Trenwick Group Ltd.                   LOM Building        Tel 441.292.4985
                                            27 Reid Street      Fax 441.292.4878
                                            Hamilton HM 11
                                            Bermuda


      TRENWICK


      NYSE Symbol: TWK

      Contact: Alan L. Hunte, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
      Officer - 441.292.4985

      For Immediate Release


                      TRENWICK REPAYS OUTSTANDING BANK DEBT

Hamilton, Bermuda -- June 17, 2002 -- Trenwick Group Ltd. ("Trenwick") repaid
today all $195 million in principal amount of the outstanding loans under its
bank credit facility. This repayment is prior to the scheduled amortization
under the bank credit facility.

James F. Billett, Jr., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Trenwick, stated, "The repayment of Trenwick's outstanding bank credit facility
loans significantly improves Trenwick's debt to equity ratio and provides
Trenwick with the financial flexibility needed to reap the benefits of the
improved insurance and reinsurance markets."

Trenwick's bank credit facility remains in place with respect to the company's
$230 million letter of credit facility, which is used to support Trenwick's
underwriting operations at Lloyd's.

Background Information

Trenwick is a Bermuda-based specialty insurance and reinsurance underwriting
organization with three principal businesses operating through its subsidiaries
located in the United States, the United Kingdom and Bermuda. Trenwick's
reinsurance business provides treaty reinsurance to insurers of property and
casualty risks from offices in the United States and Bermuda. Trenwick's
international operations underwrite specialty insurance as well as treaty and
facultative reinsurance on a worldwide basis through its London insurer and at
Lloyd's.





Trenwick's U.S. specialty program insurance business underwrites U.S. property
and casualty insurance through specialty program administrators.

Each of Trenwick's operating insurance company subsidiaries is rated "A-"
(Excellent) by A.M. Best Company and is assigned an A- financial strength rating
by Standard & Poor's. All of Chartwell Managing Agents Limited's syndicates
underwrite under the ratings of Lloyd's, which is rated "A-" (Excellent) by A.M.
Best Company and has an A financial strength rating from Standard & Poor's.

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release that are not based on current or
historical fact are forward-looking in nature including, without limitation,
statements containing words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "projects,"
"intends," "expects," "estimates," "predicts," and words of similar import. Such
forward-looking statements, including in particular Trenwick's forecast of
future earnings, involve known and unknown risks, assumptions, uncertainties,
and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements of
Trenwick or its industry to differ materially from any future results,
performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements.

Trenwick has identified certain risk factors which could cause actual plans or
results to differ substantially from those included in any forward-looking
statements. These risk factors are discussed in Trenwick's Securities and
Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to its most recent Form
10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
and such discussions regarding risk factors are hereby incorporated by reference
into this press release. Copies of such Securities and Exchange Commission
filings are available from Trenwick or directly from the Securities and Exchange
Commission.