DIVIDENDS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Dividends Disclosure [Text Block]

21. Dividends

          In 2011, four quarterly dividends of $0.11 per share were paid to all ordinary shareholders of record as of March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. In 2010, four quarterly dividends of $0.10 per share were paid to all ordinary shareholders of record as of March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. In 2009, four quarterly dividends of $0.10 per share were paid to all ordinary shareholders of record as of March 13, June 15, September 15 and December 15.

          The Company paid dividends to Series C and Series E preference shareholders, and declared dividends to Series D preference shareholders, for the three years ended December 31, as follows:

Year Ended December 31
(U.S. dollars in millions)	2011		2010		2009
Series C preference ordinary shares	$	5.3	$	7.9	$	23.2
Series D preference ordinary shares (1)	$	—	$	—	$	—
Series E preference ordinary shares	$	66.2	$	69.9	$	65.0

(1) On December 16, 2011, the Company announced that the Board of Directors of XL-Cayman resolved to pay a dividend of $9.1084 per share on XL-Cayman’s Series D Preference Ordinary Shares. The dividend was paid on January 17, 2012 to all shareholders of record as of January 3, 2012.