NPTE North Pointe Hldgs Corp (MM)

A.M. Best Co. has placed the financial strength rating (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of �a-� of North Pointe Insurance Company (NPIC) (Southfield, MI) and the FSR of B+ (Good) and ICR of �bbb-� of North Pointe Casualty Insurance Company (NPCIC) (Jacksonville, FL) under review with positive implications. Concurrently, A.M. Best has placed the FSR of B++ (Good) and the ICR of �bbb+� of Capital City Insurance Company, Inc. (Capital City) (Columbia, SC) under review with positive implications. All the above companies are subsidiaries of North Pointe Holdings Corporation (NPHC) (Southfield, MI) (NASDAQ: NPTE). These rating actions follow the recent announcement that NPHC has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by QBE Holdings, Inc. (QBE) in a merger agreement. QBE is a subsidiary of Australia�s QBE Insurance Group, Limited [ASX: QBE.AX], a global insurer and reinsurer conducting business through property/casualty insurance subsidiaries in eight countries headquartered in North and South America. A.M. Best expects the ICR of �bb+� of NPHC to be withdrawn upon the completion of its acquisition by QBE. These rating actions are based on the increased financial wherewithal anticipated to be available to NPHC and its subsidiaries as a result of the transaction. NPHC will be a member of QBE Americas, which had in excess of $2 billion in policyholders� surplus through third quarter 2007. The acquisition of NPHC is being funded by existing cash held by QBE in the United States. The under review status takes into consideration the change in ownership and the integration risks associated with this latest addition to QBE�s U.S. operation. This risk is partially mitigated by the experience QBE has integrating large insurance operations. The ratings will remain under review pending the completion of the transaction, which is subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions and is expected to close during the first half of 2008. For Best�s Ratings, an overview of the rating process and rating methodologies, please visit www.ambest.com/ratings. Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is a global full-service credit rating organization dedicated to serving the financial and health care service industries, including insurance companies, banks, hospitals and health care system providers. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.