13 Nov 2006

PRESS RELEASE

London, Monday 13th November 2006

ARISTA REVEALS LAUNCH TEAM

The new commercial lines underwriting operation Arista, recently launched by Charles Earle,
the former Managing Director of NIG Commercial Lines, has announced further details of its
core management team prior to business commencing next month.
Earle and former NIG colleague Lyn Carslake, deputy CEO of Arista, have been developing the
concept for a number of months and have secured the support of Lloyd’s Underwriter Canopius
and Equity Insurance Group both as investors and as long term insurers of the core commercial
property, liability and motor classes of business. The venture remains subject to the usual
regulatory approval process.

The core team now at Arista includes:

Peter Young, head of business operations

Richard Addis, head of underwriting

Kevin Buckland, head of strategy and planning

Jeff Chapell, head of broker development

Alan Horemans, head of motor underwriting

Simon Henderson, head of schemes underwriting

Euros Jones, head of regional operations

Dave Aslin, South West regional manager

Julian Holloway, South regional manager

Dave Cheeseman, head of business systems

Chief Executive Charles Earle said: “This team brings together enormous strength and
experience and puts Arista in an excellent position to start trading next month.
Everyone has subscribed to our commitment to redefine the way insurers interact with
brokers. Each team member will reinforce the strength of our business model which is
built upon exceptional and close relationships with brokers and intermediaries, and with
our shareholding insurers as well as our suppliers. Further team members who are
currently on garden leave or working out their notice period with previous employers
will be joining us over the next few weeks.”

Arista will focus on broker administered commercial business in the UK and intends to
arrange agencies with a limited panel of independent brokers in 2006 and 2007. In the
medium to long term the new venture will have the capacity to write in excess of £250
million worth of business.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

Arista is an SME insurance provider specialising in property, liability and motor classes
of business. Arista offers brokers a genuine chance to work with an insurance provider
that will design its processes around theirs in an effort to reduce their frictional costs.
For those brokers who work with Arista, the company delivers an improved bottom line
and a responsive market staffed by people with experience, technical knowledge and a
willingness to see the broker as a customer.