HCC Insurance Holdings Approves New Share Repurchase Program

HOUSTON, Sept. 23, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc.
(NYSE:HCC) announced today that its Board of Directors has authorized a new
share repurchase program that provides for the repurchase of up to an aggregate
of $300 million of the Company's common stock. This new authorization follows
the completion of the Company's $300 million share repurchase program announced
on March 14, 2011.

"HCC's new repurchase plan reiterates our ongoing confidence in the Company's
financial position, earnings capacity, and continued commitment to manage
capital efficiently," said John N. Molbeck, Jr., HCC's Chief Executive Officer.

The repurchase plan calls for the repurchases to be made in the open market or
in privately negotiated transactions from time-to-time in compliance with
applicable laws, rules and regulations, including Rule 10b-18 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Repurchases under the plan will be
made opportunistically from time to time, subject to market and business
conditions, as well as the Company's level of cash generated from operations,
cash required for acquisitions, debt covenant compliance, and other relevant
factors. The plan does not obligate the Company to purchase any particular
number of shares, has no expiration date, and may be suspended or discontinued
at any time at the Company's discretion.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. is a leading
international specialty insurance group with offices across the United States
and in the United Kingdom, Spain and Ireland. As of June 30, 2011, HCC had
assets of $9.5 billion and shareholders' equity of $3.3 billion. HCC's major
domestic and international insurance companies have financial strength ratings
of "AA (Very Strong)" from Standard & Poor's Corporation, "A+ (Superior)" from
A.M. Best Company, Inc., "AA (Very Strong)" from Fitch Ratings, and "A1 (Good
Security)" from Moody's Investors Service, Inc.

For more information about HCC, please visit http://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: Doug Busker, Director of Investor Relations
HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc.
Telephone: (713) 996-1192