S-3ASR

Use these links to rapidly review the document
TABLE OF CONTENTS

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 5, 2013

Registration No. 333-        

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) 36-6169860
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

333 South Wabash Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60604
(312) 822-5000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)

SEE TABLE OF ADDITIONAL REGISTRANTS
Jonathan D. Kantor
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
CNA Financial Corporation
333 South Wabash Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60604
(312) 822-5000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

           If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box:    o

           If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box:    ý

           If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering:    o

           If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering:    o

           If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box:    ý

           If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box:    o

           Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer ý Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a
smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company o

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered(1)(2)	Amount to be Registered/ Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit/ Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price/Amount of Registration Fee(1)
Securities of CNA Financial Corporation:
Senior debt securities(3)(4)
Subordinated debt securities(3)(4)
Subordinated junior debt securities(3)(4)
Preferred stock, no par value(3)(4)
Depositary shares(3)(5)
Common stock, $2.50 par value per share(3)(4)
Warrants(6)
Purchase contracts(7)
Purchase units(8)
Preferred securities of CNA Financial Capital I
Preferred securities of CNA Financial Capital II
Preferred securities of CNA Financial Capital III
Guarantees of preferred securities of CNA Financial Capital I, CNA Financial Capital II and CNA Financial Capital III by CNA Financial Corporation(9)

(1)

An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price and number or amount of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be sold at indeterminate prices. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable upon conversion of, or in exchange for, or upon exercise of, convertible or exchangeable securities or that are issued in units or represented by depositary shares. In reliance

on and in accordance with Rules 456(b), 457(r) and 457(p), the Registrants are deferring payment of all of the registration fee, except for the fee that has already been paid ($59,070) with respect to securities that were previously registered pursuant to Registration Statement No. 333-140980 and were not sold thereunder and the fee that has already been paid ($11,688.69) with respect to Registration Statement No. 333-158901 and were not sold thereunder as such registration statement was withdrawn prior to effectiveness. The aggregate fee being prepaid pursuant to this registration statement equals $70,758.69.

(2)

The securities registered under this registration statement may be sold separately, together or as units with other securities registered under this registration statement and may include hybrid securities consisting of a combination of features of any of the securities listed in the table.

(3)

Senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, subordinated junior debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares and common stock, as may be issuable upon conversion or redemption, or upon the exercise of warrants registered under this registration statement, of senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, subordinated junior debt securities, preferred stock or depositary shares, as the case may be, registered under this registration statement.

(4)

Senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, subordinated junior debt securities and shares of preferred stock and common stock may also be issued by CNA Financial Corporation upon settlement of the purchase contracts or purchase units of CNA Financial Corporation.

(5)

Depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to a deposit agreement. In the event CNA Financial Corporation elects to offer to the public fractional interests in shares of preferred stock registered under this registration statement, depositary receipts may be distributed to those persons purchasing such fractional interests and the shares of preferred stock will be issued to the depositary under the deposit agreement. No separate consideration will be received for the depositary shares.

(6)

Warrants may represent rights to purchase debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or depositary shares registered under this registration statement.

(7)

Purchase contracts may be issued separately or as purchase units.

(8)

Purchase units may consist of a purchase contract and any of the debt securities registered under this registration statement or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities, securing the holders' obligations to purchase the applicable purchase contract securities under the purchase contract, and/or preferred securities issued by the CNA Capital Trusts, securing the holders' obligations to purchase the applicable purchase contract securities under the purchase contract.

(9)

CNA Financial Corporation is also registering under this registration statement the guarantees and all other obligations that it may have with respect to preferred securities issued by CNA Financial Capital I, CNA Financial Capital II and CNA Financial Capital III. No separate consideration will be received for any guarantee or any other such obligations.

CNA Financial Corporation
Table of Additional Registrants

Name	State of Formation	IRS Employer Identification No.
CNA Financial Capital I	Delaware	To be applied for.
CNA Financial Capital II	Delaware	To be applied for.
CNA Financial Capital III	Delaware	To be applied for.

           The address, including zip code, of the principal offices of the additional registrants listed above is: c/o CNA Financial Corporation, 333 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60604 and the telephone number, including area code, of such additional registrants at that address is (312) 822-5000.

PROSPECTUS

CNA Financial Corporation

Senior Debt Securities
Subordinated Debt Securities
Subordinated Junior Debt Securities
Preferred Stock
Depositary Shares
Common Stock
Warrants
Purchase Contracts
Purchase Units

CNA Financial Capital I
CNA Financial Capital II
CNA Financial Capital III

Preferred Securities fully and unconditionally
guaranteed, as described herein, by

CNA Financial Corporation

        This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities. The specific terms of any securities to be offered, and any other information relating to a specific offering, will be set forth in a supplement to this prospectus or in one or more documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any supplement carefully before you invest. This prospectus may not be used to sell these securities without a supplement.

        We may offer, from time to time, the securities described in this prospectus separately or together in any combination. CNA Financial Capital I, CNA Financial Capital II and CNA Financial Capital III are Delaware statutory trusts which may offer from time to time preferred securities representing preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the applicable trust.

        We may offer these securities from time to time in amounts, at prices and on other terms to be determined at the time of offering. We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. The names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of any securities and the specific manner in which they may be offered, including any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them, will be set forth in the prospectus supplement covering the sale of those securities.

        Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Chicago Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "CNA."

Investing in our securities or the securities of our trusts involves risks. See "Risk Factors" on page 4 of this prospectus.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is April 5, 2013.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS		1
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION		1
THE CNA COMPANIES		2
THE CNA CAPITAL TRUSTS		3
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS		4
RISK FACTORS		4
USE OF PROCEEDS		4
RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS		5
SECURITIES TO BE OFFERED		5
DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES		6
DESCRIPTION OF JUNIOR DEBT SECURITIES		17
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK		27
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK		28
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES		31
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS		34
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SECURITIES		35
DESCRIPTION OF GUARANTEES		47
RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE PREFERRED SECURITIES, THE CORRESPONDING JUNIOR DEBT SECURITIES AND THE GUARANTEES		49
DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND PURCHASE UNITS		51
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION		51
CERTAIN ERISA MATTERS		53
VALIDITY OF SECURITIES		53
EXPERTS		53

i

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

        This prospectus is part of an automatic shelf registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the "SEC," as a "well-known seasoned issuer" as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Under the automatic shelf registration process, we may, over time, offer and sell any combination of any series of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants, purchase contracts and purchase units and the CNA Capital Trusts may offer and sell the preferred securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. In this prospectus, we will refer to the debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants, purchase contracts, purchase units and preferred securities collectively as the "securities." This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that may be offered. Each time we offer securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement or other offering materials that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If the information in this prospectus is inconsistent with a prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in that prospectus supplement. Please carefully read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information," before purchasing any securities.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any issuer free writing prospectus. "Incorporated by reference" means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state or jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should only assume that the information in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement or issuer free writing prospectus is accurate only as of their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

        Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this prospectus to:

•

"CNAF," "we," "us," "our" and similar references mean CNA Financial Corporation;

•

the "CNA Companies" and the "Company" mean CNA Financial Corporation and its subsidiaries; and

•

the "CNA Capital Trusts" mean CNA Financial Capital I, CNA Financial Capital II and CNA Financial Capital III and "CNA Capital Trust" means one of the CNA Capital Trusts.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

        We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC's website located at http://www.sec.gov and on the investor relations pages of our website located at http://www.cna.com. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SEC's public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room.

        The SEC allows us to disclose certain information to you in this prospectus by referring you to documents previously filed with the SEC that include such information. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 made subsequent to the date of this prospectus until the termination

1

of the offering of the securities described in this prospectus (other than information in such filings that was "furnished," under applicable SEC rules, rather than "filed").

•

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012; and

•

The description of our common stock contained in Amendment No. 2 to our Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A filed with the SEC on April 14, 2010 under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

        You may request a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

Office of the General Counsel
CNA Financial Corporation
333 South Wabash Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60604
(312) 822-5000

        We have not included, or incorporated by reference, separate financial statements of any of the CNA Capital Trusts. The CNA Capital Trusts have no operating history or independent operations. The limited purposes of the CNA Capital Trusts are to issue common and preferred securities and to use the proceeds to purchase junior subordinated debt securities from us. We own all of the common securities of the CNA Capital Trusts and will fully guarantee all of the obligations of the CNA Capital Trusts. Because of these factors, we do not believe that separate financial statements for the CNA Capital Trusts would be helpful to you in considering an investment in any of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus.

        You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different or additional information. An offer of these securities is not being made in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents.

THE CNA COMPANIES

        The Company is a global insurance organization serving businesses with a broad range of commercial property and casualty insurance products, including surety, and insurance-related services. We serve a wide variety of customers, including small, medium and large businesses, associations, professionals, and groups with a broad range of insurance and risk management products and services. Our insurance products primarily include commercial property and casualty coverages. Our services include risk management, information services, warranty and claims administration. Our products and services are marketed through independent agents, brokers and managing general agents.

        In 2012, the Company wrote approximately $7.0 billion of annual net premiums. In 2011, we wrote approximately $6.8 billion of annual net premiums, making our organization the country's seventh largest commercial insurance writer and the 13^th largest property casualty insurance organization. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Chicago Stock Exchange. The trading symbol for our common stock is "CNA." As of February 28, 2013, Loews Corporation owned approximately 90% of our outstanding common stock.

        CNAF was incorporated as a Delaware corporation in 1967. Our principal subsidiaries are The Continental Corporation, incorporated in 1968, which is the holding company of Continental Casualty Company, incorporated in 1897. Principal subsidiaries of Continental Casualty Company are Continental Assurance Company, incorporated in 1911, The Continental Insurance Company (CIC), incorporated in 1853 and Western Surety Company, incorporated in 1900. CIC became a subsidiary of ours in 1995 as a result of the acquisition of The Continental Corporation.

2

        The principal business of the CNA Companies is property and casualty insurance. Continental Casualty Company, The Continental Insurance Company, Western Surety Company and each of their property and casualty insurance affiliates generally conduct the property and casualty insurance operations of the CNA Companies. Our life and group insurance operations, which have either been sold or are being managed as a run-off operation, are conducted by Continental Casualty Company and Continental Assurance Company. The principal market for insurance products offered by the CNA Companies is the United States.

THE CNA CAPITAL TRUSTS

        Each CNA Capital Trust is a statutory business trust formed under Delaware law pursuant to (i) a trust agreement executed by us, as sponsor of the CNA Capital Trust, and a Delaware trustee for that CNA Capital Trust and (ii) the filing of a certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary of State. Each trust agreement has been amended and restated in its entirety, and is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Each trust agreement has been qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. Each CNA Capital Trust exists for the exclusive purposes of (i) issuing its common and preferred securities, (ii) using the proceeds from the sale of its securities to acquire a series of junior debt securities that we issue, and (iii) engaging in other related activities.

        We will continue to maintain directly or indirectly 100% ownership of the common securities of each CNA Capital Trust, provided that certain successors which are permitted pursuant to the junior indenture may succeed to our ownership of the common securities. The common securities of a CNA Capital Trust rank equal to, and payments will be made thereon in the same proportion, as the preferred securities of such CNA Capital Trust, except that upon the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under a trust agreement resulting from an event of default under the indenture with respect to the junior debt securities, hereafter referred to as a "junior debt related event of default," our rights as holder of the common securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption or otherwise will be subordinated to the rights of the holders of the preferred securities of such CNA Capital Trust.

        Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each CNA Capital Trust has a term of approximately 55 years, but may terminate earlier as provided in the applicable trust agreement. Each CNA Capital Trust's business and affairs are conducted by its trustees, each appointed by us, as holder of the common securities. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the trustees for each CNA Capital Trust will be The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as successor in interest to J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association (formerly known as The First National Bank of Chicago), as the property trustee, BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware as successor in interest to Chase Bank USA, National Association, as the Delaware trustee, and two individual trustees, as the administrative trustees, who are employees or officers of or affiliated with the CNA Companies. The property trustee, the Delaware trustee and the administrative trustees are collectively referred to in this prospectus as the "issuer trustees." The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as property trustee, will act as sole indenture trustee under each trust agreement for purposes of compliance with the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. will also act as trustee under the guarantees and the junior debt indenture. The holder of the common securities of a CNA Capital Trust, or the holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the related preferred securities if an event of default in respect of the trust agreement for such CNA Capital Trust has occurred and is continuing, will be entitled to appoint, remove or replace the property trustee and/or the Delaware trustee for such CNA Capital Trust. In no event will the holders of the preferred securities have the right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the administrative trustees; such voting rights are vested exclusively in the holder of the common securities. The duties and obligations of each issuer trustee are governed by the applicable trust agreement. We will pay all fees and expenses related to each CNA Capital Trust and the offering of the preferred securities and will pay, directly or indirectly, all ongoing costs, expenses and liabilities of each CNA Capital Trust.

3

        The principal executive office of each CNA Capital Trust is 333 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60604, and the telephone number of each is (312) 822-5000.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        This prospectus, the documents that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement may contain statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, our forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates" and other similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "should," "would" and "could" are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. You should not rely solely on the forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by reference to, and are accompanied by, the important factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, which is incorporated by reference herein, including under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Statements," as updated by our other SEC filings filed after such Annual Report. You should consider all uncertainties and risks contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

RISK FACTORS

        Our business, and an investment in the securities, is subject to uncertainties and risks. You should carefully consider and evaluate all of the information included and incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including the risk factors incorporated by reference from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated by other SEC filings filed after such report, as well as any risks described in any applicable prospectus supplement. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. The occurrence of any of these risks may cause you to lose all or part of your investment.

USE OF PROCEEDS

        Except as otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus will be added to our general funds and used for general corporate purposes which may include, but are not limited to, prepayment of other debt and capital contributions to our subsidiaries to support such subsidiaries' operations. Each CNA Capital Trust will use all proceeds received from the sale of its securities to purchase our junior debt securities.

4

RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND
EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

        The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges and our ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for each of the periods indicated. The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is computed by dividing (1) the sum of income from continuing operations before income taxes and fixed charges less undistributed income from unconsolidated equity investees by (2) total fixed charges. For purposes of computing these ratios, fixed charges consist of interest expense, an estimated interest portion of rental expense and interest credited to policyholders.

	Year Ended December 31,
	2012		2011		2010		2009		2008
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges		5.1		5.9		6.5		3.1		(a)
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends		5.1		5.9		3.9		1.4		(b)

(a)

For the year ended December 31, 2008, earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $109 million.

(b)

For the year ended December 31, 2008, earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges and preferred dividends by $138 million.

SECURITIES TO BE OFFERED

Securities to be offered

        The following types of securities may be offered and sold from time to time under this prospectus:

(1)

our senior debt securities;



(2)

our subordinated debt securities, which together with the senior debt securities, are collectively referred to in this prospectus as the "debt securities";



(3)

our subordinated junior debt securities, which are referred to in this prospectus as the "junior debt securities";



(4)

shares of our common stock, par value $2.50 per share;



(5)

shares of our preferred stock, no par value, which may be represented by depositary shares;



(6)

warrants to purchase our debt securities, junior debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares;



(7)

purchase contracts to purchase any of our debt securities, junior debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants or preferred securities of the CNA Capital Trusts, which are collectively referred to in this prospectus as the "purchase contract securities;" and



(8)

purchase units, each representing ownership of a purchase contract and any of (x) our debt securities or junior debt securities, (y) debt obligations of third parties, including treasury bonds and similar obligations of the United States and/or (z) preferred securities issued by the CNA Capital Trusts, securing the holder's obligations to purchase the applicable purchase contract securities under the purchase contract.

        Any of the securities may be offered and sold in one or more separate classes or series, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of sale and set forth in a prospectus supplement. The securities offered pursuant to this prospectus may be sold for U.S. dollars, foreign denominated currency or currency units. Similarly, the amounts payable by us as dividends, interest, principal or other distributions also may be payable in U.S. dollars, foreign

5

denominated currency or currency units. Debt securities and junior debt securities may consist of debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness. We will describe all of these terms in the prospectus supplement relating to the applicable offering.

Securities to be offered through the CNA Capital Trusts

        Preferred securities may be offered and sold, from time to time, under each of the CNA Capital Trusts. We will guarantee the obligation of the CNA Capital Trusts to pay (i) periodic cash distributions, (ii) liquidation amounts and (iii) redemption payments with respect to the preferred securities. EACH GUARANTEE WILL BE AN IRREVOCABLE GUARANTEE BY US ON A SUBORDINATED BASIS THAT THE RELATED CNA CAPITAL TRUST WILL PAY ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER ITS PREFERRED SECURITIES TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH RELATED CNA CAPITAL TRUST HAS SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO MAKE SUCH PAYMENTS. THE GUARANTEE IS NOT A GUARANTEE OF COLLECTION FROM US. The guarantee is subordinate to all our indebtedness (including any debt securities which may be issued pursuant to this prospectus), except for (i) our indebtedness that is expressly made junior to or equal with such guarantee, (ii) non-recourse indebtedness, (iii) our indebtedness to any of the other CNA Companies or to any of our employees, (iv) our liabilities for taxes, (v) trade debt incurred in the ordinary course of business and (vi) junior debt securities. In connection with the investment of the proceeds from the offering of preferred securities, CNA Capital Trusts will purchase junior debt securities that we issue in one or more series. The junior debt securities purchased by a CNA Capital Trust may be subsequently distributed pro rata to the holder of preferred securities and common securities of that CNA Capital Trust under certain circumstances.

        You should read the summaries below of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus, as well as the description of the particular securities in any applicable prospectus supplement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES

        The debt securities will consist of notes, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness. Debt securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The senior debt securities will be issued under an indenture, dated March 1, 1991, between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as successor in interest to J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association (formerly known as The First National Bank of Chicago), a national banking association, as trustee, as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture, dated as of October 15, 1993, and by a second supplemental indenture, dated as of December 15, 2004. The indenture, as supplemented, governing the senior debt securities is referred to in this prospectus as the "senior indenture." The subordinated debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as successor in interest to J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, as trustee. The indenture governing the subordinated debt is referred to in this prospectus as the "subordinated indenture," and the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are sometimes referred to collectively as the "indentures" and individually as the "indenture." The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., in its capacity as trustee under either or both of the indentures is referred to hereinafter as the "trustee."

        Each of the indentures has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and is subject to that Act. Copies of the senior indenture and the form of the subordinated indenture are included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The following description summarizes the material terms of the indentures and the debt securities. Because it is only a summary, it does not contain all of the details found in the full text of the debt securities and the indentures, including the definitions of certain terms used in the description of the debt securities in this prospectus, and other terms that are made a part of the indentures by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

6

        The indentures are substantially identical except for provisions relating to subordination. Any debt securities offered by this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement are referred to herein as the "offered debt securities."

General

        The indentures do not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that may be issued thereunder and provide that debt securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series and may be denominated and payable in U.S. dollars, foreign currencies or units based on or related to foreign currencies. Offered debt securities may be sold at par, a premium or an original issue discount. Offered debt securities sold at an original issue discount may bear no interest or interest at a below market rate. The specific terms of a series of offered debt securities will be established in or pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors and/or in one or more supplemental indentures. Pursuant to the indentures, we can establish different rights with respect to each series of debt securities issued under the indentures.

        The applicable prospectus supplement may, to the extent applicable, provide information for the following terms of the offered debt securities to the extent such terms are applicable to such offered debt securities:

•

the title of such offered debt securities and the particular series thereof;

•

any limit on the aggregate principal amount of such offered debt securities;

•

whether such offered debt securities will be senior or subordinated;

•

whether such offered debt securities are to be issuable in registered form, referred to in this prospectus as "registered securities," or bearer form, referred to in this prospectus as "bearer securities," or both, whether any of such offered debt securities are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any of such offered debt securities are to be issuable in permanent global form, all of which are referred to in this prospectus as "global securities";

•

the price or prices (generally expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which such offered debt securities will be issued;

•

the date or dates on which such offered debt securities will mature;

•

the interest rate or rates per annum for the offered debt securities, or the formula by which such interest rate or rates shall be determined for the offered debt securities, the dates from which any such interest on the offered debt securities will accrue and the circumstances, if any, under which we may reset such interest rate or interest rate formula;

•

the interest payment dates on which any such interest on such offered debt securities will be payable, the regular record date for any interest payable on such offered debt securities that are registered securities on any interest payment date, and the extent to which, or the manner in which any interest payable on global securities on an interest payment date will be paid if other than in the manner described below under "Global Securities;"

•

the person to whom interest on any registered securities of such series will be payable, if other than the person in whose name such offered debt securities (or one or more predecessor offered debt securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such payment, and the manner in which, or the person to whom, any interest on any bearer securities of such series will be payable, if otherwise than upon presentation and surrender of the coupons thereto;

7

•

if other than the principal amount of such offered debt securities, the portion of the principal amount of such offered debt securities which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof or provable in bankruptcy;

•

any mandatory or optional sinking fund or analogous provisions;

•

each office or agency where, subject to the terms of the applicable indenture as described below under "Payments and Paying Agents," the principal of any interest on such offered debt securities will be payable and each office or agency where, subject to the terms of the applicable indenture as described below under "Denominations, Registration and Transfer," such offered debt securities may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange;

•

the date, if any, after which and the price or prices at which, such offered debt securities may be redeemed, pursuant to any optional or mandatory redemption provisions, in whole or in part, and the other detailed terms and provisions of any such optional or mandatory redemption provisions;

•

the denominations in which such offered debt securities which are registered securities will be issuable, if other than denominations of U.S. $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, and the denomination in which such offered debt securities which are bearer securities will be issuable, if other than denominations of U.S. $5,000;

•

the currency or currencies of payment of principal of and any premium and interest on such offered debt securities;

•

any index used to determine the amount of payments of principal or any interest on such debt securities different from those described herein;

•

the application, if any, of any restrictive covenants or events of default that are in addition to or different from those described herein;

•

the form of such offered debt securities; and

•

any other terms and provisions of such offered debt securities not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of the applicable indenture including, without limitation, any restrictive covenants which may be applicable to us for the benefit of the holders of such offered debt securities.

        Any such prospectus supplement will also describe any special provisions for the payment of additional amounts with respect to such offered debt securities. Offered debt securities of any series may be issued in one or more tranches as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        If the purchase price of any of the offered debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units or if the principal of and any premium and interest on any series of debt securities are payable in a foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units, the restrictions, elections, general tax considerations, specific terms and other information with respect to such issue of debt securities and such foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Ranking and Subordination

Senior Debt Securities.

        The senior debt securities will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. As of December 31, 2012, we had approximately $2.5 billion aggregate principal amount of indebtedness for borrowed money which would rank pari passu with the senior debt securities. The senior indenture does not limit the amount of debt, either secured or unsecured, that we may issue

8

under the senior indenture or otherwise. In addition, our subsidiaries had borrowings of approximately $10 million, which would rank pari passu with the senior debt securities, as of December 31, 2012.

Subordinated Debt Securities.

        Indebtedness evidenced by the subordinated debt securities will be subordinated in right of payment, as set forth in the subordinated indenture, to the prior payment in full of all our existing and future senior indebtedness. Senior indebtedness is defined in the subordinated indenture as the principal of and interest on (including any interest that accrues after or would have accrued but for the filing of a petition initiating any proceeding pursuant to any bankruptcy law, regardless of whether such interest is allowed or permitted to the holder of such debt against our bankruptcy or any other insolvency estate in such proceeding) and other amounts due on or in connection with any debt incurred, assumed or guaranteed by us, whether outstanding on the date of the subordinated indenture or thereafter incurred, assumed or guaranteed, and all renewals, extensions and refunds of any such debt. Amounts outstanding under any senior debt securities will be included in senior indebtedness. Excluded from the definition of senior indebtedness are the following: (a) any debt which expressly provides (i) that such debt shall not be senior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities, or (ii) that such debt shall be subordinated to any of our other debt, unless such debt expressly provides that such debt shall be senior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities; and (b) any of our debt in respect of the subordinated debt securities. As of December 31, 2012, we had approximately $2.5 billion aggregate principal amount of indebtedness for borrowed money which would rank senior to the subordinated debt securities and no borrowings which would rank junior or equal with the subordinated debt securities. In addition, our subsidiaries had borrowings of approximately $30 million, which would rank junior or equal with the subordinated debt securities, as of December 31, 2012.

        By reason of such subordination, in the event of dissolution, insolvency, bankruptcy or other similar proceedings, upon any distribution of assets: (i) the holders of subordinated debt securities will be required to pay over their share of such distribution to the holders of senior indebtedness until such senior indebtedness is paid in full; and (ii) the holders of junior debt securities may recover less, ratably, than holders of senior indebtedness and holders of subordinated debt securities.

        In the event that the subordinated debt securities are declared due and payable prior to their stated maturity by reason of the occurrence of an event of default, we are obligated to notify holders of senior indebtedness promptly of such acceleration. We may not pay the subordinated debt securities until 179 days have passed after such acceleration occurs and may thereafter pay the subordinated debt securities if the terms of the subordinated indenture otherwise permit payment at that time.

        No payment of the principal, issue price plus accrued original issue discount (if any), redemption price, interest, if any, or any other amount payable with respect to any subordinated debt securities may be made, nor may we acquire any subordinated debt securities except as described in the subordinated indenture, if any default with respect to senior indebtedness occurs and is continuing that permits the acceleration of the maturity of the senior indebtedness and either such default is the subject of judicial proceedings or we receive notice of the default, unless:

•

179 days pass after notice of the default is given and such default is not then the subject of judicial proceedings or the default with respect to the senior indebtedness is cured or waived; and

•

the terms of the subordinated indenture otherwise permit the payment or acquisition of the subordinated debt securities at that time.

9

Denominations, Registration and Transfer

        The offered debt securities will be issuable as registered securities, bearer securities or both. Offered debt securities may be issuable in the form of one or more global securities, as described below under "Global Securities." Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, registered securities denominated in U.S. dollars will be issued only in denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof and bearer securities denominated in U.S. dollars will be issued only in denominations of $5,000 with coupons attached. Global securities will be issued in a denomination equal to the aggregate principal amount of outstanding offered debt securities represented by such global securities. The prospectus supplement relating to offered debt securities denominated in a foreign or composite currency will specify the denominations for these offered debt securities.

        In connection with its original issuance, no bearer securities shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to any location in the United States (as defined below under "Limitations on Issuance of Bearer Securities") and bearer securities may be delivered in connection with their original issuance only if the person entitled to receive such bearer securities furnishes written certification, in the form required by the applicable indenture, to the effect that such bearer securities are not being acquired by or on behalf of a United States person (as defined below under "Limitations on Issuance of Bearer Securities"), or, if a beneficial interest in such bearer securities is being acquired by or on behalf of a United States person, that such United States person is a financial institution (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.165-12(c)(1)(v)) that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of a customer and which agrees to comply with the requirements of Section 1 65(j)(3)(A), (B) or (C) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder.

        Registered securities of any series will be exchangeable for other registered securities of the same series and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor of different authorized denominations. In addition, if offered debt securities of any series are issuable as both registered securities and as bearer securities, at the option of the holder upon request confirmed in writing, and subject to the terms of the applicable indenture, bearer securities (with all unmatured coupons, except as provided below, and all matured coupons in default attached) of such series will be exchangeable for registered securities of the same series of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor. Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, any bearer securities surrendered in exchange for registered securities between a record date and the relevant date for payment of interest shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such date for payment of interest attached and interest will not be payable in respect of the registered securities issued in exchange for such bearer securities, but will be payable only to the holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the terms of the applicable indenture. Except as provided in an applicable prospectus supplement, bearer securities will not be issued in exchange for registered securities.

        Offered debt securities may be presented for exchange as provided above, and registered securities (other than global securities) may be presented for registration of transfer (with the form of transfer duly executed), at the office of the security registrar we designate or at the office of any transfer agent we designate for such purpose with respect to any series of offered debt securities and referred to in an applicable prospectus supplement, without service charge and upon payment of any taxes and other governmental charges as described in the applicable indenture. Such transfer or exchange will be made when the security registrar or such transfer agent, as the case may be, is satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request. We have initially appointed the trustee as the security registrar under the indentures. If a prospectus supplement refers to any transfer agent, in addition to the security registrar, we initially designate with respect to any series of offered debt securities, we may at any time rescind the designation of any such transfer agent or approve a change in the location through which any such transfer agent acts. Exceptions to the prior sentence will occur if offered debt securities of a series are issuable only as registered securities. We will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for such series. Similarly, if offered debt securities

10

of a series are issuable as bearer securities, then we will be required to maintain, in addition to the security registrar, a transfer agent in a place of payment for such series located outside the United States. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents with respect to any series of offered debt securities.

        In the event of any redemption, neither we nor the trustee shall be required to: (i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange offered debt securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of offered debt securities of that series selected to be redeemed and ending at the close of business (a) if offered debt securities of the series are issuable only as registered securities, the day of mailing of the relevant notice of redemption, and (b) if offered debt securities of the series are issuable as bearer securities, the day of the first publication of the relevant notice of redemption or, if offered debt securities of that series are also issuable as registered securities and there is no publication, the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption; (ii) register the transfer of or exchange any registered securities or portion thereof called for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any registered securities being redeemed in part; or (iii) exchange any bearer securities called for redemption, except to exchange such bearer securities for registered securities of that series and like tenor which are immediately surrendered for redemption.

Payments and Paying Agents

        Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, payment of principal of and any interest on registered securities (other than global securities) will be made at the office of such paying agent or paying agents as we may designate from time to time, except that, at our option, payment of any interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the payee entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the security register. Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, payment of any installment of interest on registered securities will be made to the person in whose name such registered securities are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest payment.

        Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, payment of principal of and any premium and interest on bearer securities will be payable (subject to applicable laws and regulations) at the offices of such paying agent or paying agents as we may designate from time to time, except that, at our option, payment of any interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the payee entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the security register. Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, payment of any installment of interest on registered securities will be made to the person in whose name such registered securities are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest payment.

        Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, payment of principal of and any premium and interest on bearer securities will be payable (subject to applicable laws and regulations) at the offices of such paying agent or paying agents outside the United States as we may designate from time to time, except that, at our option, payment of any interest may be made by check or by wire transfer to an account maintained by the payee outside the United States. Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, payment of interest on bearer securities on any interest payment date will be made only against surrender of the coupon relating to such interest payment date. No payment with respect to any bearer securities will be made at any of our offices or agencies in the United States or by check mailed to any address in the United States or by wire transfer to an account maintained in the United States. Payments will not be made in respect of bearer securities or coupons relating to those bearer securities pursuant to presentation to us or our paying agents within the United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, payment of principal of and any interest on bearer securities denominated and payable in U.S. dollars will be made at the office of our paying agent in the United States if, and only if, payment of the full amount thereof in U.S. dollars at

11

all offices or agencies outside the United States is illegal or effectively precluded by exchange controls or other similar restrictions and we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel to that effect.

        Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, the principal office of the trustee in the City of New York will be designated as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to offered debt securities which are issuable solely as registered securities. Any paying agent outside the United States and any other paying agent in the United States that we initially designate for the offered debt securities will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts, except that, if offered debt securities of a series are issuable only as registered securities, we will be required to maintain a paying agent in each place of payment of such series and, if offered debt securities of a series are issuable as bearer securities, we will be required to maintain (i) a paying agent in each place of payment for such series in the United States for payments with respect to any registered securities of such series (and for payments with respect to bearer securities of such series in the circumstances described above, but not otherwise), (ii) a paying agent in each place of payment located outside the United States where offered debt securities of such series and any coupons belonging thereto may be presented and surrendered for payment; provided that if the offered debt securities of such series are listed on The International Stock Exchange, the London Stock Exchange or the Luxembourg Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange located outside the United States and such stock exchange shall so require, we will maintain a paying agent in London or Luxembourg or any other required city located outside the United States, as the case may be, for offered debt securities of such series, and (iii) a paying agent in each place of payment located outside the United States where (subject to applicable laws and regulations) registered securities of such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon us may be served.

        All monies we pay to a paying agent for the payment of principal of and any interest on any offered debt securities that remains unclaimed for at least two years after such principal, premium, if any, or interest has become due and the payable will be repaid, at our request, to us. After this repayment, the holder of such offered debt securities or any coupon relating thereto will look only to us for payment thereof.

Global Securities

        The offered debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the prospectus supplement relating to such series. Global securities may be issued only in fully registered form and may be issued in either temporary or permanent form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual offered debt securities represented thereby, global securities may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary for such global securities to a nominee of such depositary or by a nominee of such depositary to such depositary or another nominee of such depositary or by the depositary or any nominee of such depositary to a successor depositary or any nominee of such successor.

        The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series of offered debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such series. We anticipate that the following provisions will generally apply to depositary arrangements.

        Upon the issuance of global securities, the depositary for such global securities or its nominee will credit on its book-entry registration and transfer system the respective principal amounts of the individual offered debt securities represented by such global securities to the accounts of persons that have accounts with such depositary, who are referred to in this prospectus as "participants." Such accounts shall be designated by the underwriters, dealers or agents with respect to such offered debt

12

securities or by us if such offered debt securities are offered and sold directly by us. Ownership of beneficial interests in global securities will be limited to participants or persons that may hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in such global securities will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the applicable depositary or its nominee (with respect to interests of participants) and records of participants (with respect to interests of persons who hold through participants). The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such limits and such laws may impair the ability to own, pledge or transfer beneficial interest in global securities.

        So long as the depositary for global securities or its nominee is the registered owner of such global securities, such depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the offered debt securities represented by such global securities for all purposes under the applicable indenture. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in global securities will not be entitled to have any of the individual offered debt securities of the series represented by such global securities registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of any such offered debt securities of such series in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the applicable indenture.

        Payments of principal of and any premium and any interest on individual offered debt securities represented by global securities registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the global securities representing such offered debt securities. None of us, the trustee, any paying agent or the security registrar for such offered debt securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the global securities for such offered debt securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

        We expect that the depositary for a series of offered debt securities or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium or interest in respect of permanent global securities representing any of such offered debt securities, immediately will credit participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interest in the principal amount of such global securities for such offered debt securities as shown on the records of such depositary or its nominee. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in such global securities held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts in bearer form or registered in "street name." Such payments will be the responsibility of such participants.

        If a depositary for a series of offered debt securities is at any time unwilling, unable or ineligible to continue as depositary and we do not appoint a successor depositary within 90 days, we will issue individual offered debt securities of such series in exchange for the global securities representing such series of offered debt securities. In addition, we may, at any time and in our sole discretion, subject to any limitations described in the prospectus supplement relating to such offered debt securities, determine not to have any offered debt securities of such series represented by one or more global securities and, in such event, will issue individual offered debt securities of such series in exchange for the global securities representing such series of offered debt securities. Individual offered debt securities of such series so issued will be issued in denominations, unless we otherwise specify, of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.

Limitations on Issuance of Bearer Securities

        In compliance with United States federal tax laws and regulations, bearer securities may not be offered, sold, resold or delivered in connection with their original issuance in the United States or to a United States person (each as defined below) other than to a qualifying foreign branch of a United

13

States financial institution, and any underwriters, agents and dealers participating in the offering of offered debt securities must agree that they will not offer any bearer securities for sale or resale in the United States or to a United States person (other than to a qualifying foreign branch of a United States financial institution) or deliver bearer securities within the United States. In addition, any such underwriters, agents and dealers must agree to send confirmations to each purchaser of bearer securities confirming that such purchaser represents that it is not a United States person or is a qualifying foreign branch of a United States financial institution and, if such person is a dealer, that it will send similar confirmations to purchasers from it. The term "qualifying foreign branch of a United States financial institution" means a branch located outside the United States of a United States securities clearing organization, bank or other financial institution listed under Treasury Regulation Section 1.165-12(c)(1)(v) that agrees to comply with the requirements of Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B) or (C) of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.

        Bearer securities and any coupons relating thereto will bear a legend substantially to the following effect: "Any United States person who holds this obligation will be subject to limitations under the United States income tax laws, including the limitations provided in Sections 165(j) and 1287(a) of the Internal Revenue Code." Under Sections 165(j) and 1287(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, holders that are United States persons, with certain exceptions, will not be entitled to deduct any loss on bearer securities and must treat as ordinary income, any gain realized on the sale or other disposition (including the receipt of principal) of bearer securities.

        The term "United States person" means a citizen or resident of the United States, a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof, an estate or, for taxable years beginning before January 1, 1997, a trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source or, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1996, a trust if a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. fiduciaries have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust. The term "United States" means the United States of America (including the states and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction (including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico).

Defeasance

        The indentures provide that we will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities of any series (except for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of such series, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of such series, to maintain paying agencies and to hold monies for payment in trust) upon the deposit with the trustee for such series of debt securities in trust of money and/or U.S. government obligations in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and each installment of interest, if any, on the debt securities of such series on the maturity of such payments in accordance with the terms of the applicable indenture and the debt securities of such series. Such a trust may only be established if, among other things, we have delivered to such trustee an opinion of counsel (who may be our counsel) to the effect that (i) holders of the debt securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times, as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred, and (ii) the debt securities of such series, if then listed on The New York Stock Exchange, will not be delisted as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge.

        The indentures provide that, if applicable, we may omit to comply with any additional restrictive covenants imposed on us in connection with the establishment of any series of debt securities and that clause (d) under "Events of Default" below with respect to such restrictive covenants and clause (e) under "Events of Default" shall not be deemed to be an event of default under the applicable

14

indenture and the debt securities of any series, upon the deposit with the trustee under the applicable indenture, in trust of money and/or U.S. government obligations which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of, and each installment of interest, if any, on the debt securities of such series on the maturity of such payments in accordance with the terms of the applicable indenture and the debt securities of such series. Our obligations under the applicable indenture and debt securities of such series other than with respect to the covenants referred to above and the events of default other than the events of default referred to above shall remain in full force and effect. Such a trust may only be established if, among other things, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel (who may be our counsel) to the effect that (i) the holders of the debt securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance of certain covenants and events of default and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times, as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred, and (ii) the debt securities of such series, if then listed on The New York Stock Exchange, will not be delisted as a result of such deposit and defeasance.

        In the event we exercise our option to omit compliance with certain covenants of an indenture with respect to the debt securities of any series as described above and the debt securities of such series are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any event of default other than an event of default described in clauses (d) or (e) under "Events of Default," the amount of money and U.S. government obligations on deposit with the trustee will be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of such series at the time of the acceleration resulting from such event of default. However, we will remain liable for such payments.

        The term "U.S. government obligations" means direct noncallable obligations of, or noncallable obligations guaranteed by, the United States or an agency thereof for the payment of which guarantee or obligation, the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged.

Modification of the Indentures

        The indentures contain provisions permitting us and the trustee, with the consent of the holders of a majority of the principal amount of the debt securities of each series then outstanding under such indenture, to execute supplemental indentures adding any provisions to or changing or eliminating any of the provisions of the applicable indenture or modifying the rights of the holders of the debt securities of such series, except that no such supplemental indenture may, among other things, (i) extend the final maturity of any debt securities, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce the principal amount thereof, impair the right to institute suit for payment thereof or reduce any amount payable upon any redemption thereof without the consent of the holder of the debt securities so affected, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of debt securities, the consent of the holders of which is required for any such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the holders of all outstanding debt securities. Our board of directors does not have the power to waive any of the covenants of the indentures including those relating to consolidation, merger or sale of assets.

Events of Default

        An event of default with respect to any series of debt securities is defined in the indentures as being:

(a)

a default by us for 30 days in the payment of any installment of interest on the debt securities of such series;



(b)

a default by us in the payment of any principal on the debt securities of such series when due;

15

(c)

a default by us in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to such series of debt securities;



(d)

a default by us in the performance of any of the agreements in the applicable indenture contained therein for the benefit of the debt securities of such series which shall not have been remedied within a period of 60 days after receipt of written notice by us from the trustee for such series of debt securities or by us and such trustee from the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the offered debt securities of such series then outstanding;



(e)

with respect to any series of offered debt securities (unless otherwise specified in the accompanying prospectus supplement), the acceleration, or failure to pay at maturity, of any of our indebtedness for money borrowed exceeding $100,000,000 in principal amount, which acceleration is not rescinded or annulled or indebtedness paid within 15 days after the date on which written notice thereof shall have first been given to us as provided in the applicable indenture;



(f)

certain events with respect to our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, with the occurrence of any such event being referred to in this prospectus as a "bankruptcy default;" or



(g)

any other event of default established in accordance with the applicable indenture with respect to any series of debt securities.

        No event of default (other than a bankruptcy default) with respect to a particular series of debt securities necessarily constitutes an event of default with respect to any other series of debt securities.

        The indentures provide that if an event of default with respect to any series of debt securities shall have occurred and is continuing, either the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of debt securities of that series then outstanding may declare the principal amount (or, if the debt securities of that series were sold at an original issue discount, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of all the debt securities of that series and interest, if any, accrued thereon to be due and payable immediately, but upon certain conditions such declaration may be annulled and past defaults (except, unless theretofore cured, a default in payment of principal of or interest on debt securities of that series) may be waived by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding.

        The indentures each contain a provision entitling the trustee with respect to any series of debt securities, subject to the duty of the trustee during default to act with the required standard of care, to be indemnified by the holders of debt securities of such series before proceeding to exercise any right or power under the applicable indenture at the request of the holders of such debt securities. The indentures also provide that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee for such series of debt securities, or exercising any trust or power conferred on such trustee, with respect to the debt securities of such series. The indentures each contain a covenant that we will file annually with the trustee a certificate as to the absence of any default or specifying any default that exists.

        No holder of any debt securities of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the applicable indenture or for any remedy under such indenture, unless (i) such holder previously shall have given the trustee for such series of debt securities written notice of an event of default with respect to debt securities of that series and (ii) the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series shall have made written request, and offered reasonable indemnity, to such trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee, and such trustee shall not have received from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series a direction inconsistent with such request and shall have failed to institute

16

such proceeding within 60 days. However, any right of a holder of any debt securities to receive payment of the principal of and any interest on such debt securities on or after the due dates expressed in such debt securities and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such dates shall not be impaired or affected without consent of such holder.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

        We covenant that we will not merge or consolidate with any other corporation or sell or convey all or substantially all of our assets to any person, unless (i) either we shall be the continuing corporation, or the successor corporation or the person which acquires by sale or conveyance substantially all of our assets (if other than us) shall be a corporation organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof and shall expressly assume the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on all the debt securities, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of the applicable indenture to be performed or observed by us, by supplemental indenture satisfactory to the trustee, executed and delivered to the trustee by such corporation, and (ii) we or such successor corporation, as the case may be, shall not, immediately after such merger or consolidation, or such sale or conveyance, be in default in the performance of any such covenants or condition.

        Other than the covenants described above, or as set forth in any accompanying prospectus supplement, the indentures and the debt securities do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event of a takeover, recapitalization or highly leveraged transaction in which we are involved.

No Personal Liability

        No past, present or future director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of ours or any successor of ours shall have any liability for any of our obligations under the debt securities or the indentures or for any claims based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of debt securities by accepting such debt securities waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the debt securities.

The Trustee

        The trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of debt securities and may otherwise deal with us or our affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not the trustee provided it complies with the terms of the applicable indenture. The CNA Companies and the trustee may engage in normal and customary banking transactions from time to time.

DESCRIPTION OF JUNIOR DEBT SECURITIES

        The junior debt securities may be issued in one or more series under a junior subordinated indenture between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as successor in interest to J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association (formerly known as The First National Bank of Chicago), as trustee. The junior subordinated indenture is referred to in this prospectus as the "junior indenture" and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., in its capacity as trustee under the junior indenture, is referred to in this prospectus as the "junior indenture trustee." The junior indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and is subject to that Act. The form of the junior indenture is included as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The following description summarizes the material terms of the junior indenture and the junior debt securities. Because it is only a summary, it does not contain all of the details found in the full text of the junior debt securities and the junior indenture, including the

17

definitions of certain terms used in the description of the junior debt securities in this prospectus, and those terms made a part of the junior indenture by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

General

        The junior indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of junior debt securities that may be issued thereunder and provides that junior debt securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series and may be denominated and payable in U.S. dollars, foreign currencies or units based on or related to foreign currencies. Junior debt securities may be sold at par, a premium or a discount. As of December 31, 2012, we had approximately $2.5 billion aggregate principal amount of indebtedness for borrowed money which would rank senior to the junior debt securities, and no such indebtedness which is equal or junior to the junior debt securities.

        The junior debt securities will be issuable in one or more series pursuant to an indenture supplemental to the junior indenture or a resolution of our board of directors or a committee thereof.

        The applicable prospectus supplement may, to the extent applicable, provide information for the following terms of the junior debt securities:

•

the title of the junior debt securities or series thereof;

•

any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the junior debt securities;

•

the date or dates on which the principal of the junior debt securities is payable, referred to in this prospectus as the "stated maturity," or the method of determination thereof;

•

the interest rate or rates, if any, for the junior debt securities, the dates on which any such interest shall be payable, our right, if any, to defer or extend an interest payment date, and the regular record date for any interest payable on any interest payment date or the method by which any of the foregoing shall be determined;

•

the place or places where, subject to the terms of the junior indenture as described below under "Payment and Paying Agents," the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the junior debt securities will be payable and where, subject to the terms of the junior indenture as described below under "Denominations, Registration and Transfer," the junior debt securities may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange and the place or places where notices and demands to or upon us in respect of the junior debt securities and the junior indenture may be made, referred to in this prospectus as the "place of payment;"

•

our obligation or right, if any, to redeem, purchase or repay the junior debt securities and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, the currency or currencies (including currency unit or units) in which and the other terms and conditions upon which the junior debt securities shall be redeemed, repaid or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

•

the denominations in which any junior debt securities shall be issuable if other than denominations of $25 and any integral multiple thereof;

•

if other than in U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies (including currency unit or units) in which the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the junior debt securities shall be payable, or which the junior debt securities shall be denominated;

•

any additions, modifications or deletions in our events of default or covenants specified in the junior indenture with respect to the junior debt securities;

•

if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of junior debt securities that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof;

18

•

any additions or changes to the junior indenture with respect to a series of junior debt securities as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of such series in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons;

•

any index or indices used to determine the amount of payments of principal of and premium, if any, on the junior debt securities and the manner in which such amounts will be determined;

•

the terms and conditions relating to the issuance of a temporary global securities representing all of the junior debt securities of such series and the exchange of such temporary global securities for definitive junior debt securities of such series;

•

subject to the terms described below under "Global Junior Debt Securities," whether the junior debt securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities (which are referred to in this prospectus as "global junior debt securities") and, in such case, the depositary for such global junior debt securities, which depositary shall be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934;

•

the appointment of any paying agent or paying agents;

•

the terms and conditions of any obligation or right of ours or a holder to convert or exchange the junior debt securities into other securities;

•

the form of the trust agreement and guarantee agreement, if applicable;

•

the relative degree, if any, to which such junior debt securities of the series shall be senior to or be subordinated to our other series of such junior debt securities or our other indebtedness in right of payment, whether such other series of junior debt securities or other indebtedness are outstanding or not; and

•

any other terms of the junior debt securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the junior indenture.

        If the purchase price of any of the junior debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units or if the principal, premium, if any, and interest on any junior debt securities are payable in a foreign currency or currencies or currency unit or units, the restrictions, elections, general tax considerations, specific terms and other information with respect to such issue of junior debt securities and such foreign currency or currency units will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Denominations, Registration and Transfer

        Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the junior debt securities will be issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $25 and any integral multiple thereof. Junior debt securities of any series will be exchangeable for other junior debt securities of the same issue and series, of any authorized denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount, and bearing the same terms.

        Junior debt securities may be presented for exchange as provided above, and may be presented for registration of transfer (with the form of transfer endorsed thereon, or a satisfactory written instrument of transfer, duly executed), at the office of the appropriate securities registrar or at the office of any transfer agent we designate for such purpose with respect to any series of junior debt securities and referred to in the applicable prospectus supplement, without service charge and upon payment of any taxes and other governmental charges as described in the junior indenture. We will appoint the junior indenture trustee as securities registrar under the junior indenture. If the applicable prospectus supplement refers to any transfer agents (in addition to the securities registrar) we initially designate with respect to any series of junior debt securities, we may at any time rescind the designation of any

19

such transfer agent or approve a change in the location through which any such transfer agent acts, provided that we maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for such series. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents with respect to any series of junior debt securities.

        In the event of any redemption, neither we nor the junior indenture trustee shall be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange junior debt securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of selection for redemption of junior debt securities of that series and ending at the close of business on the day of mailing of the relevant notice of redemption or (ii) transfer or exchange any junior debt securities so selected for redemption, except, in the case of any junior debt securities being redeemed in part, any portion thereof not to be redeemed.

Payment and Paying Agents

        Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and any interest on junior debt securities will be made at the office of the junior indenture trustee in the City of New York or at the office of such paying agent or paying agents as we may designate from time to time in the applicable prospectus supplement, except that at our option payment of any interest may be made (i) except in the case of global junior debt securities, by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the securities register or (ii) by transfer to an account maintained by the person entitled thereto as specified in the securities register, provided that proper transfer instructions have been received by the regular record date. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of any interest on junior debt securities will be made to the person in whose name such junior debt securities is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest, except in the case of defaulted interest. We may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent; however we will at all times be required to maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for each series of junior debt securities.

        All monies we pay to the junior indenture trustee or any paying agent, or then held by us in trust, for the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on any junior debt securities that remains unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable, at our request, will be repaid to us. After this repayment, the holder of such junior debt securities will look only to us for payment thereof.

Global Junior Debt Securities

        The junior debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global junior debt securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the prospectus supplement relating to such series. Global junior debt securities may be issued only in fully registered form and in either temporary or permanent form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual junior debt securities represented thereby, a global junior debt securities may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary for such global junior debt securities to a nominee of such depositary or by a nominee of such depositary to such depositary or another nominee of such depositary or by the depositary or any nominee to a successor depositary or any nominee of such successor.

        The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series of junior debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such series. We anticipate that the provisions described above under the subheading "Description of the Debt Securities" in the heading "Global Securities" will generally apply to depositary arrangements with respect to the junior debt securities, as if the junior debt securities were "debt securities" as discussed in that section.

20

Option to Extend Interest Payment Date

        If provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we shall have the right at any time and from time to time during the term of any series of junior debt securities to defer payment of interest for such number of consecutive interest payment periods as may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each such period referred to in this prospectus as an "extension period," subject to the terms, conditions and covenants, if any, specified in such prospectus supplement; provided that such extension period may not extend beyond the stated maturity of such series of junior debt securities.

Redemption

        Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, junior debt securities will not be subject to any sinking fund.

        Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may, at our option, redeem the junior debt securities of any series in whole at any time or in part from time to time. Except as otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the redemption price for any junior debt securities so redeemed shall equal any accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date, plus the principal amount thereof.

        Except as otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, if a tax event (as defined below) or an investment company event (as defined below) in respect of a series of junior debt securities shall occur and be continuing, we may, at our option, redeem such series of junior debt securities in whole (but not in part) at any time within 90 days of the occurrence of such tax event, or investment company event, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such junior debt securities then outstanding plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date fixed for redemption.

        "Tax event" means, with respect to a CNA Capital Trust, our and that CNA Capital Trust's receipt of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any official administrative pronouncement, determination or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement, determination or decision is announced on or after the date of original issuance of the applicable series of junior debt securities under the junior indenture, there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) that such CNA Capital Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of the opinion of counsel, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the applicable junior debt securities, (ii) interest payable by us on such series of junior debt securities is not, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion will not be, deductible by us, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes, or (iii) such CNA Capital Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to more than a minimal amount of taxes, duties or other government charges.

        "Investment company event" means our and a CNA Capital Trust's receipt of an opinion of counsel, experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or a change in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority, that such CNA Capital Trust is or will be considered an "investment company" that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, which change becomes effective on or after the date of original issuance of the applicable series of junior debt securities.

        Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of junior debt securities to be redeemed at its registered address. Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on such junior debt securities or portions thereof called for redemption.

21

Modification of Junior Indenture

        From time to time we and the junior indenture trustee may, without the consent of the holders of any series of junior debt securities, amend, waive or supplement the junior indenture for specified purposes, including, among other things, curing ambiguities, defects or inconsistencies (provided that any such action does not materially adversely affect the interest of the holders of any series of junior debt securities or, in the case of junior debt securities issued to a CNA Capital Trust, referred to in this prospectus as "corresponding junior debt securities," the holders of the preferred securities issued by such CNA Capital Trust, referred to in this prospectus as "related preferred securities," so long as they remain outstanding) and qualifying, or maintaining the qualification of, the junior indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. The junior indenture contains provisions permitting us and the junior indenture trustee, with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of each outstanding series of junior debt securities affected, to modify the junior indenture in a manner affecting the rights of the holders of such series of the junior debt securities; provided, that no such modification may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding junior debt securities so affected, (i) change the stated maturity of any series of junior debt securities, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate (or change the manner of calculation of the rate) or extend the time of payment of interest thereon (except such extension as is contemplated hereby), (ii) change any of the redemption, conversion or exchange terms, (iii) reduce the percentage of principal amount of junior debt securities of any series, the holders of which are required to consent to any such modification of the junior indenture, (iv) modify the provisions relating to modifications, waivers of covenants or waivers of past default except under certain limited circumstances or (v) change any of the subordination provisions provided that, in the case of corresponding junior debt securities, so long as any of the related preferred securities remain outstanding, no such modification may be made without the prior consent of a majority in liquidation amount of such related preferred securities, or, in the case of the preceding provision, each holder of the related preferred securities, and no termination of the junior indenture may occur, and no waiver of any junior debt related event of default or compliance with any covenant under the junior indenture may be effective, without the prior consent of the holders of a majority of the aggregate liquidation amount of such related preferred securities unless and until the principal of the corresponding junior debt securities and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon have been paid in full and certain other conditions are satisfied.

        In addition, we and the junior indenture trustee may execute, without the consent of any holder of junior debt securities, any supplemental junior indenture for the purpose of creating any new series of junior debt securities.

Junior Debt Related Events of Default

        The junior indenture provides that any one or more of the following described events with respect to a series of junior debt securities that has occurred and is continuing constitutes a "junior debt related event of default" with respect to such series of junior debt securities:

•

failure for 30 days to pay any interest on such series of the junior debt securities, when due (subject to the deferral of any due date in the case of an extension period);

•

failure to pay any principal or premium on such series of junior debt securities when due whether at maturity, upon redemption by declaration or otherwise;

•

failure to observe or perform in any material respect certain other covenants contained in the junior indenture for 90 days after written notice to us from the junior indenture trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of such series of outstanding junior debt securities; or

•

certain events with respect to our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization.

22

        The holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of such series of junior debt securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the junior indenture trustee. The junior indenture trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of such series of junior debt securities may declare the principal due and payable immediately upon a junior debt related event of default. In the case of corresponding junior debt securities, should the junior indenture trustee fail to make such declaration, the holders of at least 25% in aggregate liquidation amount of the related preferred securities shall have such right. The holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of such series of junior debt securities may annul such declaration and waive the default if the default (other than the non-payment of the principal of such series of junior debt securities which has become due solely by such acceleration) has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal due otherwise than by acceleration has been deposited with the junior indenture trustee. In the case of corresponding junior debt securities, the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the related preferred securities shall have such right.

        The holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the junior debt securities affected thereby may, on behalf of the holders of all the junior debt securities, waive any past default, except a default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest (unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal due otherwise than by acceleration has been deposited with the junior indenture trustee) or a default in respect of a covenant or provision which under the junior indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each of the outstanding junior subordinated debt securities. In the case of corresponding junior debt securities, the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the related preferred securities shall have such right. We are required to file annually with the junior indenture trustee a certificate as to whether or not we are in compliance with all the conditions and covenants applicable to us under the junior indenture.

        In case a junior debt related event of default shall occur and be continuing as to a series of corresponding junior debt securities, the property trustee will have the right to declare the principal of and the interest on such corresponding junior debt securities, and any other amounts payable under the junior indenture, to be immediately due and payable and to enforce its other rights as a creditor with respect to such corresponding junior debt securities.

Enforcement of Certain Rights by Holders of Preferred Securities

        If a junior debt related event of default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to our failure to pay interest or principal on the related junior debt securities on the date such interest or principal is otherwise payable, a holder of related preferred securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against us for enforcement of payment to such holder of the principal and premium, if any, of or interest on such related junior debt securities having a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the related preferred securities of such holder. Any such legal proceeding is referred to in this prospectus as a "direct action." We may not amend the junior indenture to remove this right to bring a direct action without the consent of all holders of the related preferred securities. If such right is removed, the applicable issue may become subject to the reporting obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We shall have the right under the junior indenture to set-off any payment we make to such holder of preferred securities in connection with a direct action.

        The holders of the preferred securities would not be able to exercise directly any remedies other than those described in the preceding paragraph available to the holders of the junior debt securities unless there shall have been an event of default under the trust agreement.

23

Consolidation, Merger, Sale of Assets and Other Transactions

        The junior indenture provides that we shall not consolidate with or merge into any other person or convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any person, and no person shall consolidate with or merge into us or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to us, unless: (i) in case we consolidate with or merge into another person or convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any person, the successor person is organized under the laws of the United States or any state or the District of Columbia, and such successor person expressly assumes our obligations on the junior debt securities issued under the junior indenture; (ii) immediately after giving effect thereto, no junior debt related event of default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become a junior debt related event of default, shall have happened and be continuing; (iii) in the case of corresponding junior debt securities, such transaction is permitted under the related trust agreement and guarantee and does not give rise to any breach or violation of the related trust agreement or guarantee; and (iv) delivery of appropriate officers certificates and opinions of counsel satisfy the above listed conditions.

        Other than the covenants described above, or as set forth in any accompanying prospectus supplement, the junior indenture and the junior debt securities do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to afford holders of the junior debt securities protection in the event of a takeover, recapitalization or highly leveraged transaction in which we are involved.

Satisfaction and Discharge

        The junior indenture provides that when, among other things, all junior debt securities not previously delivered to the junior indenture trustee for cancellation (i) have become due and payable, (ii) will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year or (iii) are to be called for redemption within one year, and we deposit or cause to be deposited with the junior indenture trustee trust funds, in trust, for the purpose and in an amount in the currency or currencies in which the junior debt securities are payable sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the junior debt securities not previously delivered to the junior indenture trustee for cancellation, for the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, to the date of the deposit or to the stated maturity, as the case may be, then the junior indenture will cease to be of further effect (except as to our obligations to pay all other sums due pursuant to the junior indenture and to provide the officers' certificates and opinions of counsel described therein), and we will be deemed to have satisfied and discharged the junior indenture.

Conversion or Exchange

        If and to the extent indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the junior debt securities of any series may be convertible or exchangeable into preferred securities or other securities. The specific terms on which junior debt securities of any series may be so converted or exchanged will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Such terms may include provisions for conversion or exchange, either mandatory, at the option of the holder, or at our option, in which case the number of shares of preferred securities or other securities to be received by the holders of junior debt securities would be calculated as of a time and in the manner stated in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Subordination

        In the junior indenture, we have agreed that any junior debt securities issued thereunder will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all senior debt (as defined below) to the extent provided in the junior indenture. Upon any payment or distribution of assets to creditors upon any liquidation, dissolution, winding up, reorganization, assignment for the benefit of creditors, marshaling of assets or

24

any bankruptcy, insolvency, debt restructuring or similar proceedings in connection with any proceedings with respect to our insolvency or bankruptcy, the holders of senior debt will be entitled to receive payment in full of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such senior debt before the holders of junior debt securities or, in the case of corresponding junior debt securities, the property trustee on behalf of the holders, will be entitled to receive or retain any payment in respect of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the junior debt securities.

        In the event of the acceleration of the maturity of any junior debt securities, the holders of all senior debt outstanding at the time of such acceleration will be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due thereon (including any amounts due upon acceleration) before the holders of junior debt securities will be entitled to receive or retain any payment in respect of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the junior debt securities.

        No payments on account of principal, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, in respect of the junior debt securities may be made if there shall have occurred and be continuing a default in any payment with respect to senior debt, or an event of default with respect to any senior debt resulting in the acceleration of the maturity thereof, or if any judicial proceeding shall be pending with respect to any such default.

        "Debt" means with respect to any person, whether recourse is to all or a portion of the assets of such person and whether or not contingent:

•

every obligation of such person for money borrowed;

•

every obligation of such person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, including obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses;

•

every reimbursement obligation of such person with respect to letters of credit, bankers' acceptances or similar facilities issued for the account of such person;

•

every obligation of such person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (but excluding trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business);

•

every capital lease obligation of such person;

•

all our indebtedness, whether incurred on or prior to the date of the junior indenture or thereafter incurred, for claims in respect of derivative products, including interest rate, foreign exchange rate and commodity forward contracts, futures contracts, options and swaps and similar arrangements; and

•

every obligation of the type referred to in the preceding bullet points of another person and all dividends of another person the payment of which, in either case, such person has guaranteed or is responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, as obligor or otherwise.

        "Senior debt" means the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to us, whether or not such claim for post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding, on debt, whether incurred on or prior to the date of the junior indenture or thereafter incurred (including, without limitation, debt incurred pursuant to the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture), unless, in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such obligations are not superior in right of payment to the junior debt securities or to

25

other debt which is pari passu with, or subordinated to, the junior debt securities; provided, however, that senior debt shall not be deemed to include:

•

any of our debt which, when incurred and without respect to any election under Section 1111(b) of the United States Bankruptcy Code, was without recourse to us;

•

any of our debt to any of our subsidiaries;

•

debt to any of our employees;

•

any liability for taxes;

•

indebtedness or monetary obligations to trade creditors or assumed by us or any of our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business in connection with the obtaining of goods, materials or services; and

•

any other junior debt securities.

        The junior indenture provides that the foregoing subordination provisions, insofar as they relate to any particular issue of junior debt securities, may be changed prior to such issuance. Any such change would be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Information concerning the Junior Indenture Trustee

        The junior indenture trustee, other than during the continuance of a junior debt related event of default, undertakes to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the junior indenture, and in the event an event of default has occurred and is continuing, exercise the same degree of care and skill in the exercise of its rights and powers as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs. The junior indenture trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the junior indenture at the request of any holder of junior debt securities, unless offered reasonable indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred thereby. The junior indenture trustee is not required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of its duties if the junior indenture trustee reasonably believes that repayment or adequate indemnity is not reasonably assured to it. The junior indenture trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of junior debt securities or related preferred securities and may otherwise deal with us or our affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not the junior indenture trustee provided it complies with the terms of the junior indenture. The CNA Companies and the junior indenture trustee may engage in normal and customary banking transactions from time to time.

Corresponding Junior Debt Securities

        The corresponding junior debt securities may be issued in one or more series of junior debt securities under the junior indenture with terms corresponding to the terms of a series of related preferred securities. In that event, concurrently with the issuance of the applicable CNA Capital Trust's preferred securities, such CNA Capital Trust will invest the proceeds thereof and the consideration paid by us for the common securities in a series of corresponding junior debt securities we issue to such CNA Capital Trust. Each series of corresponding junior debt securities will be in the principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the related preferred securities and the common securities of such CNA Capital Trust and will rank pari passu with all other series of junior debt securities. Holders of the related preferred securities for a series of corresponding junior debt securities will have the rights in connection with modifications to the junior indenture or upon occurrence of junior debt securities events of default described above under the subheadings "Modification of Junior Indenture"

26

and "Junior Debt Related Events of Default," unless provided otherwise in the prospectus supplement for such related preferred securities.

        We will covenant in the junior indenture as to each series of corresponding junior debt securities, that if and so long as (i) the CNA Capital Trust of the related series of trust securities is the holder of all such corresponding junior debt securities and (ii) a tax event in respect of such CNA Capital Trust has occurred and is continuing, we will pay to such CNA Capital Trust the applicable additional sums (as defined below under the subheading "Redemption or Exchange" in the heading "Description of Preferred Securities"). We will also agree, as to each series of corresponding junior debt securities:

•

to maintain directly or indirectly 100% ownership of the common securities of the CNA Capital Trust to which corresponding junior debt securities have been issued, provided that certain successors which are permitted pursuant to the junior indenture may succeed to our ownership of the common securities;

•

not to voluntarily terminate, wind-up or liquidate any CNA Capital Trust, except in connection with (a) a distribution of corresponding junior debt securities to the holders of the preferred securities in liquidation of such CNA Capital Trust, (b) the redemption of preferred securities or (c) certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, in each case as permitted by the related trust agreement; and

•

to use our reasonable efforts, consistent with the terms and provisions of the related trust agreement, to cause (a) such CNA Capital Trust to remain classified as a grantor trust and not as an association taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes or (b) each holder of preferred securities to be treated as owning an undivided beneficial interest in the securities.

No Personal Liability

        No past, present or future director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of ours or any successor of ours shall have any liability for any of our obligations under the junior debt securities or the junior indenture or for any claims based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of junior debt securities by accepting such junior debt securities waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the junior debt securities.

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

        We are authorized to issue 500 million shares of common stock. As of December 31, 2012, approximately 273.0 million shares of common stock were issued and approximately 269.4 million shares were outstanding. The common stock has a par value of $2.50 per share. As of February 28, 2013, Loews Corporation owned approximately 90% of our outstanding common stock.

        The following summary description of the terms of the common stock sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the common stock. This description is qualified in its entirety by reference to our certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our by-laws, each of which is incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Dividends

        Subject to the rights of the holders of preferred stock, holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends and other distributions in cash, stock or our property, when, as and if declared by our board of directors out of our assets or funds legally available therefor and shall share equally on a per share basis in all such dividends and distributions.

27

Voting Rights

        At every meeting of stockholders, every holder of common stock is entitled to one vote per share. Subject to any voting rights of the holders of preferred stock and as otherwise required by Delaware law, any action submitted to stockholders (other than the election of directors) is approved, if approved by a majority of the stock having voting power present at a meeting at which there is a quorum. A quorum generally requires the presence, in person or proxy, of the holders of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding. Delaware law requires that the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of stock, eligible to vote thereon, approve (i) amendments to the certificate of incorporation, (ii) most mergers and consolidations and (iii) sale of all or substantially all of our assets.

Liquidation Rights

        In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of common stock are entitled to share equally in the assets available for distribution after payment of all liabilities and provision for the liquidation preference of any shares of preferred stock then outstanding.

Miscellaneous

        The holders of common stock have no preemptive rights, cumulative voting rights, subscription rights, or conversion rights and the common stock is not subject to redemption.

        The transfer agent and registrar with respect to our common stock is Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Chicago Stock Exchange. The trading symbol for our common stock is "CNA."

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

        We are authorized to issue up to 12.5 million shares of preferred stock, without par value, in one or more series. As of December 31, 2012, there were no shares of our preferred stock outstanding. All shares of preferred stock, irrespective of series, will constitute one and the same class. The following description of the terms of the preferred stock sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the preferred stock. Certain terms of any series of preferred stock offered by the prospectus supplement will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such series of preferred stock. If so indicated in the prospectus supplement, the terms of any such series may differ from the terms set forth below.

        Except as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following summary description of the terms of the preferred stock sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the preferred stock. This description is qualified in its entirety by reference to our certificate of incorporation and by-laws, which are incorporated by reference to our registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

General

        Our board of directors is authorized to establish and designate series and to fix the number of shares and the relative rights, preferences and limitations of the respective series of preferred stock, including:

•

the designation and number of shares comprising such series, which may be increased or decreased from time to time by our board of directors;

•

the dividend rate or rates on the shares of such series and the relation which such dividends bear to the dividends payable on any other class or classes or of any other series of capital stock, the terms and conditions upon which and the periods in respect of which dividends shall be

28

payable, whether and upon what conditions such dividends shall be cumulative and, if cumulative, the dates from which dividends shall accumulate;

•

whether the shares of such series shall be redeemable, the limitations and restrictions with respect to such redemption, the time or times when, the price or prices at which and the manner in which such shares shall be redeemable, including the manner of selecting shares of such series for redemption if less than all shares are to be redeemed;

•

the rights to which the holders of shares of such series shall be entitled, and the preferences, if any, over any other series (or of any other series over such series), upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, distribution of assets or winding-up, which rights may vary depending on whether such liquidation, dissolution, distribution or winding-up is voluntary or involuntary, and, if voluntary, may vary at different dates;

•

whether the shares of such series shall be subject to the operation of a purchase, retirement or sinking fund, and, if so, whether and upon what conditions such purchase, retirement or sinking fund shall be cumulative or noncumulative, the extent to which and the manner in which such fund shall be applied to the purchase or redemption of the shares of such series for retirement or to other corporate purposes and the terms and provisions relative to the operation thereof;

•

whether the shares of such series shall be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of any class or classes of our capital stock, and, if so convertible or exchangeable, the price or prices or the rate or rates of conversion or exchange and the method, if any, of adjusting the same, and any other terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange;

•

the voting powers, full and/or limited, if any, of the shares of such series; and whether and under what conditions the shares of such series (alone or together with the shares of one or more other series having similar provisions) shall be entitled to vote separately as a single class, for the election of one or more matters;

•

whether the issuance of any additional shares of such series, or of any shares of any other series, shall be subject to restrictions as to issuance, or as to the powers, preferences or rights of any such other series; and

•

any other preferences, privileges and powers, and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such series, as our board of directors may deem advisable.

        Unless otherwise specifically described in the applicable prospectus supplement for a series of preferred stock, all shares of preferred stock shall be of equal rank, preference and priority as to dividends; when the stated dividends are not paid in full, the shares of all series of the preferred stock shall share ratably in any payment thereof; and upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, if assets are insufficient to pay in full all preferred stock, then such assets shall be distributed among the holders ratably.

        The description of certain provisions of the preferred stock described below is only a summary and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our certificate of incorporation and the certificate of designations that relates to a particular series of preferred stock.

Dividend Rights

        Except as may be set forth in an applicable prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred stock, the holders of preferred stock shall be entitled to receive, but only when and as declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose, cash dividends at the rates and on the dates set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of preferred stock.

29

Such rate may be fixed or variable. Each such dividend will be payable to the holders of record as they appear on our stock register on such record dates as will be fixed by our board of directors or a duly authorized committee thereof. Dividends payable on the preferred stock for any period less than a full dividend period (being the period between such dividend payment dates) will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a 360 day year. For a full dividend period, the amount of dividends payable will be computed on the basis of a 360 day year consisting of twelve 30 day months. Except as may be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred stock, such dividends shall be payable from, and shall be cumulative from, the date of original issue of each share, so that if in any dividend period, dividends at the rate or rates as described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such series of preferred stock shall not have been declared and paid or set apart for payment on all outstanding shares of preferred stock for such dividend period and all preceding dividend periods from and after the first day from which dividends are cumulative, then the aggregate deficiency shall be declared and fully paid or set apart for payment, but without interest, before any dividends shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on the common stock by us. After payment in full of all dividend arrearages on the preferred stock, dividends on the common stock may be declared and paid out of funds legally available for that purpose as our board of directors may determine.

Redemption

        The applicable prospectus supplement will describe whether and under what circumstances (i) any shares of preferred stock may be redeemed by us and (ii) the holders of preferred stock may require us to redeem any or all of such shares.

Conversion or Exchange

        The holders of preferred stock will have such rights, if any, to convert such shares into or to exchange such shares for shares of any other class or classes, or of any other series of any class, of our capital stock and/or other property or cash, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Voting Rights

        The holders of preferred stock will have such voting rights, if any, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred stock. Unless and except to the extent required by the law or provided by our board of directors, holders of preferred stock shall have no voting power with respect to any matter. In no event shall the preferred stock be entitled to more than one vote per share in respect of each share of stock.

        The holders of the outstanding shares of a series of preferred stock shall be entitled to vote as a class upon a proposed amendment, whether or not entitled to vote thereon by our certificate of incorporation, if the amendment would increase or decrease the aggregate number of authorized shares of such series of preferred stock, change from a no par value to a par value series of preferred stock, or alter or change the powers, preferences, or special rights of the shares of such series of preferred stock so as to affect them adversely. If any proposed amendment would alter or change the powers, preferences, or special rights of one or more series of preferred stock so as to affect them adversely, but shall not so affect the entire series, then only the shares of the series so affected by the amendment shall be considered a separate series for purposes of this paragraph. The number of authorized shares of any such series of preferred stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of our stock entitled to vote irrespective of the previous two sentences, if so provided in our certificate of incorporation, in any amendment thereto which created such series of preferred stock, or in any amendment thereto which was authorized by a resolution or resolutions adopted by the affirmative vote

30

of the holders of a majority of such series of preferred stock. This paragraph is subject to any amendments to Delaware law regarding these matters.

        The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, in connection with the matters specified, provision is made for the redemption or retirement of all outstanding preferred stock.

Liquidation Rights

        Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of preferred stock will have such preferences and priorities, if any, with respect to distribution of our assets or the proceeds thereof as may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred stock.

Miscellaneous

        The transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and registrar for the preferred stock issued in connection with this prospectus will be as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The holders of preferred stock, including any preferred stock issued in connection with this prospectus, will not have any preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for any shares of any class or other securities of any type of ours. When issued, the preferred stock will be fully paid and nonassessable. The certificate of designations setting forth the provisions of each series of preferred stock will become effective after the date of this prospectus, but on or before issuance of the related series of preferred stock.

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

        Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the description set forth below of certain provisions of the deposit agreement and of the depositary shares and depositary receipts summarizes the expected material terms of the deposit agreement and of the depositary shares and depositary receipts, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the form of deposit agreement and form of depositary receipts relating to each series of the preferred stock.

General

        We may, at our option, elect to have shares of preferred stock be represented by depositary shares. The shares of any series of the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares will be deposited under a separate deposit agreement between us and a bank or trust company we select, such bank or trust company is referred to in this prospectus as the "preferred stock depositary." The prospectus supplement relating to a series of depositary shares will set forth the name and address of the preferred stock depositary. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, proportionately, to all the rights, preferences and privileges of the preferred stock represented thereby (including dividend, voting, redemption, conversion, exchange and liquidation rights).

        The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the deposit agreement, each of which will represent the applicable interest in a number of shares of a particular series of the preferred stock described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        A holder of depositary shares will be entitled to receive the shares of preferred stock (but only in whole shares of preferred stock) underlying such depositary shares. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the whole number of shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to such holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing such excess number of depositary shares.

31

Dividends and Other Distributions

        The preferred stock depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions in respect to the preferred stock to the record holders of depositary receipts in proportion, insofar as possible, to the number of depositary shares owned by such holders.

        In the event of a distribution other than in cash in respect to the preferred stock, the preferred stock depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary receipts in proportion, insofar as possible, to the number of depositary shares owned by such holders, unless the preferred stock depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in which case the preferred stock depositary may, with our approval, adopt such method as it deems equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including sale (at public or private sale) of such property and distribution of the net proceeds from such sale to such holders.

        The amount so distributed in any of the foregoing cases will be reduced by any amount required to be withheld by us or the preferred stock depositary on account of taxes.

Conversion and Exchange

        If any preferred stock underlying the depositary shares is subject to provisions relating to its conversion or exchange as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating thereto, each record holder of depositary shares will have the right or obligation to convert or exchange such depositary shares pursuant to the terms thereof.

Redemption of Depositary Shares

        If preferred stock underlying the depositary shares is subject to redemption, the depositary shares will be redeemed from the proceeds received by the preferred stock depositary resulting from the redemption, in whole or in part, of the preferred stock held by the preferred stock depositary. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the aggregate redemption price payable with respect to the number of shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares. Whenever we redeem preferred stock from the preferred stock depositary, the preferred stock depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date a proportionate number of depositary shares representing the shares of preferred stock that were redeemed. If less than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as we may determine.

        After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares so called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of the depositary shares will cease, except the right to receive the redemption price upon such redemption. Any funds we deposit with the preferred stock depositary for any depositary shares which the holders thereof fail to redeem shall be returned to us after a period of two years from the date such funds are so deposited.

Voting

        Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of any shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares are entitled to vote, the preferred stock depositary will mail the information contained in such notice to the record holders of the depositary receipts. Each record holder of such depositary receipts on the record date (which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock) will be entitled to instruct the preferred stock depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the number of shares of preferred stock underlying such holder's depositary shares. The preferred stock depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the number of shares of preferred stock underlying such depositary shares in accordance with such instructions, and we will agree to take all reasonable action which may be deemed necessary by the preferred stock depositary to enable the preferred stock depositary to do so. The preferred stock

32

depositary will abstain from voting the preferred stock to the extent it does not receive specific written instructions from holders of depositary receipts representing such preferred stock.

Record Date

        Whenever (i) any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable, any distribution other than cash shall be made, or any rights, preferences or privileges shall be offered with respect to the preferred stock, or (ii) the preferred stock depositary shall receive notice of any meeting at which holders of preferred stock are entitled to vote or of which holders of preferred stock are entitled to notice, or of the mandatory conversion of or any election on our part to call for the redemption of any preferred stock, the preferred stock depositary shall, in each such instance, fix a record date (which shall be the same as the record date for the preferred stock) for the determination of the holders of depositary receipts (y) who shall be entitled to receive such dividend, distribution, rights, preferences or privileges or the net proceeds of the sale thereof or (z) who shall be entitled to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting or to receive notice of such meeting or of such redemption or conversion, subject to the provisions of the deposit agreement.

Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement

        The form of depositary receipt and any provision of the deposit agreement may at any time be amended by agreement between us and the preferred stock depositary. However, any amendment which imposes or increases any fees, taxes or other charges payable by the holders of depositary receipts (other than taxes and other governmental charges, fees and other expenses payable by such holders as stated below under the subheading "Charges of Preferred Stock Depositary"), or which otherwise prejudices any substantial existing right of holders of depositary receipts, will not take effect as to outstanding depositary receipts until the expiration of 90 days after notice of such amendment has been mailed to the record holders of outstanding depositary receipts.

        Whenever we so direct, the preferred stock depositary will terminate the deposit agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the record holders of all depositary receipts then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. The preferred stock depositary may likewise terminate the deposit agreement if at any time 45 days shall have expired after the preferred stock depositary shall have delivered to us a written notice of its election to resign and a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its appointment. If any depositary receipts remain outstanding after the date of termination, the preferred stock depositary thereafter will discontinue the transfer of depositary receipts, will suspend the distribution of dividends to the holders thereof, and will not give any further notices (other than notice of such termination) or perform any further acts under the deposit agreement except as provided below and except that the preferred stock depositary will continue (i) to collect dividends on the preferred stock and any other distributions with respect thereto and (ii) to deliver the preferred stock together with such dividends and distributions and the net proceeds of any sales of rights, preferences, privileges or other property, without liability for interest thereon, in exchange for depositary receipts surrendered. At any time after the expiration of two years from the date of termination, the preferred stock depositary may sell the preferred stock then held by it at public or private sales, at such place or places and upon such terms as it deems proper and may thereafter hold the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any money and other property then held by it, without liability for interest thereon, for the pro rata benefit of the holders of depositary receipts which have not been surrendered.

Charges of Preferred Stock Depositary

        We will pay all charges of the preferred stock depositary including charges in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock, the initial issuance of the depositary receipts, the distribution of information to the holders of depositary receipts with respect to matters on which preferred stock is

33

entitled to vote, withdrawals of the preferred stock by the holders of depositary receipts or redemption or conversion of the preferred stock, except for taxes (including transfer taxes, if any) and other governmental charges and such other charges as are expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be at the expense of holders of depositary receipts or persons depositing preferred stock.

Miscellaneous

        The preferred stock depositary will make available for inspection by holders of depositary receipts at its corporate office and its New York office all reports and communications from us which are delivered to the preferred stock depositary as the holder of preferred stock.

        Neither we nor the preferred stock depositary will be liable if it is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond its control in performing its obligations under the deposit agreement. The obligations of the preferred stock depositary under the deposit agreement are limited to performing its duties thereunder without negligence or bad faith. Our obligations under the deposit agreement are limited to performing our duties thereunder in good faith. Neither we nor the preferred stock depositary is obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the preferred stock depositary are entitled to rely upon advice of or information from counsel, accountants or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.

        The preferred stock depositary may resign at any time or be removed by us, effective upon the acceptance by its successor of its appointment; provided, that if a successor preferred stock depositary has not been appointed or accepted such appointment within 45 days after the preferred stock depositary has delivered a notice of election to resign to us, the preferred stock depositary may terminate the deposit agreement.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

General

        We may issue warrants to purchase debt securities, junior debt securities, preferred stock (or depositary shares representing preferred stock) or common stock, referred to collectively in this prospectus as the "underlying warrant securities," and such warrants may be issued independently or together with any such underlying warrant securities and may be attached to or separate from such underlying warrant securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants of such series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency for or with holders or beneficial owners of warrants. The following describes certain general terms and provisions of the offered warrants hereby. Further terms of the warrants and the applicable warrant agreement will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        The applicable prospectus supplement may describe the specific terms of any warrants for which this prospectus is being delivered, including the following (to the extent applicable):

•

the title of such warrants;

•

the aggregate number of such warrants;

•

the issue price or prices of the warrants;

•

the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which the price of such warrants may be payable;

•

the designation and terms of the underlying warrant securities purchasable upon exercise of such warrants;

34

•

the price at which and the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which the underlying warrant securities purchasable upon exercise of such warrants may be purchased;

•

the exercise date and expiration date for such warrants;

•

whether such warrants will be issued in registered form or bearer form;

•

if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants which may be exercised at any one time;

•

if applicable, the designation and terms of the underlying warrant securities with which such warrants are issued and the number of such warrants issued with each such underlying warrant securities;

•

if applicable, the date on and after which such warrants and the related underlying warrant securities will be traded separately;

•

information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; and

•

any other terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such warrants.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SECURITIES

        Pursuant to the terms of the trust agreement for each CNA Capital Trust, the issuer trustee, on behalf of such CNA Capital Trust, will issue the preferred securities and the common securities, referred to collectively in this prospectus as the "trust securities." The preferred securities of a particular issue will represent preferred beneficial interests in the CNA Capital Trust and the holders thereof will be entitled to a preference over the common securities of such CNA Capital Trust in certain circumstances with respect to distributions and amounts payable on redemption or liquidation over the common securities of such CNA Capital Trust, as well as other benefits as described in the corresponding trust agreement. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the description below summarizes the preferred securities. Because the description below is only a summary, it does not contain the detailed information contained in each trust agreement, including certain of the definitions used in this prospectus or in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. The form of the trust agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms apart. Each of the CNA Capital Trusts is a legally separate entity and the assets of one are not available to satisfy the obligations of any of the others.

General

        The preferred securities of a CNA Capital Trust will rank equal with, and payments will be made thereon in proportion with, the common securities of that CNA Capital Trust except as described below under the subheading "Subordination of Common Securities." Legal title to the corresponding junior debt securities will be held by the property trustee in trust for the benefit of the holders of the related preferred securities and common securities. Each guarantee agreement executed by us for the benefit of the holders of a CNA Capital Trust's preferred securities will be a guarantee on a subordinated basis with respect to the related preferred securities but will not guarantee payment of distributions or amounts payable on redemption or liquidation of such preferred securities when the related CNA Capital Trust does not have funds on hand available to make such payments.

        The revenue of a CNA Capital Trust available for distribution to holders of preferred securities will be limited to payments under the corresponding junior debt securities which such CNA Capital Trust purchased with the proceeds from the sale of its common securities and preferred securities. If we fail to make a required payment in respect of such junior debt securities, the applicable CNA Capital

35

Trust will not have sufficient funds to make the related payments, including distributions in respect of its preferred securities.

Distributions

        Distributions on the preferred securities will be cumulative, will accumulate from the date of original issuance and will be payable on such dates as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. In the event that any date on which distributions are payable on the preferred securities is not a business day, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of the distribution payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a business day (and without any interest or other payment in respect to any such delay) except that, if such business day is in the next succeeding calendar year, payment of such distribution shall be made on the immediately preceding business day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date. Each date on which distributions are payable in accordance with the foregoing is referred to in this prospectus as a "distribution date." A "business day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to remain closed.

        Each CNA Capital Trust's preferred securities represent preferred beneficial interests in the applicable CNA Capital Trust, and the distributions on each preferred securities will be payable at a rate specified in the prospectus supplement for such preferred securities. The amount of distributions payable for any period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Distributions to which holders of preferred securities are entitled will accumulate additional distributions at the rate per annum if and as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. The term "distributions" as used herein includes any such additional distributions unless otherwise stated.

        If provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we have the right under the indenture, pursuant to which we will issue the corresponding junior debt securities, to defer the payment of interest at any time or from time to time on any series of the corresponding junior debt securities for an extension period which will be specified in such prospectus supplement relating to such series, provided that no extension period may extend beyond the stated maturity of the corresponding junior debt securities. Because of any such extension, distributions on the corresponding preferred securities would be deferred (but would continue to accumulate additional distributions thereon at the rate per annum described in the prospectus supplement for such preferred securities) by the CNA Capital Trust which issued such preferred securities during any such extension period. During such extension period we may not, and may not permit any of our subsidiaries to, (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of our capital stock or (ii) make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any of our indebtedness that rank pari passu with or junior in interest to the corresponding junior debt securities or (iii) make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by us of indebtedness of any of our subsidiaries if such guarantee ranks pari passu with or junior in interest to the corresponding junior debt securities (other than (a) dividends or distributions in our common stock, (b) payments under any guarantee and (c) purchases of common stock related to the issuance of common stock under any of our benefit plans for its directors, officers or employees).

        The revenue of each CNA Capital Trust available for distribution to holders of its preferred securities will be limited to payments under the corresponding junior debt securities in which the CNA Capital Trust will invest the proceeds from the issuance and sale of its trust securities. If we do not make interest payments on such corresponding junior debt securities, the property trustee will not have funds available to pay distributions on the related preferred securities. We guarantee the payment of distributions (if and to the extent the CNA Capital Trust has funds legally available for the payment of

36

such distributions and cash sufficient to make such payments) to the extent set forth below under the heading "Description of Guarantees."

        Distributions on the preferred securities will be payable to the holders thereof as they appear on the register of such CNA Capital Trust on the relevant record dates, which, as long as the preferred securities remain in book-entry form, will be one business day prior to the relevant distribution date. If any preferred securities are not in book-entry form, the relevant record date for such preferred securities shall be the date at least 15 days prior to the relevant distribution date, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Redemption or Exchange

Mandatory Redemption.

        Upon the repayment or redemption, in whole or in part, of any corresponding junior debt securities, whether at maturity or upon earlier redemption as provided in the junior indenture, the proceeds from such repayment or redemption shall be applied by the property trustee to redeem a like amount (as defined below) of the common securities and preferred securities of the CNA Capital Trust, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at a redemption price equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of such common securities and preferred securities plus accumulated but unpaid distributions thereon to the date of redemption and the related amount of the premium, if any, we pay upon the concurrent redemption of such corresponding junior debt securities. If less than all of any series of corresponding junior debt securities are to be repaid or redeemed on a redemption date, then unless there is a junior debt related event of default then continuing, the proceeds from such repayment or redemption shall be allocated to the redemption pro rata of the related preferred securities and the common securities. The amount of premium, if any, we pay upon the redemption of all or any part of any series of any corresponding junior debt securities to be repaid or redeemed on a redemption date shall be allocated to the redemption pro rata of the related preferred securities and the common securities unless there is a junior debt related event of default then continuing.

Special Event Redemption or Distribution of Corresponding Junior Debt Securities.

        If a special event in respect of a series of preferred securities and common securities shall occur and be continuing, we have the right to redeem the corresponding junior debt securities in whole (but not in part) and thereby cause a mandatory redemption of such preferred securities and common securities in whole (but not in part) at the redemption price within 90 days following the occurrence of such special event. At any time (so long as it would not be a taxable event to the holders of preferred securities under federal law), we have the right to terminate the related CNA Capital Trust and, after satisfaction of the liabilities of creditors of such CNA Capital Trust as provided by applicable law, cause such corresponding junior debt securities to be distributed to the holders of such preferred securities and common securities in liquidation of the CNA Capital Trust. If we do not elect either option described above, the applicable series of preferred securities will remain outstanding and, in the event a tax event has occurred and is continuing, additional sums (as defined below) may be payable on the corresponding junior debt securities.

Extension of Maturity of Corresponding Junior Debt Securities.

        If provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we shall have the right to extend or shorten the maturity of any series of corresponding junior debt securities at the time that we exercise our right to elect to terminate the related CNA Capital Trust and cause such corresponding junior debt securities to be distributed to the holders of such preferred securities and common securities in liquidation of the CNA Capital Trust, provided that we can extend the maturity only if certain conditions specified in the

37

applicable prospectus supplement are met at the time such election is made and at the time of such extension.

        "Additional sums" means the additional amounts as may be necessary so that the amount of distributions then due and payable by a CNA Capital Trust on the outstanding preferred securities and common securities of the CNA Capital Trust shall not be reduced as a result of any additional taxes, duties and other governmental charges to which such CNA Capital Trust has become subject as a result of a tax event.

        "Like amount" means (i) with respect to a redemption of any series of common securities or preferred securities, securities of such series having a liquidation amount equal to that portion of the principal amount of corresponding junior debt securities to be contemporaneously redeemed in accordance with the junior indenture, allocated to the common securities and to the preferred securities based upon the relative liquidation amounts of such classes and the proceeds of which will be used to pay the redemption price of such trust securities, and (ii) with respect to a distribution of corresponding junior debt securities to holders of any series of trust securities in connection with a dissolution or liquidation of the related CNA Capital Trust, corresponding junior debt securities having a principal amount equal to the liquidation amount of the trust securities of the holder to whom such corresponding junior debt securities are distributed.

        After the liquidation date fixed for any distribution of corresponding junior debt securities for any series of preferred securities (i) such series of preferred securities will no longer be deemed to be outstanding, (ii) The Depository Trust Company, or "DTC," or its nominee, if the record holder of any series of preferred securities, will receive a registered global certificate or certificates representing the corresponding junior debt securities to be delivered upon such distribution and (iii) any certificates representing such series of preferred securities not held by DTC or its nominee will be deemed to represent the corresponding junior debt securities having a principal amount equal to the liquidation amount of such series of preferred securities, and bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid distributions on such series of preferred securities until such certificates are presented to the administrative trustees or their agent for transfer or reissuance.

        There can be no assurance as to the market prices for the preferred securities or the corresponding junior debt securities that may be distributed in exchange for preferred securities if a dissolution and liquidation of a CNA Capital Trust were to occur. Accordingly, the preferred securities that an investor may purchase, or the corresponding junior debt securities that the investor may receive on dissolution and liquidation of a CNA Capital Trust, may trade at a different price from the purchase price for those preferred securities.

Redemption Procedures

        Preferred Securities redeemed on each redemption date shall be redeemed at the redemption price with the applicable proceeds from the contemporaneous redemption of the corresponding junior debt securities. Redemptions of the preferred securities shall be made and the redemption price shall be payable on each redemption date only to the extent that the related CNA Capital Trust has funds on hand available for the payment of such redemption price.

        If a CNA Capital Trust gives a notice of redemption in respect of its preferred securities, then, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the redemption date, to the extent funds are legally available, with respect to any preferred securities held by DTC or its nominee, the property trustee will deposit irrevocably with DTC funds sufficient to pay the applicable redemption price and will give DTC irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the redemption price to the holders of such preferred securities. If such preferred securities are not in book-entry form, the property trustee, to the extent funds are legally available, will irrevocably deposit with the paying agent for such preferred securities funds sufficient to pay the applicable redemption price and will give such paying agent irrevocable

38

instructions and authority to pay the redemption price to the holders thereof upon surrender of their certificates evidencing such preferred securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, distributions payable on or prior to the redemption date for any preferred securities called for redemption shall be payable to the holders of such preferred securities on the relevant record dates for the related distribution dates. If notice of redemption shall have been given and funds deposited as required, then upon the date of such deposit, all rights of the holders of such preferred securities so called for redemption will cease, except the right of the holders of such preferred securities to receive the redemption price, but without interest on such redemption price, and such preferred securities will cease to be outstanding. In the event that any date fixed for redemption of preferred securities is not a business day, then payment of the redemption price payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a business day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such business day falls in the next calendar year, such payment will be made on the immediately preceding business day. In the event that payment of the redemption price in respect of preferred securities called for redemption is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the CNA Capital Trust or by CNAF pursuant to the guarantee as described below under the heading "Description of Guarantees," distributions on such preferred securities will continue to accrue at the then applicable rate, from the redemption date originally established by the CNA Capital Trust for such preferred securities to the date such redemption price is actually paid, in which case the actual payment date will be the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the redemption price.

        Subject to applicable law (including, without limitation, United States federal securities law), we or our subsidiaries may at any time and from time to time purchase outstanding preferred securities by tender, in the open market or by private agreement.

        If less than all of the preferred securities and common securities issued by a CNA Capital Trust are to be redeemed on a redemption date, then a like amount of such preferred securities and common securities shall be redeemed. The particular preferred securities to be redeemed shall be selected on a pro rata basis not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date by the property trustee from the outstanding preferred securities not previously called for redemption, by such method as the property trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum liquidation amount or an integral multiple in excess thereof) of the liquidation amount of preferred securities of a larger denomination. The property trustee shall promptly notify the trust registrar in writing of the preferred securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any preferred securities selected for partial redemption, the liquidation amount thereof to be redeemed. For all purposes of each trust agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of preferred securities shall relate, in the case of any preferred securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the aggregate liquidation amount of preferred securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

        Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of trust securities to be redeemed at its registered address.

Subordination of Common Securities

        Payment of distributions on, the redemption price of, and the liquidation distribution (as defined below) applicable to, each CNA Capital Trust's preferred securities and common securities, as applicable, shall be made proportionately based on the liquidation amount of such preferred securities and common securities; provided, however, that if on any distribution date, redemption date or liquidation date a junior debt related event of default shall have occurred and be continuing, no payment of any distribution on, redemption price of, or liquidation distribution applicable to any of the CNA Capital Trust's common securities, and no other payment on account of the redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of such common securities, shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and unpaid distributions on all of the CNA Capital Trust's outstanding preferred

39

securities for all distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto, or in the case of payment of the redemption price or liquidation distribution the full amount of such payment in respect of all of the CNA Capital Trust's outstanding preferred securities, shall have been made or provided for, and all funds available to the property trustee shall first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all distributions on, redemption price of, or liquidation distribution applicable to the CNA Capital Trust's preferred securities then due and payable.

        In the case of a junior debt related event of default, we, as holder of such CNA Capital Trust's common securities, will be deemed to have waived any right to act with respect to any such junior debt related event of default under the applicable trust agreement until the effect of all such junior debt related events of default with respect to such preferred securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until any such events of default under the applicable trust agreement with respect to the preferred securities have been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the property trustee shall act solely on behalf of the holders of such preferred securities and not on behalf of us as holder of the CNA Capital Trust's common securities, and only the holders of such preferred securities will have the right to direct the property trustee to act on their behalf.

Liquidation Distribution upon Termination

        Pursuant to each trust agreement, each CNA Capital Trust shall automatically terminate upon expiration of its term and shall terminate on the first to occur of:

•

certain events relating to our bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation, with the occurrence of any such event being referred to in this prospectus as a "bankruptcy event;"

•

the distribution of a like amount of the corresponding junior debt securities to the holders of its trust securities, if we, as depositor, have given written direction to the property trustee to terminate such CNA Capital Trust (which direction is optional and wholly within our discretion, as depositor) and such distribution would not result in a federal taxable event to holders of the preferred securities, with such distribution being referred to in this prospectus as a "distribution event;"

•

the redemption of all of the CNA Capital Trust's trust securities following a special event;

•

redemption of all of the CNA Capital Trust's preferred securities as described above under the subheading "Redemption or Exchange—Mandatory Redemption;" and

•

the entry of an order for the dissolution of the CNA Capital Trust by a court of competent jurisdiction, with the entry of such order being referred to in this prospectus as a "dissolution event."

        If an early termination occurs from a bankruptcy event, a distribution event or a dissolution event, the CNA Capital Trust shall be liquidated by the issuer trustees as expeditiously as the issuer trustees determine to be possible by distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of such CNA Capital Trust as provided by applicable law, to the holders of such trust securities a like amount of the corresponding junior debt securities, unless such distribution is determined by the property trustee not to be practical, in which event such holders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the CNA Capital Trust available for distribution to holders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of such CNA Capital Trust as provided by applicable law, an amount equal to, in the case of holders of preferred securities, the aggregate of the liquidation amount plus accrued and unpaid distributions thereon to the date of payment, with such amount referred to in this prospectus as the "liquidation distribution." If such liquidation distribution can be paid only in part because such CNA Capital Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate liquidation distribution, then the amounts payable directly by such CNA Capital Trust on its preferred securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis. The holder(s) of such CNA Capital Trust's common securities will be entitled to receive distributions

40

upon any such liquidation pro rata with the holders of its preferred securities, except that if a junior debt related event of default has occurred and is continuing, the preferred securities shall have a priority over the common securities. A supplemental indenture may provide that if an early termination occurs as described in the fifth bullet point above, the corresponding junior debt securities may be subject to optional redemption in whole, but not in part.

Events of Default; Notice

        A junior debt related event of default under the junior indenture will constitute an event of default with respect to the preferred securities.

        Within five business days after the occurrence of any junior debt related event of default actually known to the property trustee, the property trustee shall transmit notice of such event of default to the holders of such CNA Capital Trust's preferred securities, the administrative trustees and us, as depositor, unless such event of default shall have been cured or waived. We, as depositor, and the administrative trustees are required to file annually with the property trustee a certificate as to whether or not they are in compliance with all the conditions and covenants applicable to them under each trust agreement.

        If a junior debt related event of default has occurred and is continuing, the preferred securities shall have a preference over the common securities as described above under the subheading "Subordination of Common Securities."

        Upon certain junior debt related events of default, the holders of preferred securities may have the right to bring a direct action.

Removal of Issuer Trustees

        Unless a junior debt related event of default shall have occurred and be continuing, any issuer trustee may be removed at any time by the holder of the common securities. If a junior debt related event of default has occurred and is continuing, the property trustee and the Delaware trustee may be removed at such time by the holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the outstanding preferred securities. In no event will the holders of the preferred securities have the right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the administrative trustees, which voting rights are vested exclusively in us as the holder of the common securities. No resignation or removal of an issuer trustee and no appointment of a successor trustee shall be effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee in accordance with the provisions of the applicable trust agreement.

Co-Trustees and Separate Property Trustee

        Unless a trust related event of default shall have occurred and be continuing, at any time or times, for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 or of any jurisdiction in which any part of the trust property may at the time be located, we, as the holder of the common securities, and the administrative trustees shall have power to appoint one or more persons either to act as a co-trustee, jointly with the property trustee, of all or any part of such trust property, or to act as separate trustee of any such property, in either case with such powers as may be provided in the instrument of appointment, and to vest in such person or persons in such capacity any property, title, right or power deemed necessary or desirable, subject to the provisions of the applicable trust agreement. In case a junior debt related event of default has occurred and is continuing, the property trustee alone shall have power to make such appointment.

41

Merger or Consolidation of Issuer Trustees

        Any corporation into which the property trustee, the Delaware trustee or any administrative trustee that is not a natural person may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of such trustee, shall be the successor of such trustee under each trust agreement, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible.

Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements of the CNA Capital Trusts

        A CNA Capital Trust may not merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other person, except as described below. A CNA Capital Trust may, at our request, with the consent of the administrative trustees and without the consent of the holders of the preferred securities, merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to a trust organized as such under the laws of any state; provided, that:

•

such successor entity either (a) expressly assumes all of the obligations of such CNA Capital Trust with respect to the preferred securities or (b) substitutes for the preferred securities other securities having substantially the same terms as the preferred securities, referred to in this prospectus as the "successor securities," so long as the successor securities rank the same as the preferred securities rank in priority with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise;

•

we expressly appoint a trustee of such successor entity possessing the same powers and duties as the property trustee as the holder of the corresponding junior debt securities;

•

the successor securities are listed, or any successor securities will be listed upon notification of issuance, on any national securities exchange or other organization on which the preferred securities are then listed, if any;

•

such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not cause the preferred securities, including any successor securities, to be downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization;

•

such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the preferred securities, including any successor securities, in any material respect;

•

such successor entity has a purpose identical to that of the CNA Capital Trust;

•

prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, we have received an opinion from independent counsel to the CNA Capital Trust experienced in such matters to the effect that (a) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the preferred securities (including any successor securities) in any material respect, (b) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, neither the CNA Capital Trust nor such successor entity will be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and (c) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the CNA Capital Trust, or any successor entity, will continue to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes; and

42

•

we or any permitted successor or assignee owns all of the common securities of such successor entity and guarantees the obligations of such successor entity under the successor securities at least to the extent provided by the guarantee.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, a CNA Capital Trust shall not, except with the consent of holders of 100% in liquidation amount of the preferred securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease would cause the CNA Capital Trust or the successor entity to be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.

Voting Rights; Amendment of each Trust Agreement

        Except as provided below and under the subheading "Amendments and Assignment" in the heading "Description of Guarantees" and as otherwise required by law and the applicable trust agreement, the holders of the preferred securities will have no voting rights.

        Each trust agreement may be amended from time to time by us, the property trustee and the administrative trustees, without the consent of the holders of the preferred securities (i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provisions in such trust agreement that may be inconsistent with any other provision, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under such trust agreement, which shall not be inconsistent with the other provisions of such trust agreement, or (ii) to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of such trust agreement to such extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the CNA Capital Trust will be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust at all times that any trust securities are outstanding or to ensure that the CNA Capital Trust will not be required to register as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act of 1940; provided, however, that such action shall not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any holder of trust securities, and any amendments of such trust agreement shall become effective when notice thereof is given to the holders of trust securities. Each trust agreement may be amended by the issuer trustees and us with (i) the consent of holders representing a majority (based upon liquidation amounts) of the outstanding preferred securities, and (ii) receipt by the issuer trustees of an opinion of counsel to the effect that such amendment or the exercise of any power granted to the issuer trustees in accordance with such amendment will not affect the CNA Capital Trust's status as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes or the CNA Capital Trust's exemption from status as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act of 1940, provided that without the consent of each holder of trust securities, such trust agreement may not be amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any distribution on the trust securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any distribution required to be made in respect of the trust securities as of a specified date, (ii) change any redemption, conversion or exchange provisions of the trust securities, (iii) restrict the right of a holder of trust securities to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date, (iv) change the purpose of the CNA Capital Trust, (v) authorize or issue any beneficial interest in the CNA Capital Trust other than the contemplated trust securities, (vi) change the conditions precedent for us to elect to dissolve the CNA Capital Trust and distribute the corresponding junior debt securities or (vii) affect the limited liability of any holder of preferred securities.

        So long as any corresponding junior debt securities are held by the property trustee, the issuer trustees shall not (i) direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the junior indenture trustee, or executing any trust or power conferred on the property trustee with respect to such corresponding junior debt securities, (ii) waive any past default that is waivable under the junior indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the junior debt securities shall be due and payable or (iv) consent to any amendment,

43

modification or termination of the junior indenture or such corresponding junior debt securities where such consent shall be required, without, in each case, obtaining the prior approval of the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of all outstanding preferred securities; provided, however, that where a consent under the junior indenture would require the consent of each holder of corresponding junior debt securities affected thereby, no such consent shall be given by the property trustee without the prior consent of each holder of the related preferred securities. The issuer trustees shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the holders of the preferred securities except by subsequent vote of the holders of the preferred securities. The property trustee shall notify each holder of preferred securities of any notice of default with respect to the corresponding junior debt securities. In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals of the holders of the preferred securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing actions, the issuer trustees shall obtain an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that the CNA Capital Trust will not be classified as an association taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes on account of such action.

        Any required approval of holders of preferred securities may be given at a meeting of holders of preferred securities convened for such purpose or pursuant to written consent. The property trustee will cause a notice of any meeting at which holders of preferred securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon which action by written consent of such holders is to be taken, to be given to each holder of record of preferred securities in the manner set forth in each trust agreement.

        No vote or consent of the holders of preferred securities will be required for a CNA Capital Trust to redeem and cancel its preferred securities in accordance with the applicable trust agreement.

        Notwithstanding that holders of preferred securities are entitled to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the preferred securities that are owned by us, the issuer trustees or any of our affiliates or any issuer trustees shall, for purposes of such vote or consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding.

Global Preferred Securities

        The preferred securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global preferred securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement for such series, the depositary will be DTC. Global preferred securities may be issued only in fully registered form and in either temporary or permanent form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual preferred securities represented thereby, global preferred securities may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary for such global preferred securities to a nominee of such depositary or by a nominee of such depositary to such depositary or another nominee of such depositary or by the depositary or any nominee to a successor depositary or any nominee of such successor.

        The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series of preferred securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. We anticipate that the following provisions will generally apply to depositary arrangements.

        Upon the issuance of global preferred securities, and the deposit of such global preferred securities with or on behalf of the depositary, the depositary for such global preferred securities or its nominee will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective aggregate liquidation amounts of the individual preferred securities represented by such global preferred securities to the accounts of participants. Such accounts shall be designated by the dealers, underwriters or agents with respect to such preferred securities or by us if such preferred securities are offered and sold directly by us. Ownership of beneficial interests in global preferred securities will be limited to participants or persons that may hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in such global

44

preferred securities will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the applicable depositary or its nominee (with respect to interests of participants) and the records of participants (with respect to interests of persons who hold through participants). The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such limits and such laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in global preferred securities.

        So long as the depositary for global preferred securities, or its nominee, is the registered owner of such global preferred securities, such depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the preferred securities represented by such global preferred securities for all purposes under the indenture governing such preferred securities. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in global preferred securities will not be entitled to have any of the individual preferred securities of the series represented by such global preferred securities registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of any such preferred securities of such series in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the indenture.

        Payments of distributions, redemption price and liquidation distributions in respect of individual preferred securities represented by global preferred securities registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the global preferred securities representing such preferred securities. None of us, the property trustee, any paying agent, or the securities registrar for such preferred securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of the global preferred securities representing such preferred securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

        We expect that the depositary for a series of preferred securities or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of distributions, redemption price and liquidation distributions in respect of a permanent global preferred securities representing any of such preferred securities, immediately will credit participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interest in the aggregate liquidation amount of such global preferred securities for such preferred securities as shown on the records of such depositary or its nominee. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in such global preferred securities held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street names." Such payments will be the responsibility of such participants.

        Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, if a depositary for a series of preferred securities is at any time unwilling, unable or ineligible to continue as depositary and we do not appoint a successor depositary within 90 days, we will issue individual preferred securities of such series in exchange for the global preferred securities representing such series of preferred securities. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion, subject to any limitations described in the prospectus supplement relating to such preferred securities, determine not to have any preferred securities of such series represented by one or more global preferred securities and, in such event, will issue individual preferred securities of such series in exchange for the global preferred securities representing such series of preferred securities. Further, if we so specify with respect to the preferred securities of a series, an owner of a beneficial interest in global preferred securities representing preferred securities of such series may, on terms acceptable to us, the property trustee and the depositary for such global preferred securities, receive individual preferred securities of such series in exchange for such beneficial interests, subject to any limitations described in the prospectus supplement relating to such preferred securities. In any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in global preferred securities will be entitled to physical delivery of individual preferred securities of the series

45

represented by such global preferred securities equal in principal amount to such beneficial interest and to have such preferred securities registered in its name.

Payment and Paying Agency

        Payments in respect of the preferred securities shall be made to the depositary, which shall credit the relevant accounts at the depositary on the applicable distribution dates or, if any CNA Capital Trust's preferred securities are not held by the depositary, such payments shall be made by check mailed to the address of the holder entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the register. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the paying agent shall initially be the property trustee and any co-paying agent chosen by the property trustee and acceptable to the administrative trustees and us. The paying agent shall be permitted to resign as paying agent upon 30 days' written notice to the property trustee and us. In the event that the property trustee shall no longer be the paying agent, the administrative trustees shall appoint a successor (which shall be a bank or trust company acceptable to the administrative trustees and us) to act as paying agent.

Registrar and Transfer Agent

        Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the property trustee will act as registrar and transfer agent for the preferred securities.

        Registration of transfers of preferred securities will be effected without charge by or on behalf of each CNA Capital Trust, but upon payment of any tax or other governmental charges that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange. The CNA Capital Trusts will not be required to register or cause to be registered the transfer of their preferred securities after such preferred securities have been called for redemption.

Information concerning the Property Trustee

        The property trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of a trust related event of default, undertakes to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in each trust agreement and, after such junior debt related event of default, must exercise the same degree of care and skill as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the property trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the applicable trust agreement at the request of any holder of preferred securities unless it is offered reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred thereby. If no junior debt related event of default has occurred and is continuing and the property trustee is required to decide between alternative causes of action, construe ambiguous provisions in the applicable trust agreement or is unsure of the application of any provision of the applicable trust agreement, and the matter is not one on which holders of preferred securities are entitled under such trust agreement to vote, then the property trustee shall take such action as we direct and if not so directed, shall take such action as it deems advisable and in the best interests of the holders of the CNA Capital Trust's common securities and preferred securities and will have no liability except for its own bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct.

Miscellaneous

        The administrative trustees are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of and to operate the CNA Capital Trusts in such a way that no CNA Capital Trust will be deemed to be an "investment company" required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or classified as an association taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes and so that the corresponding junior debt securities will be treated as our indebtedness for United States federal income tax purposes. In this connection, we and the administrative trustees are authorized to take any

46

action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the certificate of trust of each CNA Capital Trust or each trust agreement, that we and the administrative trustees determine in their discretion to be necessary or desirable for such purposes, as long as such action does not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the related preferred securities.

        Holders of the preferred securities have no preemptive or similar rights.

        No CNA Capital Trust may borrow money or issue debt or mortgage or pledge any of its assets.

DESCRIPTION OF GUARANTEES

        A guarantee will be executed and delivered by us concurrently with the issuance by each CNA Capital Trust of its preferred securities for the benefit of the holders from time to time of such preferred securities. The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor in interest to J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association (formerly known as The First National Bank of Chicago), will act as indenture trustee under each guarantee for the purposes of compliance with the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and each guarantee will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., in its capacity as indenture trustee under each guarantee, is referred to in this prospectus as the "guarantee trustee." The form of the guarantee has been included as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

        Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following description summarizes the material terms of the guarantees. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the detailed provisions of the guarantees, including the definitions of certain terms used in the description of the guarantees in this prospectus, and those terms made a part of each of the guarantees by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. Reference in this summary to preferred securities means that CNA Capital Trust's preferred securities to which a guarantee relates. The guarantee trustee will hold each guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the related CNA Capital Trust's preferred securities.

General

        We will irrevocably agree to pay in full on a subordinated basis, to the extent set forth herein, the guarantee payments (as defined below) to the holders of the preferred securities, as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that such CNA Capital Trust may have or assert other than the defense of payment. The following payments with respect to the preferred securities, to the extent not paid by or on behalf of the related CNA Capital Trust, will be subject to the guarantee: (i) any accumulated and unpaid distributions required to be paid on such preferred securities, to the extent that such CNA Capital Trust has funds on hand available therefor at such time, (ii) the redemption price with respect to any preferred securities called for redemption, to the extent that such CNA Capital Trust has funds on hand available therefor at such time, or (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding up or liquidation of such CNA Capital Trust (unless the corresponding junior debt securities are distributed to holders of such preferred securities), the lesser of (a) the liquidation distribution and (b) the amount of assets of such CNA Capital Trust remaining available for distribution to holders of preferred securities after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of such CNA Capital Trust as required by applicable law. All such payments are referred to in this prospectus as the "guarantee payments." Our obligation to make a guarantee payment may be satisfied by our direct payment of the required amounts to the holders of the applicable preferred securities or by causing the CNA Capital Trust to pay such amounts to such holders.

        Each guarantee will be an irrevocable guarantee on a subordinated basis of the related CNA Capital Trust's obligations under the preferred securities, but will apply only to the extent that such related CNA Capital Trust has funds sufficient to make such payments, and is not a guarantee of collection.

47

        If we do not make required payments on the corresponding junior debt securities held by the CNA Capital Trust, the CNA Capital Trust will not have funds legally available and will not be able to pay the related amounts in respect of the preferred securities. Each guarantee will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of our senior debt. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the guarantees do not limit the incurrence or issuance of other of our secured or unsecured debt, whether under the indentures, the junior indenture, any other indenture that we may enter into in the future or otherwise.

        Our obligations described herein and in any accompanying prospectus supplement, through the applicable guarantee, the applicable trust agreement, the junior debt securities, the junior indenture and any supplemental indentures thereto, and the expense agreement, taken together, constitute our full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of payments due on the preferred securities. No single document standing alone or operating in conjunction with fewer than all of the other documents constitutes such guarantee. It is only the combined operation of these documents that has the effect of providing a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of the CNA Capital Trust's obligations under the preferred securities.

Status of the Guarantees

        Each guarantee will constitute our unsecured obligation and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of our senior debt.

        Each guarantee will rank equally with all other guarantees issued by us. Each guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment and not of collection (i.e., the guaranteed party may institute a legal proceeding directly against the guarantor to enforce its rights under the guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against any other person or entity). Each guarantee will be held for the benefit of the holders of the related preferred securities. Each guarantee will not be discharged except by payment of the guarantee payments in full to the extent not paid by the CNA Capital Trust or upon distribution to the holders of the preferred securities of the corresponding junior debt securities. None of the guarantees places a limitation on the amount of additional senior debt that we may incur. We expect from time to time to incur additional indebtedness constituting senior debt.

Amendments and Assignment

        Except with respect to any changes which do not materially adversely affect the rights of holders of the preferred securities (in which case no vote will be required), no guarantee may be amended without the prior approval of the holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate liquidation amount of such outstanding preferred securities. The manner of obtaining any such approval will be as set forth above under the subheading "Voting Rights; Amendment of each Trust Agreement" of the heading "Description of Preferred Securities." All guarantees and agreements contained in each guarantee shall bind our successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives and shall inure to the benefit of the holders of the related preferred securities then outstanding.

Events of Default

        An event of default under each guarantee will occur upon our failure to perform any of our payment or other obligations thereunder. The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the preferred securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the guarantee trustee in respect of such guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the guarantee trustee under such guarantee.

48

        Any holder of the preferred securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against us to enforce its rights under such guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against the CNA Capital Trust, the guarantee trustee or any other person or entity.

        We, as guarantor, are required to file annually with the guarantee trustee a certificate as to whether or not we are in compliance with all the conditions and covenants applicable to us under the guarantee.

Information concerning the Guarantee Trustee

        The guarantee trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of a default by us in performance of any guarantee, undertakes to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in each guarantee and, after default with respect to any guarantee, must exercise the same degree of care and skill as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the guarantee trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by any guarantee at the request of any holder of any preferred securities unless it is offered reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred thereby.

Termination of the Guarantees

        Each guarantee will terminate and be of no further force and effect upon full payment of the redemption price of the preferred securities, upon full payment of the amounts payable upon liquidation of the related CNA Capital Trust or upon distribution of corresponding junior debt securities to the holders of the related preferred securities. Each guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any holder of the related preferred securities must restore payment of any sums paid under such preferred securities or such guarantee.

The Expense Agreement

        Pursuant to the expense agreement entered into by us under each trust agreement, we will irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee to each person or entity to whom the CNA Capital Trust becomes indebted or liable, the full payment of any costs, expenses or liabilities of the CNA Capital Trust, other than obligations of the CNA Capital Trust to pay to the holders of any preferred securities or other similar interests in the CNA Capital Trust of the amounts due such holders pursuant to the terms of the preferred securities or such other similar interests, as the case may be.

RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE PREFERRED SECURITIES,
THE CORRESPONDING JUNIOR DEBT SECURITIES
AND THE GUARANTEES

Full and Unconditional Guarantee

        Payments of distributions and other amounts due on the preferred securities (to the extent the CNA Capital Trust has funds available for the payment of such distributions) are irrevocably guaranteed by us as and to the extent set forth above under the heading "Description of Guarantees." Taken together, our obligations under each series of junior debt securities, the junior indenture, the related trust agreement, the related expense agreement, and the related guarantee provide, in the aggregate, a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of payments of distributions and other amounts due on the related series of preferred securities. No single document standing alone or operating in conjunction with fewer than all of the other documents constitutes such guarantee. It is only the combined operation of these documents that has the effect of providing a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of the CNA Capital Trust's obligations under the preferred securities. If and to the extent that we do not make payments on any series of corresponding junior debt securities, such CNA Capital Trust will not pay distributions or other amounts due on its preferred securities. The

49

guarantees do not cover any payment when the related CNA Capital Trust does not have sufficient funds therefor. In such event, the remedy of a holder of a series of preferred securities is to institute a legal proceeding directly against us for enforcement of such payment to such holder. Our obligations under each guarantee are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of our senior debt.

Sufficiency of Payments

        As long as payments of interest and other payments are made when due on each series of corresponding junior debt securities, such payments will be sufficient to cover distributions and other payments due on the related preferred securities, primarily because: (i) the aggregate principal amount of each series of corresponding junior debt securities will be equal to the sum of the aggregate liquidation amount of the related preferred securities and related common securities; (ii) the interest rate and interest and other payment dates on each series of corresponding junior debt securities will match the distribution rate and distribution and other payment dates for the related preferred securities; (iii) we shall pay for all and any costs, expenses and liabilities of such CNA Capital Trust except the CNA Capital Trust's obligations to holders of its preferred securities under such preferred securities; and (iv) each trust agreement further provides that the CNA Capital Trust will not engage in any activity that is not consistent with the limited purposes of such CNA Capital Trust.

        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the junior indenture, we have the right to set-off any payment we are otherwise required to make thereunder to the extent we have theretofore made, or is concurrently on the date of such payment making, a payment under the related guarantee.

Enforcement Rights of Holders of Preferred Securities

        A holder of any related preferred securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against us to enforce its rights under the related guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against the guarantee trustee, the related CNA Capital Trust or any other person or entity.

        A default or event of default under any of our senior debt would not constitute a default or event of default. However, in the event of payment defaults under, or acceleration of, our senior debt, the subordination provisions of the junior indenture provide that no payments may be made in respect of the corresponding junior debt securities until such senior debt has been paid in full or any payment default thereunder has been cured or waived. Failure to make required payments on any series of corresponding junior debt securities would constitute a junior debt related event of default and permit direct actions by the holders of preferred securities against us to collect upon the corresponding junior debt securities.

Limited Purpose of CNA Capital Trusts

        Each CNA Capital Trust's preferred securities evidence a beneficial interest in such CNA Capital Trust, and each CNA Capital Trust exists for the sole purpose of issuing its preferred securities and common securities and investing the proceeds thereof in corresponding junior debt securities. A principal difference between the rights of a holder of preferred securities and a holder of corresponding junior debt securities is that a holder of a corresponding junior debt securities is entitled to receive from us the principal amount of and interest accrued on corresponding junior debt securities held, while a holder of preferred securities is entitled to receive payment of distributions and the redemption price from such CNA Capital Trust (or from us under the applicable guarantee) if and to the extent such CNA Capital Trust has funds available for such payment.

Rights upon Termination

        Upon any voluntary or involuntary termination, winding-up or liquidation of any CNA Capital Trust involving the liquidation of the corresponding junior debt securities, the holders of the related

50

preferred securities will be entitled to receive, out of assets held by such CNA Capital Trust, the liquidation distribution in cash. Upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation or bankruptcy, the property trustee, as holder of the corresponding junior debt securities, would be a subordinated creditor of ours, subordinated in right of payment to all senior debt, but entitled to receive payment in full of principal and interest, before any of our stockholders receive payments or distributions. Since we are the guarantor under each guarantee and have agreed to pay for all costs, expenses and liabilities of each CNA Capital Trust (other than the CNA Capital Trust's obligations to the holders of its preferred securities), the positions of a holder of such preferred securities and a holder of such corresponding junior debt securities relative to other creditors and to our stockholders in the event of our liquidation or bankruptcy are expected to be substantially the same.

DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS
AND PURCHASE UNITS

        We and/or the CNA Capital Trusts may issue purchase contracts, representing contracts obligating holders to purchase from us and/or the applicable CNA Capital Trust, and we and/or the applicable CNA Capital Trust to sell to the holders, a specified quantity of debt securities, junior debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants or preferred securities at a future date or dates. The price of the securities subject to a purchase contract may be fixed at the time the purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the purchase contracts. The purchase contracts may be issued separately or as a part of units, referred to in this prospectus as "purchase units," consisting of a purchase contract and either (i) debt securities or junior debt securities, (ii) debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. Treasury securities, or (iii) preferred securities of a CNA Capital Trust, securing the holder's obligations to purchase the applicable securities under the purchase contracts. The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the purchase units or vice versa, and such payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations thereunder in a specified manner and in certain circumstances we may deliver newly issued prepaid purchase contracts, referred to in this prospectus as "prepaid securities," upon release to a holder of any collateral securing such holder's obligations under the original purchase contract.

        The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any purchase contracts or purchase units and, if applicable, prepaid securities. The description in the prospectus supplement will not purport to be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the purchase contracts, the collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements, if applicable, relating to such purchase contracts or purchase units and, if applicable, the prepaid securities and the document pursuant to which such prepaid securities will be issued.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

        We may sell any series of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants, purchase contracts and purchase units and the CNA Capital Trusts may sell the preferred securities being offered directly to one or more purchasers, through agents, to or through underwriters or dealers, or through a combination of any such methods of sale. The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at fixed prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering, including the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, the purchase price of such securities and the proceeds to us and/or a CNA Capital Trust from such sale, any underwriting discounts and commissions or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters' or agents' compensation, any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or paid to dealers or any securities exchange on which such

51

securities may be listed. Any initial public offering price, discounts or concessions allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

        Any discounts, concessions or commissions received by underwriters or agents and any profits on the resale of securities by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act of 1933. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of underwriters to purchase the offered securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent, and such underwriters will be obligated to purchase all such securities, if any are purchased. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

        We, along with the CNA Capital Trusts, may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or the CNA Capital Trusts, as applicable, or borrowed from us or the CNA Capital Trusts, as applicable, or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us or the CNA Capital Trusts, as applicable, in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment).

        We, along with the CNA Capital Trusts, may also offer and sell securities, if so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more firms referred to as remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us or one of the CNA Capital Trusts. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us or one of the CNA Capital Trusts, and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the securities they remarket.

        We may authorize underwriters, dealers or other persons acting as agents for us or one of the CNA Capital Trusts to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase securities from us or one of the CNA Capital Trusts, pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date. Institutions with which such contracts may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and others, but in all cases such institutions must be approved by us or one of the CNA Capital Trusts. The obligations of any purchaser under any such contract will be subject to the conditions that the purchase of the offered securities shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which such purchaser is subject. The underwriters and such other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of such contracts.

        In connection with the offering of securities, we or any CNA Capital Trust may grant to the underwriters an option to purchase additional securities to cover over-allotments at the initial public offering price, with an additional underwriting commission, as may be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement. If we or any CNA Capital Trust grants any over-allotment option, the terms of such over-allotment option will be set forth in the prospectus supplement for such securities.

        The securities may be a new issue of securities that have no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom securities are sold for public offering and sale may make a market in such securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Such securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of or the existence of trading markets for any securities.

52

        We and the CNA Capital Trusts may indemnify agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933. Our agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms, or their affiliates, may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of business.

CERTAIN ERISA MATTERS

        Subject to the restrictions described below and unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the securities described in this prospectus may be held by (i) plans that are subject to the fiduciary responsibility provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, also referred to as "ERISA," or the provisions of Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), such plans referred to herein as "Plans," (ii) plans that are subject to provisions under federal, state or other laws, referred to as "Similar Law," that are substantially similar to the fiduciary responsibility provisions of ERISA or the prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code, such plans referred to herein as "Similar Law Plans," and (iii) entities whose underlying assets are considered to include "plan assets" of any such Plans or Similar Law Plans. A fiduciary of any Plan or Similar Law Plan must determine that the purchase and holding of the securities or an interest therein is consistent with its fiduciary duties and will not constitute or result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or a violation under any applicable Similar Law.

        Under ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code, unless a statutory or administrative exemption is applicable, the purchase and, in certain cases, the holding of securities by a Plan with respect to which (i) we or any of our affiliates or (ii) any underwriter, dealer or agent selling the securities or any of their affiliates is a "party in interest" or "disqualified person" (as defined in Section 3(14) of ERISA and Section 4975(e)(2) of the Code, respectively) could constitute a prohibited transaction. Accordingly, each purchaser or holder of the securities or any interest therein will be deemed to have represented by its purchase and holding thereof that either (i) it is not, and is not acting on behalf of, any Plan or Similar Law Plan or (ii) its purchase and holding of the securities or any interest therein will not constitute or result in a nonexempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code because such purchaser or holder relied on an available prohibited transaction exemption, all of the conditions of which are satisfied, or in a violation of any applicable Similar Law.

        The sale of any securities to a Plan or Similar Law Plan is in no respect a representation by us, or by any underwriter, dealer or agent selling the securities, that such an investment meets all of the legal requirements with respect to investments by any particular Plan or Similar Law Plan or that such an investment is appropriate for any particular Plan or Similar Law Plan.

VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

        Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, certain legal matters will be passed upon for us by Jonathan D. Kantor, Esq., our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, and for the CNA Capital Trusts by Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP, Delaware special counsel to the CNA Capital Trusts.

EXPERTS

        The consolidated financial statements, the related financial statement schedules, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, and the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is incorporated herein by reference (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph concerning a change in accounting for costs associated with acquiring or renewing insurance contracts in 2012), and has been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

53

PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14    Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

SEC registration fee		*
Fees of rating agencies		**
Legal fees and expenses		**
Accounting fees and expenses		**
Printing and engraving expenses		**
Miscellaneous		**
Total	$	**

*

Omitted because no additional fee being paid.

**

These fees are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time. An estimate of the expenses associated with the sale and distribution of the securities being offered will be included in the applicable prospectus supplement to the prospectus included in this registration statement.

Item 15.    Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

        The following is a summary of the statutory, bylaw and trust agreement provisions under which directors and officers of CNA Financial Corporation ("CNAF") and the trustees of the CNA Capital Trusts are insured or indemnified against liability in their capacities as such. Each of the registrants was formed in Delaware. The following is only a general summary of certain aspects of Delaware law, CNAF's by-laws and the trust agreements of the CNA Capital Trusts, and does not purport to be complete. It is qualified in its entirety by reference to the detailed provisions of Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL"), Article X of CNAF's by-laws and the trust agreements of the CNA Capital Trusts.

        Section 145(a) of the DGCL provides in relevant part that "[a] corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person's conduct was unlawful."

        With respect to derivative actions, Section 145(b) of the DGCL provides that "[a] corporation shall have the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor [by reason of the person's service in one of the capacities specified in the preceding paragraph] against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought

II-1

shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper."

        Article X of CNAF's by-laws contains provisions similar to Section 145 of the DGCL, although providing mandatory indemnification in certain of the circumstances covered by Section 145(a) of the DGCL.

        Such indemnification may apply to claims arising under the Securities Act of 1933. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted for directors, officers or persons controlling CNAF pursuant to the foregoing provisions, CNAF has been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in that Act and therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by CNAF of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of CNAF in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, CNAF will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

        CNAF maintains directors' and officers' liability insurance, subject to appreciable deductibles at the corporate level, for each wrongful act where corporate reimbursement is available to any director or officer.

        Under each trust agreement, CNAF will agree to indemnify each of the trustees of the CNA Capital Trust or any predecessor trustee for the CNA Capital Trust, and to hold the trustee harmless against, any loss, damage, claims, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust agreements, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties under the trust agreements.

Item 16.    Exhibits.

        A list of exhibits filed herewith or incorporated by reference is contained in the Exhibit Index which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 17.    Undertakings.

(1)

Each of the undersigned registrants hereby undertakes:

a.

To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

i.

To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

ii.

To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set

II-2

forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and

iii.

To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that the undertaking set forth in paragraphs (1)(a)(i), (1)(a)(ii) and (1)(a)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

b.

That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.



c.

To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(2)

Each of the undersigned registrants hereby undertakes that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

a.

Each prospectus filed by a registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

b.

Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(3)

Each of the undersigned registrants hereby undertakes that, for the purpose of determining liability of a registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, each of the undersigned registrants undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such

II-3

purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

a.

Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of an undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;



b.

Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of an undersigned registrant or used or referred to by an undersigned registrant;



c.

The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about an undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of an undersigned registrant; and



d.

Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by an undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(4)

Each of the undersigned registrants hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of CNAF's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(5)

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the undersigned registrants, pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrants have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the undersigned registrants in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the applicable registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(6)

Each of the undersigned registrants hereby undertakes that:

a.

For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance on Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by one or more of the undersigned registrants pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

b.

For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

II-4

SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Chicago, State of Illinois, on April 5, 2013.

CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By:	/s/ THOMAS F. MOTAMED Thomas F. Motamed Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Name	Title	Date
/s/ THOMAS F. MOTAMED Thomas F. Motamed	Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)	April 5, 2013
/s/ D. CRAIG MENSE D. Craig Mense	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer & Principal Accounting Officer)	April 5, 2013
/s/ PAUL J. LISKA Paul J. Liska	Director	April 5, 2013
/s/ JOSE O. MONTEMAYOR Jose O. Montemayor	Director	April 5, 2013
/s/ DON M. RANDEL Don M. Randel	Director	April 5, 2013
/s/ JOSEPH ROSENBERG Joseph Rosenberg	Director	April 5, 2013
/s/ ANDREW H. TISCH Andrew H. Tisch	Director	April 5, 2013
/s/ JAMES S. TISCH James S. Tisch	Director	April 5, 2013
/s/ MARVIN ZONIS Marvin Zonis	Director	April 5, 2013

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Chicago, State of Illinois, on April 5, 2013.

CNA FINANCIAL CAPITAL I
By:	CNA Financial Corporation, as Depositor
By:	/s/ D. CRAIG MENSE D. Craig Mense Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
By:	/s/ LAWRENCE J. BOYSEN Lawrence J. Boysen Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Chicago, State of Illinois, on April 5, 2013.

CNA FINANCIAL CAPITAL II
By:	CNA Financial Corporation, as Depositor
By:	/s/ D. CRAIG MENSE D. Craig Mense Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
By:	/s/ LAWRENCE J. BOYSEN Lawrence J. Boysen Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Chicago, State of Illinois, on April 5, 2013.

CNA FINANCIAL CAPITAL III
By:	CNA Financial Corporation, as Depositor
By:	/s/ D. CRAIG MENSE D. Craig Mense Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
By:	/s/ LAWRENCE J. BOYSEN Lawrence J. Boysen Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit			Document Description
	1.1	†	Form of Underwriting Agreement.
	3.1		Certificate of Incorporation of CNA Financial Corporation, as amended May 6, 1987 (incorporated by reference as Exhibit 3.1 of CNAF's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-65493) filed October 9, 1998).
	3.2		Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of CNA Financial Corporation, dated May 14, 1998 (incorporated by reference as Exhibit 3.1a of CNAF's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006).
	3.3		Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of CNA Financial Corporation, dated May 10, 1999 (incorporated by reference as Exhibit 3.1 of CNAF's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999).
	3.4		By-Laws of CNA Financial Corporation, as amended effective October 24, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of CNAF's Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 24, 2012).
	4.1		Senior Debt Indenture, dated as of March 1, 1991, between CNA Financial Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor in interest to J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association (formerly known as The First National Bank of Chicago), a national banking association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of CNAF's Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 16, 2004).
	4.2		First Supplemental Indenture of the Senior Indenture, dated as of October 15, 1993, between CNA Financial Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor in interest to J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association (formerly known as The First National Bank of Chicago), a national banking association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of CNAF's Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 16, 2004).
	4.3		Second Supplemental Indenture of the Senior Indenture, dated as of December 15, 2004, between CNA Financial Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor in interest to J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association (formerly known as The First National Bank of Chicago), a national banking association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of CNAF's Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 16, 2004).
	4.4		Form of Subordinated Indenture between CNA Financial Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor in interest to J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of CNAF's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-127544) filed August 15, 2005).
	4.5		Form of Junior Subordinated Indenture between CNA Financial Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor in interest to J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 of CNAF's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-127544) filed August 15, 2005).
	4.6		Certificate of Trust of CNA Financial Capital I (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(e) of CNAF's Registration Statement on Form S-3/A (File No. 333-69741) filed April 20, 1999).
	4.7		Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust of CNA Financial Capital I (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 of CNAF's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-127544) filed August 15, 2005).

Exhibit			Document Description
	4.8		Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust of CNA Financial Capital I, dated March 18, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 of CNAF's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-158901) filed on April 30, 2009).
	4.9		Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of CNA Financial Capital I, dated as of August 12, 2005, among CNA Financial Corporation, as depositor, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor in interest to J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, Chase Bank USA, National Association, a national banking association, D. Craig Mense and Dennis Hemme, as trustees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 of CNAF's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-127544) filed August 15, 2005).
	4.10		Certificate of Trust of CNA Financial Capital II (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(g) of CNAF's Registration Statement on Form S-3/A (File No. 333-69741) filed April 20, 1999).
	4.11		Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust of CNA Financial Capital II (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 of CNAF's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-127544) filed August 15, 2005).
	4.12		Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust of CNA Financial Capital II, dated March 18, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.12 of CNAF's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-158901) filed on April 30, 2009.
	4.13		Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of CNA Financial Capital II, dated as of August 12, 2005, among CNA Financial Corporation, as depositor, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor in interest to J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, Chase Bank USA, National Association, a national banking association, D. Craig Mense and Dennis Hemme, as trustees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.11 of CNAF's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-127544) filed August 15, 2005).
	4.14		Certificate of Trust of CNA Financial Capital III (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(i) of CNAF's Registration Statement on Form S- 3/A (File No. 333-69741) filed April 20, 1999).
	4.15		Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust of CNA Financial Capital III (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.13 of CNAF's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-127544) filed August 15, 2005).
	4.16		Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust of CNA Financial Capital III, dated March 18, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.16 of CNAF's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-158901) filed on April 30, 2009).
	4.17		Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of CNA Financial Capital III, dated as of August 12, 2005, among CNA Financial Corporation, as depositor, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor in interest to J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, Chase Bank USA, National Association, a national banking association, D. Craig Mense and Dennis Hemme, as trustees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.14 of CNAF's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-127544) filed August 15, 2005).
	4.18	*	Form of Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement for the CNA Capital Trusts among CNA Financial Corporation, as depositor, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware and the Administrative Trustees.
	4.19		Form of Guarantee Agreement for the CNA Capital Trusts between CNA Financial Corporation and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.16 of CNAF's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-127544) filed on August 15, 2005).

Exhibit			Document Description
	4.20	†	Form of Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation.
	4.21	†	Form of Deposit Agreement, including form of Depositary Shares.
	4.22	†	Form of Warrant Agreement, including form of Warrant.
	4.23	†	Form of Purchase Contract Agreement.
	5.1	*	Opinion of Jonathan D. Kantor, Esq.
	5.2	*	Opinion of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP as to legality of the Preferred Securities to be issued by the CNA Capital Trusts.
	12.1	*	Statements re Computation of Ratios.
	23.1	*	Consent of Jonathan D. Kantor, Esq. (included as part of Exhibit 5.1).
	23.2	*	Consent of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5.2).
	23.3	*	Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
	25.1	*	Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. to act as—Trustee under the Senior Indenture.
	25.2	*	Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. to act as Trustee under the Subordinated Indenture.
	25.3	*	Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. to act as Trustee under the Junior Indenture.
	25.4	*	Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. to act as Trustee under the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement for CNA Financial Capital I.
	25.5	*	Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. to act as Trustee under the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement for CNA Financial Capital II.
	25.6	*	Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. to act as Trustee under the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement for CNA Financial Capital III.
	25.7	*	Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. to act as Trustee under the Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of Preferred Securities of CNA Financial Capital I.
	25.8	*	Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. to act as Trustee under the Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of Preferred Securities of CNA Financial Capital II.
	25.9	*	Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. to act as Trustee under the Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of Preferred Securities of CNA Financial Capital III.

†

To the extent applicable, to be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference or by post-effective amendment.

*

Filed herewith

EX-4.18

Exhibit 4.18

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

TRUST AGREEMENT

AMONG

CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION, AS DEPOSITOR,

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
AS PROPERTY TRUSTEE

BNY MELLON TRUST OF DELAWARE,
AS DELAWARE TRUSTEE,

AND

THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEES NAMED HEREIN

DATED AS OF         

CNA FINANCIAL CAPITAL [      ]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

			Page
ARTICLE I	DEFINED TERMS		1
Section 1.1		Definitions	1
ARTICLE II	ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRUST		9
Section 2.1		Name	9
Section 2.2		Office of the Delaware Trustee; Principal Place of Business	9
Section 2.3		Initial Contribution of Trust Property; Organizational Expenses	9
Section 2.4		Issuance of the Trust Securities	10
Section 2.5		Subscription and Purchase of Debentures	10
Section 2.6		Declaration of Trust	10
Section 2.7		Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions	11
Section 2.8		Assets of Trust	14
Section 2.9		Title to Trust Property	14
ARTICLE III	PAYMENT ACCOUNT		14
Section 3.1		Payment Account	14
ARTICLE IV	DISTRIBUTIONS; REDEMPTION		15
Section 4.1		Distributions	15
Section 4.2		Redemption	16
Section 4.3		Subordination of Common Securities	18
Section 4.4		Payment Procedures	18
Section 4.5		Tax Returns and Reports	19
Section 4.6		Payment of Taxes, Duties, Etc	19
Section 4.7		Reduction for Payments Under Junior Indenture	19
ARTICLE V	TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES		19
Section 5.1		Initial Ownership	19
Section 5.2		The Trust Securities Certificates	20
Section 5.3		Execution and Delivery of Trust Securities Certificates	20
Section 5.4		Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates	20
Section 5.5		Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Trust Securities Certificates	21

i

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

			Page
Section 5.6		Persons Deemed Securityholders	21
Section 5.7		Access to List of Securityholders’ Names and Addresses	21
Section 5.8		Maintenance of Office or Agency	22
Section 5.9		Appointment of Paying Agent	22
Section 5.10		Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor; no Transfer	23
Section 5.11		Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates; Common Securities Certificate	23
Section 5.12		Notices to Clearing Agency	24
Section 5.13		Issuance of Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates	24
Section 5.14		Rights of Securityholders	25
ARTICLE VI	ACTS OF SECURITYHOLDERS; MEETINGS; VOTING		27
Section 6.1		Limitations on Voting Rights	27
Section 6.2		Notice of Meetings	28
Section 6.3		Meetings of Preferred Securityholders	28
Section 6.4		Voting Rights	28
Section 6.5		Proxies, Etc	28
Section 6.6		Securityholder Action by Written Consent	29
Section 6.7		Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes	29
Section 6.8		Acts of Securityholders	29
Section 6.9		Inspection of Records	31
ARTICLE VII	REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES		31
Section 7.1		Representations and Warranties of the Bank and the Bank (Delaware)	31
Section 7.2		Representations and Warranties of Depositor	32
ARTICLE VIII	THE TRUSTEES		32
Section 8.1		Certain Duties and Responsibilities	32
Section 8.2		Notices of Defaults and Payment Deferrals	34
Section 8.3		Certain Rights of Property Trustee	34
Section 8.4		Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities	36
Section 8.5		May Hold Securities	36
Section 8.6		Compensation; Indemnity; Fees	37

ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

			Page
Section 8.7		Corporate Property Trustee Required; Eligibility of Trustees	37
Section 8.8		Conflicting Interests	38
Section 8.9		Co-Trustees and Separate Trustee	38
Section 8.10		Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor	39
Section 8.11		Acceptance of Appointment by Successor	41
Section 8.12		Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business	42
Section 8.13		Preferential Collection of Claims Against Depositor or Trust	42
Section 8.14		Reports by Property Trustee	42
Section 8.15		Reports to the Property Trustee	42
Section 8.16		Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent	43
Section 8.17		Number of Trustees	43
Section 8.18		Delegation of Power	43
Section 8.19		Voting	43
ARTICLE IX	TERMINATION, LIQUIDATION AND MERGER		44
Section 9.1		Termination Upon Expiration Date	44
Section 9.2		Early Termination	44
Section 9.3		Termination	44
Section 9.4		Liquidation	45
Section 9.5		Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements of the Trust	46
ARTICLE X	MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS		47
Section 10.1		Limitation of Rights of Securityholders	47
Section 10.2		Amendment	47
Section 10.3		Separability	49
Section 10.4		Governing Law	49
Section 10.5		Payments Due on Non-Business Day	49
Section 10.6		Successors	49
Section 10.7		Headings	49
Section 10.8		Reports, Notices and Demands	49
Section 10.9		Trust Indenture Act; Conflict with Trust Indenture Act	50

iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

		Page
Section 10.10	Acceptance of Terms of Trust Agreement, Guarantee and Junior Indenture	50

iv

CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THIS TRUST AGREEMENT RELATING TO SECTION 310
THROUGH 318 OF THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939:

TRUST INDENTURE ACT SECTION		TRUST AGREEMENT SECTION
Section 310	(a)(1)	8.7
	(a)(2)	8.7
	(a)(3)	8.9
	(a)(4)	2.7(a) (ii)
	(b)	8.8
Section 311	(a)	8.13
	(b)	8.13
Section 312	(a)	5.7
	(b)	5.7
	(c)	5.7
Section 313	(a)	8.14(a)
	(a)(4)	8.14(b)
	(b)	8.14(b)
	(c)	10.8
	(d)	8.14(c)
Section 314	(a)	8.15
	(b)	Not Applicable
	(c)(1)	8.16
	(c)(2)	8.16
	(c)(3)	Not Applicable
	(d)	Not Applicable
	(e)	1.1, 8.16
Section 315	(a)	8.1(a), 8.3(a)
	(b)	8.2, 10.8
	(c)	8.1(a)
	(d)	8.1, 8.3
	(e)	Not Applicable
Section 316	(a)	Not Applicable
	(a)(1)(A)	Not Applicable
	(a)(1)(B)	Not Applicable
	(a)(2)	Not Applicable
	(b)	Not Applicable
	(c)	6.7
Section 317	(a)(1)	Not Applicable
	(a)(2)	Not Applicable
	(b)	5.9
Section 318	(a)	10.9

Note: This reconciliation and tie sheet shall not, for any purposes, be deemed to be a part of this Trust Agreement.

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of       ,       , among (i) CNA Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (including any successors or assigns, the “Depositor”), (ii) The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association, as property trustee, (in such capacity, the “Property Trustee,” and in its separate corporate capacity and not in its capacity as Property Trustee, the “Bank” (iii) BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware, a national banking association, as Delaware trustee (in such capacity, “Delaware Trustee,” and, in its separate corporate capacity and not in its capacity as Delaware Trustee, the “Bank (Delaware)”), (iv) D. Craig Mense, an individual, and Albert J. Miralles, Jr., an individual, each of whose address is c/o CNA Financial Corporation, 333 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60604 (each an “Administrative Trustee” and collectively the “Administrative Trustees”) (the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee and the Administrative Trustees referred to collectively as the “Trustees”) and (iv) the several Holders, as hereinafter defined.

WITNESSETH

WHEREAS, the Depositor and certain of the Trustees have heretofore duly declared and established a business trust pursuant to the Delaware Business Trust Act by the entering into that certain Trust Agreement, dated as of December 23, 1998 (the “Original Trust Agreement”), and by the execution and filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware of the Certificate of Trust, filed on December 23, 1998, attached as Exhibit A hereto; and

WHEREAS, the Depositor and the Trustees desire to amend and restate the Original Trust Agreement in its entirety as set forth herein to provide for, among other things, (i) the issuance of the Common Securities (as hereinafter defined) by the Trust to the Depositor, (ii) the issuance and sale of the Preferred Securities (as hereinafter defined) by the Trust pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement (as hereinafter defined), (iii) the acquisition by the Trust from the Depositor of all of the right, title and interest in the Junior Debt Securities (as hereinafter defined) and (iv) the appointment of the Administrative Trustees;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, each party, for the benefit of the other parties and for the benefit of the Securityholders, hereby amends and restates the Original Trust Agreement in its entirety and agrees as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINED TERMS

SECTION 1.1  DEFINITIONS.

For all purposes of this Trust Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

(a)the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;

(b)all other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

(c)unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article” or a “Section” refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this Trust Agreement; and

(d)the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Trust Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.

“Act” has the meaning specified in Section 6.8.

“Additional Amount” means, with respect to Trust Securities of a given Liquidation Amount and/or a given period, the amount of Additional Interest or Additional Sums (as defined in the Junior Indenture), as applicable, paid by the Depositor on a Like Amount of Junior Debt Securities for such period.

“Additional Sums” has the meaning specified in Section 10.7 of the Junior Indenture.

“Administrative Trustee” means a Person satisfying the eligibility requirements set forth in Section 8.7(b) and initially means D. Craig Mense and Albert J. Miralles, Jr., solely in such Person’s capacity as Administrative Trustee of the Trust formed and continued hereunder and not in such Person’s individual capacity, or such Administrative Trustee’s successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor trustee appointed as herein provided.

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control”, when used with respect to any specified Person, means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

“Bank” has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust Agreement

“Bankruptcy Event” means, with respect to any Person:

(a)the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises adjudging such Person a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjudication or composition of or in respect of such Person under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of such Person or of any substantial part of its property or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

(b)the institution by such Person of proceedings to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any

2

applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, or the consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of such Person, or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due and its willingness to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the taking of corporate action by such Person in furtherance of any such action.

“Bankruptcy Laws” has the meaning specified in Section 10.9.

“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Depositor to have been duly adopted by the Depositor’s Board of Directors, or such committee of the Board of Directors or officers of the Company to which authority to act on behalf of the Board of Directors has been delegated, and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustees.

“Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates” means certificates representing beneficial interests in the Preferred Securities, ownership and transfers of which shall be made through book entries by a Clearing Agency as described in Section 5.11.

“Business Day” means a day other than (a) a Saturday or Sunday or (b) a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to remain closed.

“Certificate Depository Agreement” means the agreement among the Trust, the Depositor and The Depository Trust Company, as the initial Clearing Agency, dated as of the Closing Date, relating to the Trust Securities Certificates, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B, as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time.

“Clearing Agency” means an organization registered as a “clearing agency” pursuant to Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Depository Trust Company will be the initial Clearing Agency.

“Clearing Agency Participant” means a broker, dealer, bank, other financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time a Clearing Agency effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the Clearing Agency.

“Closing Date” means the Closing Time as defined in the Underwriting Agreement, which date is also the date of execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

3

“Common Security” means an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust, having a Liquidation Amount of $ and having the rights provided therefor in this Trust Agreement, including the right to receive Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution as provided herein.

“Common Securities Certificate” means a certificate evidencing ownership of Common Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C.

“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Property Trustee located in Chicago, Illinois.

“Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates” means Preferred Securities Certificates issued in certificated, fully registered form as provided in Section 5.13.

“Delaware Business Trust Act” means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. 3801, et seq., as it may be amended from time to time.

“Delaware Trustee” means the corporation identified as the “Delaware Trustee” in the preamble to this Trust Agreement solely in its capacity as Delaware Trustee of the Trust formed and continued hereunder and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor trustee appointed as herein provided.

“Depositor” has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust Agreement.

“Distribution Date” has the meaning specified in Section 4.1(a).

“Distributions” means amounts payable in respect of the Trust Securities as provided in Section 4.1.

“Event of Default” means the occurrence of a Junior Debt Related Event of Default.

“Expense Agreement” means the Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities between the Depositor and the Trust, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit D, as amended from time to time.

“Expiration Period” has the meaning specified in Section 3.11 of the Junior Indenture.

“Extension Date” has the meaning specified in Section 9.1.

“Guarantee” means the Guarantee Agreement executed and delivered by the Depositor and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, for the benefit of the holders of the Preferred Securities, as amended from time to time.

“Junior Debt Related Event of Default” means an “Event of Default” as defined in the Junior Indenture.

4

“Junior Debt Securities” means the aggregate principal amount of the Depositor’s Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Junior Debt Securities, Series       , issued pursuant to the Junior Indenture.

“Junior Debt Security Investment Company Event” means an “Investment Company Event” as defined in the Junior Indenture.

“Junior Debt Security Redemption Date” means, with respect to any Junior Debt Securities to be redeemed under the Junior Indenture, the date fixed for redemption under the Junior Indenture.

“Junior Debt Security Tax Event” means a “Tax Event” as defined in the Junior Indenture.

“Junior Indenture” means the Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of       ,       , between the Depositor and the Junior Indenture Trustee, as trustee, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

“Junior Indenture Trustee” means The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association organized and any successor thereto.

“Lien” means any lien, pledge, charge, encumbrance, mortgage, deed of trust, adverse ownership interest, hypothecation, assignment, security interest or preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever.

“Like Amount” means (a) with respect to a redemption of Trust Securities, Trust Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to that portion of the principal amount of Junior Debt Securities to be contemporaneously redeemed in accordance with the Junior Indenture, allocated to the Common Securities and to the Preferred Securities based on their relative Liquidation Amounts and the proceeds of which will be used to pay the Redemption Price of such Trust Securities, and (b) with respect to a distribution of Junior Debt Securities to Holders of Trust Securities in connection with a dissolution and liquidation of the Trust, Junior Debt Securities having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities of the Holder to whom such Junior Debt Securities are distributed.

“Liquidation Amount” means the stated amount of $ per Trust Security.

“Liquidation Date” means the date on which Junior Debt Securities are to be distributed to Holders of Trust Securities in connection with a termination and liquidation of the Trust pursuant to Section 9.4.

“Liquidation Distribution” has the meaning specified in Section 9.4(d).

“1940 Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, President or any Senior Vice President or Group Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Associate Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant

5

Secretary, of the Depositor, and delivered to the appropriate Trustee. One of the officers signing an Officers’ Certificate given pursuant to Section 8.16 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Depositor. Any Officers’ Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Trust Agreement shall include:

(a)a statement that each officer signing the Officers’ Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;

(b)a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officers’ Certificate;

(c)a statement that each such officer has made such examination or investigation as, in such officer’s opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

(d)a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Trust, the Property Trustee or the Depositor, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Property Trustee.

“Original Trust Agreement” has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Trust Agreement.

“Outstanding”, when used with respect to Preferred Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Trust Securities theretofore executed and delivered under this Trust Agreement, except:

(a)Trust Securities theretofore cancelled by the Property Trustee or delivered to the Property Trustee for cancellation;

(b)Trust Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Property Trustee or any Paying Agent for the Holders of such Trust Securities; provided that, if such Preferred Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Trust Agreement;

(c)Trust Securities which have been paid or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Preferred Securities have been executed and delivered pursuant to Sections 5.4, 5.5, 5.11 and 5.13; and

(d)as provided in Section 9.4(c).

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Preferred Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Preferred Securities owned by the Depositor, any Administrative Trustee or any Affiliate of the Depositor or any Administrative Trustee shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that (a) in determining whether any

6

Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Preferred Securities that such Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded and (b) the foregoing shall not apply at any time when all of the Outstanding Preferred Securities are owned by the Depositor, one or more of the Trustees and/or any such Affiliate. Preferred Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Administrative Trustees the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Preferred Securities and that the pledgee is not the Depositor or any Affiliate of the Depositor.

“Owner” means each Person who is the beneficial owner of a Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificate as reflected in the records of the Clearing Agency or, if a Clearing Agency Participant is not the Owner, then as reflected in the records of a Person maintaining an account with such Clearing Agency (directly or indirectly, in accordance with the rules of such Clearing Agency).

“Paying Agent” means any paying agent or co-paying agent appointed pursuant to Section 5.9 and shall initially be the Bank.

“Payment Account” means a segregated non-interest-bearing corporate trust account maintained by the Property Trustee with the Bank in its trust department for the benefit of the Securityholders in which all amounts paid in respect of the Junior Debt Securities will be held and from which the Property Trustee shall make payments to the Securityholders in accordance with Article Four.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, association, joint stock company, limited liability company or corporation, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

“Preferred Security” means a preferred undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust, designated as “      % “ having a Liquidation Amount of $       and having the rights provided therefor in this Trust Agreement, including the right to receive Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution as provided herein.

“Preferred Securities Certificate” means a certificate evidencing ownership of one or more Preferred Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit E.

“Property Trustee” means the commercial bank or trust company identified as the “Property Trustee” in the preamble to this Trust Agreement solely in its capacity as Property Trustee of the Trust heretofore formed and continued hereunder and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor property trustee appointed as herein provided.

“Redemption Date” means, with respect to any Trust Security to be redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Trust Agreement; provided that each Junior Debt Security Redemption Date and the stated maturity of the Junior Debt Securities shall be a Redemption Date for a Like Amount of Trust Securities.

7

“Redemption Price” means, with respect to any Trust Security, the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security, plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the Redemption Date, [plus the related amount of the premium, if any,] paid by the Depositor upon the concurrent redemption of a Like Amount of Junior Debt Securities, allocated on a pro rata basis (based on Liquidation Amounts) among the Trust Securities, subject to the provisions contained herein.

“Relevant Trustee” shall have the meaning specified in Section 8.10.

“Securities Register” and “Securities Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 5.4.

“Securityholder” or “Holder” means a Person in whose name a Trust Security or Securities is registered in the Securities Register; any such Person shall be deemed to be a beneficial owner within the meaning of the Delaware Business Trust Act.

“Special Event” means “Special Event” as defined in the Junior Indenture.

“Trust” means the Delaware business trust continued hereby and identified on the cover page to this Trust Agreement.

“Trust Agreement” means this Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, as the same may be modified, amended or supplemented in accordance with the applicable provisions hereof, including all exhibits hereto, including, for all purposes of this Trust Agreement and any such modification, amendment or supplement, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this Trust Agreement and any such modification, amendment or supplement, respectively.

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed, including the rules duly adopted by the Commission thereunder; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

“Trust Property” means (a) the Junior Debt Securities, (b) the rights under the Guarantee, (c) any cash on deposit in, or owing to, the Payment Account and (d) all proceeds and rights in respect of the foregoing and any other property and assets for the time being held or deemed to be held by the Property Trustee pursuant to this Trust Agreement.

“Trust Security” means any one of the Common Securities or the Preferred Securities.

“Trust Securities Certificate” means any one of the Common Securities Certificates or the Preferred Securities Certificates.

“Trustees” means, collectively, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee and the Administrative Trustees.

8

“Underwriting Agreement” means the Terms Agreement, dated as of       ,       , among the Trust, the Depositor and the Underwriters named therein incorporating the Underwriting Agreement Standard Provisions.

ARTICLE II

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRUST

SECTION 2.1  NAME.

The Trust continued hereby shall be known as “CNA Financial Capital [      ],” as such name may be modified from time to time by the Administrative Trustees following written notice to the Holders of Trust Securities and the other Trustees, in which name the Trustees may conduct the business of the Trust, make and execute contracts and other instruments on behalf of the Trust and sue and be sued.

SECTION 2.2  OFFICE OF THE DELAWARE TRUSTEE; PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS.

The address of the Delaware Trustee in the State of Delaware is 300 King Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, or such other address in the State of Delaware as the Delaware Trustee may designate by written notice to the Depositor. The principal executive office of the Trust is c/o CNA Financial Corporation, 333 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60604.

SECTION 2.3  INITIAL CONTRIBUTION OF TRUST PROPERTY; ORGANIZATIONAL EXPENSES.

(a)The Trustees acknowledge receipt from the Depositor in connection with the Original Trust Agreement of the sum of $10, which constituted the initial Trust Property.

(b)The Depositor shall be responsible for and shall pay for all obligations (other than with respect to the Trust Securities) and all costs and expenses of the Trust (including, but not limited to, costs and expenses relating to the organization of the Trust, the issuance and sale of the Preferred Securities, the fees and expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) of the Trustees as provided in Section 8.7 the costs and expenses of accountants, attorneys, statistical or bookkeeping services, expenses for printing and engraving and computing or accounting equipment, Paying Agent(s), Securities Registrar, duplication, travel and telephone and other telecommunications expenses and costs and expenses incurred in connection with the disposition of Trust assets).

(c)The Depositor will pay any and all taxes of the Trust (other than United States withholding taxes attributable to the Trust or its assets) and all liabilities, costs and expenses with respect to such taxes.

(d)The Depositor’s obligations under this Section 2.3 shall be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, the Property Trustee and any Person to whom any such obligations, costs, expenses and taxes are owed (a “Creditor”) whether or not such Creditor has received notice hereof. The Property Trustee and any such Creditor may enforce the Depositor’s

9

obligations under this Section 2.3 directly against the Depositor and the Depositor irrevocably waives any right or remedy to require that the Property Trustee or any such Creditor take any action against the Trust or any other Person before proceeding against the Depositor. The Depositor agrees to execute such additional agreements as may be necessary or desirable in order to give full effect to the provisions of this Section 2.3.

(e)The Depositor shall make no claim upon the Trust Property for the payment of such expenses.

SECTION 2.4  ISSUANCE OF THE TRUST SECURITIES.

On       , 20    , the Depositor, on behalf of the Trust and pursuant to the Original Trust Agreement, executed and delivered the Underwriting Agreement. Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute in accordance with Section 5.2 and deliver to the Underwriters named in the Underwriting Agreement Preferred Securities Certificates, [registered in the name of the nominee of the initial Clearing Agency,] in an aggregate amount of        Preferred Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $      , against receipt of such aggregate purchase price of such Preferred Securities of $      , which amount the Administrative Trustee shall promptly deliver to the Property Trustee. Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute in accordance with Section 5.2 and deliver to the Depositor a Common Securities Certificate, registered in the name of the Depositor, in an aggregate amount of        Common Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $       against payment by the Depositor of such amount, which amount such Administrative Trustee shall promptly deliver to the Property Trustee.

SECTION 2.5  SUBSCRIPTION AND PURCHASE OF DEBENTURES.

Contemporaneously with the execution of this Trust Agreement, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall subscribe to and purchase from the Depositor Junior Debt Securities, registered in the name of the Trust and having an aggregate principal amount equal to $      , and, in satisfaction of the purchase price for such Junior Debt Securities, the Property Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall deliver to the Depositor the sum of $      , such amount being the sum of the amounts delivered to the Property Trustee pursuant to Section 2.4 and (ii) the first sentence of this Section 2.5.

SECTION 2.6  DECLARATION OF TRUST.

The exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are (a) to issue and sell Trust Securities and use the proceeds from such sale to acquire the Junior Debt Securities, and (b) to engage in those activities necessary, convenient or incidental thereto. The Depositor hereby appoints the Trustees as trustees of the Trust, to have all the rights, powers and duties to the extent set forth herein, and the Trustees hereby accept such appointment. The Property Trustee hereby declares that it will hold the Trust Property upon and subject to the conditions set forth herein for the benefit of the Securityholders. The Administrative Trustees shall have all rights, powers and duties set forth herein and in accordance with applicable law with respect to accomplishing the

10

purposes of the Trust. The Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any powers, nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and responsibilities, of any of the Trustees set forth herein except as required by the Delaware Business Trust Act. The Delaware Trustee shall be one of the Trustees of the Trust for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of Section 3807 of the Delaware Business Trust Act.

SECTION 2.7  AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS.

(a)The Trustees shall conduct the affairs of the Trust in accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement. Subject to the limitations set forth in paragraph (b) of this Section 2.7, and in accordance with the following provisions (i) and (ii), the Trustees shall have the authority to enter into all transactions and agreements determined by the Trustees to be appropriate in exercising the authority, express or implied, otherwise granted to the Trustees under this Trust Agreement, and to perform all acts in furtherance thereof, including without limitation, the following:

(i)As among the Trustees, each Administrative Trustee shall have the exclusive power and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the following matters:

(A)the issuance and sale of the Trust Securities, including execution of any agreement, certificates evidencing Trust Securities or other documents necessary or advisable with respect to such issuance and sale;

(B)the purchase of the Junior Debt Securities

(C)to cause the Trust to enter into, and to execute, deliver and perform on behalf of the Trust, the Expense Agreement and the Certificate Depository Agreement and such other agreements as may be necessary or desirable in connection with the purposes and function of the Trust;

(D)assisting in the registration of the Preferred Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and under state securities or blue sky laws, and the qualification of this Trust Agreement as a trust indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

(E)assisting in the listing of the Preferred Securities upon such securities exchange or exchanges as shall be determined by the Depositor and the registration of the Preferred Securities under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the preparation and filing of all periodic and other reports and other documents pursuant to the foregoing;

(F)the sending of notices (other than notices of default) and other information regarding the Trust Securities and the Debentures to the Securityholders in accordance with this Trust Agreement;

11

(G)registering transfers and exchanges of the Preferred Securities in accordance with this Trust Agreement (but only if at such time the Property Trustee shall not be the Securities Registrar);

(H)to the extent provided in this Trust Agreement, the winding up of the affairs of and liquidation of the Trust and the preparation, execution and filing of the certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware;

(I)unless otherwise determined by the Depositor, the Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees, or as otherwise required by the Delaware Business Trust Act or the Trust Indenture Act, to execute on behalf of the Trust (either acting alone or together with any or all of the Administrative Trustees) any documents that the Administrative Trustees have the power to execute pursuant to this Trust Agreement; and

(J)the taking of any action incidental to the foregoing as such Administrative Trustee may from time to time determine is necessary or advisable to give effect to the terms of this Trust Agreement for the benefit of the Securityholders (without consideration of the effect of any such action on any particular Securityholder).

(ii)As among the Trustees, the Property Trustee shall have the power, duty and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the following matters:

(A)the establishment and maintenance of the Payment Account and the appointment, subject to Section 5.9, of Paying Agents;

(B)the receipt and registered ownership of the Junior Debt Securities;

(C)the receipt of payments of the purchase price of the Trust Securities and the collection of interest, principal and any other payments made in respect of the Junior Debt Securities and deposit into the Payment Account;

(D)making Distributions and other payments to the Securityholders in respect of the Trust Securities;

(E)the exercise of all of the rights, powers and privileges of a holder of the Junior Debt Securities, subject to the terms of the Junior Indenture;

(F)the sending of notices of default, redemption, Extension Periods, Special Events, liquidation and other information regarding the Trust Securities and the Junior Debt Securities to the Securityholders in accordance with this Trust Agreement;

(G)to the extent provided in this Trust Agreement, the winding up of the affairs of and liquidation of the Trust, including, the distribution of the Trust Property in accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement and the

12

preparation, execution and filing of the certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware;

(H)after an Event of Default, the taking of any action incidental to the foregoing as the Property Trustee may from time to time determine is necessary or advisable to give effect to the terms of this Trust Agreement and protect and conserve the Trust Property for the benefit of the Securityholders (without consideration of the effect of any such action on any particular Securityholder);

(I)so long as the Property Trustee is the Securities Registrar, registering transfers and exchanges of the Preferred Securities in accordance with this Trust Agreement; and

(J)except as otherwise provided in this Section 2.7(a)(ii) or as required by the Trust Indenture Act, the Property Trustee shall have none of the duties, liabilities, powers or the authority of the Administrative Trustees set forth in Section 2.7(a)(i).

(b)So long as this Trust Agreement remains in effect, the Trust (or the Trustees acting on behalf of the Trust) shall not undertake any business, activities or transaction except as expressly provided herein or contemplated hereby. In particular, the Trustees shall not cause the Trust to (i) acquire any assets or make any investments (other than the Junior Debt Securities) or engage in any activities not authorized by this Trust Agreement, (ii) sell, assign, transfer, exchange, mortgage, pledge, set-off or otherwise dispose of any of the Trust Property or interests therein, including to Securityholders, except as expressly provided herein, (iii) take any action that would cause the Trust to fail or cease to qualify as a “grantor trust” for United States Federal income tax purposes, (iv) make any loans (other than the Junior Debt Securities) or incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or issue any other debt, (v) issue any securities or other evidences of beneficial ownership of, or beneficial interests in the Trust other than the Trust Securities or (vi) take or consent to any action that would result in the placement of a Lien on any of the Trust Property. The Administrative Trustees shall defend all claims and demands of all Persons at any time claiming any Lien on any of the Trust Property adverse to the interest of the Trust or the Securityholders in their capacity as Securityholders.

(c)In connection with the issue and sale of the Preferred Securities, the Depositor shall have the right and responsibility to assist the Trust with respect to, or effect on behalf of the Trust, the following (and any actions taken by the Depositor in furtherance of the following prior to the date of this Trust Agreement are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects):

(i)the preparation and filing by the Trust with the Commission and the execution on behalf of the Trust of a registration statement on the appropriate form in relation to the Preferred Securities, including any amendments thereto;

(ii)the determination of the States in which to take appropriate action to qualify or register for sale all or part of the Preferred Securities and the doing of any and all such acts, other than actions which must be taken by or on behalf of the Trust, and advising the Trustees of actions they must take on behalf of the Trust, and the preparation

13

for execution and filing of any documents to be executed and filed by the Trust or on behalf of the Trust, as the Depositor deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any such States;

(iii)the preparation for filing by the Trust and execution on behalf of the Trust of an application to The New York Stock Exchange or any other national stock exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market for listing upon notice of issuance of any Preferred Securities;

(iv)the preparation for filing by the Trust with the Commission and the execution on behalf of the Trust of a registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the registration of the Preferred Securities under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, including any amendments thereto;

(v)the negotiation of the terms of, and the execution and delivery of, the Underwriting Agreement providing for the sale of the Preferred Securities; and

(vi)the taking of any other actions necessary or desirable to carry out any of the foregoing activities.

(d)Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Trustees are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of the Trust and to operate the Trust so, that (i) the Trust will not be deemed to be an “investment company” required to be registered under the 1940 Act (ii) the Trust will be classified as a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes and (iii) the Junior Debt Securities will be treated as indebtedness of the Depositor for United States Federal income tax purposes. In this connection, the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees are authorized to take any action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Trust, as amended from time to time, or this Trust Agreement, that each of the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees determines in their discretion to be necessary or desirable for such purposes, as long as such action does not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of the holders of the Preferred Securities.

SECTION 2.8  ASSETS OF TRUST.

The assets of the Trust shall consist of the Trust Property.

SECTION 2.9  TITLE TO TRUST PROPERTY.

Legal title to all Trust Property shall be vested at all times in the Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) and shall be held and administered by the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Trust and the Securityholders in accordance with this Trust Agreement.

14

ARTICLE III

PAYMENT ACCOUNT

SECTION 3.1  PAYMENT ACCOUNT.

(a)On or prior to the Closing Date, the Property Trustee shall establish the Payment Account. The Property Trustee and any agent of the Property Trustee shall have exclusive control and sole right of withdrawal with respect to the Payment Account for the purpose of making deposits in and withdrawals from the Payment Account in accordance with this Trust Agreement; provided that any Paying Agent shall have the right of withdrawal with respect to the Payment Account solely for the purpose of making the payments contemplated under Article Four. All monies and other property deposited or held from time to time in the Payment Account shall be held by the Property Trustee in the Payment Account for the exclusive benefit of the Securityholders and for distribution as herein provided, including (and subject to) any priority of payments provided for herein.

(b)The Property Trustee shall deposit in the Payment Account, promptly upon receipt, all payments of principal of or interest on, and any other payments or proceeds with respect to, the Junior Debt Securities and any amounts paid to the Property Trustee pursuant to this Guarantee. Amounts held in the Payment Account shall not be invested by the Property Trustee pending distribution thereof.

ARTICLE IV

DISTRIBUTIONS; REDEMPTION

SECTION 4.1  DISTRIBUTIONS.

(a)The Trust Securities represent undivided beneficial interests in the Trust Property, and Distributions (including any Additional Amounts) will be made on the Trust Securities at the rate [(or manner of calculation of the rate)] and on the dates that payments of interest (including any Additional Interest, as defined in the Junior Indenture) are made on the Junior Debt Securities. Accordingly:

(i)Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be cumulative, and will accumulate whether or not there are funds of the Trust available for the payment of Distributions. Distributions shall accumulate from , , and, except in the event that the Depositor exercises its right to defer the payment of interest on the Junior Debt Securities pursuant to the Junior Indenture, shall be payable [quarterly] [monthly] [semi-annually] [annually] in arrears on [Insert Dates] of each year, commencing on , . If any date on which a Distribution is otherwise payable on the Trust Securities is not a Business Day, then the payment of such Distribution shall be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay) except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, payment of such Distribution shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date (each date on which distributions

15

are payable in accordance with this Section 4.1(a), a “Distribution Date”). [insert alternative floating rate convention, if applicable]

Within two Business Days after receipt by the Property Trustee of notice of an Extension Period pursuant to Section 3.11 of the Junior Indenture, the Property Trustee shall give notice thereof to the Securityholders by first class mail, postage prepaid.

(ii)Assuming payments of interest on the Junior Debt Securities are made when due (and before giving effect to Additional Amounts, if applicable), Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be payable at a rate of % per annum of the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities. The amount of Distributions payable for any full period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. [insert alternative floating rate provisions, if applicable]. The amount of Distributions for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of the number of days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The amount of Distributions payable for any period shall include the Additional Amounts, if any.

(iii)Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be made by the Property Trustee from the Payment Account and shall be payable on each Distribution Date only to the extent that the Trust has funds then on hand legally available in the Payment Account for the payment of such Distributions.

(iv)Distributions on the Trust Securities with respect to a Distribution Date shall be payable to the Holders thereof as they appear on the Securities Register for the Trust Securities on the relevant record date, which shall be [one Business Day prior to such Distribution Date; provided, however, that in the event that the Preferred Securities do not remain in book-entry-only form, the relevant record date shall be the date] 15 days prior to the relevant Distribution Date.

SECTION 4.2  REDEMPTION.

(a)Upon receipt by the Trust of a notice of redemption or other acceleration of the maturity of the Junior Debt Securities, the Property Trustee, subject to Section 4.3, will call for redemption a Like Amount of Trust Securities on the Junior Debt Security Redemption Date and will call for redemption all Outstanding Trust Securities on the stated maturity date of the Junior Debt Securities, in each case at the applicable Redemption Price.

(b)Notice of redemption shall be given by the Property Trustee by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date to each Holder of Trust Securities to be redeemed, at such Holder’s address appearing in the Security Register. All notices of redemption shall state:

(i)the Redemption Date;

(ii)the Redemption Price;

(iii)the CUSIP number;

16

(iv)if less than all the Outstanding Trust Securities are to be redeemed, the identification and the total Liquidation Amount of the particular Trust Securities to be redeemed;

(v)the place or places where Trust Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price; and

(vi)that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Trust Security to be redeemed and that Distributions thereon will cease to accumulate on and after said date.

(c)The Trust Securities redeemed on each Redemption Date shall be redeemed at the Redemption Price with the proceeds from the contemporaneous redemption or payment at maturity of Junior Debt Securities. Redemptions of the Trust Securities shall be made and the Redemption Price shall be payable on each Redemption Date only to the extent that the Trust has funds then on hand legally available in the Payment Account for the payment of such Redemption Price.

(d)If the Property Trustee gives a notice of redemption in respect of any Preferred Securities, then[, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Redemption Date, subject to Section 4.2(c), the Property Trustee will, so long as the Preferred Securities are in book-entry-only form, irrevocably deposit with the Clearing Agency for the Preferred Securities funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price for the Preferred Securities being redeemed on such date and will give such Clearing Agency irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the Holders thereof. If the Preferred Securities are not in book-entry-only form,] the Property Trustee, subject to Section 4.2(c), will irrevocably deposit with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and will give the Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the Holders thereof upon surrender of their Preferred Securities Certificates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Distributions payable on or prior to the Redemption Date for any Trust Securities called for redemption shall be payable to the Holders of such Trust Securities as they appear on the Securities Register for the Trust Securities on the relevant record dates for the related Distribution Dates. If notice of redemption shall have been given and funds deposited as required, then upon the date of such deposit, all rights of Securityholders holding Trust Securities so called for redemption will cease, except the right of such Securityholders to receive the Redemption Price, but without interest, and such Securities will cease to be Outstanding. In the event that any date on which any Redemption Price is payable is not a Business Day, then payment of the Redemption Price payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day falls in the next calendar year, such payment will be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case, with the same force and effect as if made on such date. In the event that payment of the Redemption Price in respect of any Trust Securities called for redemption is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the Trust or by the Depositor pursuant to the Guarantee, Distributions on such Trust Securities will continue to accumulate, at the then applicable rate, from the Redemption Date originally established by the Trust for such Trust Securities to the date such Redemption Price is actually paid, in which case the actual payment date will be the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the Redemption Price.

17

(e)Payment of accumulated and unpaid Distributions on the Redemption Date of the Trust Securities will be subject to the rights of Holders on the close of business on the relevant record date in respect of a Distribution Date occurring on or prior to such Redemption Date.

(f)If less than all the Outstanding Trust Securities are to be redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the aggregate Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities to be redeemed shall be allocated on a pro rata basis (based on Liquidation Amounts) among the Common Securities and the Preferred Securities. The particular Preferred Securities to be redeemed shall be selected) not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Property Trustee from the Outstanding Preferred Securities not previously called for redemption, by such method (including, without limitation, by lot) as the Property Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to $25 or an integral multiple of $25 in excess thereof) of the Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities of a denomination larger than $25. If fewer than all of the Trust Securities represented by a Trust Securities Certificate are redeemed, an Administrative Trustee shall execute for the Holder a new Trust Securities Certificate representing the unredeemed Trust Securities. The Property Trustee shall promptly notify the Security Registrar in writing of the Preferred Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Preferred Securities selected for partial redemption, the Liquidation Amount thereof to be redeemed. For all purposes of this Trust Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Preferred Securities shall relate, in the case of any Preferred Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities that has been or is to be redeemed.

SECTION 4.3  SUBORDINATION OF COMMON SECURITIES.

(a)Payment of Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on, and the Redemption Price and/or Liquidation Distribution of, the Trust Securities, as applicable, shall be made, subject to Section 4.2(f), pro rata among the Common Securities and the Preferred Securities based on the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities; provided, however, that if on any Distribution Date, Redemption Date or Liquidation Date any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, no payment of any Distribution (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on, or Redemption Price and/or Liquidation Distribution of, any Common Security, and no other payment on account of the redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of Common Securities, shall be made unless payment shall have been made or been provided for in full in cash of (i) all accumulated and unpaid Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on all Outstanding Preferred Securities for all Distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto, such Redemption Price on all Outstanding Preferred Securities then being redeemed, as applicable, shall have been made or provided for, and all funds immediately available to the Property Trustee shall first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on, or the Redemption Price and/or Liquidation Distribution of, Preferred Securities then due and payable.

(b)In the case of the occurrence of any Event of Default, the Holder of Common Securities will be deemed to have waived any right to act with respect to any such Event of Default under this Trust Agreement until the effect of such Event of Default has been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated with respect to the Preferred Securities. Until any such Event of Default under this Trust Agreement has been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated with

18

respect to the Preferred Securities, the Property Trustee shall act solely on behalf of the Holders of the Preferred Securities and not the Holder of the Common Securities, and only the Holders of the Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the Property Trustee to act on their behalf.

SECTION 4.4  PAYMENT PROCEDURES.

If the Preferred Securities are held by a Clearing Agency, payment of Distributions and any Redemption Price or Liquidation Distribution shall be made to the Clearing Agency in immediately available funds, which shall credit the relevant Persons’ accounts at such Clearing Agency on the applicable Distribution Dates. Payments of the Redemption Price or Liquidation Distribution in respect of Definitive Preferred Securities held in certificated form shall be made to the Holder thereof in immediately available funds upon surrender of the Preferred Securities Certificate representing such Definitive Preferred Securities at the Corporate Office of the Trustee. Payments of Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) in respect of Definitive Preferred Securities shall be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the Securities Register. Payments in respect of Common Securities shall be made in such manner as shall be mutually agreed between the Property Trustee and the Common Securityholder.

SECTION 4.5  TAX RETURNS AND REPORTS.

The Administrative Trustees shall prepare (or cause to be prepared), at the Depositor’s expense, and file all United States Federal, state and local tax and information returns and reports required to be filed by or in respect of the Trust. In this regard, the Administrative Trustees shall (a) prepare and file (or cause to be prepared and filed) the appropriate Internal Revenue Service Form required to be filed in respect of the Trust in each taxable year of the Trust and (b) prepare and furnish (or cause to be prepared and furnished) to each Securityholder the appropriate Internal Revenue Service form required to be provided on such form. The Administrative Trustees shall provide the Depositor and the Property Trustee with a copy of all such returns and reports promptly after such filing or furnishing. The Administrative Trustees shall comply with United States Federal withholding and backup withholding tax laws and information reporting requirements with respect to any payments to Securityholders under the Trust Securities.

SECTION 4.6  PAYMENT OF TAXES, DUTIES, ETC. of the Trust.

Upon receipt under the Junior Debt Securities of Additional Sums and directions as to the payments of such Additional Sums, the Property Trustee shall promptly pay, solely out of monies on deposit pursuant to this Trust Agreement, any taxes, duties or governmental charges of whatsoever nature (other than withholding taxes) imposed on the Trust by the United States or any other taxing authority.

SECTION 4.7  REDUCTION FOR PAYMENTS UNDER JUNIOR INDENTURE.

Any amount payable hereunder to any Holder of Preferred Securities (and any Owner with respect thereto) shall be reduced by the amount of any corresponding payment such Holder (and Owner) has directly received pursuant to Section 5.8 of the Junior Indenture, Section 5.14 of this Trust Agreement or the Guarantee.

19

ARTICLE V

TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES

SECTION 5.1  INITIAL OWNERSHIP.

Upon the formation of the Trust and the contribution by the Depositor pursuant to Section 2.3 and until the issuance of the Trust Securities, and at any time during which no Trust Securities are outstanding, the Depositor shall be the sole beneficial owner of the Trust.

SECTION 5.2  THE TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES.

The Preferred Securities Certificates shall be issued in minimum denominations of $Liquidation Amount and integral multiples of $in excess thereof, and the Common Securities Certificate shall be issued in an aggregate Liquidation Amount equal to $. Trust Securities Certificates representing fractional interests shall not be issued. The Trust Securities Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Trust by manual signature of at least one Administrative Trustee. Trust Securities Certificates bearing the manual signatures of individuals who were, at the time when such signatures shall have been affixed, authorized to sign on behalf of the Trust, shall be validly issued and entitled to the benefits of this Trust Agreement, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them shall have ceased to be so authorized prior to the delivery of such Trust Securities Certificates or did not hold such offices at the date of delivery of such Trust Securities Certificates. A transferee of a Trust Securities Certificate shall become a Securityholder, and shall be entitled to the rights and subject to the obligations of a Securityholder hereunder, upon due registration of such Trust Securities Certificate in such transferee’s name pursuant to Sections 5.4, 5.11 and 5.13.

SECTION 5.3  EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES.

On the Closing Date, the Administrative Trustees shall cause Preferred Securities Certificates and the Common Securities Certificates, in the respective aggregate Liquidation Amount as provided in Sections 2.4 and 2.5, to be executed on behalf of the Trust as provided in Section 5.2 and delivered to or upon the written order of the Depositor, signed by its chairman of the board, its president, any executive vice president or any vice president, treasurer or assistant treasurer or controller without further corporate action by the Depositor.

SECTION 5.4  REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE OF PREFERRED SECURITIES CERTIFICATES.

The Depositor shall keep or cause to be kept, at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.8, a register or registers for the purpose of registering Trust Securities Certificates and transfers and exchanges of Preferred Securities Certificates (the “Securities Register”) in which, the registrar designated by the Depositor (the “Securities Registrar”), subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, shall provide for the registration of Preferred Securities Certificates and the Common Securities Certificate (subject to Section 5.10 in the case of the Common Securities Certificates) and registration of transfers and exchanges of Preferred Securities Certificates as herein provided. The Bank shall be the initial Securities Registrar; any successor Securities Registrar shall be appointed by the Administrative Trustees.

20

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Preferred Securities Certificate at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.8, the Administrative Trustees or any one of them shall execute and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Preferred Securities Certificates in authorized denominations of a like aggregate Liquidation Amount dated the date of execution by such Administrative Trustee or Trustees.

The Securities Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of any Preferred Securities that have been called for redemption. At the option of a Holder, Preferred Securities

Certificates may be exchanged for other Preferred Securities Certificates in authorized denominations and of a like aggregate Liquidation Amount upon surrender of the Preferred Securities Certificates to be exchanged at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section V.8.

Every Preferred Securities Certificate presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to Securities Registrar duly executed by the Holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing. Each Preferred Securities Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be cancelled and subsequently disposed of by the Securities Registrar in accordance with its customary practice.

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates, but the Securities Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates (other than any exchange not involving a transfer).

SECTION 5.5  MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES.

If (a) any mutilated Trust Securities Certificate shall be surrendered to the Securities Registrar, or if the Securities Registrar shall receive evidence to its reasonable satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Trust Securities Certificate and (b) there shall be delivered to the Securities Registrar and the Administrative Trustees such security or indemnity as may be reasonably required by them to save each of them harmless, then in the absence of notice that such Trust Securities Certificate shall have been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, on behalf of the Trust shall execute and make available for delivery, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Trust Securities Certificate, a new Trust Securities Certificate of like tenor and denomination. In connection with the issuance of any new Trust Securities Certificate under this Section, the Administrative Trustees or the Securities Registrar may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith. Any duplicate Trust Securities Certificate issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute conclusive evidence of an undivided beneficial interest in the Trust Property, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Trust Securities Certificate shall be found at any time.

21

SECTION 5.6  PERSONS DEEMED SECURITYHOLDERS.

The Trustees, the Paying Agent or the Securities Registrar shall treat the Person in whose name any Trust Securities Certificate shall be registered in the Securities Register as the owner and Holder of such Trust Securities Certificate for the purpose of receiving Distributions and for all other purposes whatsoever, and none of the Trustees, the Paying Agent or the Securities Registrar shall be bound by any notice to the contrary.

SECTION 5.7  ACCESS TO LIST OF SECURITYHOLDERS’ NAMES AND ADDRESSES.

(a)The rights of Securityholders to communicate with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Trust Agreement or under the Trust Securities, and the corresponding rights of the Trustee shall be as provided in the Trust Indenture Act. Each Securityholder, by receiving and holding a Trust Securities Certificate, and each Owner shall be deemed to have agreed not to hold the Depositor, the Property Trustee the Delaware Trustee, or the Administrative Trustees accountable by reason of the disclosure of its name and address, regardless of the source from which such information was derived.

In the event that the Property Trustee is no longer the Securities Registrar, the Administrative Trustees or the Depositor shall furnish or cause to be furnished a list, in such form as the Property Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Securityholders as of the most recent record date and (a) the Property Trustee, quarterly not later than 10 days prior to a Distribution Date and (b) to the Property Trustee, promptly after receipt by the Administrative Trustees, promptly after receipt by the Administrative Trustees or the Depositor of a request therefor from the Property Trustee in order to enable the Paying Agent to pay Distributions in accordance with Section 4.1 hereof, in each case to the extent such information is in the possession or control of the Administrative Trustees or the Depositor and is not identical to a previously supplied list or has not otherwise been received by the Property Trustee.

SECTION 5.8  MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY.

The Property Trustee shall maintain in New York, New York and Chicago, Illinois, an office or offices or agency or agencies where Preferred Securities Certificates may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Trustees in respect of the Trust Securities Certificates may be served, initially located at                               . The Property Trustees shall give prompt written notice to the Depositor and to the Securityholders of any change in the location of the Securities Register or any such office or agency.

SECTION 5.9  APPOINTMENT OF PAYING AGENT.

The Paying Agent shall make Distributions to Securityholders from the Payment Account and shall report the amounts of such Distributions to the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees. Any Paying Agent shall have the revocable power to withdraw funds from the Payment Account for the purpose of making the Distributions. The Administrative Trustees may revoke such power and remove the Paying Agent if such Trustees determine in their sole discretion that the Paying Agent shall have failed to perform its obligations under this Trust Agreement in any

22

material respect; provided that such revocation and removal with respect to the sole Paying Agent shall not become effective until the appointment of a successor. The Paying Agent shall initially be the Bank, and any co-paying agent chosen by the Bank, and acceptable to the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor. Any Person acting as Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days’ written notice to the Administrative Trustees, the Property Trustee and the Depositor. In the event that the Bank shall no longer be the Paying Agent or a successor Paying Agent shall resign or its authority to act be revoked, the Administrative Trustees shall appoint a successor that is acceptable to the Property Trustee (in the case of a Paying Agent other than the Bank) and the Depositor to act as Paying Agent (which shall be a bank or trust company meeting the eligibility requirements set forth in Section 6.9 of the Junior Indenture); provided that such resignation with respect to the sole Paying Agent shall not become effective until the appointment of a successor. The Administrative Trustees shall cause such successor Paying Agent or any additional Paying Agent appointed by the Administrative Trustees to execute and deliver to the Trustees an instrument in which such successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustees that as Paying Agent, such successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agent will hold all sums, if any, held by it for payment to the Securityholders in trust for the benefit of the Securityholders entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Securityholders. The Paying Agent shall return all unclaimed funds to the Property Trustee and upon removal of a Paying Agent such Paying Agent shall also return all funds in its possession to the Property Trustee. The provisions of Sections 8.1, 8.3 and 8.6 herein shall apply to the Bank also in its role as Paying Agent, for so long as the Bank shall act as Paying Agent and, to the extent applicable, to any other paying agent appointed hereunder. Any reference in this Agreement to the Paying Agent shall include any co-paying agent unless the context requires otherwise.

SECTION 5.10  OWNERSHIP OF COMMON SECURITIES BY DEPOSITOR; NO TRANSFER.

On the Closing Date, the Depositor shall acquire and retain beneficial and record ownership of the Common Securities. To the fullest extent permitted by law, other than in connection with a consolidation or merger of the Depositor into another corporation, or any conveyance, transfer or lease by the Depositor of its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, pursuant to Section 8.1 of the Junior Indenture, any attempted transfer of the Common Securities shall be void. The Administrative Trustees shall cause the Common Securities Certificate issued to the Depositor to contain a legend stating “THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE”.

SECTION 5.11  BOOK-ENTRY PREFERRED SECURITIES CERTIFICATES; COMMON SECURITIES CERTIFICATE.

(a)The Preferred Securities Certificates, upon original issuance, will be issued in the form of a Preferred Securities Certificate or Certificates representing [Definitive Preferred Securities or] Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates, to be delivered to The Depository Trust Company, the initial Clearing Agency, by, or on behalf of, the Trust. Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificate or Certificates shall initially be registered on the Securities Register in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of the initial Clearing Agency, and no Owner will receive a Definitive Preferred Securities Certificate representing such Owner’s interest in such Preferred

23

Securities, except as provided in Section 5.13. Unless and until Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates have been issued to Owners pursuant to Section 5.13:

(i)the provisions of this Section 5.11(a) shall be in full force and effect;

(ii)the Securities Registrar and the Trustees shall be entitled to deal with the Clearing Agency for all purposes of this Trust Agreement relating to the Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates (including the payment of the Redemption Price Amount of and Distributions on the Book-Entry Preferred Securities and the giving of instructions or directions to Owners of Book-Entry Preferred Securities) as the sole Holder of Book-Entry Preferred Securities and shall have no obligations to the Owners thereof;

(iii)to the extent that the provisions of this Section 5.11 conflict with any other provisions of this Trust Agreement, the provisions of this Section 5.11 shall control; and

(iv)the rights of the Owners of the Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates shall be exercised only through the Clearing Agency and shall be limited to those established by law and agreements between such Owners and the Clearing Agency and/or the Clearing Agency Participants; provided, that solely for the purposes of determining whether the Holders of the requisite Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities have voted on any matter provided for in this Trust Agreement, so long as Definitive Preferred Security Certificates have not been issued, the Trustees may conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, any written instrument (including a proxy) delivered to the Trustees by the Clearing Agency setting forth the Owners’ votes or assigning the right to vote on any matter to any other Persons either in whole or in part. Pursuant to the Certificate Depository Agreement, unless and until Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates are issued pursuant to Section 5.13, the initial Clearing Agency will make book-entry transfers among the Clearing Agency Participants and receive and transmit payments on the Preferred Securities to such Clearing Agency Participants.

(b)A single Common Securities Certificate representing the Common Securities shall be issued to the Depositor in the form of a definitive Common Securities Certificate.

SECTION 5.12  NOTICES TO CLEARING AGENCY.

To the extent that a notice or other communication to the Owners is required under this Trust Agreement, unless and until Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates shall have been issued to Owners pursuant to Section 5.13, the Trustees shall give all such notices and communications specified herein to be given to Owners to the Clearing Agency, and shall have no obligations to the Owners.

SECTION 5.13  ISSUANCE OF DEFINITIVE PREFERRED SECURITIES CERTIFICATES.

If (a) the Depositor advises the Property Trustee in writing that the Clearing Agency is no longer willing or able to properly discharge its responsibilities with respect to the Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates or that the Clearing Agency is no longer registered or in good standing under the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, or other applicable statute or regulation,

24

and the Depositor is unable to locate a qualified successor within 90 days, (b) the Depositor at its option advises the Property Trustee in writing that it elects to terminate the book-entry system through the Clearing Agency or (c) after the occurrence of an Event of Default, Owners of Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates representing beneficial interests aggregating at least a majority of the Liquidation Amount advise the Property Trustee in writing that the continuation of a book-entry system through the Clearing Agency is no longer in the best interest of the Owners of Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates, then the Property Trustee shall instruct the Clearing Agency to notify all Owners of Preferred Securities Certificates and the other Trustees of the occurrence of any such event and of the availability of the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates to Owners requesting the same. Upon surrender to the Property Trustees of the Preferred Securities Certificate or Certificates by the Clearing Agency, accompanied by registration instructions, the Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, shall execute the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates in authorized denominations in accordance with the instructions of the Clearing Agency. Neither the Securities Registrar nor the Trustees shall be liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, such instructions. Upon the issuance of Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates, the Trustees shall recognize the Holders of the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates as Securityholders. The Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or may be produced in any other manner as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Trustees, as evidenced by the execution thereof by the Administrative Trustees or any one of them.

SECTION 5.14  RIGHTS OF SECURITYHOLDERS.

(a)The legal title to the Trust Property is vested exclusively in the Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) in accordance with Section 2.9, and the Securityholders shall not have any right or title therein other than the undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust conferred by their Trust Securities and they shall have no right to call for any partition or division of property, profits or rights of the Trust except as described below. The Trust Securities shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set forth therein and in this Trust Agreement. The Trust Securities shall have no preemptive or similar rights and when issued and delivered to Securityholders against payment of the purchase price therefor will be fully paid and nonassessable by the Trust. The Holders of the Trust Securities, in their capacities as such, shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

(b)For so long as any Preferred Securities remain Outstanding, if, upon a Junior Debt Related Event of Default, the Junior Indenture Trustee fails or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Junior Debt Securities fail to declare the principal of all of the Junior Debt Securities to be immediately due and payable, the Holders of at least 25% in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities then Outstanding shall have such right by a notice in writing to the Depositor and the Junior Indenture Trustee; and upon any such declaration such principal amount of and the accrued interest on all of the Junior Debt Securities shall become immediately due and payable, provided that the payment of principal and interest on such Junior Debt Securities shall remain subordinated to the extent provided in the Junior Indenture.

25

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Junior Debt Securities has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Junior Indenture Trustee as in the Junior Indenture provided, the Holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, by written notice to the Property Trustee, the Depositor and the Junior Indenture Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

(i)the Depositor has paid or deposited with the Debenture Trustee a sum sufficient to pay

(A)all overdue installments of interest (including any Additional Interest (as defined in the Junior Indenture)) on all of the Junior Debt Securities,

(B)the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Junior Debt Securities which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate then borne by the Junior Debt Securities, and

(C)all sums paid or advanced by the Junior Indenture Trustee under the Junior Indenture and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Junior Indenture Trustee and the Property Trustee, their agents and counsel; and

(ii)all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of the principal or premium, if any, of the Junior Debt Securities which has become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13 of the Junior Indenture.

Upon receipt by the Property Trustee of written notice declaring such an acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, by Holders of the Preferred Securities, a record date shall be established for determining Holders of Outstanding Preferred Securities entitled to join in such notice, which record date shall be at the close of business on the day the Property Trustee receives such notice. The Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such notice, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that, unless such declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having joined in such notice prior to the day which is 90 days after such record date, such notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a Holder, or a proxy of a Holder, from giving, after expiration of such 90-day period, a new written notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, as the case may be, that is identical to a written notice which has been canceled pursuant to the proviso to the preceding sentence, in which event a new record date shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.14(b).

The holders of a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities may, on behalf of the holders of the Junior Debt Securities and the Holders of the related

26

Preferred Securities, waive any past default under the Junior Indenture, except a default in they payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest (unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest, premium, if any, and principal due otherwise than by acceleration has been deposited with the Junior Indenture Trustee) or a default in respect of a covenant or provision which under the Junior Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior Debt Security. No such recission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

(c)For so long as any Preferred Securities remain Outstanding, upon an Event of Default specified in Sections 5.1(a) or 5.1(b) of the Junior Indenture, any Holder of Preferred Securities shall have the right to institute a proceeding directly against the Depositor pursuant to Section 5.8 of the Junior Indenture for enforcement of payment to such Holders of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Junior Debt Securities having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities of such Holder (a “Direct Action”).

Except as set forth in this Section 5.14(c) and Section 5.14(b) and Sections 5.12, 9.2 and 10.5 of the Junior Indenture, the Holders of Preferred Securities shall have no right to exercise directly any right or remedy available to the holders of, or in respect of, the Junior Debt Securities.

ARTICLE VI

ACTS OF SECURITYHOLDERS; MEETINGS; VOTING

SECTION 6.1  LIMITATIONS ON VOTING RIGHTS.

(a)Except as provided in this Section, in Sections 5.14, 8.10 and 10.2 and in the Junior Indenture and as otherwise required by law, no Holder of Preferred Securities shall have any right to vote or in any manner otherwise control the administration, operation and management of the Trust or the obligations of the parties hereto, nor shall anything herein set forth, or contained in the terms of the Trust Securities Certificates, be construed so as to constitute the Securityholders from time to time as partners or members of an association.

(b)So long as any Junior Debt Securities are held by the Property Trustee, the Trustees shall not (i) direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Junior Indenture Trustee, or executing any trust or power conferred on the Junior Indenture Trustee with respect to the Junior Debt Securities, (ii) waive any past default which is waivable under Section 5.13 of the Junior Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Junior Debt Securities shall be due and payable or (iv) consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the Junior Indenture or the Junior Debt Securities, where such consent shall be required, without, in each case, obtaining the prior approval of the Holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of all Outstanding Preferred Securities, provided, however, that where a consent under the Junior Indenture would require the consent of each holder of Junior Debt Securities affected thereby, no such consent shall be given by the Property Trustee without the prior written consent of each Holder of Preferred Securities. The Trustees shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders of Preferred Securities, except by a subsequent vote of the Holders of Preferred

27

Securities. The Property Trustee shall notify all Holders of the Preferred Securities of any notice of default received from the Junior Indenture Trustee with respect to the Junior Debt Securities. In addition to obtaining the foregoing consents of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing actions, the Trustees shall, at the expense of the Depositor, obtain an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that the Trust will continue to qualify as a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes after taking into account such action.

(c)Subject to Section 10.2(c) hereof, if any proposed amendment to the Trust Agreement provides for, or the Trustees otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would adversely affect in any material respect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Preferred Securities, whether by way of amendment to the Trust Agreement or otherwise, or (ii) the dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust, other than pursuant to the terms of this Trust Agreement, then the Holders of Outstanding Preferred Securities will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of the Holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Preferred Securities. No amendment to this Trust Agreement may be made if, as a result of such amendment, the Trust would fail to qualify as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.

SECTION 6.2  NOTICE OF MEETINGS.

Notice of all meetings of the Preferred Securityholders, stating the time, place and purpose of the meeting, shall be given by the Property Trustee pursuant to Section 10.8 to each Preferred Securityholder of record, at its registered address, at least 15 days and not more than 90 days before the meeting. At any such meeting, any business properly before the meeting may be so considered whether or not stated in the notice of the meeting. Any adjourned meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice.

SECTION 6.3  MEETINGS OF PREFERRED SECURITYHOLDERS.

No annual meeting of Securityholders is required to be held. The Administrative Trustees, however, shall call a meeting of Securityholders to vote on any matter upon the written request of the Preferred Securityholders of 10% of the Outstanding Preferred Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount) and the Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee may, at any time in their discretion, call a meeting of Preferred Securityholders to vote on any matters as to which Preferred Securityholders are entitled to vote.

Preferred Securityholders of 50% of the Outstanding Preferred Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount), present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of Securityholders.

If a quorum is present at a meeting, an affirmative vote by the Preferred Securityholders of record present, in person or by proxy, holding a majority of the Preferred Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount) held by the Preferred Securityholders present, either in person or by proxy, at such meeting shall constitute the action of the Securityholders, unless this Trust Agreement requires a greater number of affirmative votes.

28

SECTION 6.4  VOTING RIGHTS.

Securityholders shall be entitled to one vote for each $of Liquidation Amount represented by their Trust Securities in respect of any matter as to which such Securityholders are entitled to vote.

SECTION 6.5  PROXIES, ETC.

At any meeting of Securityholders, any Securityholder entitled to vote thereat may vote by proxy, provided that no proxy shall be voted at any meeting unless it shall have been placed on file with the Administrative Trustees, or with such other officer or agent of the Trust as the Administrative Trustees may direct, for verification prior to the time at which such vote shall be taken. Pursuant to a resolution of the Property Trustee, proxies may be solicited in the name of the Property Trustee or one or more officers of the Property Trustee. Only Securityholders shall be entitled to vote. When Trust Securities are held jointly by several persons, any one of them may vote at any meeting in person or by proxy in respect of such Trust Securities, but if one of them shall be present at such meeting in person or by proxy, and such joint owners or their proxies so present disagree as to any vote to be cast, such vote shall not be received in respect of such Trust Securities. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Securityholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise, and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. No proxy shall be valid more than three years after its date of execution.

SECTION 6.6  SECURITYHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT.

Any action which may be taken by Securityholders at a meeting may be taken without a meeting if Securityholders holding a majority of all Preferred Trust Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount) entitled to vote in respect of such action (or such larger proportion thereof as shall be required by any express provision of this Trust Agreement) shall consent to the action in writing.

SECTION 6.7  RECORD DATE FOR VOTING AND OTHER PURPOSES.

For the purposes of determining the Securityholders who are entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting or by written consent, or to participate in any Distribution on the Trust Securities in respect of which a record date is not otherwise provided for in this Trust Agreement, or for the purpose of any other action, the Administrative Trustees may from time to time fix a date, not more than 90 days prior to the date of any meeting of Securityholders or the payment of a Distribution or other action, as the case may be, as a record date for the determination of the identity of the Securityholders of record for such purposes.

SECTION 6.8  ACTS OF SECURITYHOLDERS.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Trust Agreement to be given, made or taken by Securityholders or Owners may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Securityholders or Owners in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, such action shall become effective

29

when such instrument or instruments are delivered to an Administrative Trustee. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Securityholders or Owners signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Trust Agreement and (subject to Section 8.1) conclusive in favor of the Trustees, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

Without limiting the generality of this Section 6.8, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Trust Agreement, a Securityholder, including a Clearing Agency, may make, give or take, by a proxy, or proxies, duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act provided in or pursuant to this Trust Agreement to be made, given or taken by Securityholders, and a Clearing Agency that is a Securityholder may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interest the Trust Securities owned by such Clearing Agency through such Clearing Agency’s standing instructions and customary practices.

The Administrative Trustees shall fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons who are beneficial owners of interest in any Trust Securities held by a Clearing House entitled under the procedures of such Clearing House to make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act provided in or pursuant to this Trust Agreement to be made, given or taken by Securityholders. If such a record date is fixed, the Securityholders on such record date or their duly appointed proxy or proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act, whether or not such Securityholders remain Securityholders after such record date. No such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act shall be valid or effective if made, given or taken more than 90 days after such record date.

The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him or her the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his or her individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his or her authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which any Trustee receiving the same deems sufficient.

The ownership of Preferred Securities shall be proved by the Securities Register.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Securityholder of any Trust Security shall bind every future Securityholder of the same Trust Security and the Securityholder of every Trust Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustees or the Trust in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Trust Security.

30

Without limiting the foregoing, a Securityholder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Trust Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such Liquidation Amount.

If any dispute shall arise between the Securityholders and the Administrative Trustees or among such Securityholders or Trustees with respect to the authenticity, validity or binding nature of any request, demand, authorization, direction, consent, waiver or other Act of such Securityholder or Trustee under this Article 6, then the determination of such matter by the Property Trustee shall be conclusive with respect to such matter.

SECTION 6.9  INSPECTION OF RECORDS.

Upon reasonable notice to the Administrative Trustees and the Property Trustee, the records of the Trust shall be open to inspection by Securityholders during normal business hours for any purpose reasonably related to such Securityholder’s interest as a Securityholder.

ARTICLE VII

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

SECTION 7.1  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BANK AND THE BANK (DELAWARE).

The Bank and the Bank (Delaware), each severally on behalf of and as to itself, hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the Depositor and the Securityholders that:

(a)the Bank is a national banking association duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the United States; The Bank (Delaware) is a Delaware banking corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware; and The Bank (Delaware), as Delaware Trustee, fulfills for the trust the statutory requirements of Section 3807 of the Delaware Business Trust Act;

(b)each of the Bank and the Bank (Delaware) has full corporate power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Trust Agreement and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by it of this Trust Agreement;

(c)this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Bank and the Bank (Delaware) and constitutes the valid and legally binding agreement of the Bank and the Bank (Delaware) enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles;

(d)the execution, delivery and performance by each of the Bank and the Bank (Delaware) of this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action on the part of the Bank and the Bank (Delaware), respectively, and do not require any

31

approval of stockholders of the Bank or the Bank (Delaware) and such execution, delivery and performance will not (i) violate the Bank’s or the Bank’s (Delaware) Charter or By-laws, (ii) violate any provision of, or constitute, with or without notice or lapse of time, a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of, any Lien on any properties included in the Trust Property pursuant to the provisions of, any indenture, mortgage, credit agreement, license or other agreement or instrument to which the Bank or the Bank (Delaware) Trustee, as the case may be, is a party or by which it is bound, or (iii) violate any law, governmental rule or regulation of the United States or the State of Delaware, as the case may be, governing the corporate, banking or trust powers of the Bank or the Bank (Delaware) (as appropriate in context) or any order, judgment or decree applicable to the Bank or the Bank (Delaware);

(e)neither the authorization, execution or delivery by the Bank or the Bank (Delaware) of this Trust Agreement nor the consummation of any of the transactions by the Bank or the Bank (Delaware) (as the case may be) contemplated herein requires the consent or approval of, the giving of notice to, the registration with or the taking of any other action with respect to any governmental authority or agency under any existing Federal law governing the corporate, banking or trust powers of the Bank or the Bank (Delaware), as appropriate in context, under the laws of the United States or the State of Delaware;

(f)there are no proceedings pending or, to the best of each of the Bank’s and the Bank’s (Delaware) knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Bank or the Bank (Delaware) in any court or before any governmental authority, agency or arbitration board or tribunal which, individually or in the aggregate, would materially and adversely affect the Trust or would question the right, power and authority of the Bank or the Bank (Delaware), as the case may be, to enter into or perform its obligations as one of the Trustees under this Trust Agreement.

SECTION 7.2  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF DEPOSITOR.

The Depositor hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the Securityholders that:

(a)the Trust Securities Certificates issued on behalf of the Trust have been duly authorized and have been, duly and validly executed, issued and delivered by the Trustees pursuant to the terms and provisions of, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Trust Agreement and the Securityholders will be entitled to the benefits of this Trust Agreement; and

(b)there are no taxes, fees or other governmental charges payable by the Trust (or the Trustees on behalf of the Trust) under the laws of the State of Delaware or any political subdivision thereof in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Bank, the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, of this Trust Agreement.

ARTICLE VIII

THE TRUSTEES

SECTION 8.1  CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

(a)The duties and responsibilities of the Trustees shall be as provided by this Trust Agreement and, in the case of the Property Trustee by the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding

32

the foregoing, no provision of this Trust Agreement shall require the Trustees to expend or risk their own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of their duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of their rights or powers, if they shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Trust Agreement relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustees shall be subject to the provisions of this Section. To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Administrative Trustee has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Trust or to the Securityholders, such Administrative Trustee shall not be liable to the Trust or to any Securityholder for such Trustee’s good faith reliance on the provisions of this Trust Agreement. The provisions of this Trust Agreement, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of the Administrative Trustees otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Depositor and the Securityholders to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Administrative Trustees.

(b)Except during the continuance of an Event of Default,

(i)each of the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee and the Administrative Trustees undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Trust Agreement, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Trust Agreement against any of the Property Trustee; and

(ii)in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee and the Administrative Trustees may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to such Person and conforming to the requirements of this ; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to any such Person, such Person shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Trust Agreement.

(c)In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

(d)All payments made by the Property Trustee or a Paying Agent in respect of the Trust Securities shall be made only from the revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property and only to the extent that there shall be sufficient revenue or proceeds from the Trust Property to enable the Property Trustee or a Paying Agent to make payments in accordance with the terms hereof. Each Securityholder, by its acceptance of a Trust Security, agrees that it will look solely to the revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property to the extent legally available for distribution to it as herein provided and that the Trustees are not personally liable to it for any amount distributable in respect of any Trust Security or for any other liability in respect of any Trust Security. This Section 8.1(b) does not limit the liability of the Trustees expressly set forth elsewhere in this Trust Agreement or, in the case of the Property Trustee, in the Trust Indenture Act.

33

(e)No provision of this Trust Agreement shall be construed to relieve the Property Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(i)the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by an authorized officer of the Property Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Property Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

(ii)the Property Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under this Trust Agreement;

(iii)the Property Trustee’s sole duty with respect to the custody, safe keeping and physical preservation of the Junior Debt Securities and the Payment Account shall be to deal with such property in a similar manner as the Property Trustee deals with similar property for its own account, subject to the protections and limitations on liability afforded to the Property Trustee under this Trust Agreement and the Trust Indenture Act;

(iv)the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any interest on any money received by it except as it may otherwise agree with the Depositor; and money held by the Property Trustee need not be segregated from other funds held by it except in relation to the Payment Account maintained by the Property Trustee pursuant to Section 3.1 and except to the extent otherwise required by law; and

(v)the Property Trustee shall not be responsible for monitoring the compliance by the Administrative Trustees or the Depositor with their respective duties under this Trust Agreement, nor shall the Property Trustee be liable for the default or misconduct of the Administrative Trustees or the Depositor.

SECTION 8.2  NOTICES OF DEFAULTS AND PAYMENT DEFERRALS.

Within ninety calendar days after the occurrence of any Event of Default or Junior Debt Security Tax Event actually known to the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee shall transmit, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 10.8, notice of such Event of Default to the Securityholders, the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor, unless such Event of Default shall have been cured or waived.

Within five Business Days after the receipt of notice of the Depositor’s exercise of its right to defer the payment of interest on the Junior Debt Securities pursuant to the Junior Indenture, the Administrative Trustee shall transmit, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 10.8, notice of such exercise to the Securityholders and the Property Trustee, unless such exercise shall have been revoked.

34

SECTION 8.3  CERTAIN RIGHTS OF PROPERTY TRUSTEE.

Subject to the provisions of Section VIII.1:

(a)the Property Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting in good faith upon any resolution, Opinion of Counsel, certificate, written representation of a Holder or transferee, certificate of auditors or any other certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, appraisal, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

(b)if, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, (i) in performing its duties under this Trust Agreement, the Property Trustee is required to decide between alternative courses of action or (ii) in construing any of the provisions of this Trust Agreement the Property Trustee finds the same ambiguous or inconsistent with any other provisions contained herein or (iii) the Property Trustee is unsure of the application of any provision of this Trust Agreement, then, except as to any matter as to which the Preferred Securityholders are entitled to vote under the terms of this Trust Agreement, the Property Trustee shall deliver a notice to the Depositor requesting written instructions of the Depositor as to the course of action to be taken and the Property Trustee shall take such action, or refrain from taking such action, as the Property Trustee shall be instructed in writing to take, or to refrain from taking, by the Depositor and the Property Trustee shall be fully protected in acting in accordance with such instructions; provided, however, that if the Property Trustee does not receive such instructions of the Depositor within ten Business Days after it has delivered such notice, or such reasonably shorter period of time set forth in such notice (which to the extent practicable shall not be less than two Business Days), it may, but shall be under no duty to, take or refrain from taking such action not inconsistent with this Trust Agreement as it shall deem advisable and in the best interests of the Securityholders, in which event the Property Trustee shall have no liability except for its own bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct;

(c)any direction or act of the Depositor or the Administrative Trustees contemplated by this Trust Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate;

(d)whenever in the administration of this Trust Agreement, the Property Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be established before undertaking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Property Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and rely upon an Officers’ Certificate which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Depositor or the Administrative Trustees;

(e)the Property Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (including any financing or continuation statement or any filing under tax or securities laws) or any rerecording, refiling or reregistration thereof;

(f)the Property Trustee may consult with counsel (which counsel may be counsel to the Depositor or any of its Affiliates, and may include any of its employees) and the advice of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action

35

taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon and in accordance with such advice; the Property Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Trust Agreement from any court of competent jurisdiction;

(g)the Property Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement at the request or direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to this Trust Agreement, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Property Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

(h)the Property Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by one or more Securityholders, but the Property Trustee may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit;

(i)the Property Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through its agents or attorneys, provided that the Property Trustee shall be responsible for its own negligence or recklessness with respect to selection of any agent or attorney appointed by it hereunder;

(i)whenever in the administration of this Trust Agreement the Property Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the Property Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders of the Trust Securities which instructions may only be given by the Holders of the same proportion in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities as would be entitled to direct the Property Trustee under the terms of the Trust Securities in respect of such remedy, right or action, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall be protected in acting in accordance with such instructions; and

(j)except as otherwise expressly provided by this Trust Agreement, the Property Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action that is discretionary under the provisions of this Trust Agreement.

No provision of this Trust Agreement shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Property Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Property Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts, or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Property Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.

SECTION 8.4  NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES.

The recitals contained herein and in the Trust Securities Certificates shall be taken as the statements of the Depositor, and the Trustees do not assume any responsibility for their correctness (except to the extent they are incorporated into the Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 provided by the Property Trustee to Depositor in connection herewith). The Trustees shall

36

not be accountable for the use or application by the Depositor of the proceeds of the Junior Debt Securities.

SECTION 8.5  MAY HOLD SECURITIES.

Except as provided in the definition of the term “Outstanding” in Article I, any Trustee or any other agent of any Trustee or the Trust, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Trust Securities and, subject to Sections 8.8 and 8.13, may otherwise deal with the Trust with the same rights it would have if it were not a Trustee or such other agent.

SECTION 8.6  COMPENSATION; INDEMNITY; FEES.

The Depositor agrees:

(a)to pay to the Trustees from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by them hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

(b)except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustees upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustees in accordance with any provision of this Trust Agreement (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct; and

(c)to indemnify each of the Trustees or any predecessor Trustee for, and to hold the Trustees harmless against, any loss, damage, claims, liability, penalty or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Trust Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

No Trustee may claim any lien or charge on any Trust Property as a result of any amount due pursuant to this Section 8.6.

The provisions of this Section 8.6 shall survive the termination of this Trust Agreement or the resignation or removal of any Trustee.

SECTION 8.7  CORPORATE PROPERTY TRUSTEE REQUIRED; ELIGIBILITY OF TRUSTEES.

(a)There shall at all times be a Property Trustee hereunder. The Property Trustee shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of

37

condition so published. If at any time the Property Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

(b)There shall at all times be one or more Administrative Trustees hereunder. Each Administrative Trustee shall be either a natural person who is at least 21 years of age or a legal entity that shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind that entity.

(c)There shall at all times be a Delaware Trustee. The Delaware Trustee shall either be (i) a natural person who is at least 21 years of age and a resident of the State of Delaware or (ii) a legal entity with its principal place of business in the State of Delaware and that otherwise meets the requirements of applicable Delaware law that shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind such entity.

SECTION 8.8  CONFLICTING INTERESTS.

If the Property Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Property Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Trust Agreement. Subject to the foregoing, the Depositor and any Trustee may engage in or possess an interest in other business ventures of any nature or description, independently or with others, similar or dissimilar to the business of the Trust, and the Trust and the Holders shall have no rights by virtue of this Trust Agreement in and to such independent ventures or the income or profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit of any such venture, even if competitive with the business of the Trust, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper. Neither the Depositor nor any Trustee shall be obligated to present any particular investment or other opportunity to the Trust even if such opportunity is of a character that, if presented to the Trust, could be taken by the Trust, and the Depositor or any Trustee shall have the right to take for its own account (individually or as a partner or fiduciary) or to recommend to others any such particular investment or other opportunity. Any Trustee may engage in any financial or other transaction with the Depositor or any Affiliate of the Depositor, or may act as depository for, trustee or agent for, or act on any committee or body of holders of, securities or other obligations of the Depositor or its Affiliates.

SECTION 8.9  CO-TRUSTEES AND SEPARATE TRUSTEE.

Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, at any time or times, for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of the Trust Indenture Act or of any jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust Property may at the time be located, the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees, by agreed action of the majority of such Trustees, shall have power to appoint, and upon the written request of the Administrative Trustees, the Depositor shall for such purpose join with the Administrative Trustees in the execution, delivery, and performance of all instruments and agreements necessary or proper to appoint, one or more Persons approved by the Property Trustee either to act as co-trustee, jointly with the Property Trustee, of all or any part of such Trust Property, or to the extent required by law to act as separate trustee of any such property, in either case with such powers as may be provided in the instrument of appointment, and to vest in such Person or Persons in the capacity aforesaid, any property, title, right or power

38

deemed necessary or desirable, subject to the other provisions of this Section. If the Depositor does not join in such appointment within 15 days after the receipt by it of a request so to do, or in case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee alone shall have power to make such appointment. Any co-trustee or separate trustee appointed pursuant to this Section shall either be (i) a natural person who is at least 21 years of age and a resident of the United States or (ii) a legal entity with its principal place of business in the United States that shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind such entity.

Should any written instrument from the Depositor be required by any co- trustee or separate trustee so appointed for more fully confirming to such co- trustee or separate trustee such property, title, right, or power, any and all such instruments shall, on request, be executed, acknowledged and delivered by the Depositor.

Every co-trustee or separate trustee shall, to the extent permitted by law, but to such extent only, be appointed subject to the following terms, namely:

(a)the Trust Securities shall be executed and delivered, and all rights, powers, duties, and obligations hereunder in respect of the custody of securities, cash and other personal property held by, or required to be deposited or pledged with, the Trustees specified hereunder shall be exercised, solely by such Trustees and not by such co-trustee or separate trustee;

(b)the rights, powers, duties, and obligations hereby conferred or imposed upon the Property Trustee in respect of any property covered by such appointment shall be conferred or imposed upon and exercised or performed by the Property Trustee or by the Property Trustee and such co-trustee or separate trustee jointly, as shall be provided in the instrument appointing such co-trustee or separate trustee, except to the extent that under any law of any jurisdiction in which any particular act is to be performed, the Property Trustee shall be incompetent or unqualified to perform such act, in which event such rights, powers, duties and obligations shall be exercised and performed by such co-trustee or separate trustee;

(c)the Property Trustee at any time, by an instrument in writing executed by it, with the written concurrence of the Depositor, may accept the resignation of or remove any co-trustee or separate trustee appointed under this Section, and, in case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee shall have power to accept the resignation of, or remove, any such co-trustee or separate trustee without the concurrence of the Depositor; upon the written request of the Property Trustee, the Depositor shall join with the Property Trustee in the execution, delivery and performance of all instruments and agreements necessary or proper to effectuate such resignation or removal; and a successor to any co-trustee or separate trustee so resigned or removed may be appointed in the manner provided in this Section;

(d)no co-trustee or separate trustee hereunder shall be personally liable by reason of any act or omission of the Property Trustee or any other trustee hereunder;

(e)the Property Trustee shall not be liable by reason of any act of a co-trustee or separate trustee; and

(f)any Act of Holders delivered to the Property Trustee shall be deemed to have been delivered to each such co-trustee and separate trustee.

39

SECTION 8.10  RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR.

No resignation or removal of any Trustee (the “Relevant Trustee”) and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 8.11.

Subject to the immediately preceding paragraph, the Relevant Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Trust Securities by giving written notice thereof to the Securityholders.

If the instrument of acceptance by the successor Trustee required by Section 8.11 shall not have been delivered to the Relevant Trustee (or to the Common Securityholder, if the Relevant Trustee is an Administrative Trustee) within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the Relevant Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Depositor, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities.

Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, any Trustee may be removed at any time by Act of the Common Securityholder. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, or both of them, may be removed at such time by Act of the Holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Preferred Securities, delivered to the Relevant Trustee (in its individual capacity and on behalf of the Trust). An Administrative Trustee may be removed by the Common Securityholder at any time.

If any Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting as Trustee, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of any Trustee for any cause, at a time when no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Common Securityholder, by Act of the Common Securityholder delivered to the retiring Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Trust Securities and the Trust, and the retiring Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 8.11. If the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of continuing to act as the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, at a time when an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Preferred Securityholders, by Act of the Securityholders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities then Outstanding delivered to the retiring Relevant Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Trust Securities and the Trust, and such successor Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 8.11.

If an Administrative Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting as Administrative Trustee, regardless of whether an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Common Securityholder by Act of the Common Securityholder delivered to the Administrative Trustee shall promptly appoint a successor Administrative Trustee or Administrative Trustees with respect to the Trust Securities and the Trust, and such successor Administrative Trustee or Trustees shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 8.11. If no successor Relevant Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities shall have been so appointed by the Common Securityholder or the Preferred Securityholders and accepted

40

appointment in the manner required by Section 8.11, any Securityholder who has been a Securityholder of Trust Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities.

The Property Trustee shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of a Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee to all Securityholders in the manner provided in Section 10.8 and shall give notice to the Depositor. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Relevant Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office if it is the Property Trustee.

Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Trust Agreement, in the event any Administrative Trustee or a Delaware Trustee who is a natural person dies or becomes, in the opinion of the Depositor, incompetent or incapacitated, the vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity may be filled by (a) the unanimous act of remaining Administrative Trustees if there are at least two of them or (b) otherwise by the Depositor (with the successor in each case being a Person who satisfies the eligibility requirement for Administrative Trustees set forth in Section 8.7).

SECTION 8.11  ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR.

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Trust and to the retiring Trustee (or to the Common Securityholder, if the retiring Trustee is an Administrative Trustee) an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Depositor or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and if the Property Trustee is the resigning Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to the successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Property Trustee hereunder.

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Relevant Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities and the Trust, the retiring Relevant Trustee and each successor Relevant Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities shall execute and deliver an amendment hereto wherein each successor Relevant Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (a) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Relevant Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities and the Trust and (b) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Trust Agreement as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Relevant Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such amendment shall constitute such Relevant Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Relevant Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Relevant Trustee and upon the execution and delivery of such amendment the resignation or removal of the retiring Relevant Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such

41

successor Relevant Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities and the Trust; but, on request of the Trust or any successor Relevant Trustee such retiring Relevant Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Relevant Trustee all Trust Property, all proceeds thereof and money held by such retiring Relevant Trustee hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities and the Trust.

Upon request of any such successor Relevant Trustee, the Trust shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Relevant Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in the first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may be.

No successor Relevant Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Relevant Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.

SECTION 8.12  MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO BUSINESS.

Any corporation into which the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Relevant Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of such Relevant Trustee, shall be the successor of such Relevant Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto.

SECTION 8.13  PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST DEPOSITOR OR TRUST.

If and when the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee shall be or become a creditor (whether directly or indirectly Secured or Unsecured) of the Depositor or the Trust (or any other obligor upon the Junior Debt Securities or the Trust Securities), the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, shall be subject to and shall take all actions necessary in order to comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Depositor or Trust (or any such other obligor).

SECTION 8.14  REPORTS BY PROPERTY TRUSTEE.

The Property Trustee shall transmit to Preferred Securityholders such reports concerning the Property Trustee and its actions under this Trust Agreement as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Property Trustee shall, within 60 days after each following the date of the Trust Agreement deliver to Holders a brief report, dated as of , which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a).

A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Property Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Preferred Securities are then

42

listed, with the Commission and with the Trust. The Trust will promptly notify the Property Trustee when any Preferred Securities are listed on any stock exchange.

SECTION 8.15  REPORTS TO THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE.

The Depositor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act (if any) and the compliance certificate required by Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 8.16  EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.

Each of the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Trust Agreement that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section 314 (c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act shall be given in the form of an Officers’ Certificate.

SECTION 8.17  NUMBER OF TRUSTEES.

(a)The number of Trustees shall be five, provided that the Holder of all of the Common Securities by written instrument may increase or decrease the number of Administrative Trustees; provided, however, that there shall at all times be at least one Administrative Trustee. The Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee may be the same Person if the Property Trustee meets the applicable requirements.

(b)If a Trustee ceases to hold office for any reason and the number of Administrative Trustees is not reduced pursuant to Section 8.17(a), or if the number of Trustees is increased pursuant to Section 8.17(a), a vacancy shall occur. The vacancy shall be filled with a Trustee appointed in accordance with Section 8.10.

(c)The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy, incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee shall not operate to annul the Trust. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Administrative Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled by the appointment of an Administrative Trustee in accordance with Section 8.10, the Administrative Trustees in office, regardless of their number (and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement), shall have all the powers granted to the Administrative Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Administrative Trustees by this Trust Agreement.

SECTION 8.18  DELEGATION OF POWER.

(a)Any Administrative Trustee may, by power of attorney consistent with applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 his or her power for the purpose of executing any documents contemplated in Section 2.7(a), including any registration statement or amendment thereto filed with the Commission, or making any other governmental filing; and

43

(b)The Administrative Trustees shall have power to delegate from time to time to such of their number or to the Depositor the doing of such things and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Administrative Trustees or otherwise as the Administrative Trustees may deem expedient, to the extent such delegation is not prohibited by applicable law or contrary to the provisions of the Trust, as set forth herein.

SECTION 8.19  VOTING.

Except as otherwise provided in this Trust Agreement, the consent or approval of the Administrative Trustees shall require consent or approval by not less than a majority of the Administrative Trustees, unless there are only two, in which case both must consent.

ARTICLE IX

TERMINATION, LIQUIDATION AND MERGER

SECTION 9.1  TERMINATION UPON EXPIRATION DATE.

Unless earlier terminated, the Trust shall automatically terminate on ,       (the “Expiration Date”), following the distribution of the Trust Property in accordance with Section 9.4.

SECTION 9.2  EARLY TERMINATION.

The first to occur of any of the following events is an “Early Termination Event”:

(a)the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event in respect of, or the dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of, the Depositor;

(b)the direction to the Property Trustee from the Depositor at any time (which direction is optional and wholly within the discretion of the Depositor) to terminate the Trust and distribute a Like Amount of Junior Debt Securities to Securityholders of Trust Securities.

(c)the redemption of all of the Trust Securities; and

(d)the entry of an order for dissolution of the Trust by a court of competent jurisdiction.

The direction of the Depositor pursuant to Section 9.2(b) shall be made in writing by the Depositor and specify the date of distribution of the Junior Debt Securities, which shall not be less than less than 30 days after the date of the delivery of such direction.

The election of the Depositor pursuant to Section 9.2(b) shall be made by the Depositor giving written notice to the Trustees not less than 30 days prior to the date of distribution of the Junior Debt Securities. Such notice shall specify the date of distribution of the Junior Debt Securities and shall be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel that such event will not be a taxable event to the Holders of the Preferred Securities for Federal income tax purposes.

44

SECTION 9.3  TERMINATION.

The respective obligations and responsibilities of the Trustees and the Trust created and continued hereby shall terminate upon the latest to occur of the following: (a) the distribution by the Property Trustee to Securityholders upon the liquidation of the Trust pursuant to Section 9.4, or upon the redemption of all of the Trust Securities pursuant to Section 4.2, of all amounts required to be distributed hereunder upon the final payment of the Trust Securities; (b) the payment of any expenses owed by the Trust; and (c) the discharge of all administrative duties of the Administrative Trustees, including the performance of any tax reporting obligations with respect to the Trust or the Securityholders.

SECTION 9.4  LIQUIDATION.

(a)If an Early Termination Event specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) of Section 9.2 occurs or upon the Expiration Date, the Trust shall be liquidated by the Trustees as expeditiously as the Trustees determine to be possible by distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable law, to each Securityholder a Like Amount of Junior Debt Securities, subject to clause (d) below. Notice of liquidation shall be given by the Property Trustee by first-class mail, postage prepaid mailed not later than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Liquidation Date to each Holder of Trust Securities at such Holder’s address appearing in the Securities Register. All notices of liquidation shall:

(i)state the Liquidation Date;

(ii)state that from and after the Liquidation Date the Trust Securities will no longer be deemed to be Outstanding and any Trust Securities Certificates not surrendered for exchange will be deemed to represent a Like Amount of Junior Debt Securities; and

(iii)provide such information with respect to the mechanics by which Holders may exchange Trust Securities Certificates for Junior Debt Securities or, if clause (d) below applies, receive a Liquidation Distribution, as the Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee shall deem appropriate.

(b)In order to effect the liquidation of the Trust and distribution of the Junior Debt Securities to Securityholders, the Property Trustee shall establish a record date for such distribution (which shall be not more than 45 days prior to the Liquidation Date) and, either itself acting as exchange agent or through the appointment of a separate exchange agent, shall establish such procedures as it shall deem appropriate to effect the distribution of Junior Debt Securities in exchange for the Outstanding Trust Securities Certificates.

(c)Except where Section 9.2(c) or clause (d) below applies, after the Liquidation Date, (i) the Trust Securities will no longer be deemed to be Outstanding, (ii) certificates representing a Like Amount of Junior Debt Securities will be issued to holders of Trust Securities Certificates, upon surrender of such certificates to the Administrative Trustees or their agent for exchange, (iii) the Depositor shall use its commercially practicable efforts to have the Junior Debt Securities listed on the New York Stock Exchange or on such other exchange, interdealer quotation system or self-regulatory organization as the Preferred Securities are then listed, if any, (iv) any Trust Securities Certificates not so surrendered for exchange will be

45

deemed to represent a Like Amount of Junior Debt Securities, accruing interest at the rate provided for in the Junior Debt Securities from the last Distribution Date on which a Distribution was made on such Trust Securities Certificates until such certificates are so surrendered (and until such certificates are so surrendered, no payments of interest or principal will be made to Holders of Trust Securities Certificates with respect to such Junior Debt Securities) and (v) all rights of Securityholders holding Trust Securities will cease, except the right of such Securityholders to receive Junior Debt Securities upon surrender of Trust Securities Certificates.

(d)In the event that, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 9.4, whether because of an order for dissolution entered by a court of competent jurisdiction or otherwise, distribution of the Junior Debt Securities in the manner provided herein is determined by the Property Trustee not to be practical, the Trust Property shall be liquidated, and the Trust shall be dissolved, wound-up or terminated, by the Property Trustee in such manner as the Property Trustee determines. In such event, on the date of the dissolution, winding-up or other termination of the Trust, Securityholders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to Securityholders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable law, an amount equal to the Liquidation Amount per Trust Security plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the “Liquidation Distribution”). If, upon any such dissolution, winding up or termination, the Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then, subject to the next succeeding sentence, the amounts payable by the Trust on the Trust Securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis (based upon Liquidation Amounts). The holder of the Common Securities will be entitled to receive the Liquidation Distribution upon any such dissolution, winding-up or termination pro rata (determined as aforesaid) with Holders of Preferred Securities, except that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Preferred Securities shall have a priority over the Common Securities, and no Liquidation Distribution shall be paid to the Holders of the Common Securities unless and until receipt by all Holders of the Preferred Securities of the entire Liquidation Distribution payable in respect thereof.

SECTION 9.5  MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS, AMALGAMATIONS OR REPLACEMENTS OF THE TRUST.

The Trust may not merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other body, except pursuant to this Section IX.5. At the request of the Depositor, with the consent of only the Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, the Trust may merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to a trust organized as such under the laws of any State; provided, that (i) such successor entity either (a) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust with respect to the Preferred Securities or (b) substitutes for the Preferred Securities other securities having substantially the same terms as the Preferred Securities (the “Successor Securities”) so long as the Successor Securities rank the same as the Preferred Securities rank in priority with respect to Distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise, (ii) the Depositor expressly appoints a trustee of such successor entity possessing the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee as the holder of the Junior Debt

46

Securities, (iii) the Successor Securities are listed or traded, or any Successor Securities will be listed upon notification of issuance, on any national securities exchange or other organization on which the Preferred Securities are then listed or traded, if any, (iv) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not cause the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) to be downgraded or placed under surveillance or review by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, (v) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect, (vi) such successor entity has a purpose identical to that of the Trust, (vii) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the Depositor has received an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (a) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect, (b) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, neither the Trust nor such successor entity will be required to register as an investment company under the 1940 Act and (c) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the Trust (or any successor entity) will continue to be classified as a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes and (viii) the Depositor owns all of the Common Securities of such successor entity and guarantees the obligations of such successor entity under the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust shall not, except with the consent of Holders of 100% in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease would cause the Trust or the successor entity to be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes.

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 10.1  LIMITATION OF RIGHTS OF SECURITYHOLDERS.

The death or incapacity of any person having an interest, beneficial or otherwise, in Trust Securities shall not operate to terminate this Trust Agreement, nor entitle the legal representatives or heirs of such person or any Securityholder for such person, to claim an accounting, take any action or bring any proceeding in any court for a partition or winding up of the arrangements contemplated hereby, nor otherwise affect the rights, obligations and liabilities of the parties hereto or any of them.

SECTION 10.2  AMENDMENT.

(a)This Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by the Trustees and the Depositor, without the consent of any Securityholders, (i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein, or

47

to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Trust Agreement, which shall not be inconsistent with the other provisions of this Trust Agreement, or (ii) to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of this Trust Agreement to such extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the Trust will be classified for United States Federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust at all times that any Trust Securities are outstanding or to ensure that the Trust will not be required to register as an investment company under the 1940 Act; provided, however, that such action shall not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Securityholder, and any amendments of this Trust Agreement shall become effective when notice thereof is given to the Securityholders.

(b)Except as provided in Section 6.1 and 10.2(c) hereof, any provision of this Trust Agreement may be amended by the Trustees and the Depositor with (i) the consent of Trust Securityholders representing a majority (based upon Liquidation Amounts) of the Trust Securities then Outstanding and (ii) receipt by the Trustees of an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment or the exercise of any power granted to the Trustees in accordance with such amendment will not affect the Trust’s status as a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes or the Trust’s exemption from status of an investment company under the 1940 Act.

(c)In addition to and notwithstanding any other provision in this Trust Agreement, without the consent of each affected Securityholder (such consent being obtained in accordance with Article Six hereof), this Trust Agreement may not be amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any Distribution on the Trust Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any Distribution required to be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a specified date, (ii) change the redemption provisions of the Trust Securities, (iii) restrict the right of a Securityholder to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment contemplated in (i) or (ii) above on or after such date, (iv) modify the first sentence of Section 2.6 hereof, (v) authorize or issue any beneficial interest in the Trust other than as contemplated by this Trust Agreement, (vi) change the conditions precedent for the Depositor to elect to dissolve the Trust and distribute the Debentures to Holders of the Trust Securities as set forth in Section 9.2, or (vii) affect the limited liability of any Holder of Preferred Securities; and notwithstanding any other provision herein, without the unanimous consent of the Securityholders (such consent being obtained in accordance with Section 6.3 or 6.6 hereof), this paragraph (c) of this Section 10.2 may not be amended.

(d)Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Trust Agreement, no Trustee shall enter into or consent to any amendment to this Trust Agreement which would cause the Trust to fail or cease to qualify for the exemption from status of an investment company under the 1940 Act or fail or cease to be classified as a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes.

(e)Notwithstanding anything in this Trust Agreement to the contrary, without the consent of the Depositor, the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee (as the case may be), this Trust Agreement may not be amended in a manner which imposes any additional obligation on the Depositor, the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, respectively.

48

(f)In the event that any amendment to this Trust Agreement is made, the Administrative Trustees shall promptly provide to the Depositor a copy of such amendment.

(g)Neither the Property Trustee nor the Delaware Trustee shall be required to enter into any amendment to this Trust Agreement which affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Trust Agreement. The Property Trustee shall be entitled to receive an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate stating that any amendment to this Trust Agreement is in compliance with this Trust Agreement.

SECTION 10.3  SEPARABILITY.

In case any provision in this Trust Agreement or in the Trust Securities Certificates shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

SECTION 10.4  GOVERNING LAW.

This Trust Agreement and the rights and obligations of each of the Securityholders, the Trust and the Trustees with respect to this Trust Agreement and the Trust Securities shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflict of laws principles.

SECTION 10.5  PAYMENTS DUE ON NON-BUSINESS DAY.

If the date fixed for any payment on any Trust Security shall be a day that is not a Business Day, then such payment need not be made on such date but may be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (except as otherwise provided in Sections 4.1(a) and 4.2(d)), with the same force and effect as though made on the date fixed for such payment, and no interest shall accrue thereon for the period after such date [insert alternative floating rate conversion, if applicable].

SECTION 10.6  SUCCESSORS.

This Trust Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of any successor to the Depositor, the Trust or the Relevant Trustee, including any successor by operation of law. Except in connection with a consolidation, merger or sale involving the Depositor that is permitted under Article Eight of the Junior Indenture and pursuant to which the assignee agrees in writing to perform the Depositor’s obligations hereunder, the Depositor shall not assign its obligations hereunder.

SECTION 10.7  HEADINGS.

The Article and Section headings are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of this Trust Agreement.

49

SECTION 10.8  REPORTS, NOTICES AND DEMANDS.

Any report, notice, demand or other communication which by any provision of this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon any Securityholder or the Depositor may be given or served in writing by deposit thereof, first-class postage prepaid, in the United States mail, hand delivery or facsimile transmission, in each case, addressed, (a) in the case of a Preferred Securityholder, to such Preferred Securityholder as such Securityholder’s name and address may appear on the Securities Register; and (b) in the case of the Common Securityholder or the Depositor, to CNA Financial Corporation, 333 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60604, Attention:                   , facsimile no.: (312)  . Any notice to Preferred Securityholders shall also be given to such owners as have, within two years preceding the giving of such notice, filed their names and addresses with the Property Trustee for that purpose.

Such notice, demand or other communication to or upon a Securityholder shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, upon hand delivery, mailing or transmission.

Any notice, demand or other communication which by any provision of this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon the Trust, the Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees shall be given in writing addressed (until another address is published by the Trust) as follows: (a) with respect to the Property Trustee to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., [insert address]; (b) with respect to the Delaware Trustee, to BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware, [insert address]; and (c) with respect to the Administrative Trustees, to them at the address above for notices to the Depositor, marked “Attention Administrative Trustees of CNA Financial Capital [I][II][III].” Such notice, demand or other communication to or upon the Trust or the Property Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made only upon actual receipt of the writing by the Trust or the Property Trustee.

SECTION 10.9  TRUST INDENTURE ACT; CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.

(a)This Trust Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Trust Agreement and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.

(b)The Property Trustee shall be the only Trustee which is a trustee for the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act.

(c)If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof which is required to be included in this Trust Agreement by any of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall control. If any provision of this Trust Agreement modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act which may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Trust Agreement as so modified or excluded, as the case may be.

(d)The application of the Trust Indenture Act to this Trust Agreement shall not affect the nature of the Securities as equity securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.

50

SECTION 10.10  ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS OF TRUST AGREEMENT, GUARANTEE AND JUNIOR INDENTURE.

THE RECEIPT AND ACCEPTANCE OF A TRUST SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN BY OR ON BEHALF OF A SECURITYHOLDER OR ANY BENEFICIAL OWNER, WITHOUT ANY SIGNATURE OR FURTHER MANIFESTATION OF ASSENT, SHALL CONSTITUTE THE UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE BY THE SECURITYHOLDER AND ALL OTHERS HAVING A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN SUCH TRUST SECURITY OF ALL THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND AGREEMENT TO THE SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS AND OTHER TERMS OF THE GUARANTEE AND THE JUNIOR INDENTURE, AND SHALL CONSTITUTE THE AGREEMENT OF THE TRUST, SUCH SECURITYHOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS THAT THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS TRUST AGREEMENT SHALL BE BINDING, OPERATIVE AND EFFECTIVE AS BETWEEN THE TRUST AND SUCH SECURITYHOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS.

CNA Financial Corporation,
as Depositor
By:
	Name:
	Title:
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Property Trustee
By:
	Name:
	Title:
BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware,
as Delaware Trustee
By:
	Name:
	Title:
D. Craig Mense,
as Administrative Trustee
Albert J. Miralles, Jr.,
as Administrative Trustee

51

EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

Opinion of Jonathan D. Kantor, Esq.

[CNA LETTERHEAD]

333 South Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL 60604	Jonathan D. Kantor
	Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
April 5, 2013	Telephone	312-822-1384
	Facsimile	312-817-0511
	Internet	jonathan.kantor@cna.com

CNA Financial Corporation
333 South Wabash Avenue
Chicago, Illinois  60604

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am providing this opinion as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of CNA Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with respect to the contemplated issuance by the Company from time to time of an indeterminate amount of the following securities: (i) senior debt securities, which may be issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of March 1, 1991, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as successor in interest to J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association (formerly known as The First National Bank of Chicago), a national banking association, as trustee, as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture, dated as of October 15, 1993, and by a second supplemental indenture, dated as of December 15, 2004 (as so supplemented, the “Senior Indenture”), (ii) subordinated debt securities, which may be issued pursuant to a subordinated indenture, as supplemented from time to time, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor in interest to J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, as trustee (as so supplemented, the “Subordinated Indenture”), (iii) subordinated junior debt securities (and, together with the senior debt securities described in clause (i) of this paragraph and the subordinated debt securities described in clause (ii) of this paragraph, the “Debt Securities”), which may be issued pursuant to a junior subordinated indenture, as supplemented from time to time, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor in interest to J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, as trustee (as so supplemented, the “Junior Subordinated Indenture” and, together with the Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture, the “Indentures” or individually, an “Indenture”); (iv) shares of preferred stock, no par value per share (the “Preferred Stock”), which may be represented by depositary shares (the “Depositary Shares”) evidenced by depositary receipts (the “Receipts”); (v) shares of common stock of the Company, par value $2.50 per share (the “Common Stock”); (vi) warrants to purchase any of the foregoing Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Common Stock or Depositary Shares (the “Warrants”); (vii) preferred securities (the “Trust Preferred Securities”) of CNA Financial Capital I, CNA Financial Capital II and CNA Financial Capital III (each a “CNA Capital Trust” and, collectively, the “CNA Capital Trusts”); (viii) purchase contracts (each a “Purchase Contract” and, collectively, the “Purchase Contracts”) to purchase any of the Debt Securities, Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Warrants and Trust Preferred Securities; (ix) purchase units (“Purchase Units”), each representing ownership of a Purchase Contract and any of the (A) Debt Securities, (B) debt obligations of third parties, including treasury bonds or similar obligations of the U.S. and/or (C) Trust Preferred Securities; and (x) guarantees (“Guarantees”) of the Company of Trust Preferred Securities of the CNA Capital Trusts, which may be issued pursuant to guarantee agreements to be executed by the Company.

I have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records, certificates of public officials and other instruments as I have deemed necessary for the purpose of rendering this opinion. In addition, this opinion is based upon the assumption that the Registration Statement has become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act.

1

On the basis of the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and limitations set forth herein, I am of the opinion that:

1.  Assuming that the Indentures, any Debt Securities, and any Board Resolution (as defined in the applicable Indenture) or supplemental indenture with respect to the issuance of such Debt Securities have been duly authorized, when (i) a Board Resolution or supplemental indenture in respect of the Debt Securities has been duly authorized, executed and delivered; (ii) the terms of the Debt Securities and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable Indenture and the applicable Board Resolution or supplemental indenture relating to such Debt Securities so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company; and (iii) the Debt Securities have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the applicable Indenture and the applicable Board Resolution or supplemental indenture relating to such Debt Securities, and duly issued, sold and paid for as contemplated by the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, the Debt Securities (including any Debt Securities duly issued (x) upon the exchange or conversion of any shares of Preferred Stock that are exchangeable or convertible into Debt Securities, (y) upon exercise of any Warrants exercisable for Debt Securities or (z) as part of Purchase Units) will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, moratorium and other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors rights generally, (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and (c) the qualification that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

2.  Assuming that a deposit agreement relating to the Depositary Shares (the “Deposit Agreement”) has been duly authorized, when (i) the Deposit Agreement has been duly executed and delivered; (ii) the terms of the Depositary Shares and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Deposit Agreement relating to such Depositary Shares so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company; (iii) the Depositary Shares have been duly issued, sold and paid for in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto; (iv) the series of Preferred Stock has been duly and properly authorized for issuance and a Certificate of Designation classifying the series of Preferred Stock and setting forth the terms thereof has been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and accepted for record; (v) shares of such series of Preferred Stock have been duly issued, sold and paid for in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto; and (vi) the Receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares are duly issued against the deposit of the Preferred Stock in accordance with the Deposit Agreement, such Receipts will be validly issued and will entitle the holders thereof to the rights specified therein and in the Deposit Agreement.

3.  Assuming that a warrant agreement relating to the Warrants (the “Warrant Agreement”) has been duly authorized, when (i) the Warrant Agreement has been duly executed and delivered; (ii) the terms of the Warrants and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Warrant Agreement relating to such Warrants so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company; (iii) the actions described in paragraph 1 above have been taken, in the case of Warrants exercisable for Debt Securities; (iv) the actions described in paragraph 2 above have been taken, in the case of Warrants exercisable for Depositary Shares; (v) the actions described in paragraph 4 below have been taken, in the case of Warrants exercisable for Preferred Stock; (vi) the actions described in paragraph 5 below have been taken, in the case of Warrants exercisable for Common Stock; and (vii) the Warrants have been duly executed and countersigned in accordance with the Warrant Agreement relating to such Warrants, and issued and sold in the form and in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, such Warrants will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, moratorium and other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and (c) the qualification that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable

2

relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

4.  When (i) the terms of a series of Preferred Stock have been duly and properly authorized for issuance and a Certificate of Designation classifying the series of Preferred Stock and setting forth the terms thereof has been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and (ii) shares of such series of Preferred Stock have been duly issued, sold and paid for in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, such shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

5.  When (i) the shares of Common Stock have been duly and properly authorized for issuance and (ii) the shares of Common Stock have been duly issued, sold and paid for as contemplated in the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, the shares of Common Stock (including any Common Stock duly issued (w) upon the exchange or conversion of any shares of Preferred Stock that are exchangeable or convertible into Common Stock, (x) upon the exercise of any Warrants exercisable for Common Stock, (y) upon the conversion or exchange of any Debt Securities that are convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock or (z) pursuant to Purchase Contracts), will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

6.  Assuming that a purchase contract agreement relating to the Purchase Contracts (the “Purchase Contract Agreement”) and such Purchase Contracts have been duly authorized, when (i) the Purchase Contract Agreement has been duly executed and delivered; (ii) the terms of the Purchase Contracts have been duly established so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company; (iii) the actions described in paragraph 1 above have been taken, in the case of Purchase Contracts relating to the issuance and sale of Debt Securities; (iv) the actions described in paragraph 2 above have been taken, in the case of Purchase Contracts relating to the issuance and sale of Depositary Shares; (v) the actions described in paragraph 3 above have been taken, in the case of Purchase Contracts relating to the issuance and sale of Warrants; (vi) the actions described in paragraph 4 above have been taken, in the case of Purchase Contracts relating to the issuance and sale of Preferred Stock; (vii) the actions described in paragraph 5 above have been taken, in the case of Purchase Contracts relating to the issuance and sale of Common Stock; and (viii) the Purchase Contracts have been duly executed and issued in accordance with the Purchase Contract Agreement relating to such Purchase Contracts, and issued and sold in the form and in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, such Purchase Contracts will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, moratorium and other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and (c) the qualification that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

7.  Assuming that the Purchase Units, a Purchase Contract Agreement relating to the Purchase Contracts comprising a part of the Purchase Units and such Purchase Contracts have been duly authorized, when (i) the Purchase Contract Agreement has been duly executed and delivered; (ii) the terms of the Purchase Contracts and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Purchase Contract Agreement so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company; (iii) the actions described in paragraph 6 above have been taken with respect to the Purchase Contracts; (iv) the terms of the collateral arrangements relating to such Purchase Units have been duly established and the agreement(s) relating thereto has been duly executed and delivered, in each case so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company, and the collateral has been deposited with the collateral agent in accordance with such arrangements; and (v) the Purchase Contracts have been duly executed and issued in accordance with the Purchase Contract Agreement relating to such Purchase Contracts, and issued and sold in the form and in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, such Purchase Units will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, moratorium and other similar

3

laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and (c) the qualification that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

8.  Assuming that the Guarantees have been duly authorized, when (i) the applicable guarantee agreement has been duly executed and delivered, so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company and (ii) the Trust Preferred Securities have been duly issued and delivered by the applicable CNA Capital Trust as contemplated by the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, the Guarantees will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, moratorium and other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and (c) the qualification that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. This opinion is limited in all respects to the laws and facts existing on the date hereof. I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to my name under the caption “Validity of Securities” in the Prospectus constituting a part thereof, as originally filed or as subsequently amended or supplemented.  This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose, or relied upon by any other person, firm or corporation or quoted, filed with any governmental authority or other regulatory agency or otherwise circulated or utilized for any other purpose without my prior written consent.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Jonathan D. Kantor

Jonathan D. Kantor

Executive Vice President

General Counsel and Secretary

4

EX-5.2

Exhibit 5.2

[LETTERHEAD OF YOUNG CONAWAY STARGATT & TAYLOR, LLP]

April 5, 2013

CNA Financial Corporation

333 S. Wabash Avenue

Chicago, Illinois 60604

Re:CNA Financial Capital I
CNA Financial Capital II
CNA Financial Capital III

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as Delaware counsel for CNA Financial Capital I, a Delaware statutory trust (“CNA I”), CNA Financial Capital II, a Delaware statutory trust (“CNA II”), and CNA Financial Capital III, a Delaware statutory trust (“CNA III” and together with CNA I and CNA II, collectively, the “Trusts” and, individually, a “Trust”), in connection with the matters set forth herein.  This opinion is furnished to you at your request.

In connection with the opinions set forth herein, our examination has been limited to a review of originals or copies of the following documents:

(a)The Certificate of Trust of CNA I, dated December 23, 1998, as filed with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Secretary of State”) on December 23, 1998, as amended by a Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust, dated August 11, 2005, as filed with the Secretary of State on August 12, 2005, and a Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust, dated March 18, 2009, as filed with the Secretary of State on March 18, 2009 (collectively, the “CNA I Certificate”);

(b)The Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of CNA I, dated as of August 12, 2005, among CNA Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“CNA Financial”), as depositor, and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, Chase Bank USA, National Association, a national banking association, D. Craig Mense, and Dennis R. Hemme, as trustees;

(c)A Certificate of Good Standing for CNA I, dated April 4, 2013, obtained from the Secretary of State;

(d)The Certificate of Trust of CNA II, dated December 23, 1998, as filed with the Secretary of State on December 23, 1998, as amended by a Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust, dated August 11, 2005, as filed with the Secretary of State on August 12,

2005, and a Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust, dated March 18, 2009, as filed with the Secretary of State on March 18, 2009 (collectively, the “CNA II Certificate”);

(e)The Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of CNA II, dated as of August 12, 2005, among CNA Financial, as depositor, and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, Chase Bank USA, National Association, a national banking association, D. Craig Mense, and Dennis R. Hemme, as trustees;

(f)A Certificate of Good Standing for CNA II, dated April 4, 2013, obtained from the Secretary of State;

(g)The Certificate of Trust of CNA III, dated December 23, 1998, as filed with the Secretary of State on December 23, 1998, as amended by a Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust dated August 11, 2005, as filed with the Secretary of State on August 12, 2005 (together with the CNA I Certificate and the CNA II Certificate, collectively, the “Certificates”);

(h)The Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of CNA III, dated as of August 12, 2005, among CNA Financial, as depositor, and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, Chase Bank USA, National Association, a national banking association, D. Craig Mense, and Dennis R. Hemme, as trustees;

(i)A Certificate of Good Standing for CNA III, dated April 4, 2013, obtained from the Secretary of State;

(j)The Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”), relating to, among other securities, the preferred securities of each Trust representing preferred undivided beneficial interests in each Trust (each a “Preferred Security” and collectively, the “Preferred Securities”), to be filed by CNA Financial and the Trusts with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 5, 2013;

(k)A form of Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of CNA I, to be entered into among CNA Financial, as depositor, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Property Trustee, BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware,  as Delaware Trustee, and the Administrative Trustees named therein, and the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in CNA I (the “CNA I Trust Agreement”);

(l)A form of Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of CNA II, to be entered into among CNA Financial, as depositor, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Property Trustee, BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware, as Delaware Trustee, and the Administrative Trustees named therein, and the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in CNA II (the “CNA II Trust Agreement”); and

(m)A form of Second Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of CNA III, to be entered into among CNA Financial, as depositor, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust

2

Company, N.A., as Property Trustee, BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware, as Delaware Trustee, and the Administrative Trustees named therein, and the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in CNA III (the “CNA III Trust Agreement” and together with the CNA I Trust Agreement and the CNA II Trust Agreement, collectively, the “Trust Agreements” and each, individually, a “Trust Agreement”).

Initially capitalized terms herein used and not otherwise defined are used as defined in the Trust Agreements.

For purposes of this opinion, we have not reviewed any documents other than the documents herein listed, and we have assumed that there exists no provision in any document that we have not reviewed that bears upon or is inconsistent with the opinions herein stated.  We have conducted no independent factual investigation of our own, but, rather, have relied solely upon the documents listed herein, the statements and information set forth in such documents, and the additional matters recited or assumed herein, all of which we have assumed to be true, complete, and accurate in all material respects.

With respect to all documents examined by us, we have assumed (i) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as authentic originals, (ii) the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies or forms, and (iii) the genuineness of all signatures.

For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed (i) that each of the Trust Agreements has been executed by the parties thereto in the form presented to us, (ii) that each of the Trust Agreements constitutes the entire agreement among the parties thereto with respect to the subject matter thereof, including agreements with respect to the creation, operation and termination of the Trust, and that the Trust Agreements and the Certificates are in full force and effect and have not been amended, (iii) except to the extent provided in paragraph 1 below, the due creation or due organization or due formation, as the case may be, and valid existence in good standing of each party to the documents examined by us under the laws of the jurisdiction governing that creation, organization, or formation, (iv) the legal capacity of natural persons who are parties to the documents examined by us, (v) that each of the parties to the documents examined by us has the power and authority to execute and deliver, and to perform that party’s obligations under, such documents, (vi) the due authorization, execution, and delivery by all parties thereto of all documents examined by us, (vii) the receipt by each Person to whom a Preferred Security is to be issued by a Trust (collectively, the “Preferred Security Holders”) of a Preferred Security certificate for such Preferred Security and the payment for the Preferred Security acquired by it, in accordance with the applicable Trust Agreement and the Registration Statement, and (viii) that the Preferred Securities are issued and sold to the Preferred Security Holders in accordance with the applicable Trust Agreement and the Registration Statement.  We have not participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement and assume no responsibility for its contents.

This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Delaware (other than securities laws and tax laws, and rules, regulations, orders, and decisions relating thereto), and we have not considered, and express no opinion on, the laws of any other jurisdiction, including, without limitation, federal laws, and rules, regulations, orders, and decisions relating thereto.  Our

3

opinions are rendered only with respect to Delaware laws and rules, regulations, orders, and decisions thereunder that are currently in effect.

Based upon the foregoing, and upon our examination of such questions of law and statutes of the State of Delaware as we have considered necessary or appropriate, and subject to all assumptions, qualifications, limitations, and exceptions herein set forth, we are of the opinion that:

1.Each Trust has been duly created and is validly existing in good standing as a statutory trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C. § 3801 et seq.

2.The Preferred Securities issued by each Trust will represent valid undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust that issues such Preferred Securities.

3.The Preferred Security Holders of each Trust, as beneficial owners of such Trust, will be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

We consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.  In addition, we hereby consent to the use of our name under the heading “Validity of Securities” in the Registration Statement.  In giving the foregoing consents, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of Persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.  Except as stated above, without our prior written consent, this opinion may not be furnished or quoted to, or relied upon by, any other Person for any purpose.

Sincerely,

/s/ YOUNG CONAWAY STARGATT & TAYLOR, LLP

CDG:kal

4

EX-12.1

Exhibit 12.1

CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION

COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred dividends for each of the periods indicated. The 2008 Senior Preferred was fully redeemed in 2010.

	Years Ended December 31
(In millions, except ratio amounts)	2012		2011		2010		2009		2008
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax and noncontrolling interest	$	872	$	871	$	1,112	$	538	$	(555	)
Less:
Income (loss) from equity investees	251		48		249		315		(379		)
Preferred stock dividends	—		—		117		187		29
Add:
Fixed charges	191		196		295		337		186
Distributions from equity investees	162		145		113		92		67
Income as adjusted	$	974	$	1,164	$	1,154	$	465	$	48
Fixed charges:
Interest	$	170	$	175	$	157	$	128	$	134
Portion of rents representative of the interest factor	17		17		17		17		17
Preferred stock dividends	—		—		117		187		29
Interest credited to policyholders	4		4		4		5		6
Fixed charges	$	191	$	196	$	295	$	337	$	186
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred dividends	5.1		5.9		3.9		1.4				(a)

(a)      For the year ended December 31, 2008, earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $138 million.

CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION

COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES EXCLUDING PREFERRED DIVIDENDS

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges excluding preferred dividends for each of the periods indicated.

	Years Ended December 31
(In millions, except ratio amounts)	2012		2011		2010		2009		2008
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax and noncontrolling interest	$	872	$	871	$	1,112	$	538	$	(555	)
Less:
Income (loss) from equity investees	251		48		249		315		(379		)
Add:
Fixed charges	191		196		178		150		157
Distributions from equity investees	162		145		113		92		67
Income as adjusted	$	974	$	1,164	$	1,154	$	465	$	48
Fixed charges:
Interest	$	170	$	175	$	157	$	128	$	134
Portion of rents representative of the interest factor	17		17		17		17		17
Interest credited to policyholders	4		4		4		5		6
Fixed charges	$	191	$	196	$	178	$	150	$	157
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges excluding preferred dividends	5.1		5.9		6.5		3.1				(a)

(a)           For the year ended December 31, 2008, earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $109 million.

EX-23.3

Exhibit 23.3

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated February 20, 2013, relating to the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules of CNA Financial Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”), and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2012 (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph concerning a change in accounting for costs associated with acquiring or renewing insurance contracts in 2012).

We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Chicago, Illinois

April 5, 2013

EX-25.1

EXHIBIT 25.1

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM T-1

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE
ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 305(b)(2) o

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

	95-3571558
(Jurisdiction of incorporation if not a U.S. national bank)	(I.R.S. employer identification no.)
400 South Hope Street Suite 400 Los Angeles, California (Address of principal executive offices)	90071 (Zip code)

CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	36-6169860 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
333 South Wabash Avenue Chicago, Illinois (Address of principal executive offices)	60604 (Zip code)

Senior Debt Securities(Title of the indenture securities)

1.             General information.  Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

(a)Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

Name	Address
Comptroller of the Currency United States Department of the Treasury	Washington, DC 20219
Federal Reserve Bank	San Francisco, CA 94105
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation	Washington, DC 20429

(b)Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

2.Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

16.List of Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).

1.A copy of the articles of association of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

2.A copy of certificate of authority of the trustee to commence business. (Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948).

3.A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate trust powers (Exhibit 3 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

2

4.A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-162713).

6.The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

7.A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

3

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago, and State of Illinois, on the 22nd day of March, 2013.

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
By:	/s/ Lawrence M. Kusch
Name:	Lawrence M. Kusch
Title:	Vice President

4

EXHIBIT 7

Consolidated Report of Condition of

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

of 400 South Hope Street, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90071

At the close of business December 31, 2012, published in accordance with Federal regulatory authority instructions.

		Dollar Amounts
		in Thousands
ASSETS
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin		1,455
Interest-bearing balances		1,301
Securities:
Held-to-maturity securities		0
Available-for-sale securities		660,687
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:
Federal funds sold		73,000
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		0
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases held for sale		0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income	0
LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses	0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance		0
Trading assets		0
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)		5,887
Other real estate owned		0
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies		0
Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures		0
Intangible assets:
Goodwill		856,313
Other intangible assets		159,149
Other assets		150,314
Total assets		$	1,908,106

1

LIABILITIES
Deposits:
In domestic offices		498
Noninterest-bearing	498
Interest-bearing	0
Not applicable
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
Federal funds purchased		0
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		0
Trading liabilities		0
Other borrowed money:
(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)		0
Not applicable
Not applicable
Subordinated notes and debentures		0
Other liabilities		236,096
Total liabilities		236,594
Not applicable
EQUITY CAPITAL
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus		0
Common stock		1,000
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)		1,121,520
Not available
Retained earnings		544,518
Accumulated other comprehensive income		4,474
Other equity capital components		0
Not available
Total bank equity capital		1,671,512
Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries		0
Total equity capital		1,671,512
Total liabilities and equity capital		1,908,106

I, Cherisse Waligura, CFO of the above-named bank do hereby declare that the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting schedules) for this report date have been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Cherisse Waligura ) CFO

2

We, the undersigned directors (trustees), attest to the correctness of the Report of Condition (including the supporting schedules) for this report date and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

Troy Kilpatrick, President	)
Frank P. Sulzberger, MD	)	Directors (Trustees)
William D. Lindelof, MD	)

3

EX-25.2

Exhibit 25.2

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM T-1

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE
ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 305(b)(2) o

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

	95-3571558
(Jurisdiction of incorporation if not a U.S. national bank)	(I.R.S. employer identification no.)

400 South Hope Street Suite 400 Los Angeles, California	90071
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip code)

CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

Delaware	36-6169860
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. employer identification no.)

333 South Wabash Avenue Chicago, Illinois	60604
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip code)

Subordinated Debt Securities(Title of the indenture securities)

1.             General information.  Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

(a)Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

Name	Address
Comptroller of the Currency United States Department of the Treasury	Washington, DC 20219
Federal Reserve Bank	San Francisco, CA 94105
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation	Washington, DC 20429

(b)Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

2.Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

16.List of Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).

1.A copy of the articles of association of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

2.A copy of certificate of authority of the trustee to commence business. (Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948).

3.A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate trust powers (Exhibit 3 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

2

4.A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-162713).

6.The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

7.A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

3

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago, and State of Illinois, on the 22nd day of March, 2013.

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
By:	/s/ Lawrence M. Kusch
Name:	Lawrence M. Kusch
Title:	Vice President

4

Exhibit 7

Consolidated Report of Condition of

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

of 400 South Hope Street, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90071

At the close of business December 31, 2012, published in accordance with Federal regulatory authority instructions.

		Dollar Amounts
		in Thousands
ASSETS
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin		1,455
Interest-bearing balances		1,301
Securities:
Held-to-maturity securities		0
Available-for-sale securities		660,687
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:
Federal funds sold		73,000
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		0
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases held for sale		0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income	0
LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses	0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance		0
Trading assets		0
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)		5,887
Other real estate owned		0
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies		0
Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures		0
Intangible assets:
Goodwill		856,313
Other intangible assets		159,149
Other assets		150,314
Total assets		$	1,908,106

1

LIABILITIES
Deposits:
In domestic offices	498
Noninterest-bearing	498
Interest-bearing	0
Not applicable
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
Federal funds purchased	0
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	0
Trading liabilities	0
Other borrowed money:
(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)	0
Not applicable
Not applicable
Subordinated notes and debentures	0
Other liabilities	236,096
Total liabilities	236,594
Not applicable
EQUITY CAPITAL
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus	0
Common stock	1,000
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)	1,121,520
Not available
Retained earnings	544,518
Accumulated other comprehensive income	4,474
Other equity capital components	0
Not available
Total bank equity capital	1,671,512
Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries	0
Total equity capital	1,671,512
Total liabilities and equity capital	1,908,106

I, Cherisse Waligura, CFO of the above-named bank do hereby declare that the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting schedules) for this report date have been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Cherisse Waligura ) CFO

2

We, the undersigned directors (trustees), attest to the correctness of the Report of Condition (including the supporting schedules) for this report date and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

Troy Kilpatrick, President	)
Frank P. Sulzberger, MD	)	Directors (Trustees)
William D. Lindelof, MD	)

3

EX-25.3

Exhibit 25.3

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM T-1

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE
ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 305(b)(2) o

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

(Jurisdiction of incorporation if not a U.S. national bank)	95-3571558 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
400 South Hope Street Suite 400 Los Angeles, California (Address of principal executive offices)	90071 (Zip code)

CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	36-6169860 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
333 South Wabash Avenue Chicago, Illinois (Address of principal executive offices)	60604 (Zip code)

Subordinated Junior Debt Securities
(Title of the indenture securities)

1.General information.  Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

(a)Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

Name	Address
Comptroller of the Currency United States Department of the Treasury	Washington, DC 20219
Federal Reserve Bank	San Francisco, CA 94105
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation	Washington, DC 20429

(b)Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

2.Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

16.List of Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).

1.A copy of the articles of association of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

2.A copy of certificate of authority of the trustee to commence business. (Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948).

3.A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate trust powers (Exhibit 3 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

2

4.A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-162713).

6.The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

7.A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

3

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago, and State of Illinois, on the 22nd day of March, 2013.

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
By:	/s/ Lawrence M. Kusch
Name:	Lawrence M. Kusch
Title:	Vice President

4

Exhibit 7

Consolidated Report of Condition of

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

of 400 South Hope Street, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90071

At the close of business December 31, 2012, published in accordance with Federal regulatory authority instructions.

	Dollar Amounts
	in Thousands
ASSETS
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin	1,455
Interest-bearing balances	1,301
Securities:
Held-to-maturity securities	0
Available-for-sale securities	660,687
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:
Federal funds sold	73,000
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	0
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases held for sale	0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income	0
LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses	0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance	0
Trading assets	0
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)	5,887
Other real estate owned	0
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies	0
Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures	0
Intangible assets:
Goodwill	856,313
Other intangible assets	159,149
Other assets	150,314
Total assets	$	1,908,106

1

LIABILITIES
Deposits:
In domestic offices	498
Noninterest-bearing	498
Interest-bearing	0
Not applicable
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
Federal funds purchased	0
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	0
Trading liabilities	0
Other borrowed money:
(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)	0
Not applicable
Not applicable
Subordinated notes and debentures	0
Other liabilities	236,096
Total liabilities	236,594
Not applicable
EQUITY CAPITAL
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus	0
Common stock	1,000
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)	1,121,520
Not available
Retained earnings	544,518
Accumulated other comprehensive income	4,474
Other equity capital components	0
Not available
Total bank equity capital	1,671,512
Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries	0
Total equity capital	1,671,512
Total liabilities and equity capital	1,908,106

I, Cherisse Waligura, CFO of the above-named bank do hereby declare that the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting schedules) for this report date have been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Cherisse Waligura)CFO

2

We, the undersigned directors (trustees), attest to the correctness of the Report of Condition (including the supporting schedules) for this report date and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

Troy Kilpatrick, President	)
Frank P. Sulzberger, MD	)	Directors (Trustees)
William D. Lindelof, MD	)

3

EX-25.4

Exhibit 25.4

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM T-1

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE
ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 305(b)(2) o

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

(Jurisdiction of incorporation if not a U.S. national bank)	95-3571558 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
400 South Hope Street Suite 400 Los Angeles, California (Address of principal executive offices)	90071 (Zip code)

CNA Financial Capital I

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	To be applied for (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
333 South Wabash Avenue Chicago, Illinois (Address of principal executive offices)	60604 (Zip code)

Preferred Securities(Title of the indenture securities)

1.General information.  Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

(a)Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

Name	Address
Comptroller of the Currency United States Department of the Treasury	Washington, DC 20219
Federal Reserve Bank	San Francisco, CA 94105
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation	Washington, DC 20429

(b)Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

2.Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

16.List of Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).

1.A copy of the articles of association of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

2.A copy of certificate of authority of the trustee to commence business. (Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948).

3.A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate trust powers (Exhibit 3 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

2

4.A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-162713).

6.The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

7.A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

3

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago, and State of Illinois, on the 22nd day of March, 2013.

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
By:	/s/ Lawrence M. Kusch
Name:	Lawrence M. Kusch
Title:	Vice President

4

Exhibit 7

Consolidated Report of Condition of

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

of 400 South Hope Street, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90071

At the close of business December 31, 2012, published in accordance with Federal regulatory authority instructions.

	Dollar Amounts
	in Thousands
ASSETS
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin	1,455
Interest-bearing balances	1,301
Securities:
Held-to-maturity securities	0
Available-for-sale securities	660,687
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:
Federal funds sold	73,000
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	0
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases held for sale	0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income	0
LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses	0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance	0
Trading assets	0
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)	5,887
Other real estate owned	0
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies	0
Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures	0
Intangible assets:
Goodwill	856,313
Other intangible assets	159,149
Other assets	150,314
Total assets	$	1,908,106

1

LIABILITIES
Deposits:
In domestic offices	498
Noninterest-bearing	498
Interest-bearing	0
Not applicable
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
Federal funds purchased	0
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	0
Trading liabilities	0
Other borrowed money:
(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)	0
Not applicable
Not applicable
Subordinated notes and debentures	0
Other liabilities	236,096
Total liabilities	236,594
Not applicable
EQUITY CAPITAL
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus	0
Common stock	1,000
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)	1,121,520
Not available
Retained earnings	544,518
Accumulated other comprehensive income	4,474
Other equity capital components	0
Not available
Total bank equity capital	1,671,512
Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries	0
Total equity capital	1,671,512
Total liabilities and equity capital	1,908,106

I, Cherisse Waligura, CFO of the above-named bank do hereby declare that the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting schedules) for this report date have been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Cherisse Waligura)CFO

2

We, the undersigned directors (trustees), attest to the correctness of the Report of Condition (including the supporting schedules) for this report date and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

Troy Kilpatrick, President	)
Frank P. Sulzberger, MD	)	Directors (Trustees)
William D. Lindelof, MD	)

3

EX-25.5

Exhibit 25.5

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM T-1

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE
ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 305(b)(2) o

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

(Jurisdiction of incorporation if not a U.S. national bank)	95-3571558 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
400 South Hope Street Suite 400 Los Angeles, California (Address of principal executive offices)	90071 (Zip code)

CNA Financial Capital II

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	To be applied for (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
333 South Wabash Avenue Chicago, Illinois (Address of principal executive offices)	60604 (Zip code)

Preferred Securities

(Title of the indenture securities)

1.General information.  Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

(a)Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

Name	Address
Comptroller of the Currency United States Department of the Treasury	Washington, DC 20219
Federal Reserve Bank	San Francisco, CA 94105
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation	Washington, DC 20429

(b)Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

2.Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

16.List of Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).

1.A copy of the articles of association of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

2.A copy of certificate of authority of the trustee to commence business. (Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948).

3.A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate trust powers (Exhibit 3 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

2

4.A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-162713).

6.The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

7.A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

3

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago, and State of Illinois, on the 22nd day of March, 2013.

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
By:	/s/ Lawrence M. Kusch
Name:   Lawrence M. Kusch
Title:     Vice President

4

Exhibit 7

Consolidated Report of Condition of

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

of 400 South Hope Street, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90071

At the close of business December 31, 2012, published in accordance with Federal regulatory authority instructions.

	Dollar Amounts
	in Thousands
ASSETS
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin	1,455
Interest-bearing balances	1,301
Securities:
Held-to-maturity securities	0
Available-for-sale securities	660,687
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:
Federal funds sold	73,000
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	0
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases held for sale	0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income	0
LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses	0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance	0
Trading assets	0
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)	5,887
Other real estate owned	0
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies	0
Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures	0
Intangible assets:
Goodwill	856,313
Other intangible assets	159,149
Other assets	150,314
Total assets	$	1,908,106

1

LIABILITIES
Deposits:
In domestic offices	498
Noninterest-bearing	498
Interest-bearing	0
Not applicable
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
Federal funds purchased	0
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	0
Trading liabilities	0
Other borrowed money:
(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)	0
Not applicable
Not applicable
Subordinated notes and debentures	0
Other liabilities	236,096
Total liabilities	236,594
Not applicable
EQUITY CAPITAL
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus	0
Common stock	1,000
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)	1,121,520
Not available
Retained earnings	544,518
Accumulated other comprehensive income	4,474
Other equity capital components	0
Not available
Total bank equity capital	1,671,512
Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries	0
Total equity capital	1,671,512
Total liabilities and equity capital	1,908,106

I, Cherisse Waligura, CFO of the above-named bank do hereby declare that the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting schedules) for this report date have been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Cherisse Waligura            )           CFO

2

We, the undersigned directors (trustees), attest to the correctness of the Report of Condition (including the supporting schedules) for this report date and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

Troy Kilpatrick, President	)
Frank P. Sulzberger, MD	)	Directors (Trustees)
William D. Lindelof, MD	)

3

EX-25.6

Exhibit 25.6

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM T-1

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE
ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 305(b)(2) o

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

(Jurisdiction of incorporation if not a U.S. national bank)	95-3571558 (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
400 South Hope Street Suite 400 Los Angeles, California (Address of principal executive offices)	90071 (Zip code)

CNA Financial Capital III

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	To be applied for (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
333 South Wabash Avenue Chicago, Illinois (Address of principal executive offices)	60604 (Zip code)

Preferred Securities

(Title of the indenture securities)

1.General information.  Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

(a)Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

Name	Address
Comptroller of the Currency United States Department of the Treasury	Washington, DC 20219
Federal Reserve Bank	San Francisco, CA 94105
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation	Washington, DC 20429

(b)Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

2.Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

16.List of Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).

1.A copy of the articles of association of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

2.A copy of certificate of authority of the trustee to commence business. (Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948).

3.A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate trust powers (Exhibit 3 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

2

4.A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-162713).

6.The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

7.A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

3

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago, and State of Illinois, on the 22nd day of March, 2013.

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
By:	/s/ Lawrence M. Kusch
Name:   Lawrence M. Kusch
Title:     Vice President

4

Exhibit 7

Consolidated Report of Condition of

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

of 400 South Hope Street, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90071

At the close of business December 31, 2012, published in accordance with Federal regulatory authority instructions.

	Dollar Amounts
	in Thousands
ASSETS
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin	1,455
Interest-bearing balances	1,301
Securities:
Held-to-maturity securities	0
Available-for-sale securities	660,687
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:
Federal funds sold	73,000
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	0
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases held for sale	0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income	0
LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses	0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance	0
Trading assets	0
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)	5,887
Other real estate owned	0
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies	0
Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures	0
Intangible assets:
Goodwill	856,313
Other intangible assets	159,149
Other assets	150,314
Total assets	$	1,908,106

1

LIABILITIES
Deposits:
In domestic offices	498
Noninterest-bearing	498
Interest-bearing	0
Not applicable
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
Federal funds purchased	0
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	0
Trading liabilities	0
Other borrowed money:
(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)	0
Not applicable
Not applicable
Subordinated notes and debentures	0
Other liabilities	236,096
Total liabilities	236,594
Not applicable
EQUITY CAPITAL
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus	0
Common stock	1,000
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)	1,121,520
Not available
Retained earnings	544,518
Accumulated other comprehensive income	4,474
Other equity capital components	0
Not available
Total bank equity capital	1,671,512
Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries	0
Total equity capital	1,671,512
Total liabilities and equity capital	1,908,106

I, Cherisse Waligura, CFO of the above-named bank do hereby declare that the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting schedules) for this report date have been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Cherisse Waligura         )            CFO

2

We, the undersigned directors (trustees), attest to the correctness of the Report of Condition (including the supporting schedules) for this report date and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

Troy Kilpatrick, President	)
Frank P. Sulzberger, MD	)	Directors (Trustees)
William D. Lindelof, MD	)

3

EX-25.7

Exhibit 25.7

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM T-1

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE
ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 305(b)(2) o

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

	95-3571558
(Jurisdiction of incorporation if not a U.S. national bank)	(I.R.S. employer identification no.)

400 South Hope Street Suite 400 Los Angeles, California	90071
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip code)

CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

Delaware	36-6169860
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. employer identification no.)

333 South Wabash Avenue Chicago, Illinois	60604
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip code)

Guarantee of Preferred Securities of CNA Financial Capital I

(Title of the indenture securities)

1.General information.  Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

(a)Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

Name	Address
Comptroller of the Currency United States Department of the Treasury	Washington, DC 20219
Federal Reserve Bank	San Francisco, CA 94105
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation	Washington, DC 20429

(b)Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

2.Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

16.List of Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).

1.A copy of the articles of association of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

2.A copy of certificate of authority of the trustee to commence business. (Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948).

3.A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate trust powers (Exhibit 3 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

2

4.A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-162713).

6.The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

7.A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

3

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago, and State of Illinois, on the 22nd day of March, 2013.

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
By:	/s/ Lawrence M. Kusch
Name:	Lawrence M. Kusch
Title:	Vice President

4

Exhibit 7

Consolidated Report of Condition of

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

of 400 South Hope Street, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90071

At the close of business December 31, 2012, published in accordance with Federal regulatory authority instructions.

	Dollar Amounts
	in Thousands
ASSETS
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin	1,455
Interest-bearing balances	1,301
Securities:
Held-to-maturity securities	0
Available-for-sale securities	660,687
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:
Federal funds sold	73,000
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	0
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases held for sale	0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income	0
LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses	0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance	0
Trading assets	0
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)	5,887
Other real estate owned	0
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies	0
Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures	0
Intangible assets:
Goodwill	856,313
Other intangible assets	159,149
Other assets	150,314
Total assets	$	1,908,106

1

LIABILITIES
Deposits:
In domestic offices	498
Noninterest-bearing	498
Interest-bearing	0
Not applicable
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
Federal funds purchased	0
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	0
Trading liabilities	0
Other borrowed money:
(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)	0
Not applicable
Not applicable
Subordinated notes and debentures	0
Other liabilities	236,096
Total liabilities	236,594
Not applicable
EQUITY CAPITAL
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus	0
Common stock	1,000
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)	1,121,520
Not available
Retained earnings	544,518
Accumulated other comprehensive income	4,474
Other equity capital components	0
Not available
Total bank equity capital	1,671,512
Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries	0
Total equity capital	1,671,512
Total liabilities and equity capital	1,908,106

I, Cherisse Waligura, CFO of the above-named bank do hereby declare that the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting schedules) for this report date have been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Cherisse Waligura)CFO

2

We, the undersigned directors (trustees), attest to the correctness of the Report of Condition (including the supporting schedules) for this report date and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

Troy Kilpatrick, President	)
Frank P. Sulzberger, MD	)	Directors (Trustees)
William D. Lindelof, MD	)

3

EX-25.8

Exhibit 25.8

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM T-1

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE
ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 305(b)(2) o

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

	95-3571558
(Jurisdiction of incorporation if not a U.S. national bank)	(I.R.S. employer identification no.)
400 South Hope Street Suite 400 Los Angeles, California	90071
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip code)

CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

Delaware	36-6169860
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. employer identification no.)
333 South Wabash Avenue Chicago, Illinois	60604
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip code)

Guarantee of Preferred Securities of CNA Financial Capital II

(Title of the indenture securities)

1.             General information.  Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

(a)Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

Name	Address
Comptroller of the Currency United States Department of the Treasury	Washington, DC 20219
Federal Reserve Bank	San Francisco, CA 94105
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation	Washington, DC 20429

(b)Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

2.Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

16.List of Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).

1.A copy of the articles of association of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

2.A copy of certificate of authority of the trustee to commence business. (Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948).

3.A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate trust powers (Exhibit 3 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

2

4.A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-162713).

6.The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

7.A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

3

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago, and State of Illinois, on the 22nd day of March, 2013.

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
By:	/s/ Lawrence M. Kusch
Name:	Lawrence M. Kusch
Title:	Vice President

4

Exhibit 7

Consolidated Report of Condition of

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

of 400 South Hope Street, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90071

At the close of business December 31, 2012, published in accordance with Federal regulatory authority instructions.

	Dollar Amounts
	in Thousands
ASSETS
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin	1,455
Interest-bearing balances	1,301
Securities:
Held-to-maturity securities	0
Available-for-sale securities	660,687
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:
Federal funds sold	73,000
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	0
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases held for sale	0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income	0
LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses	0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance	0
Trading assets	0
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)	5,887
Other real estate owned	0
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies	0
Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures	0
Intangible assets:
Goodwill	856,313
Other intangible assets	159,149
Other assets	150,314
Total assets	$	1,908,106

1

LIABILITIES
Deposits:
In domestic offices	498
Noninterest-bearing	498
Interest-bearing	0
Not applicable
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
Federal funds purchased	0
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	0
Trading liabilities	0
Other borrowed money:
(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)	0
Not applicable
Not applicable
Subordinated notes and debentures	0
Other liabilities	236,096
Total liabilities	236,594
Not applicable
EQUITY CAPITAL
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus	0
Common stock	1,000
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)	1,121,520
Not available
Retained earnings	544,518
Accumulated other comprehensive income	4,474
Other equity capital components	0
Not available
Total bank equity capital	1,671,512
Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries	0
Total equity capital	1,671,512
Total liabilities and equity capital	1,908,106

I, Cherisse Waligura, CFO of the above-named bank do hereby declare that the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting schedules) for this report date have been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Cherisse Waligura                )               CFO

2

We, the undersigned directors (trustees), attest to the correctness of the Report of Condition (including the supporting schedules) for this report date and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

Troy Kilpatrick, President	)
Frank P. Sulzberger, MD	)	Directors (Trustees)
William D. Lindelof, MD	)

3

EX-25.9

Exhibit 25.9

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM T-1

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE
ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 305(b)(2) o

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

	95-3571558
(Jurisdiction of incorporation if not a U.S. national bank)	(I.R.S. employer identification no.)
400 South Hope Street Suite 400 Los Angeles, California	90071
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip code)

CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

Delaware	36-6169860
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. employer identification no.)
333 South Wabash Avenue Chicago, Illinois	60604
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip code)

Guarantee of Preferred Securities of CNA Financial Capital III(Title of the indenture securities)

1.General information.  Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

(a)Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

Name	Address
Comptroller of the Currency United States Department of the Treasury	Washington, DC 20219
Federal Reserve Bank	San Francisco, CA 94105
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation	Washington, DC 20429

(b)Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

2.Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

16.List of Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).

1.A copy of the articles of association of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

2.A copy of certificate of authority of the trustee to commence business. (Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948).

3.A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate trust powers (Exhibit 3 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

2

4.A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-162713).

6.The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

7.A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

3

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago, and State of Illinois, on the 22nd day of March, 2013.

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
By:	/s/ Lawrence M. Kusch
Name:	Lawrence M. Kusch
Title:	Vice President

4

Exhibit 7

Consolidated Report of Condition of

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

of 400 South Hope Street, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90071

At the close of business December 31, 2012, published in accordance with Federal regulatory authority instructions.

	Dollar Amounts
	in Thousands
ASSETS
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin	1,455
Interest-bearing balances	1,301
Securities:
Held-to-maturity securities	0
Available-for-sale securities	660,687
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:
Federal funds sold	73,000
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	0
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases held for sale	0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income	0
LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses	0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance	0
Trading assets	0
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)	5,887
Other real estate owned	0
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies	0
Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures	0
Intangible assets:
Goodwill	856,313
Other intangible assets	159,149
Other assets	150,314
Total assets	$	1,908,106

1

LIABILITIES
Deposits:
In domestic offices	498
Noninterest-bearing	498
Interest-bearing	0
Not applicable
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
Federal funds purchased	0
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	0
Trading liabilities	0
Other borrowed money:
(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)	0
Not applicable
Not applicable
Subordinated notes and debentures	0
Other liabilities	236,096
Total liabilities	236,594
Not applicable
EQUITY CAPITAL
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus	0
Common stock	1,000
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)	1,121,520
Not available
Retained earnings	544,518
Accumulated other comprehensive income	4,474
Other equity capital components	0
Not available
Total bank equity capital	1,671,512
Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries	0
Total equity capital	1,671,512
Total liabilities and equity capital	1,908,106

I, Cherisse Waligura, CFO of the above-named bank do hereby declare that the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting schedules) for this report date have been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Cherisse Waligura                )               CFO

2

We, the undersigned directors (trustees), attest to the correctness of the Report of Condition (including the supporting schedules) for this report date and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

Troy Kilpatrick, President	)
Frank P. Sulzberger, MD	)	Directors (Trustees)
William D. Lindelof, MD	)

3