    18.2 %     13.4 %     4.8  
General and administrative expense ratio(2)
    13.3 %     9.8 %     3.5  
 
                       
Expense ratio
    31.5 %     23.2 %     8.3  
 
                       
Combined ratio
    71.0 %     55.3 %     15.7  
 
                       
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. No pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented in the analysis above.
 
(2)   Includes general and administrative expense and share compensation expense.
                         
    Three months ended   Three months ended   Percentage
Validus Re   June 30, 2008   June 30, 2007   point change
Losses and loss expenses ratio
    29.7 %     32.1 %     (2.4 )
Policy acquisition cost ratio
    15.4 %     13.4 %     2.0  
General and administrative expense ratio
    7.0 %     5.7 %     1.3  
 
                       
Expense ratio
    22.4 %     19.1 %     3.4  
 
                       
Combined ratio
    52.1 %     51.2 %     0.9  
 
                       
                         
    Three months ended   Three months ended   Percentage
Talbot   June 30, 2008   June 30, 2007(1)   point change
Losses and loss expenses ratio
    50.6 %     50.8 %     (0.2 )
Policy acquisition cost ratio
    21.4 %     21.0 %     0.4  
General and administrative expense ratio
    14.4 %     16.5 %     (2.1 )
 
                       
Expense ratio
    35.8 %     37.5 %     (1.7 )
 
                       
Combined ratio
    86.4 %     88.3 %     (1.9 )
 
                       
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. The pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented for the three months ended June 30, 2007 for comparative purposes only.
Underwriting Income
     Underwriting income for the three months ended June 30, 2008 was $89.6 million compared to $59.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $30.2 million or 50.8%.
                                         
    Three months ended     % of Sub     Three months ended     % of Sub        
    June 30, 2008     total     June 30, 2007     total     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Validus Re
  $ 78,574       79.9 %   $ 64,966       100.0 %     20.9 %
Talbot
    19,727       20.1 %           0.0 %     NM  
 
                               
Sub total
    98,301       100.0 %     64,966       100.0 %     51.3 %
 
                               
Corporate & Eliminations
    (8,694 )             (5,533 )             (57.1 )%
 
                                   
Total
  $ 89,607             $ 59,433               50.8 %
 
                                   
 
NM   Not meaningful
     The underwriting results of an insurance or reinsurance company are also often measured by reference to its underwriting income, which is a non-GAAP measure as previously defined. Underwriting income, as set out in the table below, is reconciled to net income (the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure) by the addition or subtraction of net investment income (loss), other income, finance expenses, realized gain on repurchase of debentures, net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments, and foreign exchange gains (losses).

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    Three months ended     Three months ended  
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Underwriting income
  $ 89,607     $ 59,433  
Net investment income
    36,435       19,742  
Other income
    1,462        
Finance expenses
    (12,762 )     (4,003 )
Realized gain on repurchase of debentures
    8,752        
Net realized (losses) gains on investments
    (2,425 )     (232 )
Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments
    (42,982 )     (6,189 )
Foreign exchange gains (losses)
    911       2,003  
 
           
Net income before taxes
  $ 78,998     $ 70,754  
 
           
     Underwriting income indicates the performance of the Company’s core underwriting function, excluding revenues and expenses such as the reconciling items in the table above. The Company believes the reporting of underwriting income enhances the understanding of our results by highlighting the underlying profitability of the Company’s core insurance and reinsurance business. Underwriting profitability is influenced significantly by earned premium growth, adequacy of the Company’s pricing and loss frequency and severity. Underwriting profitability over time is also influenced by the Company’s underwriting discipline, which seeks to manage exposure to loss through favorable risk selection and diversification, its management of claims, its use of reinsurance and its ability to manage its expense ratio, which it accomplishes through its management of acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses. The Company believes that underwriting income provides investors with a valuable measure of profitability derived from underwriting activities.
     The Company excludes the U.S. GAAP measures noted above, in particular net realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments, from its calculation of underwriting income because the amount of these gains and losses is heavily influenced by, and fluctuates in part, according to availability of investment market opportunities. The Company believes these amounts are largely independent of its underwriting business and including them distorts the analysis of trends in its operations. In addition to presenting net income determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company believes that showing underwriting income enables investors, analysts, rating agencies and other users of its financial information to more easily analyze the Company’s results of operations in a manner similar to how management analyzes the Company’s underlying business performance. The Company uses underwriting income as a primary measure of underwriting results in its analysis of historical financial information and when performing its budgeting and forecasting processes. Analysts, investors and rating agencies who follow the Company request this non-GAAP financial information on a regular basis. In addition, underwriting income is one of the factors considered by the compensation committee of our Board of Directors in determining the bonus component of the total annual incentive compensation.
     Underwriting income should not be viewed as a substitute for U.S. GAAP net income as there are inherent material limitations associated with the use of underwriting income as compared to using net income, which is the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure. The most significant limitation is the ability of users of the financial information to make comparable assessments of underwriting income with other companies, particularly as underwriting income may be defined or calculated differently by other companies. Therefore, the Company provides more prominence in this filing to the use of the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, net income, which includes the reconciling items in the table above. The Company compensates for these limitations by providing disclosure of net income and reconciliation of underwriting income to net income.
Net Investment Income
     Net investment income for the three months ended June 30, 2008 was $36.4 million compared to $19.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $16.7 million or 84.6%. Net investment income increased as a result of growth in the Validus Re investment portfolio and the addition of the Talbot investment portfolio. Net investment income is comprised of accretion of premium or discount on fixed maturities, interest on coupon-paying bonds, short-term investments and cash and cash equivalents, partially offset by investment management fees. The components of net investment income for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 is as presented below.

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    Three months ended     Three months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)          
Fixed maturities and short-term investments
  $ 34,519     $ 19,027       81.4 %
Securities lending income
    455       8       NM  
Cash and cash equivalents
    2,378       1,252       89.9 %
 
                   
Total investment income
    37,352       20,287       84.1 %
Investment expenses
    (917 )     (545 )     68.3 %
 
                   
Net investment income
  $ 36,435     $ 19,742       84.6 %
 
                   
 
NM   Not Meaningful
     Investment management fees incurred relate to BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. (“BlackRock”) and Goldman Sachs Asset Management L.P. and its affiliates (“GSAM”). Each of Merrill Lynch & Co, Inc. (“Merrill Lynch”) and Goldman Sachs is a major shareholder of the Company. BlackRock is considered a related party due to its merger in February 2006 with Merrill Lynch Investment Managers. Investment management fees earned by BlackRock for the three month periods ended June 30, 2008 and June 30, 2007 were $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively. Investment management fees earned by GSAM for the three month periods ended June 30, 2008 and June 30, 2007 were $0.4 million and $0.2 million, respectively. Management believes that the fees charged were consistent with those that would have been charged by unrelated third parties.
     Annualized effective investment yield is based on the weighted average investments held calculated on a simple period average and excludes net unrealized gains (losses), foreign exchange gains (losses) on investments and the foreign exchange effect of insurance balances. The Company’s annualized effective investment yield was 4.5% and 4.7% for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and the average duration at June 30, 2008 was 2.3 years (December 31, 2007 — 2.0 years).
Finance Expenses
     Finance expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $12.8 million compared to $4.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $8.8 million or 218.8%. The higher finance expenses in 2008 were primarily attributable to the following:
  Increased interest of $3.3 million on the 8.480% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures; and
  $5.4 million of FAL finance expense resulting from the consolidation of Talbot.
     Finance expenses also include the amortization of debt offering costs and offering discounts and fees related to our credit facilities.
                         
    Three months ended     Three months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)          
9.069% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures
  $ 3,589     $ 3,589       NM  
8.480% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures
    3,650       318       1047.8 %
Credit facilities
    123       96       28.1 %
Talbot FAL facilities
    62             NM  
Talbot other interest
    (19 )           NM  
Talbot third party FAL facility
    5,357             NM  
 
                   
 
  $ 12,762     $ 4,003       218.8 %
 
                   
 
NM   Not Meaningful
     Capital in Lloyd’s entities, whether personal or corporate, is required to be set annually for the prospective year and held by Lloyd’s in trust (“Funds at Lloyd’s” or “FAL”). In underwriting years up to and including 2007, Talbot’s FAL has been provided both by Talbot and by third parties, thereafter Talbot’s FAL has been provided exclusively by the Company. Because the third party FAL providers remain “on risk” until each year of account that they support closes (normally after three years) Talbot must retain third party FAL even if a third party FAL provider has

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ceased to support the active underwriting year. This is achieved by placing such FAL in escrow outside Lloyd’s. Thus the total FAL facility available to the Company is the total FAL for active and prior underwriting years, although the Company can only apply specific FAL against losses incurred by an underwriting year that such FAL is contracted to support.
     For each year of account up to and including the 2007 year of account, between 30% and 40% of an amount equivalent to each underwriting years’ profit is payable to Talbot third party FAL providers. However, some of these costs are fixed. Further, the 2005 underwriting year only became profitable on a cumulative basis in September 2007, thus triggering profit-related payments for that underwriting year.
     The FAL finance charges respond to total syndicate profit (underwriting income, investment income and realized and unrealized capital gains and losses). FAL finance charges and total syndicate profits are analyzed by underwriting year of account as follows:
                                                 
    Three months ended June 30  
Underwriting Year of                   Total Syndicate     FAL Finance Charges as % of  
Account   FAL Finance Charges     Profit     Total Syndicate Profit  
    2008     2007 (1)     2008     2007 (1)     2008     2007 (1)  
    (Dollars in thousands)                  
2005 (2)
  $     $ 77     $     $ 6,707       NM       1.1 %
2006 (2)
    1,129       7,077       3,384       20,434       33.4 %     34.6 %
2007
    4,228       387       14,120       4,586       29.9 %     8.4 %
2008
                (5,128 )           NM       NM  
 
                                       
Total
  $ 5,357     $ 7,541     $ 12,376     $ 31,727       43.3 %     23.8 %
 
                                     
 
                                               
Percentage excluding years in deficit
                                    30.6 %     23.8 %
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. The pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented for the three months ended June 30, 2007 for comparative purposes only.
 
(2)   The earliest year of account includes the run-off of prior (closed) years of account.
 
NM   Not meaningful
     FAL finance charges are based on syndicate profit but include fixed elements. Both the 2005 and 2007 years of account in cumulative loss positions at June 30, 2007 and so provisions for only fixed elements of FAL finance charges were made.
     Total syndicate profit, as set out in the table below, is reconciled to the Talbot segment net income by the addition or subtraction of items noted below.
                 
    Three months ended June 30  
    2008     2007 (1)  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Total syndicate profit
  $ 12,376     $ 31,727  
FAL Finance expenses
    (5,357 )     (7,541 )
Managing agent’s fee (2)
    2,414       2,523  
Managing agent’s profit commission (3)
    3,068       3,536  
Investment income (4)
    2,589       3,291  
Other segment operating expenses, net (5)
    (2,194 )     (10,860 )
Company share compensation
    (1,114 )      
Intangible amortization
    (1,041 )      
Income tax expense
    (3,057 )     (189 )
 
           
Talbot segment net income
  $ 7,684     $ 22,487  
 
           

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(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. The pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented for the three months ended June 30, 2007 for comparative purposes only.
 
(2)   1.5% of syndicate capacity; corresponding syndicate expense reflected in total syndicate profit, above.
 
(3)   15.0% of syndicate profit; corresponding syndicate expense reflected in total syndicate profit, above.
 
(4)   On FAL and on non-syndicate cash balances.
 
(5)   Includes Talbot Holdings Ltd share option expenses.
Net Realized Gains (Losses) on Investments
     Net realized losses on investments for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $(2.4) million compared to losses of $(0.2) million for the three months ended June 30, 2007. Net realized gains resulted from the sale of fixed maturity investments.
Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investments
     Net unrealized losses on investments for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $(43.0) million compared to $(6.2) million for the three months ended June 30, 2007. The net unrealized losses in the three months ended June 30, 2008 resulted primarily from market value declines due to interest rate movements.
     The Company early adopted FAS 157 and the FAS 159 Fair Value Option on January 1, 2007 for its investment portfolio. As a result, for the quarters ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, net unrealized gains on investments are recorded as a component of net income. Talbot also adopted FAS 157 and the FAS 159 Fair Value Option for its investment portfolio upon acquisition by the Company on July 2, 2007.
Realized gain on repurchase of debentures
     On April 29, 2008, the Company repurchased from an unaffiliated financial institution $45.7 million principal amount of its 8.480% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures due 2037 at an aggregate price of $36.6 million plus accrued and unpaid interest of $0.5 million. The repurchase resulted in the recognition of a realized gain of $8.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008.
Foreign Exchange Gains
     Foreign exchange gains for the three months ended June 30, 2008 were $0.9 million compared to $2.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, a decrease of $1.1 million. Foreign exchange gains resulted from the effect of the fluctuation in foreign currency exchange rates on liabilities denominated in foreign currencies. The foreign exchange gains during the three months ended June 30, 2008 were a result of the weakening of the U.S. dollar resulting in gains on translation arising out of receipts of non-U.S. dollar premium installments. Certain premiums receivable and liabilities for losses incurred in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are exposed to the risk of changes in value resulting from fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and may affect financial results in the future. At June 30, 2008, $266.4 million, or 9.7%, of our investments and $217.7 million, or 24.2%, of our net reserves for losses and loss expenses were in foreign currencies.

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     The following table presents results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 and the pro forma results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007:
                                                 
    Three months                     Six months        
    ended     Three months ended     ended     Six months ended  
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007     June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007  
    Actual     Actual     Pro Forma (1)     Actual     Actual     Pro Forma (1)  
    (Dollars in thousands)     (Dollars in thousands)  
Gross premiums written
  $ 379,919     $ 174,300     $ 377,169     $ 901,513     $ 552,370     $ 941,681  
Reinsurance premiums ceded
    (1,399 )     (26,780 )     (29,329 )     (86,299 )     (57,738 )     (134,361 )
 
                                   
Net premiums written
    378,520       147,520       347,840       815,214       494,632       807,320  
Change in unearned premiums
    (69,222 )     (14,490 )     (65,380 )     (214,052 )     (250,110 )     (277,963 )
 
                                   
Net premiums earned
    309,298       133,030       282,460       601,162       244,522       529,357  
 
                                               
Losses and loss expenses
    122,089       42,675       118,163       262,113       89,162       232,377  
Policy acquisition costs
    56,419       17,837       49,255       113,120       30,056       91,521  
General and administrative expenses
    33,912       11,107       35,431       71,019       22,334       65,891  
Share compensation expense
    7,271       1,978       1,947       13,806       3,923       6,257  
 
                                   
Total underwriting expenses
    219,691       73,597       204,796       460,058       145,475       396,046  
 
                                               
Underwriting income (2)
    89,607       59,433       77,664       141,104       99,047       133,311  
Net investment income
    36,435       19,742       29,920       72,478       38,239       58,120  
Other income
    1,462             1,222       2,397             2,165  
Finance expenses
    (12,762 )     (4,003 )     (15,903 )     (34,279 )     (8,444 )     (34,336 )
 
                                   
Operating income before taxes
    114,742       75,172       92,903       181,700       128,842       159,260  
 
                                               
Taxes
    3,077             570       4,506             1,236  
 
                                   
 
                                               
Operating income after tax
    111,665       75,172       92,333       177,194       128,842       158,024  
 
                                   
 
                                               
Net realized gains (losses) on investments
    (2,425 )     (232 )     (140 )     5,319       (186 )     (1,416 )
Net unrealized losses on investments
    (42,982 )     (6,189 )     (6,189 )     (57,959 )     (4,546 )     (4,546 )
Realized gain on repurchase of debentures
    8,752                   8,752              
Foreign exchange gains (losses)
    911       2,003       3,354       9,090       3,392       4,575  
 
                                   
Net income after taxes
  $ 75,921     $ 70,754     $ 89,358     $ 142,396     $ 127,502     $ 156,637  
 
                                   
Comprehensive income
                                               
Foreign currency translation Adjustments
    10                   77              
 
                                   
 
Comprehensive income
  $ 75,931     $ 70,754     $ 89,358     $ 142,473     $ 127,502     $ 156,637  
 
                                   
Selected ratios
                                               
Net premiums written/ Gross premiums written
    99.6 %     84.6 %     92.2 %     90.4 %     89.5 %     85.7 %
Losses and loss expenses ratio
    39.5 %     32.1 %     41.8 %     43.6 %     36.5 %     43.9 %
Policy acquisition cost ratio
    18.2 %     13.4 %     17.4 %     18.8 %     12.3 %     17.3 %
General and administrative expense ratio
    13.3 %     9.8 %     13.2 %     14.1 %     10.7 %     13.6 %
 
                                   
Expense ratio
    31.5 %     23.2 %     30.6 %     32.9 %     23.0 %     30.9 %
 
                                   
 
                                               
Combined ratio
    71.0 %     55.3 %     72.4 %     76.5 %     59.5 %     74.8 %
 
                                   
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. The pro forma results of operations including Talbot are presented for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 for comparative purposes only.
 
(2)   Non-GAAP Financial Measures. In presenting the Company’s results, management has included and discussed underwriting income (loss) that is not calculated under standards or rules that comprise U.S. GAAP. Such measures are referred to as non-GAAP. Non-GAAP measures may be defined or calculated differently by other companies. These measures should not be viewed as a substitute for those determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. A reconciliation of this measure to net income, the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, is presented in the section below entitled “Underwriting Income.”

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    Three months ended     Three months ended     Six months ended     Six months ended  
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007 (1)     June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007 (1)  
    (Dollars in thousands)     (Dollars in thousands)  
VALIDUS RE
                               
Gross premiums written
  $ 187,820     $ 174,300     $ 518,869     $ 552,370  
Reinsurance premiums ceded
    (1,208 )     (26,780 )     (24,951 )     (57,738 )
 
                       
Net premiums written
    186,612       147,520       493,918       494,632  
Change in unearned premiums
    (22,500 )     (14,490 )     (186,151 )     (250,110 )
 
                       
Net premiums earned
    164,112       133,030       307,767       244,522  
 
Losses and loss expenses
    48,677       42,675       107,591       89,162  
Policy acquisition costs
    25,309       17,837       45,712       30,056  
General and administrative expenses
    9,955       6,773       19,334       14,065  
Share compensation expense
    1,597       779       2,823       1,544  
 
                       
Total underwriting expenses
    85,538       68,064       175,460       134,827  
 
                               
Underwriting income (2)
    78,574       64,966       132,307       109,695  
 
                       
 
                               
TALBOT
                               
Gross premiums written
  $ 197,235     $     $ 399,028     $  
Reinsurance premiums ceded
    (5,327 )           (77,732 )      
 
                       
Net premiums written
    191,908             321,296        
Change in unearned premiums
    (46,722 )           (27,901 )      
 
                       
Net premiums earned
    145,186             293,395        
 
Losses and loss expenses
    73,412             154,522        
Policy acquisition costs
    31,134             67,432        
General and administrative expenses
    19,787             40,710        
Share compensation expense
    1,126             2,102        
 
                       
Total underwriting expenses
    125,459             264,766        
 
                       
 
Underwriting income (2)
    19,727             28,629        
 
                       
 
                               
CORPORATE & ELIMINATIONS
                               
Gross premiums written
  $ (5,136 )   $     $ (16,384 )   $  
Reinsurance premiums ceded
    5,136             16,384        
 
                       
Net premiums written
                       
Policy acquisition costs
    (24 )           (24 )      
General and administrative expenses
    4,170       4,334       10,975       8,269  
Share compensation
    4,548       1,199       8,881       2,379  
 
                       
Total underwriting expenses
    8,694       5,533       19,832       10,648  
 
Underwriting income (loss) (2)
    (8,694 )     (5,533 )     (19,832 )     (10,648 )
 
                       
 
Total underwriting income (2)
  $ 89,607     $ 59,433     $ 141,104     $ 99,047  
 
                       
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. No pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented in the analysis above.
 
(2)   Non-GAAP Financial Measures. In presenting the Company’s results, management has included and discussed underwriting income (loss) that is not calculated under standards or rules that comprise U.S. GAAP. Such measures are referred to as non-GAAP. Non-GAAP measures may be defined or calculated differently by other companies. These measures should not be viewed as a substitute for those determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. A reconciliation of this measure to net income, the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, is presented in the section below entitled “Underwriting Income.”

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Six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to six months ended June 30, 2007
     Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2008 was $142.4 million compared to $127.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $14.9 million or 11.7%. The primary factors driving the increase in net income were:
  Underwriting income increased in the period by $42.1 million primarily due to the consolidation of Talbot, and increased underwriting income at Validus Re offset by high levels of risk loss activity;
  Increased Validus Re underwriting income of $22.6 million or 20.6% as a result of net premiums earned which increased by $63.2 million or 25.9% compared to the same period in 2007, offset by increased losses as discussed below;
  Increased net investment income of $34.2 million or 89.5% as a result of growth in the Validus Re investment portfolio and the addition of the Talbot portfolio; and
  An increase in foreign exchange gains of $5.7 million.
     The increases above were partially offset by the following factors:
  Increased net realized and unrealized losses on investments of $47.9 million; and
  Increased finance expenses of $25.8 million, resulting primarily from an increase of $7.7 million finance expense on the 8.480% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures and $18.5 million of Talbot Funds at Lloyd’s (“FAL”) finance expense.
     The increase in net income for the six months ended June 30, 2008 of $14.9 million is attributable to:
                                 
    Six months ended June 30, 2008  
    Increase (decrease) over the six months ended June 30, 2007  
                    Corporate        
                    and other        
                    reconciling        
    Validus Re     Talbot (1)     items     Total  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Underwriting income
  $ 22,612     $ 28,629     $ (9,184 )   $ 42,057  
Net investment income
    12,516       22,708       (985 )     34,239  
Other income
    24       2,397       (24 )     2,397  
Finance expenses
    526       (18,620 )     (7,741 )     (25,835 )
 
                       
 
    35,678       35,114       (17,934 )     52,858  
Taxes
    (48 )     (4,458 )           (4,506 )
 
                       
 
    35,630       30,656       (17,934 )     48,352  
 
                               
Realized gain on repurchase of debentures
                8,752       8,752  
Net realized gains (losses) on investments
    (997 )     6,502             5,505  
Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments
    (38,125 )     (15,288 )           (53,413 )
Foreign exchange gains
    3,880       1,818             5,698  
 
                       
 
                               
Net income (loss)
  $ 388     $ 23,688     $ (9,182 )   $ 14,894  
 
                       

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(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. No pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented in the analysis above.
Gross Premiums Written
     Gross premiums written for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $901.5 million compared to $552.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $349.1 million or 63.2%. The increase in gross premiums written was driven primarily by the addition of Talbot which contributed $399.0 million. The increase from Talbot was partially offset by decreases in Validus Re’s property and marine lines of $21.1 and $17.5 million, respectively, as discussed below.
     Details of gross premiums written by line of business are provided below.
                                         
    Six months ended     Six months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007(1)        
    Gross premiums     Gross premiums     Gross premiums     Gross premiums        
    written     written (%)     written     written (%)     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 454,146       50.4 %   $ 395,471       71.6 %     14.8 %
Marine
    252,583       28.0 %     110,297       20.0 %     129.0 %
Specialty
    194,784       21.6 %     46,602       8.4 %     318.0 %
 
                               
Total
  $ 901,513       100.0 %   $ 552,370       100.0 %     63.2 %
 
                               
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. No pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented in the analysis above.
Validus Re. Validus Re gross premiums written for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $518.9 million compared to $552.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, a decrease of $33.5 million or 6.1%. Details of Validus Re gross premiums written by line of business are provided below.
                                         
    Six months ended     Six months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007        
    Gross premiums     Gross premiums     Gross premiums     Gross premium        
    written     written (%)     written     written (%)     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 374,418       72.1 %   $ 395,471       71.6 %     (5.3 )%
Marine
    92,791       17.9 %     110,297       20.0 %     (15.9 )%
Specialty
    51,660       10.0 %     46,602       8.4 %     10.9 %
 
                               
Total
  $ 518,869       100.0 %   $ $552,370       100.0 %     (6.1 )%
 
                               
     The decrease in Validus Re gross premiums written was driven by decreases in the property and marine lines of $21.1 million and $17.5 million, respectively. The decrease in property lines was due primarily to the nonrenewal of a proportional global onshore energy contract recorded in January 2007 at $49.0 million. Offsetting this decrease, were a $14.2 million proportional global onshore energy contract during the three months ended March 31, 2008 and the increases as discussed in the analysis of gross premiums written for the three months ended June 30, 2008. The decrease in marine lines was due to the nonrenewal of various contracts where unfavorable changes in risk adjusted pricing exceeded Validus Re’s thresholds. The decreases in property and marine lines were partially offset by the specialty lines which accounted for an increase of $5.1 million in gross premiums written.
Talbot. In the six months ended June 30, 2008, Talbot gross premiums written were $399.0 million compared to $401.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, a decrease of $2.2 million or 0.5%. Details of gross premiums written by line of business are provided below.

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    Six months ended     Six months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007(1)        
    Gross premiums     Gross premiums     Gross premiums     Gross premiums        
    written     written (%)     written     written (%)     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 87,790       22.0 %   $ 101,266       25.2 %     (13.3 )%
Marine
    164,101       41.1 %     149,976       37.4 %     9.4 %
Specialty
    147,137       36.9 %     149,944       37.4 %     (1.9 )%
 
                               
Total
  $ 399,028       100.0 %   $ 401,186       100.0 %     (0.5 )%
 
                               
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. The pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented for the six months ended June 30, 2007 for comparative purposes only.
     The decrease was due primarily to a decrease in gross premiums written on the property lines of $13.5 million. This results from reductions in gross premiums written due to difficult trading conditions, some of which were anticipated in the syndicate’s business plan. The increase in the marine lines of $14.1 million is primarily due to increases in hull and cargo, and marine treaty, offset by reductions in energy.
Reinsurance Premiums Ceded
     Reinsurance premiums ceded for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $86.3 million compared to $57.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $28.6 million or 49.5%. The increase in reinsurance premiums ceded was due primarily to the addition of Talbot which contributed $77.7 million. The increase from Talbot was partially offset by an inter-segmental elimination of $16.4 million and a $32.8 million decrease in Validus Re reinsurance premiums ceded, as discussed below.
                                         
    Six months ended     Six months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007 (1)        
            Reinsurance             Reinsurance        
    Reinsurance     Premiums     Reinsurance     Premiums        
    Premiums Ceded     Ceded (%)     Premiums Ceded     Ceded (%)     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 19,897       23.0 %   $ 23,674       41.0 %     (16.0 )%
Marine
    31,639       36.7 %     32,639       56.5 %     (3.1 )%
Specialty
    34,763       40.3 %     1,425       2.5 %     NM  
 
                               
Total
  $ 86,299       100.0 %   $ 57,738       100.0 %     49.5 %
 
                               
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. No pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented in the analysis above.
 
NM   Not Meaningful
Validus Re. Validus Re reinsurance premiums ceded for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $25.0 million compared to $57.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, a decrease of $32.8 million or 56.8%.
                                         
    Six months ended     Six months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007        
            Reinsurance             Reinsurance        
    Reinsurance     Premiums     Reinsurance     Premiums        
    Premiums Ceded     Ceded (%)     Premiums Ceded     Ceded (%)     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 4,893       19.6 %   $ 23,674       41.0 %     (79.3 )%
Marine
    19,655       78.8 %     32,639       56.5 %     (39.8 )%
Specialty
    403       1.6 %     1,425       2.5 %     (71.7 )%
 
                               
Total
  $ 24,951       100.0 %   $ 57,738       100.0 %     (56.8 )%
 
                               
     The decrease in Validus Re reinsurance premiums ceded was due to a decrease in the property and marine lines of $18.8 million and $13.0 million or 79.3% and 39.8%, respectively. These decreases were due to $45.9 million premiums ceded to Petrel Re during the six months ended June 30, 2007 under an agreement which was not renewed for 2008. Offsetting the decrease was premium ceded of $14.6 related to a collateralized quota share contract.

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     Effective July 1, 2008, Validus Re purchased $87.5 million of retrocessional coverage via an ultimate net loss agreement.
Talbot. Talbot reinsurance premiums ceded for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $77.7 million compared to $88.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, a decrease of $10.8 million or 12.2%.
                                         
    Six months ended     Six months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007(1)        
            Reinsurance             Reinsurance        
    Reinsurance     Premiums     Reinsurance     Premiums        
    Premiums Ceded     Ceded (%)     Premiums Ceded     Ceded (%)     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 23,066       29.6 %   $ 23,417       26.5 %     (1.5 )%
Marine
    16,293       21.0 %     19,961       22.5 %     (18.4 )%
Specialty
    38,373       49.4 %     45,120       51.0 %     (15.0 )%
 
                               
Total
  $ 77,732       100.0 %   $ 88,498       100.0 %     (12.2 )%
 
                               
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. The pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented for the six months ended June 30, 2007 for comparative purposes only.
     The structure of the 2008 reinsurance program changed from the 2007 program as less excess of loss cover has been purchased at lower levels, resulting in increased retention. The reduction has been partly offset by increased premiums ceded as a result of a new surplus treaty and a new quota share contract with Validus Re.
Net Premiums Written
     Net premiums written for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $815.2 million compared to $494.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, a decrease of $320.6 million or 64.8%. Details of net premiums written by line of business are provided below.
                                         
    Six months ended     Six months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007 (1)        
    Net premiums     Net premiums     Net premiums     Net premiums        
    written     written (%)     written     written (%)     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 434,249       53.3 %   $ 371,797       75.2 %     16.8 %
Marine
    220,944       27.1 %     77,658       15.7 %     184.5 %
Specialty
    160,021       19.6 %     45,177       9.1 %     254.2 %
 
                               
Total
  $ 815,214       100.0 %   $ 494,632       100.0 %     64.8 %
 
                               
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. No pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented in the analysis above.
     The increase in net premiums written was driven primarily by $321.3 million resulting from the consolidation of Talbot.
Validus Re. Validus Re net premiums written for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $493.9 million compared to $494.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, a decrease of $0.7 million or 0.1%. Details of net premiums written by line of business are provided below.
                                         
    Six months ended     Six months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007        
    Net premiums     Net premiums     Net premiums     Net premiums        
    written     written (%)     written     written (%)     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 369,525       74.8 %   $ 371,797       75.2 %     (0.6 )%
Marine
    73,136       14.8 %     77,658       15.7 %     (5.8 )%
Specialty
    51,257       10.4 %     45,177       9.1 %     13.5 %
 
                               
Total
  $ 493,918       100.0 %   $ 494,632       100.0 %     (0.1 )%
 
                               

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     The ratio of net premiums written to gross premiums written were 95.2% and 89.5% for the six month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The increase in the ratio is attributable to reduced reinsurance premiums ceded in the six months ended June 30, 2008, principally due to the expiration of the Petcel Re collateralized quota share agreement.
Talbot. Talbot net premiums written for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $321.3 million compared to $312.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $8.6 million or 2.8%. Details of net premiums written by line of business are provided below.
                                         
    Six months ended     Six months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007(1)        
    Net premiums     Net premiums     Net premiums     Net premiums        
    written     written (%)     written     written (%)     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 64,724       20.1 %   $ 77,849       24.9 %     (16.9 )%
Marine
    147,808       46.0 %     130,015       41.6 %     13.7 %
Specialty
    108,764       33.9 %     104,824       33.5 %     3.8 %
 
                               
Total
  $ 321,296       100.0 %   $ 312,688       100.0 %     2.8 %
 
                               
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. The pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented for the six months ended June 30, 2007 for comparative purposes only.
     The increase in net premiums written was driven mainly by the reduction in premiums ceded. The ratio of net premiums written to gross premiums written for the six month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 was 80.5% and 77.9%, respectively. The increase in the ratio of net premiums written to gross premiums written is due to the decrease in Talbot’s reinsurance purchasing as described above.
Change in Unearned Premiums
     Change in unearned premiums for the six months ended June 30, 2008 was $214.1 million compared to $250.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, a decrease of $36.1 million or 14.4%.
Validus Re. Validus Re’s change in unearned premiums for the six months ended June 30, 2008 was $186.2 million compared to $250.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, a decrease of $64.0 million or 25.6%.
Talbot. The Talbot change in unearned premiums for the six months ended June 30, 2008 was $27.9 million compared to $27.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007.
                         
    Six months ended     Six months ended        
    June 30,     June 30,        
    2008     2007(1)     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)          
Change in gross unearned premiums
  $ 62,051     $ 69,883       11.2 %
Change in prepaid reinsurance premiums
    (34,150 )     (42,029 )     (18.7 )%
 
                   
Net change in unearned premiums
  $ 27,901     $ 27,854       (0.2 )%
 
                   
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. The pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented for the six months ended June 30, 2007 for comparative purposes only.
     The increase in unearned premiums comprises $7.8 million of gross unearned premiums difference less $7.9 million prepaid reinsurance premiums. The gross difference arises from the lower premium income written, together with a marginally lower earnings pattern compared to last year. In respect of reinsurance, this arises from the lower cost of the 2008 reinsurance program.

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Net Premiums Earned
     Net premiums earned for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $601.2 million compared to $244.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $356.6 million or 145.9%. The increase in net premiums earned was driven by $293.4 million resulting from the consolidation of Talbot and increased premiums earned at Validus Re which accounted for $63.2 million of the increase.
                                         
    Six months ended     Six months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007 (1)        
    Net Premiums     Net Premiums     Net Premiums     Net Premiums     %  
    Earned     Earned %     Earned     Earned %     Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 287,626       47.8 %   $ 182,915       74.8 %     57.2 %
Marine
    173,000       28.8 %     34,934       14.3 %     395.2 %
Specialty
    140,536       23.4 %     26,673       10.9 %     426.9 %
 
                               
Total
  $ 601,162       100.0 %   $ 244,522       100.0 %     145.9 %
 
                               
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. No pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented in the analysis above.
Validus Re. Validus Re net premiums earned for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $307.8 million compared to $244.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $63.2 million or 25.9%.
                                         
    Six months ended     Six months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007        
    Net Premiums     Net Premiums     Net Premiums     Net Premiums     %  
    Earned     Earned %     Earned     Earned %     Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 228,719       74.3 %   $ 182,915       74.8 %     25.0 %
Marine
    45,129       14.7 %     34,934       14.3 %     29.2 %
Specialty
    33,919       11.0 %     26,673       10.9 %     27.2 %
 
                               
Total
  $ 307,767       100.0 %   $ 244,522       100.0 %     25.9 %
 
                               
     The increase in net premiums earned reflects the benefit of earning premiums on business written in 2007 and 2006. Contracts written on a risks-attaching basis are generally earned over 24 months and therefore have less immediate effect on premiums earned than contracts written on a losses-occurring basis which are generally earned on a 12 month basis.
Talbot. Talbot net premiums earned for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $293.4 million compared to $284.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $8.6 million or 3.0%.
                                         
    Six months ended     Six months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007 (1)        
    Net Premiums     Net Premiums     Net Premiums     Net Premiums     %  
    Earned     Earned %     Earned     Earned %     Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 58,907       20.1 %   $ 69,582       24.4 %     (15.3 )%
Marine
    127,871       43.6 %     114,530       40.2 %     11.6 %
Specialty
    106,617       36.3 %     100,722       35.4 %     5.9 %
 
                               
Total
  $ 293,395       100.0 %   $ 284,834       100.0 %     3.0 %
 
                               
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. The pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented for the six months ended June 30, 2007 for comparative purposes only.
     The increase in net earned premiums is largely due to the reduction in reinsurance costs offset by reduced property gross premiums written.

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Losses and Loss Expenses
     Losses and loss expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $262.1 million compared to $89.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $173.0 million or 194.0%. The consolidation of Talbot accounts for $154.5 million of the increase. The loss ratio, which is defined as losses and loss expenses divided by net premiums earned, for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 was 43.6% and 36.5%, respectively. Details of loss ratios by line of business are provided below.
                         
    Six months ended   Six months ended   Percentage point
    June 30, 2008   June 30, 2007 (1)   change
Property
    37.5 %     36.4 %     1.1  
Marine
    60.5 %     32.5 %     28.0  
Specialty
    35.3 %     41.8 %     (6.5 )
All lines
    43.6 %     36.5 %     7.1  
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. No pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented in the analysis above.
     The following table sets forth a reconciliation of gross and net reserves for losses and loss expenses by segment for the six months ended June 30, 2008:
                                 
    Six months ended June 30, 2008  
    Validus Re     Talbot     Eliminations     Total  
            (Dollars in thousands)  
Gross reserves at period beginning
  $ 196,814     $ 729,303     $     $ 926,117  
Losses recoverable at period beginning
          (134,404 )           (134,404 )
 
                       
Net reserves at period beginning
    196,814       594,899             791,713  
 
                               
Incurred losses — current year
    113,012       172,988             286,000  
Incurred losses — change in prior accident years
    (5,420 )     (18,467 )           (23,887 )
 
                       
Incurred losses
    107,592       154,521             262,113  
 
                               
Paid losses
    (41,284 )     (115,068 )           (156,352 )
Foreign exchange
          (615 )           (615 )
 
                       
Net reserves at period end
    263,122       633,737             896,859  
Losses recoverable at period end
    4,517       133,050       (4,687 )     132,880  
 
                       
Gross reserves at period end
  $ 267,639     $ 766,787     $ (4,687 )   $ 1,029,739  
 
                       
     The amount recorded represents management’s best estimate of expected losses and loss expenses on premiums earned. The increase in loss and loss expenses reflects the consolidation of Talbot. The relative absence of major catastrophes in 2006, 2007 and the first six months of 2008 has contributed to the overall low level of losses experienced. Favorable loss development on prior years totaled $23.9 million. The $18.5 million favorable loss reserve development in the Talbot segment relates primarily to the 2006 and prior underwriting years as described below. The $5.4 million favorable loss reserve development in the Validus Re segment relates primarily to the property lines. Favorable loss reserve development benefitted the Company’s second quarter 2008 loss ratio by 4.0 percentage points.
     The loss ratio in 2008 is not necessarily comparable to the 2007 loss ratio due to the consolidation of Talbot effective July 2, 2007. In general, Talbot has experienced a higher loss ratio than Validus Re in the periods since inception of Validus Re, attributable to the different mix of business written by Validus Re and Talbot. In periods of light natural catastrophe activity, Validus Re can generally be expected to have a lower loss ratio than Talbot.
     At June 30, 2008 and June 30, 2007, gross and net reserves for losses and loss expenses were estimated using the methodology as outlined in the critical accounting policies and estimates as discussed in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. The Company did not make any significant changes in the assumptions or methodology used in its reserving process during the six months ended June 30, 2008.

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    At June 30, 2008  
                    Total gross  
                    reserve for losses  
    Gross case reserves     Gross IBNR     and loss expenses  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Property
  $ 207,805     $ 127,817     $ 335,622  
Marine
    259,447       199,959       459,406  
Specialty
    73,907       160,804       234,711  
 
                 
Total
  $ 541,159     $ 488,580     $ 1,029,739  
 
                 
                         
    At June 30, 2008  
                    Total net reserve  
                    for losses and  
    Net case reserves     Net IBNR     loss expenses  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Property
  $ 204,360     $ 119,592     $ 323,952  
Marine
    179,958       183,045       363,003  
Specialty
    63,928       145,976       209,904  
 
                 
Total
  $ 448,246     $ 448,613     $ 896,859  
 
                 
     Validus Re. Validus Re losses and loss expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $107.6 million compared to $89.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $18.4 million or 20.7%. The loss ratio, defined as losses and loss expenses divided by net premiums earned, for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 was 35.0% and 36.5%, respectively. During the six months ended June 30, 2008, Validus Re’s property lines incurred 10.5 percentage points of the segment loss ratio, attributable to separately identified losses disclosed in Item 2 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2008, and $10.2 million of loss expense, or 3.3 percentage points of the segment loss ratio, attributable to certain U.S. storm and flood losses. During the six months ended June 30, 2007, Validus Re’s property lines incurred $24.0 million of loss expense, or 9.8 percentage points of the segment loss ratio, attributable to Australian windstorms and flooding in parts of northern England; and $15.5 million of loss expense, or 6.3 percentage points of the segment loss ratio, attributable to windstorm Kyrill. Details of loss ratios by line of business and period of incurrence are provided below.
                         
    Six months ended June 30    
        Percentage
    2008   2007   point change
Property — current year
    35.9 %     42.1 %     (6.2 )
Property — change in prior accident years
    (3.5 )%     (5.7 )%     2.2  
 
                       
Property — loss ratio
    32.4 %     36.4 %     (4.0 )
 
                       
Marine — current year
    39.2 %     38.6 %     0.6  
Marine — change in prior accident years
    6.4 %     (6.1 )%     12.5  
 
                       
Marine — loss ratio
    45.6 %     32.5 %     13.1  
 
                       
Specialty — current year
    39.0 %     42.8 %     (3.8 )
Specialty — change in prior accident years
    (1.1 )%     (1.0 )%     (0.1 )
 
                       
Specialty — loss ratio
    37.9 %     41.8 %     (3.9 )
 
                       
All lines — current year
    36.8 %     41.7 %     (4.9 )
All lines — change in prior accident years
    (1.8 )%     (5.2 )%     3.4  
 
                       
All lines — loss ratio
    35.0 %     36.5 %     (1.5 )
     Validus Re paid losses of $41.3 million and $28.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Validus Re experienced favorable development of $5.4 million and $12.8 million during the six month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
     During the six months ended June 30, 2008, Validus Re’s property lines incurred 14.1 percentage points of the property lines loss ratio, attributable to separately identified losses disclosed in Item 2 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2008; and $10.2 million, or 4.4 percentage points of the property lines loss ratio, attributable to certain U.S. storm and flood losses.

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The property lines also experienced favorable development of $7.9 million, or 3.5 percentage points of the property lines loss ratio, due to favorable development on the 2007 UK flood and Australian storm losses. During the six months ended June 30, 2007, Validus Re’s property lines incurred $24.0 million of loss expense, or 13.1 percentage points of the property lines loss ratio, attributable to Australian windstorms and flooding in parts of northern England; and $15.5 million of loss expense, or 8.5 percentage points of the property lines loss ratio, attributable to windstorm Kyrill.
     The marine lines experienced adverse development of $2.9 million of loss expense, or 6.4 percentage points of the marine lines loss ratio, due primarily to development on a 2007 off-shore drilling loss.
Talbot. Talbot losses and loss expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $154.5 million compared to $144.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $10.4 million or 7.2%. The loss ratio for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 was 52.7% and 50.6%, respectively. Details of loss ratios by line of business and period of incurrence are provided below.
                         
    Six months ended June 30   Percentage
    2008   2007   point change
Property — current year
    67.8 %     46.5 %     21.3  
Property — change in prior accident years
    (11.0 )%     0.0 %     (11.0 )
 
                       
Property — loss ratio
    56.8 %     46.5 %     10.3  
 
                       
Marine — current year
    61.9 %     57.4 %     4.5  
Marine — change in prior accident years
    4.0 %     0.0 %     4.0  
 
                       
Marine — loss ratio
    65.9 %     57.4 %     8.5  
 
                       
Specialty — current year
    50.6 %     45.7 %     4.9  
Specialty — change in prior accident years
    (16.1 )%     0.0 %     (16.1 )
 
                       
Specialty — loss ratio
    34.5 %     45.7 %     (11.2 )
 
                       
All lines — current year
    59.0 %     50.6 %     8.4  
All lines — change in prior accident years
    (6.3 )%     0.0 %     (6.3 )
 
                       
All lines — loss ratio
    52.7 %     50.6 %     2.1  
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. The pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented for the six months ended June 30, 2007 for comparative purposes only.
     The property lines include $40.0 million related to current year event losses and $6.5 million of favorable development on prior accident year reserves. The loss ratio has increased as a result of the significant number of non-catastrophe events in the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the same period in 2007.
     The marine lines include $79.1 million related to current year losses and $5.2 million relating to prior accident years. Increases in the current year and prior year loss ratios are attributable to a high number of attritional and large energy losses.
     The specialty lines include $53.9 million relating to current year losses offset by $17.1 million due to favorable development on prior accident year reserves. The increase in the current year loss ratio is due to several losses on the financial institutions line. The business written in the six months to June 30, 2008 also includes a higher proportion of business for which there are higher loss reserves applied. The reduction in the prior accident year ratio is due mainly to a reduction in the war line ratios due to continued low claims activity and reduced provisions for late reported claims in the more developed underwriting years of the financial institutions line.

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Policy Acquisition Costs
     Policy acquisition costs for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $113.1 million compared to $30.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $83.1 million or 276.4%. Policy acquisition costs were higher due to $67.4 million resulting from the consolidation of Talbot and an increase at Validus Re which accounted for $15.7 million of the increase.
                                         
    Six months ended     Six months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007 (1)        
            Policy     Policy     Policy        
    Policy Acquisition     Acquisition     Acquisition     Acquisition        
    Costs     Costs %     Costs     Costs %     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 46,958       41.5 %   $ 23,449       78.0 %     100.3 %
Marine
    35,145       31.1 %     3,470       11.6 %     912.8 %
Specialty
    31,017       27.4 %     3,137       10.4 %     888.7 %
 
                               
Total
  $ 113,120       100.0 %   $ 30,056       100.0 %     276.4 %
 
                               
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. No pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented in the analysis above.
Validus Re. Validus Re policy acquisition costs for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $45.7 million compared to $30.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $15.7 million or 52.1%.
                                         
    Six months ended     Six months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007 (1)        
    Policy Acquisition     Policy Acquisition     Policy Acquisition     Policy Acquisition     %  
    Costs     Costs %     Costs     Costs %     Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 35,410       77.5 %   $ 23,449       78.0 %     51.0 %
Marine
    5,506       12.0 %     3,470       11.6 %     58.7 %
Specialty
    4,796       10.5 %     3,137       10.4 %     52.9 %
 
                               
Total
  $ 45,712       100.0 %   $ 30,056       100.0 %     52.1 %
 
                               
     Policy acquisition costs include brokerage, commission and excise tax and are generally driven by contract terms and are normally a set percentage of premiums. Policy acquisition costs were higher as a result of the higher level of premiums earned in the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the same period in 2007. Policy acquisition costs as a percent of net premiums earned for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 were 14.9% and 12.3%, respectively. The policy acquisition ratio increased largely due to an increase in the policy acquisition ratio on property lines of 2.7 percentage points. A number of proportional property contracts that incepted during the six months ended June 30, 2007 that carry a high acquisition cost ratio are now at their peak earnings period. These contracts increase the acquisition cost ratio for the six months ended June 30, 2008.
Talbot. Talbot policy acquisition costs for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $67.4 million compared to $61.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $6.0 million or 9.7%.
                                         
    Six months ended     Six months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007 (1)        
    Policy Acquisition     Policy Acquisition     Policy Acquisition     Policy Acquisition     %  
    Costs     Costs %     Costs     Costs %     Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Property
  $ 11,572       17.2 %   $ 12,831       20.9 %     (9.8 )%
Marine
    29,639       43.9 %     25,405       41.3 %     16.7 %
Specialty
    26,221       38.9 %     23,229       37.8 %     12.9 %
 
                               
Total
  $ 67,432       100.0 %   $ 61,465       100.0 %     9.7 %
 
                               
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. The pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented for the six months ended June 30, 2007 for comparative purposes only.

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     Policy acquisition costs as a percent of net premiums earned were 23.0% and 21.6%, respectively, for the six month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007. On a gross basis, policy acquisition costs as a percent of gross earned premiums were 20.0% and 18.6%, respectively, for the six month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007. This increase is due to higher brokerage rates on the Bloodstock and Accident and Health accounts within the Specialty class of business.
General and Administrative Expenses
     General and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $71.0 million compared to $22.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $48.7 million or 218.0%. The increase is primarily a result of Talbot expenses of $40.7 million.
                                         
    Six months ended     Six months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007 (1)        
    General and     General and     General and     General and        
    Administrative     Administrative     Administrative     Administrative     %  
    Expenses     Expenses (%)     Expenses     Expenses (%)     Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Validus Re
  $ 19,334       27.2 %   $ 14,065       63.0 %     37.5 %
Talbot
    40,710       57.3 %           0.0 %   NM
Corporate & Eliminations
    10,975       15.5 %     8,270       37.0 %     32.7 %
 
                               
Total
  $ 71,019       100.0 %   $ 22,335       100.0 %     218.0 %
 
                               
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. No pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented in the analysis above.
 
NM   Not meaningful
     General and administrative expense ratios for the six month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 were 14.1% and 10.7%, respectively. General and administrative expense ratio is the sum of general and administrative expenses and share compensation expense divided by net premiums earned.
                                 
    Six months ended     Six months ended  
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007 (1)  
            Expenses as %             Expenses as %  
            of Net Earned             of Net Earned  
    Expenses     Premiums     Expenses     Premiums  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)          
General and Administrative
  $ 71,019       11.8 %   $ 22,335       9.1 %
Share Compensation
    13,806       2.3 %     3,922       1.6 %
 
                       
Total
  $ 84,825       14.1 %   $ 26,257       10.7 %
 
                       
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. No pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented in the analysis above.
     General and administrative expenses of $71.0 million in the six months ended June 30, 2008 represents 11.8 percentage points of the expense ratio. Share compensation expense is discussed in the following section.
Validus Re. Validus Re general and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $19.3 million compared to $14.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $5.3 million or 37.5%. The increase in expenses reflects the increase in staff to 80 at June 30, 2008 from 52 at June 30, 2007. General and administrative expenses are generally comprised of salaries and benefits, professional fees, rent and office expenses. General and administrative expenses as a percent of net premiums earned for the six month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 were 6.2% and 5.8%, respectively.
Talbot. Talbot general and administrative expenses were $40.7 million and $41.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. General and administrative expenses have decreased primarily as a result of $4.7 million of Talbot Holdings Ltd share option expenses incurred during the six months ended June 30, 2007 as a

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result of the exercise of Talbot stock options prior to the closing of the Talbot acquisition on July 2, 2007. This decrease is offset by $2.1 million of intangible asset amortization related to the Company’s acquisition of Talbot. General and administrative expenses as a percent of net premiums earned were 13.9% and 14.5% for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007.
Corporate & Eliminations. Corporate general and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $11.0 million compared to $8.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007. Corporate general and administrative expenses are comprised of executive and board expenses, internal and external audit expenses and other costs relating to the Company as a whole.
Share Compensation Expense
     Share compensation expense for the six months ended June 30, 2008 was $13.8 million compared to $3.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $9.9 million or 251.9%. The increase is a result of $5.1 million in respect of the Employee Seller shares issued to Talbot employees as part of the purchase of the group by the Company and an increase of $6.5 million related to Corporate segment staff. This expense is non-cash and has no net effect on total shareholders’ equity, as it balanced by an increase in additional paid-in capital.
                                         
    Six months ended     Six months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007 (1)        
    Share     Share     Share     Share        
    Compensation     Compensation     Compensation     Compensation     %  
    Expense     Expense (%)     Expense     Expense (%)     Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Validus Re
  $ 2,823       20.5 %   $ 1,544       39.4 %     82.8 %
Talbot
    2,102       15.2 %           0.0 %   NM
Corporate & Eliminations
    8,881       64.3 %     2,378       60.6 %     273.3 %
 
                               
Total
  $ 13,806       100.0 %   $ 3,922       100.0 %     251.9 %
 
                               
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. No pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented in the analysis above.
 
NM   Not meaningful
     Share compensation expense of $13.8 million in the six months ended June 30, 2008 represents 2.3 percentage points of the general and administrative expense ratio.
Validus Re. Validus Re share compensation expense for the six months ended June 30, 2008 was $2.8 million compared to $1.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $1.3 million or 82.8%. Share compensation expense as a percent of net premiums earned for the six month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 were 0.9% and 0.6%, respectively.
Talbot. Talbot share compensation expense for the six months ended June 30, 2008 was $2.1 million. Share compensation expense as a percent of net premiums earned for the six month period ended June 30, 2008 was 0.7%. There was no share compensation cost incurred in 2007 for this period as the Company’s restricted shares were awarded in the third quarter of 2007.
Corporate & Eliminations. Corporate share compensation expense for the six months ended June 30, 2008 was $8.9 million compared to $2.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $6.5 million or 273.3%. The increase is primarily a result of $5.1 million in respect of the Employee Seller shares issued to Talbot employees as part of the purchase of the group by the Company.
Selected Ratios
     The underwriting results of an insurance or reinsurance company are often measured by reference to its combined ratio, which is the sum of the loss ratio and the expense ratio. The net loss ratio is calculated by dividing losses and loss expenses incurred (including estimates for incurred but not reported losses) by net premiums earned. The expense ratio is calculated by dividing acquisition costs combined with general and administrative expenses by net premiums earned.

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The following table presents the loss and loss expense ratio, policy acquisition cost ratio, general and administrative expense ratio, expense ratio and combined ratio for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007.
                         
    Six months ended   Six months ended   Percentage
    June 30, 2008   June 30, 2007 (1)   point change
Losses and loss expenses ratio
    43.6 %     36.5 %     7.1  
Policy acquisition cost ratio
    18.8 %     12.3 %     6.5  
General and administrative expense ratio (2)
    14.1 %     10.7 %     3.4  
 
                       
Expense ratio
    32.9 %     23.0 %     9.9  
 
                       
Combined ratio
    76.5 %     59.5 %     17.0  
 
                       
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. No pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented in the analysis above.
 
(2)   Includes general and administrative expense, and share compensation expense.
                         
    Six months ended   Six months ended   Percentage
Validus Re   June 30, 2008   June 30, 2007   point change
Losses and loss expenses ratio
    35.0 %     36.5 %     (1.5 )
Policy acquisition cost ratio
    14.9 %     12.3 %     2.6  
General and administrative expense ratio
    7.1 %     6.4 %     0.7  
 
                       
Expense ratio
    22.0 %     18.7 %     3.3  
 
                       
Combined ratio
    57.0 %     55.1 %     1.9  
 
                       
                         
    Six months ended   Six months ended   Percentage
Talbot   June 30, 2008   June 30, 2007(1)   point change
Losses and loss expenses ratio
    52.7 %     50.6 %     2.1  
Policy acquisition cost ratio
    23.0 %     21.6 %     1.4  
General and administrative expense ratio
    14.6 %     14.5 %     0.1  
 
                       
Expense ratio
    37.6 %     36.1 %     1.5  
 
                       
Combined ratio
    90.3 %     86.7 %     3.6  
 
                       
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. The pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented for the six months ended June 30, 2007 for comparative purposes only.
Underwriting Income
     Underwriting income for the six months ended June 30, 2008 was $141.1 million compared to $99.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $42.1 million or 42.5%.
                                         
    Six months ended     % of Sub     Six months ended     % of Sub        
    June 30, 2008     total     June 30, 2007     total     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)             (Dollars in thousands)                  
Validus Re
  $ 132,307       82.2 %   $ 109,695       100.0 %     20.6 %
Talbot
    28,629       17.8 %           0.0 %     NM  
 
                               
Sub total
    160,936       100.0 %     109,695       100.0 %     46.7 %
 
                               
Corporate & Eliminations
    (19,832 )             (10,648 )             (86.3 )%
 
                                   
Total
  $ 141,104             $ 99,047               42.5 %
 
                                   
 
NM   Not meaningful
     The underwriting results of an insurance or reinsurance company are also often measured by reference to its underwriting income, which is a non-GAAP measure as previously defined. Underwriting income, as set out in the table below, is reconciled to net income (the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure) by the addition or

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subtraction of net investment income (loss), other income, finance expenses, net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments, foreign exchange gains (losses) and realized gain on repurchase of debentures.
                 
    Six months ended     Six months ended  
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Underwriting income
  $ 141,104     $ 99,047  
Net investment income
    72,478       38,239  
Other income
    2,397        
Realized gain on repurchase of debentures
    8,752        
Finance expenses
    (34,279 )     (8,444 )
Net realized (losses) gains on investments
    5,319       (186 )
Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments
    (57,959 )     (4,546 )
Foreign exchange gains (losses)
    9,090       3,392  
 
           
Net income before taxes
  $ 146,902     $ 127,502  
 
           
     Underwriting income indicates the performance of the Company’s core underwriting function, excluding revenues and expenses such as the reconciling items in the table above. The Company believes the reporting of underwriting income enhances the understanding of our results by highlighting the underlying profitability of the Company’s core insurance and reinsurance business. Underwriting profitability is influenced significantly by earned premium growth, adequacy of the Company’s pricing and loss frequency and severity. Underwriting profitability over time is also influenced by the Company’s underwriting discipline, which seeks to manage exposure to loss through favorable risk selection and diversification, its management of claims, its use of reinsurance and its ability to manage its expense ratio, which it accomplishes through its management of acquisition costs and other underwriting expenses. The Company believes that underwriting income provides investors with a valuable measure of profitability derived from underwriting activities.
     The Company excludes the U.S. GAAP measures noted above, in particular net realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments, from its calculation of underwriting income because the amount of these gains and losses is heavily influenced by, and fluctuates in part, according to availability of investment market opportunities. The Company believes these amounts are largely independent of its underwriting business and including them distorts the analysis of trends in its operations. In addition to presenting net income determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company believes that showing underwriting income enables investors, analysts, rating agencies and other users of its financial information to more easily analyze the Company’s results of operations in a manner similar to how management analyzes the Company’s underlying business performance. The Company uses underwriting income as a primary measure of underwriting results in its analysis of historical financial information and when performing its budgeting and forecasting processes. Analysts, investors and rating agencies who follow the Company request this non-GAAP financial information on a regular basis. In addition, underwriting income is one of the factors considered by the compensation committee of our Board of Directors in determining the bonus component of the total annual incentive compensation.
     Underwriting income should not be viewed as a substitute for U.S. GAAP net income as there are inherent material limitations associated with the use of underwriting income as compared to using net income, which is the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure. The most significant limitation is the ability of users of the financial information to make comparable assessments of underwriting income with other companies, particularly as underwriting income may be defined or calculated differently by other companies. Therefore, the Company provides more prominence in this filing to the use of the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, net income, which includes the reconciling items in the table above. The Company compensates for these limitations by providing both disclosure of net income and reconciliation of underwriting income to net income.
Net Investment Income
     Net investment income for the six months ended June 30, 2008 was $72.5 million compared to $38.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $34.2 million or 89.5%. Net investment income increased as a result of growth in the Validus Re investment portfolio and the addition of the Talbot investment portfolio. Net investment income is comprised of accretion of premium or discount on fixed maturities, interest on coupon-paying

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bonds, short-term investments and cash and cash equivalents, partially offset by investment management fees. The components of net investment income for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 is as presented below.
                         
    Six months ended     Six months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)          
Fixed maturities and short-term investments
  $ 66,210     $ 37,103       78.4 %
Securities lending income
    890       8       NM  
Cash and cash equivalents
    7,216       2,182       230.7 %
 
                   
Total investment income
    74,316       39,293       89.1 %
Investment expenses
    (1,838 )     (1,054 )     74.3 %
 
                   
Net investment income
  $ 72,478     $ 38,239       89.5 %
 
                   
 
NM   Not Meaningful
     Investment management fees incurred relate to BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. (“BlackRock”) and Goldman Sachs Asset Management L.P. and its affiliates (“GSAM”). Each of Merrill Lynch & Co, Inc. (“Merrill Lynch”) and Goldman Sachs is a major shareholder of the Company. BlackRock is considered a related party due to its merger in February 2006 with Merrill Lynch Investment Managers. Investment management fees earned by BlackRock for the six month periods ended June 30, 2008 and June 30, 2007 were $0.9 million and $0.7 million, respectively. Investment management fees earned by GSAM for the six month periods ended June 30, 2008 and June 30, 2007 were $0.7 million and $0.4 million, respectively. Management believes that the fees charged were consistent with those that would have been charged by unrelated third parties.
     Annualized effective investment yield is based on the weighted average investments held calculated on a simple period average and excludes net unrealized gains (losses), foreign exchange gains (losses) on investments and the foreign exchange effect of insurance balances. The Company’s annualized effective investment yield for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 was 4.5% and 4.8%, respectively, and the average duration at June 30, 2008 was 2.3 years (December 31, 2007 — 2.0 years).
Finance Expenses
     Finance expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $34.3 million compared to $8.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $25.8 million or 306.0%. The higher finance expenses in 2008 were primarily attributable to the following:
  Increased interest on the 8.480% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures of $7.7 million; and
  $18.5 million of FAL finance expense resulting from the consolidation of Talbot.
     Finance expenses also include the amortization of debt offering costs and offering discounts and fees related to our credit facilities.
                         
    Six months ended     Six months ended        
    June 30, 2008     June 30, 2007     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)          
9.069% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures
  $ 7,177     $ 7,177       NM  
8.480% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures
    8,008       318       NM  
Credit facilities
    474       949       (50.1 )%
Talbot FAL facilities
    125             NM  
Talbot other interest
    112             NM  
Talbot third party FAL facility
    18,383             NM  
 
                   
 
  $ 34,279     $ 8,444       305.7 %
 
                   
 
NM   Not Meaningful

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     Capital in Lloyd’s entities, whether personal or corporate, is required to be set annually for the prospective year and held by Lloyd’s in trust (“Funds at Lloyd’s” or “FAL”). In underwriting years up to and including 2007, Talbot’s FAL has been provided both by Talbot and by third parties, thereafter Talbot’s FAL has been provided exclusively by the Company. Because the third party FAL providers remain “on risk” until each year of account that they support closes (normally after three years) Talbot must retain third party FAL even if a third party FAL provider has ceased to support the active underwriting year. This is achieved by placing such FAL in escrow outside Lloyd’s. Thus the total FAL facility available to the Company is the total FAL for active and prior underwriting years, although the Company can only apply specific FAL against losses incurred by an underwriting year that such FAL is contracted to support.
     For each year of account up to and including the 2007 year of account, between 30% and 40% of an amount equivalent to each underwriting years’ profit is payable to Talbot third party FAL providers. However some of these costs are fixed. Further, the 2005 underwriting year only became profitable on a cumulative basis in September 2007, thus triggering profit-related payments for that underwriting year.
     The FAL finance charges respond to total syndicate profit (underwriting income, investment income and realized and unrealized capital gains and losses). FAL finance charges and total syndicate profits are analyzed by underwriting year of account as follows:
                                                 
    Six months ended June 30  
Underwriting Year of                   Total Syndicate     FAL Finance Charges as % of Total  
Account   FAL Finance Charges     Profit     Syndicate Profit  
    2008     2007 (1)     2008     2007 (1)     2008     2007 (1)  
            (Dollars in thousands)                       
2005 (2)
  $     $ 201     $     $ 15,030       NM       1.3 %
2006 (2)
    9,487       16,280       27,466       46,492       34.5 %     35.0 %
2007
    8,896       547       30,031       (4,182 )     29.6 %     NM  
2008
                (20,168 )           NM       NM  
 
                                       
Total
  $ 18,383     $ 17,028     $ 37,329     $ 57,340       49.2 %     29.7 %
 
                                       
 
                                               
Percentage excluding years in deficit
                                    32.0 %     26.8 %
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. The pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented for the six months ended June 30, 2007 for comparative purposes only.
 
(2)   The earliest year of account includes the run-off of prior (closed) years of account.
 
NM   Not meaningful
     FAL finance charges are based on syndicate profit but include fixed elements. Both the 2005 and 2007 years of account in cumulative loss positions at June 30, 2007 and so provisions for only fixed elements of FAL finance charges were made.

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     Total syndicate profit, as set out in the table below, is reconciled to the Talbot segment net income by the addition or subtraction of items noted below.
                 
    Six months ended June 30  
    2008     2007 (1)  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Total syndicate profit
  $ 37,329     $ 57,340  
FAL Finance expenses
    (18,383 )     (17,028 )
Managing agent’s fee (2)
    4,828       4,802  
Managing agent’s profit commission (3)
    10,153       8,126  
Investment income (4)
    5,288       5,024  
Other segment operating expenses, net
    (6,898 )     (15,643 )
Share compensation
    (2,090 )      
Intangible amortization
    (2,081 )      
Income tax expense
    (4,458 )     (1,194 )
 
           
Talbot segment net income
  $ 23,688     $ 41,427  
 
           
 
(1)   The results of operations for Talbot are consolidated only from the July 2, 2007 date of acquisition. The pre-acquisition results of operations for Talbot are presented for the six months ended June 30, 2007 for comparative purposes only.
 
(2)   1.5% of syndicate capacity; corresponding syndicate expense reflected in total syndicate profit, above.
 
(3)   15.0% of syndicate profit; corresponding syndicate expense reflected in total syndicate profit, above.
 
(4)   On FAL and on non-syndicate cash balances.
 
(5)   Includes Talbot Holdings Ltd share option expenses.
Net Realized Gains (Losses) on Investments
     Net realized gains on investments for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $5.3 million compared to losses of $(0.2) million for the six months ended June 30, 2007. Net realized gains resulted from the sale of fixed maturity investments.
Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investments
     Net unrealized losses on investments for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $(58.0) million compared to losses of $(4.5) million for the six months ended June 30, 2007. The net unrealized losses during the three months ended March 31, 2008 were due primarily to market value declines in the Company’s holding of AAA rated Alt-A non-Agency RMBS. The net unrealized losses during the three months ended June 30, 2008 were primarily from market value declines due to interest rate movements.
     The Company early adopted FAS 157 and the FAS 159 Fair Value Option on January 1, 2007 for its investment portfolio. As a result, for the quarters ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, net unrealized gains on investments are recorded as a component of net income. Talbot also adopted FAS 157 and the FAS 159 Fair Value Option for its investment portfolio upon acquisition by the Company on July 2, 2007.
Realized gain on repurchase of debentures
     On April 29, 2008, the Company repurchased from an unaffiliated financial institution $45.7 million principal amount of its 8.480% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures due 2037 at an aggregate price of $36.6 million plus accrued and unpaid interest of $0.5 million. The repurchase resulted in the recognition of a realized gain of $8.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008.
Foreign Exchange Gains
     Foreign exchange gains for the six month period ended June 30, 2008 were $9.1 million compared to $3.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $5.6 million. Foreign exchange gains resulted from the effect of the fluctuation in foreign currency exchange rates on liabilities denominated in foreign currencies. The foreign exchange gains during the six months ended June 30, 2008 were a result of the weakening of the U.S. dollar resulting in gains on translation arising out of receipts of non-U.S. dollar premium installments. Certain premiums receivable and liabilities for losses incurred in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are exposed to the risk of changes in value resulting from fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and may affect financial results in the future. At June 30, 2008, $266.4 million, or 9.7%, of our investments and $217.7 million, or 24.2%, of our net reserves for losses and loss expenses were in foreign currencies.

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Financial Condition and Liquidity
     Validus Holdings, Ltd. is a holding company and conducts no operations of its own. The Company relies primarily on cash dividends and other permitted payments from Validus Re and Talbot to pay finance expenses and other holding company expenses. There are restrictions on the payment of dividends from Validus Re and Talbot to the Company. The Bermuda Companies Act 1981 limits the Company’s ability to pay dividends to shareholders.
     Three main sources provide cash flows for the Company: operating activities, investing activities and financing activities. Cash flow from operating activities is derived primarily from the net receipt of premiums less claims and expenses related to underwriting activities. Cash flow from investing activities is derived primarily from the receipt of investment income on the Company’s total investment portfolio. Cash flow from financing activities is derived primarily from the issuance of common shares and debentures payable.
Capital Resources
     Shareholders’ equity at June 30, 2008 was $2,056.8 million.
     On March 17, 2008 and June 5, 2008, the Company paid quarterly cash dividends of $0.20 per each common share and $0.20 per common share equivalent, for which each outstanding warrant is then exercisable, to holders of record on March 3, 2008 and May 22, 2008, respectively. The timing and amount of any future cash dividends, however, will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon our results of operations and cash flows, our financial position and capital requirements, general business conditions, legal, tax, regulatory, rating agency and contractual constraints or restrictions and any other factors that our Board of Directors deems relevant.
     On April 29, 2008, the Company repurchased from an unaffiliated financial institution $45.7 million principal amount of its 8.480% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures due 2037 at an aggregate price of $36.5 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest of $0.5 million. The repurchase resulted in the recognition of a realized gain of $8.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008.
     On August 7, 2008, the Company filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-152856) with the U.S Securities Exchange Committee in which we may offer from time to time common shares, preference shares, depository shares representing common shares or preference shares, senior or subordinated debt securities, warrants to purchase common shares, preference shares and debt securities, share purchase contracts, share purchase units and units which may consist of any combination of the securities listed above. In addition, the shelf registration statement will provide for secondary sales of common shares sold by the Company’s shareholders. The registration statement is intended to provide the Company with additional flexibility to access capital markets for general corporate purposes, subject to market conditions and the company’s capital needs.
     The Company may from time to time repurchase its securities, including common shares and Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures, subject to board approval.
     Please refer to the discussion of capital resources in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. There have been no other material changes to this discussion.
Recent accounting pronouncements
     Refer to Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements (Part I, Item I) for further discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.
Debt and Financing Arrangements
     The following table details the Company’s borrowings and credit facilities as at June 30, 2008:

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          In Use /  
    Commitment     Outstanding  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
9.069% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures
  $ 150,000     $ 150,000  
8.480% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debentures
    200,000       154,300  
$200,000 unsecured letter of credit facility
    200,000        
$500,000 secured letter of credit facility
    500,000       101,922  
Talbot FAL facility
    100,000       100,000  
Talbot third party FAL facility (1)
    144,015       144,015  
 
           
Total
  $ 1,294,015     $ 650,237  
 
           
 
(1)   The third party FAL facility comprises $144.0 million which supports the 2007 and prior underwriting years. These funds have now been withdrawn from Lloyd’s and placed in escrow but remain available to pay losses.
     Please refer to Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements (Part I, Item I) for further discussion of the Company’s debt and financing arrangements and the April 29, 2008 Junior Subordinated Deferrable Debenture repurchase.
Investments
     A significant portion of contracts written provide short-tail reinsurance coverage for losses resulting mainly from natural and man-made catastrophes, which could result in a significant amount of losses on short notice. Accordingly, the Company’s investment portfolio is structured to preserve capital and provide significant liquidity, which means the investment portfolio contains a significant amount of relatively short-term fixed maturity investments, such as U.S. government securities, U.S. government-sponsored enterprises securities, corporate debt securities and mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities.
     Substantially all of the fixed maturity investments held at June 30, 2008 were publicly traded. At June 30, 2008, the average duration of the Company’s fixed maturity portfolio was 2.3 years (December 31, 2007: 2.0 years) and the average rating of the portfolio was AAA (December 31, 2007: AAA), of which $2,063.0 million or 79.3% (December 31, 2007: $2,029.6 million) were rated AAA.
     Cash and cash equivalents and investments in Talbot of $999.1 million at June 30, 2008 were held in trust for the benefit of cedants and policyholders, and to facilitate the accreditation as an alien insurer/reinsurer by certain regulators (December 31, 2007: $1,064.4 million). Total cash and cash equivalents and investments in Talbot were $1,106.0 million at June 30, 2008 (December 31, 2007: $1,093.9 million).
     As of June 30, 2008, the Company had approximately $13.6 million of asset-backed securities with sub-prime collateral and $8.7 million of insurance enhanced rated asset-backed securities that have no underlying credit ratings, representing 0.4% and 0.27% of total cash and investments, respectively.
     At June 30, 2008, the Company held $105.1 million of Alt-A RMBS. The Company’s Alt-A non-Agency RMBS allocation consists entirely of AAA rated securities.
     As of June 30, 2008, the Company had approximately $103.1 million invested in debt of U.S. Government sponsored agencies Fannie Mae (“FNMA”) and Freddie Mac (“FHLMC”), as set forth below.
                                 
                            % of Total Cash  
    FNMA     FHLMC     Total     and Investments  
    (Dollars in thousands)          
Senior bonds
  $ 32,102     $ 59,245     $ 91,347       2.8 %
Subordinated debt
    6,563       5,227       11,790       0.4 %
 
                       
Total
  $ 38,665     $ 64,472     $ 103,137       3.2 %
 
                       

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     At June 30, 2008, the $103.1 million market value of FNMA and FHLMC debt securities held by the Company exceeded amortized cost by $0.8 million. The Company’s investment guidelines do not permit purchases of equity securities and therefore the Company has no investment in common or preferred stock of FNMA or FHLMC. Similarly, the Company’s investment guidelines do not permit investment in derivatives and so the Company does not have exposure to FNMA or FHLMC through derivative contracts.
Cash Flows
     During the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, the Company generated net cash from operating activities of $116.8 million and $111.7 million, respectively. During the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, the Company generated net cash from operating activities of $247.4 million and $187.4 million, respectively. Cash flows from operations generally represent premiums collected, investment earnings realized and investment gains realized less losses and loss expenses paid and underwriting and other expenses paid. Cash flows from operations may differ substantially, however, from net income.
     Sources of funds consist primarily of the receipt of premiums written, investment income and proceeds from sales and redemptions of investments. In addition, cash will also be received from financing activities. Cash is used to pay primarily losses and loss expenses, brokerage commissions, excise taxes, general and administrative expenses, purchase new investments, payment of premiums retroceded and payment of dividends. The Company has had sufficient resources to meet its liquidity requirements.
     As of June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $487.3 million and $444.7 million, respectively.
     The Company has written certain business that has loss experience generally characterized as having low frequency and high severity. This results in volatility in both results and operational cash flows. The potential for large claims or a series of claims under one or more reinsurance contracts means that substantial and unpredictable payments may be required within relatively short periods of time. As a result, cash flows from operating activities may fluctuate, perhaps significantly, between individual quarters and years.
     In addition to relying on premiums received and investment income from the investment portfolio, the Company intends to meet these cash flow demands by carrying a substantial amount of short and medium term investments that would mature, or possibly be sold, prior to the settlement of expected liabilities. The Company cannot provide assurance, however, that it will successfully match the structure of its investments with its liabilities due to uncertainty related to the timing and severity of loss events.

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING 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, additionally, you should not place undue reliance on any such statement. This report 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.
     We believe that these factors include, but are not limited to, the following:
  unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events;
 
  our ability to obtain and maintain ratings, which may be affected by our ability to raise additional equity or debt financings, as well as other factors described herein;
 
  adequacy of our risk management and loss limitation methods;
 
  cyclicality of demand and pricing in the insurance and reinsurance markets;
 
  our limited operating history;
 
  our ability to successfully implement our business strategy during “soft” as well as “hard” markets;
 
  adequacy of our loss reserves;
 
  continued availability of capital and financing;
 
  our ability to identify, hire and retain, on a timely and unimpeded basis and on anticipated economic and other terms, experienced and capable senior management, as well as underwriters, claims professionals and support staff;
 
  acceptance of our business strategy, security and financial condition by rating agencies and regulators, as well as by brokers and reinsureds;
 
  competition, including increased competition, on the basis of pricing, capacity, coverage terms or other factors;
 
  potential loss of business from one or more major insurance or reinsurance brokers;
 
  our 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;
 
  general economic and market conditions (including inflation, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates) and conditions specific to the insurance and reinsurance markets in which we expect to operate;
 
  the integration of Talbot Holdings, Ltd., or other businesses we may acquire or new business ventures we may start;
 
  accuracy of those estimates and judgments used in the preparation of our financial statements, including those related to revenue recognition, insurance and other reserves, reinsurance recoverables, investment valuations, intangible assets, bad debts, income taxes, contingencies, litigation and any determination to use the deposit

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    method of accounting, which, for a relatively new insurance and reinsurance company like our company, are even more difficult to make than those made in a mature company because of limited historical information;
 
  the effect on our investment portfolio of changing financial market conditions including inflation, interest rates, liquidity and other factors;
 
  acts of terrorism, political unrest and other hostilities or other non-forecasted and unpredictable events;
 
  availability of reinsurance and retrocession coverage to manage our gross and net exposures and the cost of such reinsurance and retrocession;
 
  the failure of reinsurers, retrocessionaires, producers or others to meet their obligations to us;
 
  the timing of loss payments being faster or the receipt of reinsurance recoverables being slower than anticipated by us;
 
  changes in domestic or foreign laws or regulations, or their interpretations;
 
  changes in accounting principles or the application of such principles by regulators;
 
  statutory or regulatory or rating agency developments, including as to tax policy and matters and reinsurance and other regulatory matters such as the adoption of proposed legislation that would affect Bermuda-headquartered companies and/or Bermuda-based insurers or reinsurers, and
 
  the other factors set forth under Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors”, Part I Item 2 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and other sections of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as the risk and other factors set forth in the Company’s filings with the SEC.
     In addition, other general factors could affect our results, including: (a) developments in the world’s financial and capital markets and our access to such markets; (b) changes in regulations or tax laws applicable to us, including, without limitation, any such changes resulting from the recent investigations relating to the insurance industry and any attendant litigation; and (c) the effects of business disruption or economic contraction due to terrorism or other hostilities.
     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 or elsewhere. Any forward-looking statements made in this report 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.

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
     We believe we are principally exposed to five types of market risk:
  interest rate risk;
 
  foreign currency risk;
 
  credit risk;
 
  liquidity risk; and
 
  effects of inflation.
     Interest Rate Risk: The Company’s primary market risk exposure is to changes in interest rates. The Company’s fixed maturity portfolio is exposed to interest rate risk. Fluctuations in interest rates have a direct impact on the market valuation of these investments. As interest rates rise, the market value of the Company’s fixed maturity portfolio falls and the Company has the risk that cash outflows will have to be funded by selling assets, which will be trading at depreciated values. As interest rates decline, the market value of the Company’s fixed income portfolio increases and the Company has reinvestment risk, as funds reinvested will earn less than is necessary to match anticipated liabilities. We manage interest rate risk by selecting investments with characteristics such as duration, yield, currency and liquidity tailored to the anticipated cash outflow characteristics of the insurance and reinsurance liabilities the Company assumes.
     As at June 30, 2008, the impact on the Company’s fixed maturity and short-term investments from an immediate 100 basis point increase in market interest rates would have resulted in an estimated decrease in market value of 2.4%, or approximately $65.0 million. As at June 30, 2008, the impact on the Company’s fixed maturity portfolio from an immediate 100 basis point decrease in market interest rates would have resulted in an estimated increase in market value of 2.3% or approximately $63.9 million.
     As at June 30, 2007, the impact on the Company’s fixed maturity and short-term investments from an immediate 100 basis point increase in market interest rates would have resulted in an estimated decrease in market value of 1.2%, or approximately $18.3 million. As at June 30, 2007, the impact on the Company’s fixed maturity portfolio from an immediate 100 basis point decrease in market interest rates would have resulted in an estimated increase in market value of 1.1% or approximately $16.4 million.
     As at June 30, 2008, the Company held $1,066.1 million (December 31, 2007: $1,074.1 million), or 41.0% (December 31, 2007: 44.5%), of the Company’s fixed maturity portfolio in asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities. These assets are exposed to prepayment risk, which occurs when holders of underlying loans increase the frequency with which they prepay the outstanding principal before the maturity date and refinance at a lower interest rate cost. The adverse impact of prepayment is more evident in a declining interest rate environment. As a result, the Company will be exposed to reinvestment risk, as cash flows received by the Company will be accelerated and will be reinvested at the prevailing interest rates.
     Foreign Currency Risk: Certain of the Company’s reinsurance contracts provide that ultimate losses may be payable in foreign currencies depending on the country of original loss. Foreign currency exchange rate risk exists to the extent that there is an increase in the exchange rate of the foreign currency in which losses are ultimately owed. Therefore, we attempt to manage our foreign currency risk by seeking to match our liabilities under insurance and reinsurance policies that are payable in foreign currencies with cash and investments that are denominated in such currencies. At June 30, 2008, $266.4 million, or 9.7%, of our investments and $217.7 million, or 24.2%, of our net reserves for losses and loss expenses were in foreign currencies.
     Credit Risk: We are exposed to credit risk primarily from the possibility that counterparties may default on their obligations to us. We attempt to limit our credit exposure by purchasing high quality fixed income investments to maintain an average portfolio credit quality of AA- or higher with mortgage and commercial mortgage-backed issues having an aggregate weighted average credit quality of AAA. In addition, we have limited our exposure to any single issuer to 3.0% or less of total investments, excluding treasury and agency securities. The minimum credit continue rating of any security purchased is A-/A3 and where investments are downgraded, we permit a holding of up to 2.0%

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in aggregate market value, or up to 10.0% with written authorization of the Company. At June 30, 2008, 0.2% of the portfolio was below A-/A3 and we did not have an aggregate exposure to any single issuer of more than 2.6% of total investments.
     The amount of the maximum exposure to credit risk is indicated by the carrying value of the Company’s financial assets. The Company’s primary credit risks reside in investment in U.S. corporate bonds and recoverables from reinsurers at the Talbot segment.
     Liquidity risk: Certain of the Company’s investments may become illiquid. The current disruption in the credit markets may materially affect the liquidity of the Company’s investments, including residential mortgage-backed securities which represent 20.9% (December 31, 2007: 23.3%) of total cash and investments. If the Company requires significant amounts of cash on short notice in excess of normal cash requirements (which could include the requirement to return significant amounts of collateral in connection with its securities lending activities) in a period of market illiquidity, the investments may be difficult to sell in a timely manner and may have to be disposed of for less than what may otherwise have been possible under other conditions.
     Effects of Inflation: We do not believe that inflation has had or will have a material effect on our combined results of operations, except insofar as (a) inflation may affect interest rates, and (b) losses and loss expenses may be affected by inflation.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
     Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
     The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective in allowing information required to be disclosed in reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to be recorded, processed, summarized and reported within time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
     We continue to enhance our operating procedures and internal controls (including the timely and successful implementation of our information technology initiatives, which include the implementation of improved computerized systems and programs to replace and support manual systems, and including controls over financial reporting) to effectively support our business and our regulatory and reporting requirements. Our management does not expect that our disclosure controls or our internal controls will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. As a result of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons or by collusion of two or more people. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no absolute assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. As a result of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatement due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected. Accordingly, our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the disclosure controls and procedures are met.

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     Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
     There have been no changes in internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the Company’s evaluation required pursuant to Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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     PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
     We anticipate that, similar to the rest of the insurance and reinsurance industry, we will be subject to litigation and arbitration in the ordinary course of business.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
     Please refer to the discussion of risk factors in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. There have been no material changes to this discussion.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
     There were no stock repurchases for the quarter ended June 30, 2008.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
     None.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
(a) The annual general meeting of shareholders (the “Annual General Meeting”) of the Company was held on May 7, 2008.
(b) Proxies for the Annual General Meeting were solicited pursuant to Regulation 14 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. There was no solicitation in opposition to management’s nominees as listed in the Company’s proxy statement, dated April 4, 2008 (the “Proxy Statement”).
(c) The shareholders of the Company (1) elected Class I Directors for terms to expire in 2011, (2) approved the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers as Independent Auditor for the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008 and (3) elected certain individuals as Designated Company Directors of certain of the Company’s non-U.S. subsidiaries. Set forth below are the voting results for these proposals:
Election of Class I Directors of the Company
                 
    For   Withheld
Matthew J. Grayson
    42,027,373       2,968,316  
Jean-Marie Nessi
    44,906,893       88,796  
Mandakini Puri
    44,906,893       88,796  
Approval of Selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers as Independent Auditor
                         
    For   Against   Abstain
Total:
    44,886,790       108,394       505  
Election of Designated Company Directors of Non-U.S. Subsidiaries
                 
    For   Withheld
C. N. Rupert Atkin
    44,928,449       67,240  
Patrick G. Barry
    44,928,449       67,240  
Gilles A. M. Bonvarlet
    44,928,449       67,240  
Julian P. Bosworth
    44,928,449       67,240  
Michael E. A. Carpenter
    44,928,449       67,240  
Jane S. Clouting
    44,928,449       67,240  

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    For   Withheld
Joseph E. (Jeff) Consolino
    44,909,029       86,660  
C. Jerome Dill
    44,928,449       67,240  
Nicholas J. Hales
    44,928,449       67,240  
Mark S. Johnson
    44,928,449       67,240  
Anthony J. Keys
    44,928,449       67,240  
Gillian S. Langford
    44,928,449       67,240  
Stuart W. Mercer
    44,928,449       67,240  
Paul J. Miller
    44,928,449       67,240  
Edward J. Noonan
    44,928,449       67,240  
George P. Reeth
    44,928,449       67,240  
Julian G. Ross
    44,928,449       67,240  
Verner G. Southey
    44,928,449       67,240  
Nigel D. Wachman
    44,928,449       67,240  
Conan M. Ward
    44,928,449       67,240  
Lixin Zeng
    44,928,449       67,240  
Item 5. Other Information
     None.
Item 6. Exhibits
     
EXHIBIT    
NUMBER   DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
 
   
10.21.1
  Amendment to Service Agreement between Talbot Underwriting Services Ltd and Michael Edward Arscott Carpenter.
 
   
10.39
  Form of Restricted Share Agreement for Talbot Executive Officers.
 
   
31.1
  Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
   
31.2
  Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
   
 32
  Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

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SIGNATURES
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
         
  VALIDUS HOLDINGS, LTD.
(Registrant)
 
 
     Date: August 13, 2008  /s/ Edward J. Noonan    
  Edward J. Noonan   
  Chief Executive Officer   
 
     Date: August 13, 2008  /s/ Joseph E. (Jeff) Consolino    
  Joseph E. (Jeff) Consolino   
  Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President  
 

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