A.M. Best Assigns Debt Rating to Maiden Holdings Ltd’s Forthcoming Mandatory Convertible Preferred Share Offering

A.M. Best Co. has assigned a debt rating of “bb” to the forthcoming issuance of $150 million 7.25% mandatory convertible preferred stock due September 2016 to be issued by Maiden Holdings Ltd. (Maiden) (Hamilton, Bermuda) (NASDAQ: MHLD). The outlook assigned is stable. All remaining ratings of Maiden and its subsidiaries are unchanged. (For further information, please see A.M. Best’s press release dated May 24, 2013.)

The proceeds from the issuance will be used in the continued support and development of Maiden’s reinsurance business and for other general corporate purposes. With the issuance of these preferred shares, Maiden’s unadjusted debt-to-total capital and adjusted debt-to-tangible capital are 45% and 27%, respectively. Although these measures are trending higher, they are within A.M. Best’s guidelines for its current rating level. In addition, Maiden’s interest coverage ratio is expected to remain adequate for its rating.

The methodology used in determining these ratings is Best’s Credit Rating Methodology, which provides a comprehensive explanation of A.M. Best’s rating process and contains the different rating criteria employed in the rating process. Best’s Credit Rating Methodology can be found at www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology.

A.M. Best Company is the world’s oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

A.M. Best Co.Brian O’LarteSenior Financial Analyst908-439-2200, ext. 5138brian.o'larte@ambest.comMichael Lagomarsino, CFAAssistant Vice President908-439-2200, ext. 5810michael.lagomarsoino@ambest.comRachelle MorrowSenior Manager, Public Relations908-439-2200, ext. 5378rachelle.morrow@ambest.comJim PeavyAssistant Vice President, Public Relations908-439-2200, ext. 5644james.peavy@ambest.com