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HCC Surety Group Expands HCCSuretyOnline to Include Contract Surety Bonds

HOUSTON, Sept. 5, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. announced today that its HCC Surety Group (HCCS) subsidiary has launched the first Internet-based prequalification system for contract surety bonds. HCCS' Contract Surety Quick n' Ez program, accessed via HCCSuretyOnline (www.hccsurety.com), enables appointed insurance agents and brokers to pre-qualify customers in minutes for contract surety bonds associated with projects up to $250,000.

Registered HCCSuretyOnline users have the ability to dramatically accelerate the process of obtaining contract surety bonds for small projects. If the bond principal meets HCCS' pre-determined underwriting guidelines, users will receive a pre-qualification letter and follow-up from an HCCS underwriter within four hours.

"At HCCS, we understand that speed-to-market drives customer satisfaction and retention. Our new system provides an efficient and innovative way to help insurance agents and brokers provide better service to business owners who require contract surety bonds for small projects," Adam S. Pessin, HCCS Executive Vice President - Western Region, said.

Pessin said the addition of the Contract Quick n' Ez program to HCCSuretyOnline is another example of the process improvements implemented by HCCS that have allowed insurance agents and brokers to service their surety business in a more efficient and profitable manner.

"When insurance agents and brokers visit HCCSuretyOnline they can - in minutes - access HCCS' Quick n' Ez program and issue the most common commercial bonds, including contractors license bonds, motor vehicle dealer bonds, insurance broker bonds and sales tax bonds. In addition, HCCSuretyOnline allows you to access, view and print all current and future direct bill and agency bill renewals," he said.

For more information about HCCS and its Contract Quick n' Ez program, contact the HCCS branch office nearest you or the HCCSuretyOnline helpdesk at (888) 380-9826.

HCCS is a wholly owned subsidiary of HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc., a Houston, Texas-based leading international specialty insurance group with offices across the United States and in Belgium, Bermuda, Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom. HCC has assets of $8.3 billion, shareholders' equity $2.6 billion and is rated AA (Very Strong) by Standard & Poor's and AA (Very Strong) by Fitch Ratings. In addition, HCC's domestic property and casualty insurance companies are rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company.

For more information, visit our website at www.hcc.com.

Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made under "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The types of risks and uncertainties which may affect the Company are set forth in its periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACT:  HCC Surety Group 
          Adam Pessin, HCC Surety Group Executive Vice President - 
           Western Region
            (310) 649-0990
          Carol T. Nevin, HCC Surety Group Senior Vice President - 
           Eastern Region
            (410) 453-9522

          HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc.
          Barney White, HCC Vice President of Investor Relations
          (713) 744-3719