-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CQAc7AHgnyGXHsFOwhz071aPTBjSha9oBsLL40xsQyBX+A2LoATBz2SiBw68mCOy
 t/oMgT4KlCUDF0tFN1uadA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-001130.txt : 20040106
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-001130.hdr.sgml : 20040106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040106110808
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-001130
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031223
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040106

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ACE LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000896159
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			D0
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ACE BLDG
		STREET 2:		30 WOODBOURNE AVE
		CITY:			HAMILTON HM 08 BERMU
		STATE:			D0
		ZIP:			00000
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8092955200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX HM 1015
		CITY:			HAMITON BERMUDA
		STATE:			D0
		ZIP:			00000

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FREDERICO DOMINIC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001072524

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11778
		FILM NUMBER:		04508207

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ACE LTD
		STREET 2:		ACE BLDG 30 WOODBOURNE AVE HAMILTON BER
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4412955200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ACE LTD
		STREET 2:		ACE BLDG 30 WOODBOURNE AVE HAMILTON BER
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd27990.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-23</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000896159</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ACE LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ACE</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001072524</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FREDERICO DOMINIC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THE ACE BUILDING, 17 WOODBOURNE AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HAMILTON, BERMUDA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>D0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>HM 08</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Vice Chairman ACE Limited</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Ordinary Shares</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-23</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>252121.178</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></own
ershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><ownerSignature><signatureName>Signed for Dominic Frederico by Keith White pursuant to a power of attorney on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-06</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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