EX-99.A 3 c31473_ex99-a.txt EXHIBIT 99(a) [XL CAPITAL LOGO OMITTED] XL CAPITAL LTD XL House One Bermudiana Road P. O. Box HM 2245 Hamilton HM JX Bermuda Phone: (441) 292-8515 Fax: (441) 292-5280 NEWS RELEASE Contact: Gavin R. Arton Roger R. Scotton Investor Relations Media Contact (441) 294-7104 (441) 294-7165 XL CAPITAL LTD ANNOUNCES PLAN TO OFFER EQUITY SECURITY UNITS HAMILTON, BERMUDA, March 16, 2004 -- XL Capital Ltd ("XL" or the "Company") (NYSE: XL) announced today that it currently plans to raise approximately $750,000,000 in capital from an offering of equity security units consisting of (i) forward purchase contracts to purchase, and XL to issue, its ordinary shares and (ii) debt securities, pursuant to XL's currently effective shelf registration statement. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the equity security units for general corporate purposes. As part of the transaction, XL expects to offer approximately 30 million equity security units with a stated amount of $25 per unit. XL expects to grant the underwriters an over-allotment option to purchase up to approximately 3 million additional equity security units at the offering price. The underwriters for XL's equity security unit offering are Goldman, Sachs & Co., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. Full details of the offering, including a description of the equity security units and certain risk factors related to the equity security units, are contained in a prospectus supplement dated today and available through the underwriters. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the equity security units or any other securities, nor will there be any sale of the equity security units or any other securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is not permitted. XL Capital Ltd, through its operating subsidiaries, is a leading provider of insurance and reinsurance coverages and financial products and services to industrial, commercial and professional service firms, insurance companies, and other enterprises on a worldwide basis. As of December 31, 2003, XL Capital Ltd had consolidated assets of approximately $40.8 billion and consolidated shareholders' equity of approximately $6.9 billion. More information about XL Capital Ltd is available at www.xlcapital.com.