8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
September 30, 2004

HCC INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	0-20766	76-0336636
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

13403 Northwest Freeway Houston, Texas	77040-6094
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (713) 690-7300

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Press Release dated September 30, 2004

Item 8.01 Other Events.

     The Company issued a press release dated September 30, 2004 announcing the effect to its earnings of the multiple hurricanes in the Atlantic and Caribbean this summer. A copy of the press release filed by the Company is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

No.	Exhibit
99.1	Press Release dated September 30, 2004

SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	HCC INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC.
Date: October 1, 2004	By:	/s/ Christopher L. Martin
		Christopher L. Martin,
		Executive Vice President and General Counsel

EXHIBIT INDEX

No.	Exhibit
99.1	Press Release dated September 30, 2004

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

HCC UPDATES EARNINGS
EFFECT OF 3Q04 HURRICANES

HOUSTON (September 30, 2004)

HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. (NYSE symbol: HCC) announced today that based upon current estimates, anticipated losses from the recent Atlantic hurricane activity, will be contained within the Company’s expected earnings for the third quarter 2004.

Losses originated from Hurricanes Charley, Francis, Ivan and Jeanne as well as effecting multiple lines of business: aviation, London market account and other specialty lines. Due to the proximity of the events, the developing nature of the claims and the complicated application to the Company’s reinsurance protection, the Company has determined to set an aggregate reserve for all such hurricane losses which are estimated at $110 million gross, or $55 million net of reinsurance. This net amount, which is approximately $0.54 per share after tax, will be recorded in the third quarter 2004 and includes all hurricane losses previously announced by the Company.

Stephen L. Way, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commenting on the loss said, “With the unprecedented level of hurricane activity and related concentration of losses arising during the third quarter, our conservative approach to catastrophe exposure has once again proved to have been justified.” Mr. Way added, “Notwithstanding the magnitude of these losses, we still expect earnings of between $0.16 and $0.18 for the third quarter.”

HCC is an international insurance holding company and a leading specialty insurance group since 1974, based in Houston, Texas with offices across the USA and in Bermuda, England and Spain. HCC has assets of more than $5 billion, shareholders’ equity of over $1 billion and is rated AA (Very Strong) by Standard & Poor’s and A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company.

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

Contact:	L. Byron Way, Vice President HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc.
	Telephone: (713) 690-7300

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.

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