-----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, UNTuKLnbQd2bPrmNBuUGh9JsmsUouRpn5EomQIC6sB3ak7AaqQjMW2ZuYi+lIzpf c64sHooOw7bwk6r7gtBYiw== 0001193125-08-171282.txt : 20080808 0001193125-08-171282.hdr.sgml : 20080808 20080808103644 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-08-171282 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20080630 FILED AS OF DATE: 20080808 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20080808 FILER: 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 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-11778 FILM NUMBER: 081000864 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 10-Q 1 d10q.htm FORM 10-Q Form 10-Q

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 2008

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Transition Period from             to             

Commission File No. 1-11778   I.R.S. Employer Identification No. 98-0091805

 

 

ACE LIMITED

(Incorporated in Switzerland)

 

 

Mainaustrasse 30

Zurich CH-8008, Switzerland

Telephone +41 (0)43 456 76 00

(Address of principal executive offices)

17 Woodbourne Avenue

Hamilton HM 08

Bermuda

Telephone 441-295-5200

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year if changed since last report)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

                                                         YES  x                                                 NO  ¨

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 definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer

  x        Accelerated filer   ¨  

Non-accelerated filer

  ¨     (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)   

Smaller reporting company

  ¨  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

                                                         YES  ¨                                                 NO  x

The number of registrant’s Common Shares (CHF 33.74 par value) outstanding as of August 4, 2008, was 333,244,235.

 

 

 


ACE LIMITED

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

 

     

Page No.

Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

Item 1.

   Financial Statements:   
  

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

June 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007

   3
  

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)

Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007

   4
  

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity (Unaudited)

Six Months Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007

   5
  

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

Six Months Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007

   6
   Notes to the Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)   
   Note 1.    General    7
   Note 2.    Significant accounting policies    7
   Note 3.    Acquisition    10
   Note 4.    Fair value measurements    11
   Note 5.    Investments    15
   Note 6.    Goodwill and other intangible assets    16
   Note 7.    Debt    17
   Note 8.    Commitments, contingencies, and guarantees    18
   Note 9.    Preferred Shares    22
   Note 10.    Share-based compensation    23
   Note 11.    Segment information    23
   Note 12.    Earnings per share    28
   Note 13.    Information provided in connection with outstanding debt of subsidiaries    28
   Note 14.    Subsequent events    35

Item 2.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations

   36

Item 3.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk    75

Item 4.

   Controls and Procedures    75

Part II. OTHER INFORMATION

  

Item 1.

   Legal Proceedings    76

Item 1A.

   Risk Factors    76

Item 2.

   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    84

Item 4.

   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    84

Item 5.

   Other Information    86

Item 6.

   Exhibits    86

 

2


ACE LIMITED

PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

     June 30
2008
    December 31
2007
 
     (in millions of U.S. dollars,
except share and per share data)
 

Assets

    

Investments

    

Fixed maturities available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost – $35,355 and $32,994) (includes hybrid financial instruments of $279 and $282)

   $ 34,870     $ 33,184  

Fixed maturities held to maturity, at amortized cost (fair value – $2,932 and $3,015)

     2,932       2,987  

Equity securities, at fair value (cost – $1,502 and $1,618)

     1,490       1,837  

Short-term investments, at fair value and amortized cost

     3,137       2,631  

Other investments (cost – $1,182 and $880)

     1,414       1,140  
                

Total investments

     43,843       41,779  

Cash

     582       510  

Securities lending collateral

     2,118       2,109  

Accrued investment income

     449       416  

Insurance and reinsurance balances receivable

     4,086       3,540  

Reinsurance recoverable on losses and loss expenses

     13,839       14,354  

Reinsurance recoverable on future policy benefits

     303       8  

Deferred policy acquisition costs

     1,292       1,121  

Value of business acquired

     1,288       —    

Prepaid reinsurance premiums

     1,964       1,600  

Goodwill and other intangible assets

     3,612       2,838  

Deferred tax assets

     1,029       1,087  

Investments in partially-owned insurance companies (cost – $799 and $686)

     900       773  

Other assets

     2,471       1,955  
                

Total assets

   $ 77,776     $ 72,090  
                

Liabilities

    

Unpaid losses and loss expenses

   $ 37,696     $ 37,112  

Unearned premiums

     7,054       6,227  

Future policy benefits

     2,948       545  

Insurance and reinsurance balances payable

     2,991       2,843  

Deposit liabilities

     354       351  

Securities lending payable

     2,118       2,109  

Payable for securities purchased

     1,802       1,798  

Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities

     2,091       1,825  

Income taxes payable

     28       111  

Short-term debt

     1,050       372  

Long-term debt

     3,008       1,811  

Trust preferred securities

     309       309  
                

Total liabilities

     61,449       55,413  
                

Commitments and contingencies

    

Shareholders’ equity

    

Preferred Shares ($1.00 par value, Nil and 2,300,000 shares authorized, issued, and outstanding)

     —         2  

Common Shares (CHF 33.74 and $0.041666667 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized; 333,249,308 and 329,704,531 shares issued and outstanding)

     10,934       14  

Additional paid-in capital

     5,447       6,812  

Retained earnings

     —         9,080  

Deferred compensation obligation

     3       3  

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

     (54 )     769  

Common Shares issued to employee trust

     (3 )     (3 )
                

Total shareholders’ equity

     16,327       16,677  
                

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 77,776     $ 72,090  
                

See accompanying notes to the interim consolidated financial statements

 

3


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30
    Six Months Ended
June 30
 
     2008     2007     2008     2007  
     (in millions of U.S. dollars, except per share
data)
 

Revenues

        

Gross premiums written

   $ 5,293     $ 4,637     $ 9,702     $ 9,133  

Reinsurance premiums ceded

     (1,695 )     (1,555 )     (2,950 )     (2,781 )
                                

Net premiums written

     3,598       3,082       6,752       6,352  

Change in unearned premiums

     (170 )     (74 )     (384 )     (262 )
                                

Net premiums earned

     3,428       3,008       6,368       6,090  

Net investment income

     532       471       1,021       922  

Net realized gains (losses)

     (126 )     (11 )     (479 )     5  
                                

Total revenues

     3,834       3,468       6,910       7,017  
                                

Expenses

        

Losses and loss expenses

     1,895       1,793       3,474       3,653  

Future policy benefits

     89       33       152       69  

Policy acquisition costs

     569       434       1,037       851  

Administrative expenses

     461       356       836       712  

Interest expense

     62       42       108       88  

Other (income) expense

     (125 )     (4 )     (110 )     —    
                                

Total expenses

     2,951       2,654       5,497       5,373  
                                

Income before income tax

     883       814       1,413       1,644  

Income tax expense

     137       165       290       294  
                                

Net income

   $ 746     $ 649     $ 1,123     $ 1,350  
                                

Other comprehensive income (loss)

        

Unrealized depreciation arising during the period

     (731 )     (427 )     (1,228 )     (354 )

Reclassification adjustment for net realized (gains) losses included in net income

     169       12       342       15  
                                
     (562 )     (415 )     (886 )     (339 )

Change in:

        

Cumulative translation adjustments

     6       19       33       35  

Pension liability

     1       (2 )     1       (2 )
                                

Other comprehensive loss, before income tax

     (555 )     (398 )     (852 )     (306 )

Income tax benefit related to other comprehensive income items

     27       23       35       5  
                                

Other comprehensive loss

     (528 )     (375 )     (817 )     (301 )
                                

Comprehensive income

   $ 218     $ 274     $ 306     $ 1,049  
                                

Basic earnings per share

   $ 2.23     $ 1.96     $ 3.35     $ 4.09  
                                

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 2.20     $ 1.93     $ 3.31     $ 4.02  
                                

See accompanying notes to the interim consolidated financial statements

 

4


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

For the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007

(Unaudited)

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30
 
         2008             2007      
     (in millions of U.S. dollars)  

Preferred Shares

    

Balance – beginning of period

   $ 2     $ 2  

Preferred Shares redeemed

     (2 )     —    
                

Balance – end of period

     —         2  
                

Common Shares

    

Balance – beginning of period

     14       14  

Common Shares stock dividend

     10,920       —    
                

Balance – end of period

     10,934       14  
                

Additional paid-in capital

    

Balance – beginning of period

     6,812       6,640  

Preferred Shares redeemed

     (573 )     —    

Net shares redeemed under employee share-based compensation plans

     (13 )     (19 )

Exercise of stock options

     80       42  

Share-based compensation expense

     66       49  

Common Shares stock dividend

     (925 )     —    
                

Balance – end of period

     5,447       6,712  
                

Retained earnings

    

Balance – beginning of period

     9,080       6,906  

Effect of partial adoption of FAS 157

     (4 )     —    

Effect of adoption of FAS 159

     6       —    

Effect of adoption of FIN 48

     —         (22 )

Effect of adoption of FAS 155

     —         12  
                

Balance – beginning of period, adjusted for effect of adoption of new accounting principles

     9,082       6,896  

Net income

     1,123       1,350  

Dividends declared on Common Shares

     (186 )     (171 )

Dividends declared on Preferred Shares

     (24 )     (22 )

Common Shares stock dividend

     (9,995 )     —    
                

Balance – end of period

     —         8,053  
                

Deferred compensation obligation

    

Balance – beginning and end of period

     3       4  
                

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

    

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

    

Balance – beginning of period

     596       607  

Effect of adoption of FAS 159

     (6 )     —    

Effect of adoption of FAS 155

     —         (12 )
                

Balance – beginning of period, adjusted for effect of adoption of new accounting principles

     590       595  

Change in period, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $52 and $20

     (834 )     (319 )
                

Balance – end of period

     (244 )     276  
                

Cumulative translation adjustment

    

Balance – beginning of period

     231       165  

Change in period, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(17) and $(16)

     16       19  
                

Balance – end of period

     247       184  
                

Pension liability adjustment

    

Balance – beginning of period

     (58 )     (56 )

Change in period, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $nil and $1

     1       (1 )
                

Balance – end of period

     (57 )     (57 )
                

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

     (54 )     403  
                

Common Shares issued to employee trust

    

Balance – beginning and end of period

     (3 )     (4 )
                

Total shareholders’ equity

   $ 16,327     $ 15,184  
                

See accompanying notes to the interim consolidated financial statements

 

5


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

For the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007

(Unaudited)

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30
 
     2008     2007  
     (in millions of U.S. dollars)  

Cash flows from operating activities

    

Net income

   $ 1,123     $ 1,350  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net realized (gains) losses

     479       (5 )

Amortization of premium/discount on fixed maturities

     5       (6 )

Deferred income taxes

     12       16  

Unpaid losses and loss expenses

     (6 )     425  

Unearned premiums

     671       518  

Future policy benefits

     52       3  

Insurance and reinsurance balances payable

     55       232  

Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities

     74       (164 )

Income taxes payable

     (42 )     (15 )

Insurance and reinsurance balances receivable

     (472 )     (323 )

Reinsurance recoverable on losses and loss expenses

     641       548  

Reinsurance recoverable on future policy benefits

     (24 )     —    

Deferred policy acquisition costs

     (158 )     (69 )

Prepaid reinsurance premiums

     (297 )     (258 )

Other

     (31 )     142  
                

Net cash flows from operating activities

     2,082       2,394  
                

Cash flows used for investing activities

    

Purchases of fixed maturities available for sale

     (23,339 )     (22,735 )

Purchases of fixed maturities held to maturity

     (216 )     (210 )

Purchases of equity securities

     (588 )     (419 )

Sales of fixed maturities available for sale

     21,326       18,959  

Sales of equity securities

     724       361  

Maturities and redemptions of fixed maturities available for sale

     1,628       1,709  

Maturities and redemptions of fixed maturities held to maturity

     262       235  

Net proceeds from (payments made on) the settlement of investment derivatives

     (22 )     (19 )

Acquisition of subsidiary (net of cash acquired of $19)

     (2,557 )     —    

Other

     (422 )     (83 )
                

Net cash flows used for investing activities

     (3,204 )     (2,202 )
                

Cash flows from (used for) financing activities

    

Dividends paid on Common Shares

     (178 )     (163 )

Dividends paid on Preferred Shares

     (24 )     (22 )

Net proceeds from (repayment of) short-term debt

     670       (500 )

Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

     1,195       500  

Redemption of Preferred Shares

     (575 )     —    

Proceeds from exercise of options for Common Shares

     80       42  

Proceeds from Common Shares issued under ESPP

     10       4  
                

Net cash flows from (used for) financing activities

     1,178       (139 )
                

Effect of foreign currency rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     16       3  
                

Net increase in cash

     72       56  

Cash – beginning of period

     510       565  
                

Cash – end of period

   $ 582     $ 621  
                

See accompanying notes to the interim consolidated financial statements

 

6


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1. General

ACE Limited (ACE or the Company) is a holding company which, until July 18, 2008, was incorporated with limited liability under the Cayman Islands Companies Law. On March 19, 2008, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved a proposal to move the Company’s jurisdiction of incorporation from the Cayman Islands to Zurich, Switzerland (the Continuation). On July 10, 2008, and July 14, 2008, during ACE’s annual general meeting, the Company’s shareholders approved the Continuation and ACE became a Swiss company effective July 18, 2008. Refer to Note 14.

On April 1, 2008, the Company completed the acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of Combined Insurance Company of America (Combined Insurance) and certain of its subsidiaries from AON Corporation (AON) for $2.56 billion in cash. Combined Insurance is a leading underwriter and distributor of specialty individual accident and supplemental health insurance products that are targeted to middle income consumers in the U.S., Europe, Canada, and Asia Pacific. The acquisition has been recorded using the purchase method of accounting and, accordingly, the interim consolidated financial statements include the results of Combined Insurance from April 1, 2008. Approximately $723 million of goodwill and other intangible assets was generated as a result of the acquisition based on ACE’s preliminary purchase price allocation. Refer to Note 3.

The Company, through its various subsidiaries, provides a broad range of insurance and reinsurance products to insureds worldwide. ACE operates through the following business segments: Insurance – North American, Insurance – Overseas General, Global Reinsurance, and Life Insurance and Reinsurance. Refer to Note 11.

The interim unaudited consolidated financial statements, which include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments (consisting of normally recurring accruals) necessary for a fair statement of the results and financial position for such periods. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Certain items in the prior year financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. The results of operations and cash flows for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements, and related notes thereto, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

2. Significant accounting policies

New accounting pronouncements

Adopted in the six months ended June 30, 2008

Fair value measurements

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (FAS 157). FAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. FAS 157 focuses on how to measure fair value and establishes a three-level hierarchy for both measurement and disclosure purposes. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable data. Under FAS 157, fair value measurements are separately disclosed by level within the fair value hierarchy. FAS 157 does not expand the use of fair value measurement to any new circumstances. The Company adopted FAS 157, in part, as of January 1, 2008, and the cumulative effect of adoption resulted in a reduction to retained earnings of $4 million related to an increase in risk margins included in the valuation of certain guaranteed minimum income benefits (GMIB) contracts. For additional information regarding the partial adoption of FAS 157, refer to Note 4.

 

7


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Fair value option for financial assets and financial liabilities

In February 2007, the FASB issued FAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (FAS 159). FAS 159 permits an entity to irrevocably elect fair value on a contract-by-contract basis as the initial and subsequent measurement attribute for many financial assets and liabilities and certain other items including insurance contracts. FAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. Effective January 1, 2008, the Company elected the fair value option for certain of its available for sale equity securities. The Company elected the fair value option for these particular equity securities to simplify the accounting and oversight of this portfolio given the portfolio management strategy employed by the external investment manager. Since the equity securities were previously carried at fair market value, the election did not have an effect on shareholders’ equity. However, the election resulted in an increase to retained earnings and a reduction to accumulated other comprehensive income of $6 million ($9 million pre-tax) as of January 1, 2008. Subsequent to this election, changes in fair value related to these equity securities were recognized in Net realized gains (losses) in the consolidated statement of operations. For additional information regarding the adoption of FAS 159, refer to Note 4.

Income tax benefits of dividends on share-based payment awards

In October 2006, the FASB issued Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 06-11, Accounting for Income Tax Benefits of Dividends on Share-Based Payment Awards (EITF 06-11). EITF 06-11 provides guidance on the treatment of realized income tax benefits arising from dividend payments to employees holding equity shares, non-vested equity share units, and outstanding equity share options. EITF 06-11 is applied prospectively to the income tax benefits of dividends on equity-classified employee share-based payment awards that are declared in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007. The adoption of EITF 06-11 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

To be adopted after June 30, 2008

Business combinations

In December 2007, the FASB issued FAS No. 141 (Revised), Business Combinations (FAS 141R). FAS 141R establishes standards that provide a definition of the “acquirer” and broaden the application of the acquisition method. FAS 141R also establishes how an acquirer recognizes and measures the assets, liabilities, and any noncontrolling interest in the “acquiree”; recognizes and measures goodwill or a gain from a bargain purchase; and requires disclosures that enable users to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. FAS 141R shall be applied prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The Company does not expect the adoption of FAS 141R to have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

Noncontrolling interests

In December 2007, the FASB issued FAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an Amendment of ARB No. 51 (FAS 160). FAS 160 establishes accounting and reporting standards that require that ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent be presented in the consolidated statement of shareholders’ equity separately from the parent’s equity; the consolidated net income attributable to the parent and noncontrolling interest be presented on the face of the consolidated statements of operations; changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains controlling financial interest in its subsidiary be accounted for consistently; and sufficient disclosure that identifies and distinguishes between the

 

8


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

interests of the parent and noncontrolling owners. FAS 160 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The Company does not expect the adoption of FAS 160 to have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

Disclosures about derivative instruments and hedging activities

In March 2008, the FASB issued FAS No. 161, Disclosures About Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (FAS 161). FAS 161 establishes reporting standards that require enhanced disclosures about how and why derivative instruments are used, how derivative instruments are accounted for under FAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, and how derivative instruments affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. FAS 161 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after November 15, 2008.

Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets

In April 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) No. FAS 142-3, Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets (FSP FAS 142-3). FSP FAS 142-3 amends the factors considered in developing assumptions used to determine the useful life of an intangible asset under FAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (FAS 142). The intent of FSP FAS 142-3 is to improve the consistency between the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under FAS 142 and the period of expected cash flows used to measure the fair value of the asset under FAS 141R and other applicable accounting literature. FSP FAS 142-3 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and must be applied prospectively to intangible assets acquired after the effective date. The Company does not expect the adoption of FSP FAS 142-3 to have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

In May 2008, the FASB issued FAS No. 162, The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (FAS 162). FAS 162 identifies the sources of accounting principles and the framework for selecting the principles to be used in the preparation of financial statements of nongovernmental entities that are presented in conformity with GAAP. FAS 162 is effective 60 days following the SEC’s approval of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board amendments to AU Section 411, The Meaning of Present Fairly in Conformity With Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The Company does not expect the adoption of FAS 162 to have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts

In May 2008, the FASB issued FAS No. 163, Accounting for Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts – An interpretation of FASB Statement No. 60 (FAS 163). FAS 163 requires that an insurance enterprise recognize a claim liability prior to an event of default when there is evidence that credit deterioration has occurred in an insured financial obligation. It also clarifies how FAS No. 60, Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises, applies to financial guarantee insurance contracts, including the recognition and measurement to be used to account for premium revenue and claim liabilities, and requires expanded disclosures about financial guarantee insurance contracts. FAS 163 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, except for some disclosures about the insurance enterprise’s risk management activities. FAS 163 requires that disclosures about the risk management activities of the insurance enterprise be effective for the first period beginning after issuance. Except for those disclosures, earlier application is not permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of FAS 163 to have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

9


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

3. Acquisition

On December 14, 2007, ACE entered into a stock purchase agreement with AON, pursuant to which ACE agreed to purchase all outstanding shares of capital stock of Combined Insurance and certain Combined Insurance subsidiaries. Combined Insurance is a leading underwriter and distributor of specialty individual accident and supplemental health insurance products targeted to middle income consumers in the U.S., Europe, Canada, and Asia Pacific. On April 1, 2008, ACE acquired all outstanding shares of Combined Insurance and certain of its subsidiaries from AON for $2.56 billion. This acquisition has diversified the Company’s A&H distribution capabilities by adding thousands of agents, while almost doubling the A&H franchise. ACE believes this will provide significant long-term growth opportunities.

ACE recorded the acquisition using the purchase method of accounting. The interim consolidated financial statements include the results of Combined Insurance from April 1, 2008. The most significant intangible asset is the value of business acquired (VOBA). VOBA represents the fair value of the future profits of the in-force long duration contracts and is amortized in relation to the profit emergence of the underlying contracts, in a manner similar to deferred acquisition costs, over a period of approximately twenty years. The VOBA calculation is based on many factors including mortality, morbidity, persistency, investment yields, expenses, and the discount rate with the discount rate being the most significant factor. The acquisition also generated $723 million of goodwill and other intangible assets (most, if not all, of which is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes) based on ACE’s preliminary purchase price allocation, which was apportioned to the Life Insurance and Reinsurance and Insurance – Overseas General segments in the amounts of $448 million and $275 million, respectively. The allocation of goodwill and other intangible assets to segments is preliminary and subject to change. Refer to Note 6. ACE financed the transaction through a combination of available cash ($811 million), reverse repurchase agreements ($1 billion), and new private and public long-term debt ($750 million). Refer to Note 7.

The following table summarizes ACE’s best estimate of fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed from Combined Insurance at April 1, 2008. Upon the adoption of FAS 157, ACE elected to defer the fair value guidance applicable to valuing nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities that are not recognized or disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis. Accordingly, FAS 157 was not used to determine the fair values of the nonfinancial assets acquired and the nonfinancial liabilities assumed in this business combination. ACE expects to make further adjustments to its purchase price allocation during the quarter ending September 30, 2008. Preliminary estimates of intangible assets, tax-related items (classified below in other assets and liabilities), and the change in Combined Insurance’s net worth that occurred between the signing and closing of the transaction may change with offsetting changes to goodwill. ACE does not expect changes, if any, to materially affect its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

10


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Condensed Balance Sheet of Combined Insurance at April 1, 2008

(in millions of U.S. dollars)

 

Assets

  

Investments and cash

   $ 3,000

Insurance and reinsurance balances receivable

     20

Reinsurance recoverable on losses and loss expenses

     33

Reinsurance recoverable on future policy benefits

     271

Value of business acquired (preliminary)

     1,329

Goodwill and intangible assets (preliminary)

     723

Other assets (preliminary)

     92
      

Total assets (preliminary)

   $ 5,468
      

Liabilities and Shareholder’s Equity

  

Unpaid losses and loss expenses

   $ 386

Unearned premiums

     46

Future policy benefits

     2,256

Other liabilities (preliminary)

     204
      

Total liabilities (preliminary)

     2,892
      

Total shareholder’s equity (preliminary)

     2,576
      

Total liabilities and shareholder’s equity (preliminary)

   $ 5,468
      

The following table presents pro forma information for the periods indicated assuming the acquisition of Combined Insurance occurred on January 1st of each of the respective periods. The pro forma financial information is presented for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the operating results that would have occurred had the acquisition been consummated at the beginning of each period presented, nor is it necessarily indicative of future operating results. Significant assumptions used to determine pro forma operating results include amortization of VOBA and other intangible assets and recognition of interest expense associated with debt financing used to effect the acquisition.

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30
   Six Months Ended
June 30
         2008            2007            2008            2007    
     (in millions of U.S. dollars)
Pro forma:            

Net premiums earned

   $ 3,428    $ 3,378    $ 6,761    $ 6,835

Total revenues

   $ 3,834    $ 3,879    $ 7,342    $ 7,838

Net income

   $ 747    $ 681    $ 1,149    $ 1,402

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 2.20    $ 2.03    $ 3.38    $ 4.18

4. Fair value measurements

a) Fair value hierarchy

The Company partially adopted the provisions of FAS 157 on January 1, 2008, and the cumulative effect of adoption resulted in a reduction to retained earnings of $4 million related to an increase in risk margins included in the valuation of certain GMIB contracts. FAS 157 defines fair value as the price to sell an asset or transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants and establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy in

 

11


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

which inputs into valuation techniques used to measure fair value are classified. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable data. Inputs in Level 1 are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. Level 2 includes inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for assets or liabilities either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include, among other items, quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability such as interest rates and yield curves. Level 3 inputs are unobservable and reflect management’s judgments about assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The following is a description of the valuation measurements used for the Company’s financial instruments carried or disclosed at fair value, as well as the general classification of such financial instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.

Fixed maturities

Fixed maturities with active markets such as U.S. Treasury and agency securities are classified within Level 1 as fair values are based on quoted market prices. For fixed maturities that trade in less active markets, including corporate and municipal securities, fair values are based on the output of “pricing matrix models”, the significant inputs into which include, but are not limited to, yield curves, credit risks and spreads, measures of volatility, and prepayment speeds. These fixed maturities are classified within Level 2. Fixed maturities for which pricing is unobservable are classified within Level 3.

Equity securities

Equity securities with active markets are classified within Level 1 as fair values are based on quoted market prices. For nonpublic equity securities, fair values are based on market valuations and are classified within

Level 2.

Short-term investments

Short-term investments, which comprise securities due to mature within one year of the date of purchase that are traded in active markets, are classified within Level 1 as fair values are based on quoted market prices. Securities such as commercial paper and discount notes are classified within Level 2 because these securities are typically not actively traded due to their approaching maturity and, as such, their cost approximating par value.

Other investments

Fair values for other investments, principally other direct equity investments, investment funds, and limited partnerships, are based on the net asset value or financial statements and are included within Level 3. Equity securities and fixed maturities held in rabbi trusts maintained by the Company for deferred compensation plans, and included in Other investments, are classified within the valuation hierarchy on the same basis as the Company’s other equity securities and fixed maturities.

Investment derivative instruments

For actively traded investment derivative instruments, including futures, options, and exchange-traded forward contracts, the Company obtains quoted market prices to determine fair value. As such, these instruments are included within Level 1. Forward contracts that are not exchange-traded are priced using a pricing matrix model principally employing observable inputs and, as such, are classified within Level 2. The Company’s position in interest rate and credit default swaps is typically classified within Level 3.

 

12


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Guaranteed minimum income benefits

The liability for GMIBs arises from the Company’s reinsurance programs covering living benefit guarantees whereby the Company assumes the risk of GMIBs associated with variable annuity contracts. The fair value of GMIB reinsurance is estimated using an internal valuation model which includes the use of management estimates and current market information. The fair value depends on a number of inputs, including changes in interest rates, changes in equity markets, changes in market volatility, changes in policyholder behavior, and changes in policyholder mortality. The model and related assumptions are continuously re-evaluated by management and enhanced, as appropriate, based upon improvements in modeling techniques and availability of more timely market information, such as market conditions and demographics of in-force annuities. Because of the significant use of unobservable inputs including policyholder behavior, GMIB reinsurance is classified within Level 3.

Other derivative instruments

The Company maintains positions in other derivative instruments including option contracts designed to limit exposure to a severe equity market decline, which would cause an increase in expected claims and, therefore, reserves for guaranteed minimum death benefits and GMIB reinsurance business. The fair value of the majority of the Company’s positions in other derivative instruments is based on significant observable inputs including equity security and interest rate indices. Accordingly, these are classified within Level 2. The Company’s position in credit default swaps is typically included within Level 3.

The following table presents, by valuation hierarchy, the financial instruments carried or disclosed at fair value, and measured on a recurring basis, as of June 30, 2008.

 

June 30, 2008    Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets or
Liabilities

Level 1
   Significant Other
Observable
Inputs

Level 2
   Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

Level 3
   Total
   (in millions of U.S. dollars)

Assets:

           

Fixed maturities available for sale

   $ 825    $ 33,579    $ 466    $ 34,870

Fixed maturities held to maturity

     346      2,584      2      2,932

Equity securities

     1,476      4      10      1,490

Short-term investments

     2,137      1,000      —        3,137

Other investments

     43      254      1,117      1,414

Other derivative instruments

     —        82      31      113
                           

Total assets at fair value

   $ 4,827    $ 37,503    $ 1,626    $ 43,956
                           

Liabilities:

           

Investment derivative instruments

   $ 8    $ —      $ —      $ 8

Guaranteed minimum income benefits

     —        —        375      375
                           

Total liabilities at fair value

   $ 8    $ —      $ 375    $ 383
                           

 

13


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Level 3 financial instruments

The following tables provide a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of financial instruments carried or disclosed at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the periods indicated.

 

    Balance-
Beginning
of Period
    Net
Realized
Gains/
Losses
    Change in Net
Unrealized Gains
(Losses) Included
in Other
Comprehensive
Income
    Purchases,
Sales,
Issuances,
and
Settlements,
Net
    Transfers
Into (Out
of) Level 3
    Balance-
End of
Period
  Change in Net
Unrealized Gains
(Losses) Relating
to Financial
Instruments Still
Held at
June 30, 2008,
included in Net
Income
    (in millions of U.S. dollars)

Three Months Ended

June 30, 2008

                                     

Assets:

             

Fixed maturities available for sale

  $ 547     $ (10 )   $ (7 )   $ 35     $ (99 )   $ 466   $ —  

Fixed maturities held to maturity

    —         —         —         —         2       2     —  

Equity securities

    13       —         —         (5 )     2       10     —  

Other investments

    1,012       2       (35 )     138       —         1,117     —  

Other derivative instruments

    37       (4 )     —         (2 )     —         31     —  
                                                   

Total assets at fair value

  $ 1,609     $ (12 )   $ (42 )   $ 166     $ (95 )   $ 1,626   $ —  
                                                   

Liabilities:

             

Investment derivative instruments

  $ (5 )   $ —       $ —       $ 5     $ —       $ —     $ —  

Guaranteed minimum income benefits

    441       (75 )     —         9       —         375     —  
                                                   

Total liabilities at fair value

  $ 436     $ (75 )   $ —       $ 14     $ —       $ 375   $ —  
                                                   

Six Months Ended

June 30, 2008

   

Assets:

             

Fixed maturities available for sale

  $ 601     $ (13 )   $ (41 )   $ 28     $ (109 )   $ 466   $ —  

Fixed maturities held to maturity

    —         —         —         —         2       2     —  

Equity securities

    12       —         —         (3 )     1       10     —  

Other investments

    898       (25 )     (39 )     283       —         1,117     —  

Other derivative instruments

    17       16       —         (2 )     —         31     —  
                                                   

Total assets at fair value

  $ 1,528     $ (22 )   $ (80 )   $ 306     $ (106 )   $ 1,626   $ —  
                                                   

Liabilities:

             

Investment derivative instruments

  $ (6 )   $ (5 )   $ —       $ 11     $ —       $ —     $ —  

Guaranteed minimum income benefits

    225       130       —         20       —         375     —  
                                                   

Total liabilities at fair value

  $ 219     $ 125     $ —       $ 31     $ —       $ 375   $ —  
                                                   

 

14


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

b) Fair value option

Effective January 1, 2008, the Company elected the fair value option for certain of its available for sale equity securities valued and carried at $161 million on the election date. The Company elected the fair value option for these particular equity securities to simplify the accounting and oversight of this portfolio given the portfolio management strategy employed by the external investment manager. The election resulted in an increase in retained earnings and a reduction to accumulated other comprehensive income of $6 million as of January 1, 2008. This adjustment reflects the net of tax unrealized gains ($9 million pre-tax) associated with this particular portfolio at January 1, 2008. Subsequent to this election, changes in fair value related to these equity securities were recognized in Net realized gains (losses). During the three months ended June 30, 2008, the Company sold the entire portfolio. Accordingly, at June 30, 2008, the Company holds no assets for which the provisions of FAS 159 have been elected. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, the Company recognized net realized gains (losses) related to changes in fair value of these equity securities of $9 million and $(11) million, respectively, in the consolidated statements of operations. Throughout 2008 to the date of sale, all of these equity securities were classified within Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

5. Investments

a) Gross unrealized loss

As of June 30, 2008, there were 8,831 fixed maturities out of a total of 16,269 fixed maturities in an unrealized loss position. The largest single unrealized loss in the fixed maturities was $5.3 million. There were 541 equity securities out of a total of 995 equity securities in an unrealized loss position. The largest single unrealized loss in the equity securities was $5.8 million. There were no securities that had been in a loss position for the previous nine consecutive months with a market value of less than 80 percent of amortized cost, or cost for equity securities. Most of the fixed maturities in an unrealized loss position were investment grade securities for which fair value declined primarily due to widening credit spreads on corporate and structured credit investments. The unrealized loss also reflects higher non–U.S. interest rates.

The following tables summarize, for all securities in an unrealized loss position at June 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007 (including securities on loan), the aggregate fair value and gross unrealized loss by length of time the security has continuously been in an unrealized loss position.

 

June 30, 2008    0 - 12 Months     Over 12 Months     Total  
   Fair Value    Gross
Unrealized
Loss
    Fair Value    Gross
Unrealized
Loss
    Fair Value    Gross
Unrealized
Loss
 
   (in millions of U.S. dollars)  

U.S. Treasury and agency

   $ 870    $ (16.7 )   $ —      $ —       $ 870    $ (16.7 )

Foreign

     7,036      (224.7 )     22      (0.4 )     7,058      (225.1 )

Corporate securities

     7,290      (271.4 )     98      (8.6 )     7,388      (280.0 )

Mortgage-backed securities

     7,404      (243.5 )     82      (3.9 )     7,486      (247.4 )

States, municipalities, and political subdivisions

     762      (15.8 )     5      (0.2 )     767      (16.0 )
                                             

Total fixed maturities

     23,362      (772.1 )     207      (13.1 )     23,569      (785.2 )

Equities

     846      (172.9 )     —        —         846      (172.9 )

Other investments

     246      (37.1 )     —        —         246      (37.1 )
                                             

Total

   $ 24,454    $ (982.1 )   $ 207    $ (13.1 )   $ 24,661    $ (995.2 )
                                             

 

15


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Included in the “0 – 12 Months” and “Over 12 Months” aging categories at June 30, 2008, are fixed maturities held to maturity with combined fair values of $1.1 billion and $133 million, respectively. The associated gross unrealized losses included in the “0 – 12 Months” and “Over 12 Months” aging categories are $22 million and $11 million, respectively.

 

     0 - 12 Months     Over 12 Months     Total  

December 31, 2007

   Fair Value    Gross
Unrealized
Loss
    Fair Value    Gross
Unrealized
Loss
    Fair Value    Gross
Unrealized
Loss
 
   (in millions of U.S. dollars)  

U.S. Treasury and agency

   $ 193    $ (2.5 )   $ 31    $ (0.1 )   $ 224    $ (2.6 )

Foreign

     3,435      (97.3 )     135      (0.9 )     3,570      (98.2 )

Corporate securities

     3,951      (138.5 )     235      (3.6 )     4,186      (142.1 )

Mortgage-backed securities

     2,967      (29.8 )     139      (1.7 )     3,106      (31.5 )

States, municipalities, and political subdivisions

     569      (7.1 )     16      (0.2 )     585      (7.3 )
                                             

Total fixed maturities

     11,115      (275.2 )     556      (6.5 )     11,671      (281.7 )

Equities

     589      (92.5 )     —        —         589      (92.5 )

Other investments

     101      (16.3 )     —        —         101      (16.3 )
                                             

Total

   $ 11,805    $ (384.0 )   $ 556    $ (6.5 )   $ 12,361    $ (390.5 )
                                             

Included in the “0 – 12 Months” and “Over 12 Months” aging categories at December 31, 2007, are fixed maturities held to maturity with combined fair values of $361 million and $318 million, respectively. The associated gross unrealized losses included in the “0 – 12 Months” and “Over 12 Months” aging categories were $3 million and $4 million, respectively.

b) Other- than- temporary impairments

The following table shows, for the periods indicated, the losses included in net realized gains (losses) as a result of conditions which caused the Company to conclude the decline in fair value of certain investments was “other-than-temporary”. The impairments for the six months ended June 30, 2008, were primarily due to increased equity market volatility and fixed income securities in an unrealized loss position for greater than 12 months reflecting global interest rate conditions, including widening credit spreads on corporate and structured credit investments. Credit-related impairments were approximately $28 million for the three months ended June 30, 2008.

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30
   Six Months Ended
June 30
         2008        2007    2008        2007    
     (in millions of U.S. dollars)

Fixed maturities

   $ 171    $ 13    $ 299    $ 50

Equity securities

     39      1      75      2

Other investments

     —        2      25      2
                           

Total

   $ 210    $ 16    $ 399    $ 54
                           

6. Goodwill and other intangible assets

Prior to June 30, 2008, the Company included intangible assets other than goodwill in Other assets in the consolidated balance sheet. Effective June 30, 2008, the Company presents the aggregate balance of these intangible assets and goodwill in Goodwill and other intangible assets. ACE reclassified other intangible assets in the prior year financial statements to conform to the current period presentation.

 

16


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

As discussed in Note 3, the acquisition of Combined Insurance generated $723 million of goodwill and other intangible assets based on ACE’s preliminary purchase price allocation, which was apportioned to the Life Insurance and Reinsurance and Insurance – Overseas General segments in the amounts of $448 million and $275 million, respectively.

The following table details Goodwill and other intangible assets by reporting segment at June 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007.

 

     June 30
2008
   December 31
2007
     (in millions of U.S. dollars)

Insurance – North American

   $ 1,216    $ 1,194

Insurance – Overseas General

     1,582      1,276

Global Reinsurance

     365      365

Life Insurance and Reinsurance

     449      3
             
   $ 3,612    $ 2,838
             

7. Debt

The following table outlines the Company’s debt as of June 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007.

 

     2008    2007
     (in millions of U.S. dollars)

Short-term debt

     

Australia Holdings due 2008

   $ 95    $ 87

ACE US Holdings senior notes due 2008

     250      250

Reverse repurchase agreements

     705      35
             
   $ 1,050    $ 372
             

Long-term debt

     

ACE INA subordinated notes due 2009

   $ 204    $ 201

ACE European Holdings due 2010

     197      199

ACE INA term loan due 2013

     450      —  

ACE INA senior notes due 2014

     499      499

ACE INA senior notes due 2015

     446      —  

ACE INA senior notes due 2017

     500      500

ACE INA senior notes due 2018

     300      —  

ACE INA debentures due 2029

     100      100

ACE INA senior notes due 2036

     298      298

Other

     14      14
             
   $ 3,008    $ 1,811
             

Trust preferred securities

     

ACE INA capital securities due 2030

   $ 309    $ 309
             

a) Reverse repurchase agreements

The Company has executed reverse repurchase agreements with certain counterparties under which the Company agreed to sell securities and repurchase them at a future date for a predetermined price. During the three months

 

17


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

ended March 31, 2008, the Company executed reverse repurchase agreements totaling $1 billion as part of the financing of the Combined Insurance acquisition. A portion of this was subsequently repaid and at June 30, 2008, short-term debt included $705 million of amounts owed to brokers under these reverse repurchase transactions.

b) ACE INA notes

In February 2008, as part of the financing of the Combined Insurance acquisition, ACE INA issued $300 million of 5.8 percent senior notes due March 2018. These notes are redeemable at any time at ACE INA’s option subject to a “make-whole” premium plus 0.35 percent. The notes are also redeemable at par plus accrued and unpaid interest in the event of certain changes in tax law. These notes do not have the benefit of any sinking fund. These senior unsecured notes are guaranteed on a senior basis by the Company and they rank equally with all of the Company’s other senior obligations. They also contain customary limitations on lien provisions as well as customary events of default provisions which, if breached, could result in the accelerated maturity of such senior debt.

In April 2008, as part of the financing of the Combined Insurance acquisition, ACE INA entered into a $450 million floating interest rate syndicated term loan agreement due April 2013. The floating interest rate is based on LIBOR plus 0.65 percent. Simultaneously, the Company entered into a $450 million swap transaction that has the economic effect of fixing the interest rate at 4.15 percent for the term of the loan. The swap counterparty is a highly-rated financial institution and the Company does not anticipate non-performance. The loan is unsecured and repayable on maturity and contains customary limitations on lien provisions as well as customary events of default provisions which, if breached, could result in the accelerated maturity of such debt. The obligation of the borrower under the loan agreement is guaranteed by ACE Limited.

In May 2008, ACE INA issued $450 million of 5.6 percent senior notes due May 2015. These notes are redeemable at any time at ACE INA’s option subject to a “make-whole” premium plus 0.35 percent. The notes are also redeemable at par plus accrued and unpaid interest in the event of certain changes in tax law. These senior unsecured notes are guaranteed on a senior basis by the Company and they rank equally with all of the Company’s other senior obligations. They also contain customary limitations on lien provisions as well as customary events of default provisions which, if breached, could result in the accelerated maturity of such senior debt. The proceeds from this debt offering, along with available cash, were used to redeem the Preferred Shares in June 2008. Refer to Note 9.

8. Commitments, contingencies, and guarantees

a) Other investments

The Company invests in limited partnerships with a carrying value of $711 million included in Other investments. In connection with these investments, the Company has commitments that may require funding of up to $1 billion over the next several years.

b) Legal proceedings

(i) Claims and other litigation

The Company’s insurance subsidiaries are subject to claims litigation involving disputed interpretations of policy coverages and, in some jurisdictions, direct actions by allegedly-injured persons seeking damages from policyholders. These lawsuits, involving claims on policies issued by the Company’s subsidiaries which are typical to the insurance industry in general and in the normal course of business, are considered in the

 

18


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Company’s loss and loss expense reserves. In addition to claims litigation, the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to lawsuits and regulatory actions in the normal course of business that do not arise from, or directly relate to, claims on insurance policies. This category of business litigation typically involves, amongst other things, allegations of underwriting errors or misconduct, employment claims, regulatory activity, or disputes arising from business ventures. In the opinion of ACE’s management, ACE’s ultimate liability for these matters is not likely to have a material adverse effect on ACE’s consolidated financial condition, although it is possible that the effect could be material to ACE’s consolidated results of operations for an individual reporting period.

(ii) Subpoenas

Beginning in 2004, ACE and its subsidiaries and affiliates received numerous subpoenas, interrogatories, and civil investigative demands in connection with certain investigations of insurance industry practices. These inquiries have been issued by a number of attorneys general, state departments of insurance, and other authorities, including the New York Attorney General (NYAG), the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Such inquiries concern underwriting practices and non-traditional or loss mitigation insurance products. To the extent they are ongoing, ACE is cooperating and will continue to cooperate with such inquiries. ACE conducted its own investigation that encompassed the subjects raised by the NYAG and the other state and federal regulatory authorities. The investigation was conducted by a team from the firm of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP headed by former United States Attorney Mary Jo White and operated under and at the direction of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. ACE’s internal investigations pertaining to underwriting practices and non-traditional or loss mitigation insurance products are complete.

On June 19, 2008, in an action filed by the NYAG against another insurer, the New York Appellate Division, First Department, confirmed the legality of contingent commission agreements – one of the focal points of the NYAG’s investigation. “Contingent commission agreements between brokers and insurers are not illegal, and, in the absence of a special relationship between the parties, defendants[s] had no duty to disclose the existence of the contingent commission agreement.” New York v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 2008 NY Slip Op. 05570 (2008) (citing Hersch v. DeWitt Stern Group, Inc., 43 A.D. 3d 644, 645 (2007).

(iii) Settlement agreements

On April 25, 2006, ACE reached a settlement with the Attorneys General of New York, Illinois, and Connecticut and the New York Insurance Department pursuant to which ACE received from these authorities an Assurance of Discontinuance (AOD). Under the AOD, these regulators agreed not to file certain litigation against ACE relating to their investigation of certain business practices, and ACE agreed to pay $80 million ($66 million after tax) without admitting any liability, and to adopt certain business reforms. Of the $80 million, $40 million was paid to the three settling Attorneys General as a penalty, and $40 million was distributed to eligible policyholders who executed a release of possible claims against ACE. A total of $80 million was recorded in administrative expenses in the quarter ended March 31, 2006.

On May 9, 2007, ACE and the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (Department) and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General (OAG) entered into a settlement agreement. This settlement agreement resolves the issues raised by the Department and the OAG arising from their investigation of ACE’s underwriting practices and contingent commission payments. As a result of this settlement agreement, ACE made a $9 million payment to the Department and agreed to comply with the business practice guidelines that ACE established in 2004 to assure ongoing antitrust compliance in its operations.

On October 24, 2007, ACE entered into a settlement agreement with the Attorneys General of Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon, Texas, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, and the Florida

 

19


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Department of Financial Services and Office of Insurance Regulation. The agreement resolves investigations of ACE’s underwriting practices and contingent commission payments. Under the agreement, ACE paid $4.5 million without admitting any liability, and agreed to keep in place certain business reforms already in effect.

(iv) Business practice-related litigation

ACE, ACE INA Holdings, Inc., and ACE USA, Inc., along with a number of other insurers and brokers, were named in a series of federal putative nationwide class actions brought by insurance policyholders. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) consolidated these cases in the District of New Jersey. On August 1, 2005, plaintiffs in the New Jersey consolidated proceedings filed two consolidated amended complaints – one concerning commercial insurance and the other concerning employee benefit plans. The employee benefit plans litigation against ACE has been dismissed.

In the commercial insurance complaint, the plaintiffs named ACE, ACE INA Holdings, Inc., ACE USA, Inc., ACE American Insurance Co., Illinois Union Insurance Co., and Indemnity Insurance Co. of North America. They allege that certain brokers and insurers, including certain ACE entities, conspired to increase premiums and allocate customers through the use of “B” quotes and contingent commissions. In addition, the complaints allege that the broker defendants received additional income by improperly placing their clients’ business with insurers through related wholesale entities that acted as intermediaries between the broker and insurer. Plaintiffs also allege that broker defendants tied the purchase of primary insurance to the placement of such coverage with reinsurance carriers through the broker defendants’ reinsurance broker subsidiaries. The complaint asserts the following causes of action against ACE: Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), federal antitrust law, state antitrust law, aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty, and unjust enrichment.

In 2006 and 2007, the Court dismissed plaintiffs’ first two attempts to properly plead a case without prejudice and permitted plaintiffs one final opportunity to re-plead. The amended complaint, filed on May 22, 2007, purported to add several new ACE defendants: ACE Group Holdings, Inc., ACE US Holdings, Inc., Westchester Fire Insurance Company, INA Corporation, INA Financial Corporation, INA Holdings Corporation, ACE Property and Casualty Insurance Company, and Pacific Employers Insurance Company. Plaintiffs also added a new antitrust claim against Marsh, ACE, and other insurers based on the same allegations as the other claims but limited to excess casualty insurance. On June 21, 2007, defendants moved to dismiss the amended complaint and moved to strike the new parties that plaintiffs attempted to add to that complaint. The Court granted defendants’ motions and dismissed plaintiffs’ antitrust and RICO claims with prejudice on August 31, 2007, and September 28, 2007, respectively. The Court also declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over plaintiffs’ state law claims and dismissed those claims without prejudice. On October 10, 2007, plaintiffs filed a Notice of Appeal of the antitrust and RICO rulings to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. The appeal is fully briefed. Oral argument is tentatively scheduled for April 20, 2009, but the Third Circuit has not yet decided whether oral argument will in fact be heard.

There are a number of federal actions brought by policyholders based on allegations similar to the allegations in the consolidated federal actions that were filed in, or transferred to, the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey for coordination. All proceedings in these actions are currently stayed.

 

   

New Cingular Wireless Headquarters LLC et al. v. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. et al. (Case No. 06-5120; D.N.J.), was originally filed in the Northern District of Georgia on April 4, 2006. ACE Ltd., ACE American Ins. Co., ACE USA, Inc., ACE Bermuda Ins. Co. Ltd., Illinois Union Ins. Co., Pacific Employers Ins. Co., and Lloyd’s of London Syndicate 2488 AGM, along with a number of other insurers and brokers, are named.

 

20


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

   

Avery Dennison Corp. v. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. et al. (Case No. 07-00757; D.N.J.) was filed on February 13, 2007. ACE, ACE INA Holdings, Inc., ACE USA, Inc., and ACE American Insurance Co., along with a number of other insurers and brokers, are named.

 

   

Henley Management Co., Inc. et al v. Marsh, Inc. et al. (Case No. 07-2389; D.N.J.) was filed on May 27, 2007. ACE USA, Inc., along with a number of other insurers and Marsh, are named.

 

   

Lincoln Adventures LLC et al. v. Those Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s, London Members of Syndicates 0033 et al. (Case No. 07-60991; D.N.J.) was originally filed in the Southern District of Florida on July 13, 2007. Supreme Auto Transport LLC et al. v. Certain Underwriters of Lloyd’s of London, et al. (Case No. 07-6703; D.N.J.) was originally filed in the Southern District of New York on July 25, 2007. Lloyd’s of London Syndicate 2488 AGM, along with a number of other Lloyd’s of London Syndicates and various brokers, are named in both actions. The allegations in these putative class-action lawsuits are similar to the allegations in the consolidated federal actions identified above, although these lawsuits focus on alleged conduct within the London insurance market.

 

   

Sears, Roebuck & Co. et al. v. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. et al. (Case No. 07-2535; D.N.J.) was originally filed in the Northern District of Georgia on October 12, 2007. ACE American Insurance Co., ACE Bermuda Insurance Ltd., and Westchester Surplus Lines Insurance Co., along with a number of other insurers and brokers, are named.

Three cases have been filed in state courts with allegations similar to those in the consolidated federal actions described above.

 

   

Van Emden Management Corporation v. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., et al. (Case No. 05-0066A; Superior Court of Massachusetts), a class action in Massachusetts, was filed on January 13, 2005. Illinois Union Insurance Company, an ACE subsidiary, is named. The Van Emden case has been stayed pending resolution of the consolidated proceedings in the District of New Jersey or until further order of the Court.

 

   

Office Depot, Inc. v. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. et al. (Case No. 502005CA004396; Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida), a Florida state action, was filed on June 22, 2005. ACE American Insurance Co., an ACE subsidiary, is named. The trial court originally stayed this case, but the Florida Court of Appeals later remanded and the trial court declined to grant another stay. The court has denied motions to dismiss, and ACE American Ins. Co. has filed an answer. Discovery is ongoing.

 

   

State of Ohio, ex. rel. Marc E. Dann, Attorney General v. American Int’l Group, Inc. et al. (Case No. 07-633857; Court of Common Pleas in Cuyahoga County, Ohio) is an Ohio state action filed by the Ohio Attorney General on August 24, 2007. ACE, ACE American Insurance Co., ACE Property & Casualty Insurance Co., Insurance Company of North America, and Westchester Fire Insurance Co., along with a number of other insurance companies and Marsh, are named. Defendants (including ACE) filed motions to dismiss. On July 2, 2008, the court denied all of the defendants’ motions. Discovery will soon resume, and ACE will file an answer in mid-August, 2008.

ACE was named in four putative securities class action suits following the filing of a civil suit against Marsh by the NYAG on October 14, 2004. The suits were consolidated by the JPML in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Court appointed Sheet Metal Workers’ National Pension Fund and Alaska Ironworkers Pension Trust as lead plaintiffs. Lead plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended complaint on September 30, 2005, naming ACE, Evan G. Greenberg, Brian Duperreault, and Philip V. Bancroft as defendants. Plaintiffs allege that ACE’s public statements and securities filings should have revealed that insurers, including certain ACE entities, and brokers

 

21


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

allegedly conspired to increase premiums and allocate customers through the use of “B” quotes and contingent commissions and that ACE’s revenues and earnings were inflated by these practices. Plaintiffs assert claims solely under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act), Rule 10(b)-5 promulgated thereunder, and Section 20(a) of the Securities Act (control person liability). In 2005, ACE and the individual defendants filed a motion to dismiss. The motion remains pending.

ACE is named as a defendant in a derivative suit filed in Delaware Chancery Court by shareholders of Marsh seeking to recover damages for Marsh and its subsidiary, Marsh, Inc., against officers and directors of Marsh, American International Group Inc. (AIG), former AIG chief executive officer Maurice R. Greenberg, and ACE. The suit alleges that the defendants breached their fiduciary duty to and thereby damaged Marsh and Marsh, Inc. by participating in a bid rigging scheme and obtaining “kickbacks” in the form of contingent commissions, and that ACE knowingly participated in the alleged scheme.

ACE, ACE USA, Inc., ACE INA Holdings, Inc., and Evan G. Greenberg, as a former officer and director of AIG and current officer and director of ACE, are named in one or both of two derivative cases brought by certain shareholders of AIG. One of the derivative cases was filed in Delaware Chancery Court, and the other was filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York. The allegations against ACE concern the alleged bid rigging and contingent commission scheme as similarly alleged in the federal commercial insurance cases. Plaintiffs assert the following causes of action against ACE: breach of fiduciary duty, aiding and abetting breaches of fiduciary duties, unjust enrichment, conspiracy, and fraud. On April 14, 2008, the shareholder plaintiffs filed an amended complaint (their third pleading effort), which drops Evan Greenberg as a defendant. On June 13, 2008, ACE moved to dismiss the newly amended complaint. Discovery is currently stayed. The New York derivative action is stayed pending resolution of the Delaware derivative action.

In all of the lawsuits described above, plaintiffs seek compensatory and in some cases special damages without specifying an amount. As a result, ACE cannot at this time estimate its potential costs related to these legal matters and, accordingly, no liability for compensatory damages has been established in the consolidated financial statements.

ACE’s ultimate liability for these matters is not likely to have a material adverse effect on ACE’s consolidated financial condition, although it is possible that the effect could be material to ACE’s consolidated results of operations for an individual reporting period.

9. Preferred Shares

In 2003, the Company sold twenty million depositary shares in a public offering, each representing one-tenth of one of its 7.8 percent Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, for $25 per depositary share. Underwriters exercised their over-allotment option which resulted in the issuance of an additional three million depositary shares.

The shares had an annual dividend rate of 7.8 percent with the first quarterly dividend paid on September 1, 2003. The shares were not convertible into or exchangeable for the Company’s Common Shares. The Company had the option to redeem these shares at any time after May 30, 2008, at a redemption value of $25 per depositary share or at any time under certain limited circumstances. On June 13, 2008, the Company redeemed all of the outstanding Preferred Shares for cash consideration of $575 million. Following the completion of the Preferred Share redemption, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) halted trading in and de-listed the shares from the NYSE.

 

22


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

10. Share-based compensation

During 2004, the Company established the ACE Limited 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the 2004 LTIP). The Company’s 2004 LTIP provides for grants of both incentive and non-qualified stock options principally at an option price per share of 100 percent of the fair market value of the Company’s Common Shares on the date of grant. Stock options are generally granted with a 3-year vesting period and a 10-year term. The stock options vest in equal annual installments over the respective vesting period, which is also the requisite service period. On February 27, 2008, the Company granted 1,545,072 stock options with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $17.56. The fair value of the options issued is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

The Company’s 2004 LTIP also provides for grants of restricted stock and restricted stock units. The Company generally grants restricted stock and restricted stock units with a 4-year vesting period, based on a graded vesting schedule. The restricted stock is granted at market close price on the day of grant. On February 27, 2008, the Company granted 1,632,711 restricted stock awards and 204,295 restricted stock units to officers of the Company and its subsidiaries with a grant date fair value of $60.28. Each restricted stock unit represents the Company’s obligation to deliver to the holder one share of Common Shares upon vesting.

11. Segment information

The Company operates through the following business segments: Insurance – North American, Insurance –Overseas General, Global Reinsurance, and Life Insurance and Reinsurance. These segments distribute their products through various forms of brokers, agencies, and direct marketing programs. Additionally, Insurance –North American has formed internet distribution channels for some of its products. Global Reinsurance, Insurance – North American, and Life Insurance and Reinsurance have established relationships with reinsurance intermediaries. Segment operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, include the results of Combined Insurance from April 1, 2008. The Combined Insurance results are included in the Insurance –Overseas General and Life Insurance and Reinsurance segments according to the nature of the business written. Results from Combined Insurance’s North American operations are included in the Life Insurance and Reinsurance segment and the results from Combined Insurance’s international operations are included in the Insurance – Overseas General segment.

The Insurance – North American segment comprises the P&C operation in the U.S., Canada, and Bermuda. This segment includes the operations of ACE USA (including ACE Canada), ACE Westchester, ACE Bermuda, ACE Private Risk Services, and various run-off operations. ACE USA provides a broad array of P&C, A&H, and risk management products and services to a diverse group of commercial and non-commercial enterprises and consumers. ACE Westchester specializes in the wholesale distribution of excess, surplus, and specialty P&C products. ACE Bermuda provides commercial insurance products on an excess basis to a global client base, covering risks that are generally low in frequency and high in severity. ACE Private Risk Services provides personal lines coverages (homeowners, automobile) for high net worth clients. The run-off operations include Brandywine Holdings Corporation, Commercial Insurance Services, residual market workers’ compensation business, pools and syndicates not attributable to a single business group, and other exited lines of business. Run-off operations do not actively sell insurance products, but are responsible for the management of existing policies and related claims.

The Insurance – Overseas General segment consists of ACE International (excluding its life insurance business), the wholesale insurance operations of ACE Global Markets, and the international A&H and life insurance business of Combined Insurance. ACE International, our ACE INA network of indigenous retail insurance operations, maintains a presence in every major insurance market in the world and is organized geographically

 

23


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

along product lines that provide dedicated underwriting focus to customers. ACE Global Markets, our London-based excess and surplus lines business that includes Lloyd’s Syndicate 2488 (2008 capacity of £330 million ($657 million)), offers an extensive product range through its unique parallel distribution of products via ACE European Group Limited (AEGL) and Lloyd’s Syndicate 2488. ACE provides funds at Lloyd’s to support underwriting by Syndicate 2488 which is managed by ACE Underwriting Agencies Limited. AEGL, our London-based, Financial Services Authority-U.K. regulated company, underwrites U.K. and Continental Europe insurance and reinsurance business. The reinsurance operation of ACE Global Markets is included in the Global Reinsurance segment. Combined Insurance distributes specialty individual accident and supplemental health and life insurance products targeted to middle income consumers in Europe and Asia Pacific. The Insurance –Overseas General segment has four regions of operations: the ACE European Group (which comprises ACE Europe and ACE Global Markets branded business), ACE Asia Pacific, ACE Far East, and ACE Latin America. Companies within the Insurance – Overseas General segment write a variety of insurance products including property, casualty, professional lines (Directors & Officers and Errors &Omissions), marine, energy, aviation, political risk, specialty personal lines, consumer lines products, A&H (principally accident and supplemental health) and life insurance products.

The Global Reinsurance segment represents ACE’s reinsurance operations comprising ACE Tempest Re Bermuda, ACE Tempest Re USA, ACE Tempest Re Europe, and ACE Tempest Re Canada. These divisions provide a broad range of property catastrophe, casualty, and property reinsurance coverages to a diverse array of primary P&C companies.

The Life Insurance and Reinsurance segment includes the operations of ACE Tempest Life Re (ACE Life Re), ACE International Life, and the domestic A&H and life business of Combined Insurance. ACE Life Re provides reinsurance coverage to other life insurance companies as well as marketing traditional life reinsurance products and services for the individual life business. ACE International Life provides traditional life insurance protection, investments, and savings products to individuals in several countries including China, Egypt, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, and various Latin American countries. Combined Insurance distributes specialty individual accident and supplemental health and life insurance products targeted to middle income consumers in the U.S. and Canada.

Corporate and Other (Corporate) includes ACE Limited and ACE INA Holdings, Inc. and intercompany eliminations. In addition, Corporate includes the Company’s proportionate share of Assured Guaranty Ltd.’s earnings reflected in Other (income) expense. Included in Losses and loss expenses are losses incurred in connection with the commutation of ceded reinsurance contracts that resulted from a differential between the consideration received from reinsurers and the related reduction of reinsurance recoverable, principally related to the time value of money. Due to the Company’s initiatives to reduce reinsurance recoverable balances and thereby encourage such commutations, losses recognized in connection with the commutation of ceded reinsurance contracts are generally not considered when assessing segment performance and, accordingly, are directly allocated to Corporate. Additionally, the Company does not consider the development of loss reserves related to the September 11 tragedy in assessing segment performance as these loss reserves are managed by Corporate. As such, the effect of the related loss reserve development on net income is reported within Corporate.

For segment reporting purposes, certain items have been presented in a different manner than in the consolidated financial statements. The following tables summarize the operations by segment for the periods indicated.

 

24


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Statement of Operations by Segment

For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2008

(in millions of U.S. dollars)

 

     Insurance –
North
American
    Insurance –
Overseas
General
    Global
Reinsurance
    Life Insurance
and
Reinsurance
   Corporate
and Other
    ACE
Consolidated
 

Gross premiums written

   $ 2,718     $ 1,876     $ 272     $ 427    $ —       $ 5,293  

Net premiums written

     1,511       1,443       270       374      —         3,598  

Net premiums earned

     1,365       1,439       257       367      —         3,428  

Losses and loss expenses

     962       715       108       110      —         1,895  

Future policy benefits

     —         5       —         84      —         89  

Policy acquisition costs

     129       323       54       63      —         569  

Administrative expenses

     131       208       14       69      39       461  
                                               

Underwriting income (loss)

     143       188       81       41      (39 )     414  
                                               

Net investment income

     282       134       79       40      (3 )     532  

Net realized gains (losses)

     (105 )     (58 )     (20 )     64      (7 )     (126 )

Interest expense

     —         —         —         —        62       62  

Other (income) expense

     3       (17 )     1       4      (116 )     (125 )

Income tax expense (benefit)

     106       38       11       12      (30 )     137  
                                               

Net income

   $ 211     $ 243     $ 128     $ 129    $ 35     $ 746  
                                               

Statement of Operations by Segment

For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2007

(in millions of U.S. dollars)

 

    Insurance –
North
American
  Insurance –
Overseas
General
    Global
Reinsurance
    Life Insurance
and
Reinsurance
    Corporate
and Other
    ACE
Consolidated
 

Gross premiums written

  $ 2,589   $ 1,621     $ 335     $ 92     $ —       $ 4,637  

Net premiums written

    1,497     1,166       332       87       —         3,082  

Net premiums earned

    1,455     1,141       325       87       —         3,008  

Losses and loss expenses

    1,016     614       163       —         —         1,793  

Future policy benefits

    —       —         —         33       —         33  

Policy acquisition costs

    128     230       64       12       —         434  

Administrative expenses

    130     162       16       12       36       356  
                                             

Underwriting income (loss)

    181     135       82       30       (36 )     392  
                                             

Net investment income

    257     111       66       14       23       471  

Net realized gains (losses)

    15     (27 )     (7 )     (1 )     9       (11 )

Interest expense

    —       —         —         —         42       42  

Other (income) expense

    1     1       2       —         (8 )     (4 )

Income tax expense (benefit)

    115     58       7       1       (16 )     165  
                                             

Net income (loss)

  $ 337   $ 160     $ 132     $ 42     $ (22 )   $ 649  
                                             

 

25


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Statement of Operations by Segment

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2008

(in millions of U.S. dollars)

 

     Insurance –
North
American
    Insurance –
Overseas
General
    Global
Reinsurance
    Life Insurance
and
Reinsurance
    Corporate
and

Other
    ACE
Consolidated
 

Gross premiums written

   $ 4,899     $ 3,654     $ 617     $ 532     $ —       $ 9,702  

Net premiums written

     2,871       2,788       614       479       —         6,752  

Net premiums earned

     2,719       2,662       520       467       —         6,368  

Losses and loss expenses

     1,831       1,308       225       110       —         3,474  

Future policy benefits

     —         5       —         147       —         152  

Policy acquisition costs

     290       568       108       71       —         1,037  

Administrative expenses

     266       381       29       82       78       836  
                                                

Underwriting income (loss)

     332       400       158       57       (78 )     869  
                                                

Net investment income

     551       251       152       55       12       1,021  

Net realized gains (losses)

     (166 )     (141 )     (65 )     (122 )     15       (479 )

Interest expense

     —         —         —         —         108       108  

Other (income) expense

     3       (20 )     1       4       (98 )     (110 )

Income tax expense (benefit)

     229       85       15       10       (49 )     290  
                                                

Net income (loss)

   $ 485     $ 445     $ 229     $ (24 )   $ (12 )   $ 1,123  
                                                

Statement of Operations by Segment

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2007

(in millions of U.S. dollars)

 

     Insurance –
North
American
   Insurance –
Overseas
General
    Global
Reinsurance
    Life Insurance
and
Reinsurance
    Corporate
and Other
    ACE
Consolidated

Gross premiums written

   $ 4,858    $ 3,280     $ 813     $ 182     $ —       $ 9,133

Net premiums written

     3,011      2,358       808       175       —         6,352

Net premiums earned

     2,994      2,253       668       175       —         6,090

Losses and loss expenses

     2,127      1,178       348       —         —         3,653

Future policy benefits

     —        —         —         69       —         69

Policy acquisition costs

     244      454       130       23       —         851

Administrative expenses

     263      324       33       24       68       712
                                             

Underwriting income (loss)

     360      297       157       59       (68 )     805
                                             

Net investment income

     498      215       132       26       51       922

Net realized gains (losses)

     52      (53 )     (1 )     (5 )     12       5

Interest expense

     —        —         —         —         88       88

Other (income) expense

     10      4       3       —         (17 )     —  

Income tax expense (benefit)

     243      98       14       (1 )     (60 )     294
                                             

Net income (loss)

   $ 657    $ 357     $ 271     $ 81     $ (16 )   $ 1,350
                                             

Underwriting assets are reviewed in total by management for purposes of decision making. The Company does not allocate assets to its segments.

 

26


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

The following tables summarize the net premiums earned for each segment by product offering for the periods indicated.

 

     Property
& All Other
   Casualty    Life, Accident
& Health
   ACE
Consolidated
     (in millions of U.S. dollars)

Three Months Ended June 30, 2008

           

Insurance – North American

   $ 357    $ 946    $ 62    $ 1,365

Insurance – Overseas General

     470      403      566      1,439

Global Reinsurance

     155      102      —        257

Life Insurance and Reinsurance

     —        —        367      367
                           
   $ 982    $ 1,451    $ 995    $ 3,428
                           

Three Months Ended June 30, 2007

           

Insurance – North American

   $ 347    $ 1,054    $ 54    $ 1,455

Insurance – Overseas General

     422      359      360      1,141

Global Reinsurance

     154      171      —        325

Life Insurance and Reinsurance

     —        —        87      87
                           
   $ 923    $ 1,584    $ 501    $ 3,008
                           

Six Months Ended June 30, 2008

           

Insurance – North American

   $ 663    $ 1,934    $ 122    $ 2,719

Insurance – Overseas General

     920      775      967      2,662

Global Reinsurance

     280      240      —        520

Life Insurance and Reinsurance

     —        —        467      467
                           
   $ 1,863    $ 2,949    $ 1,556    $ 6,368
                           

Six Months Ended June 30, 2007

           

Insurance – North American

   $ 641    $ 2,249    $ 104    $ 2,994

Insurance – Overseas General

     824      731      698      2,253

Global Reinsurance

     317      351      —        668

Life Insurance and Reinsurance

     —        —        175      175
                           
   $ 1,782    $ 3,331    $ 977    $ 6,090
                           

 

27


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

12. Earnings per share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the periods indicated.

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30
    Six Months Ended
June 30
 
     2008     2007     2008     2007  
     (in millions of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)  

Numerator:

        

Net income

   $ 746     $ 649     $ 1,123     $ 1,350  

Dividends on Preferred Shares

     (13 )     (11 )     (24 )     (22 )
                                

Net income available to holders of Common Shares

   $ 733     $ 638     $ 1,099     $ 1,328  
                                

Denominator:

        

Denominator for basic earnings per share:

        

Weighted average shares outstanding

     328,627,780       324,541,868       327,889,473       324,344,779  

Denominator for diluted earnings per share:

        

Share-based compensation plans

     4,569,215       5,531,343       4,383,162       5,313,233  
                                

Adjusted weighted average shares outstanding and assumed conversions

     333,196,995       330,073,211       332,272,635       329,658,012  
                                

Basic earnings per share:

        

Earnings per share

   $ 2.23     $ 1.96     $ 3.35     $ 4.09  
                                

Diluted earnings per share:

        

Earnings per share

   $ 2.20     $ 1.93     $ 3.31     $ 4.02  
                                

Excluded from adjusted weighted average shares outstanding and assumed conversions is the impact of securities that would have been anti-dilutive during the respective periods. For the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, the potential anti-dilutive share conversions were 480,106 and 252,422, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, the potential anti-dilutive share conversions were 415,418 and 272,643, respectively.

For the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, dividends declared on Common Shares amounted to $0.29 and $0.27, respectively. Dividends declared on Common Shares amounted to $0.56 and $0.52 per Common Share for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

13. Information provided in connection with outstanding debt of subsidiaries

The following tables present condensed consolidating financial information at June 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, for ACE Limited (the Parent Guarantor) and its “Subsidiary Issuer”, ACE INA Holdings, Inc. The Subsidiary Issuer is an indirect 100 percent-owned subsidiary of the Parent Guarantor. Investments in subsidiaries are accounted for by the Parent Guarantor under the equity method for purposes of the supplemental consolidating presentation. Earnings of subsidiaries are reflected in the Parent Guarantor’s investment accounts and earnings. The Parent Guarantor fully and unconditionally guarantees certain of the debt of the Subsidiary Issuer.

 

28


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet at June 30, 2008

(in millions of U.S. dollars)

 

     ACE Limited
(Parent
Guarantor)
   ACE INA
Holdings, Inc.
(Subsidiary
Issuer)
   Other ACE
Limited
Subsidiaries and
Eliminations (1)
    Consolidating
Adjustments (2)
    ACE Limited
Consolidated

Assets

            

Investments

   $ 56    $ 23,185    $ 20,602     $ —       $ 43,843

Cash

     32      320      230       —         582

Insurance and reinsurance balances receivable

     —        3,408      678       —         4,086

Reinsurance recoverable on losses and loss expenses

     —        16,756      (2,917 )     —         13,839

Reinsurance recoverable on future policy benefits

     —        271      32       —         303

Value of business acquired

     —        1,288      —         —         1,288

Goodwill and other intangible assets

     —        3,041      571       —         3,612

Investments in subsidiaries

     15,760      —        —         (15,760 )     —  

Due from (to) subsidiaries and affiliates, net

     632      —        —         (632 )     —  

Other assets

     11      7,975      2,237       —         10,223
                                    

Total assets

   $ 16,491    $ 56,244    $ 21,433     $ (16,392 )   $ 77,776
                                    

Liabilities

            

Unpaid losses and loss expenses

   $ —      $ 29,593    $ 8,103     $ —       $ 37,696

Unearned premiums

     —        5,713      1,341       —         7,054

Future policy benefits

     —        2,337      611       —         2,948

Short-term debt

     —        95      955       —         1,050

Long-term debt

     —        3,008      —         —         3,008

Trust preferred securities

     —        309      —         —         309

Due to (from) subsidiaries and affiliates, net

     —        668      (668 )     —         —  

Other liabilities

     164      7,603      1,617       —         9,384
                                    

Total liabilities

     164      49,326      11,959       —         61,449
                                    

Total shareholders’ equity

     16,327      6,918      9,474       (16,392 )     16,327
                                    

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 16,491    $ 56,244    $ 21,433     $ (16,392 )   $ 77,776
                                    

 

(1)

Includes all other subsidiaries of ACE Limited and intercompany eliminations.

(2)

Includes ACE Limited parent company eliminations.

 

29


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet at December 31, 2007

(in millions of U.S. dollars)

 

     ACE Limited
(Parent
Guarantor)
   ACE INA
Holdings, Inc.
(Subsidiary
Issuer)
   Other ACE
Limited
Subsidiaries and
Eliminations (1)
    Consolidating
Adjustments (2)
    ACE Limited
Consolidated

Assets

            

Investments

   $ 62    $ 20,671    $ 21,046     $ —       $ 41,779

Cash

     —        310      251       (51 )     510

Insurance and reinsurance balances receivable

     —        2,961      579       —         3,540

Reinsurance recoverable on losses and loss expenses

     —        16,742      (2,388 )     —         14,354

Reinsurance recoverable on future policy benefits

     —        —        8       —         8

Goodwill and other intangible assets

     —        2,267      571       —         2,838

Investments in subsidiaries

     16,669      —        —         (16,669 )     —  

Due from (to) subsidiaries and affiliates, net

     174      45      (45 )     (174 )     —  

Other assets

     14      6,333      2,714       —         9,061
                                    

Total assets

   $ 16,919    $ 49,329    $ 22,736     $ (16,894 )   $ 72,090
                                    

Liabilities

            

Unpaid losses and loss expenses

   $ —      $ 28,984    $ 8,128     $ —       $ 37,112

Unearned premiums

     —        4,930      1,297       —         6,227

Future policy benefits

     —        —        545       —         545

Short-term debt

     51      87      285       (51 )     372

Long-term debt

     —        1,811      —         —         1,811

Trust preferred securities

     —        309      —         —         309

Other liabilities

     191      6,199      2,647       —         9,037
                                    

Total liabilities

     242      42,320      12,902       (51 )     55,413
                                    

Total shareholders’ equity

     16,677      7,009      9,834       (16,843 )     16,677
                                    

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 16,919    $ 49,329    $ 22,736     $ (16,894 )   $ 72,090
                                    

 

(1)

Includes all other subsidiaries of ACE Limited and intercompany eliminations.

(2)

Includes ACE Limited parent company eliminations.

 

30


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations

For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2008

(in millions of U.S. dollars)

 

     ACE Limited
(Parent
Guarantor)
    ACE INA
Holdings, Inc.
(Subsidiary
Issuer)
    Other ACE
Limited
Subsidiaries and
Eliminations (1)
    Consolidating
Adjustments (2)
    ACE Limited
Consolidated
 

Net premiums written

   $ —       $ 1,616     $ 1,982     $ —       $ 3,598  

Net premiums earned

     —         1,782       1,646       —         3,428  

Net investment income

     (2 )     287       247       —         532  

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

     763       —         —         (763 )     —    

Net realized gains (losses)

     (7 )     (96 )     (23 )     —         (126 )

Losses and loss expenses

     —         1,062       833       —         1,895  

Future policy benefits

     —         43       46       —         89  

Policy acquisition costs and administrative expenses

     24       519       491       (4 )     1,030  

Interest expense

     (14 )     67       (2 )     11       62  

Other (income) expense

     (2 )     (8 )     (115 )     —         (125 )

Income tax expense

     —         115       22       —         137  
                                        

Net income

   $ 746     $ 175     $ 595     $ (770 )   $ 746  
                                        

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations

For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2007

(in millions of U.S. dollars)

 

     ACE Limited
(Parent
Guarantor)
    ACE INA
Holdings, Inc.
(Subsidiary
Issuer)
    Other ACE
Limited
Subsidiaries and
Eliminations (1)
    Consolidating
Adjustments (2)
    ACE Limited
Consolidated
 

Net premiums written

   $ —       $ 1,738     $ 1,344     $ —       $ 3,082  

Net premiums earned

     —         1,719       1,289       —         3,008  

Net investment income

     1       233       237       —         471  

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

     665       —         —         (665 )     —    

Net realized gains (losses)

     8       (8 )     (11 )     —         (11 )

Losses and loss expenses

     —         1,089       704       —         1,793  

Future policy benefits

     —         8       25       —         33  

Policy acquisition costs and administrative expenses

     26       412       360       (8 )     790  

Interest expense

     (2 )     41       3       —         42  

Other (income) expense

     1       8       (13 )     —         (4 )

Income tax expense

     —         136       29       —         165  
                                        

Net income

   $ 649     $ 250     $ 407     $ (657 )   $ 649  
                                        

 

(1)

Includes all other subsidiaries of ACE Limited and intercompany eliminations.

(2)

Includes ACE Limited parent company eliminations.

 

31


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2008

(in millions of U.S. dollars)

 

     ACE Limited
(Parent
Guarantor)
    ACE INA
Holdings, Inc.
(Subsidiary
Issuer)
    Other ACE
Limited
Subsidiaries and
Eliminations (1)
    Consolidating
Adjustments (2)
    ACE Limited
Consolidated
 

Net premiums written

   $ —       $ 3,559     $ 3,193     $ —       $ 6,752  

Net premiums earned

     —         3,491       2,877       —         6,368  

Net investment income

     (4 )     522       503       —         1,021  

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

     1,138       —         —         (1,138 )     —    

Net realized gains (losses)

     18       (190 )     (307 )     —         (479 )

Losses and loss expenses

     —         2,078       1,396       —         3,474  

Future policy benefits

     —         55       97       —         152  

Policy acquisition costs and administrative expenses

     50       1,045       786       (8 )     1,873  

Interest expense

     (18 )     112       1       13       108  

Other (income) expense

     (4 )     (14 )     (92 )     —         (110 )

Income tax expense

     1       220       69       —         290  
                                        

Net income

   $ 1,123     $ 327     $ 816     $ (1,143 )   $ 1,123  
                                        

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2007

(in millions of U.S. dollars)

 

     ACE Limited
(Parent
Guarantor)
    ACE INA
Holdings, Inc.
(Subsidiary
Issuer)
    Other ACE
Limited
Subsidiaries and
Eliminations (1)
    Consolidating
Adjustments (2)
    ACE Limited
Consolidated

Net premiums written

   $ —       $ 3,695     $ 2,657     $ —       $ 6,352

Net premiums earned

     —         3,493       2,597       —         6,090

Net investment income

     9       456       457       —         922

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

     1,387       —         —         (1,387 )     —  

Net realized gains (losses)

     9       (12 )     8       —         5

Losses and loss expenses

     —         2,293       1,360       —         3,653

Future policy benefits

     —         17       52       —         69

Policy acquisition costs and administrative expenses

     50       835       693       (15 )     1,563

Interest expense

     (1 )     81       4       4       88

Other (income) expense

     5       10       (15 )     —         —  

Income tax expense

     1       251       42       —         294
                                      

Net income

   $ 1,350     $ 450     $ 926     $ (1,376 )   $ 1,350
                                      

 

(1)

Includes all other subsidiaries of ACE Limited and intercompany eliminations.

(2)

Includes ACE Limited parent company eliminations.

 

32


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2008

(in millions of U.S. dollars)

 

     ACE Limited
(Parent
Guarantor)
    ACE INA
Holdings, Inc.
(Subsidiary
Issuer)
    Other ACE
Limited
Subsidiaries and
Eliminations (1)
    ACE Limited
Consolidated
 

Net cash flows from (used for) operating activities

   $ 1,145     $ 1,012     $ (75 )   $ 2,082  
                                

Cash flows used for investing activities

        

Purchases of fixed maturities available for sale

     —         (7,957 )     (15,382 )     (23,339 )

Purchases of fixed maturities held to maturity

     —         (203 )     (13 )     (216 )

Purchases of equity securities

     —         (251 )     (337 )     (588 )

Sales of fixed maturities available for sale

     —         6,848       14,478       21,326  

Sales of equity securities

     —         439       285       724  

Maturities and redemptions of fixed maturities available for sale

     —         848       780       1,628  

Maturities and redemptions of fixed maturities held to maturity

     —         190       72       262  

Net proceeds from (payments made on) the settlement of investment derivatives

     11       —         (33 )     (22 )

Advances (to) from affiliates

     (385 )     —         385       —    

Acquisition of subsidiary (net of cash acquired of $19)

     —         (2,557 )     —         (2,557 )

Other

     (1 )     (152 )     (269 )     (422 )
                                

Net cash flows used for investing activities

     (375 )     (2,795 )     (34 )     (3,204 )
                                

Cash flows (used for) from financing activities

        

Dividends paid on Common Shares

     (178 )     —         —         (178 )

Dividends paid on Preferred Shares

     (24 )     —         —         (24 )

Net proceeds from (repayment of) short-term debt

     (51 )     —         721       670  

Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

     —         1,195       —         1,195  

Redemption of Preferred Shares

     (575 )     —         —         (575 )

Proceeds from exercise of options for Common Shares

     80       —         —         80  

Proceeds from Common Shares issued under ESPP

     10       —         —         10  

Advances (to) from affiliates

     —         589       (589 )     —    
                                

Net cash flows (used for) from financing activities

     (738 )     1,784       132       1,178  
                                

Effect of foreign currency rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     —         9       7       16  
                                

Net increase in cash

     32       10       30       72  

Cash – beginning of period

     —         310       200       510  
                                

Cash – end of period

   $ 32     $ 320     $ 230     $ 582  
                                

 

(1)

Includes all other subsidiaries of ACE Limited and intercompany eliminations.

 

33


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2007

(in millions of U.S. dollars)

 

     ACE Limited
(Parent
Guarantor)
    ACE INA
Holdings, Inc.
(Subsidiary
Issuer)
    Other ACE
Limited
Subsidiaries and
Eliminations (1)
    ACE Limited
Consolidated
 

Net cash flows from operating activities

   $ 235     $ 666     $ 1,493     $ 2,394  
                                

Cash flows from (used for) investing activities

        

Purchases of fixed maturities available for sale

     (110 )     (8,893 )     (13,732 )     (22,735 )

Purchases of fixed maturities held to maturity

     —         (210 )     —         (210 )

Purchases of equity securities

     —         (266 )     (153 )     (419 )

Sales of fixed maturities available for sale

     —         7,494       11,465       18,959  

Sales of equity securities

     —         223       138       361  

Maturities and redemptions of fixed maturities available for sale

     —         957       752       1,709  

Maturities and redemptions of fixed maturities held to maturity

     —         186       49       235  

Net proceeds from (payments made on) the settlement of investment derivatives

     13       —         (32 )     (19 )

Advances from (to) affiliates

     496       —         (496 )     —    

Other

     (5 )     (42 )     (36 )     (83 )
                                

Net cash flows from (used for) investing activities

     394       (551 )     (2,045 )     (2,202 )
                                

Cash flows (used for) from financing activities

        

Dividends paid on Common Shares

     (163 )     —         —         (163 )

Dividends paid on Preferred Shares

     (22 )     —         —         (22 )

Repayment of short-term debt

     (500 )     —         —         (500 )

Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

     —         500       —         500  

Proceeds from exercise of options for Common Shares

     42       —         —         42  

Proceeds from Common Shares issued under ESPP

     4       —         —         4  

Advances (to) from affiliates

     —         (484 )     484       —    
                                

Net cash flows (used for) from financing activities

     (639 )     16       484       (139 )
                                

Effect of foreign currency rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     —         3       —         3  
                                

Net (decrease) increase in cash

     (10 )     134       (68 )     56  

Cash – beginning of period

     13       213       339       565  
                                

Cash – end of period

   $ 3     $ 347     $ 271     $ 621  
                                

 

(1)

Includes all other subsidiaries of ACE Limited and intercompany eliminations.

 

34


ACE LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

14. Subsequent events

On March 19, 2008, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved the Continuation of the Company to move its jurisdiction of incorporation from the Cayman Islands to Zurich, Switzerland. On July 10, 2008, and July 14, 2008, the Company’s shareholders approved the Continuation proposals during ACE’s annual general meeting. ACE received all regulatory approvals and became a Swiss company effective July 18, 2008. The Company does not expect the re-domestication to have a material impact on the way ACE operates or on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

In connection with the Continuation, the Company changed the currency in which the par value of Ordinary Shares is stated from U.S. dollars to Swiss francs and increased the par value of Ordinary Shares from $0.041666667 to CHF 33.74 (the New Par Value) through a conversion of all issued Ordinary Shares into “stock” and re-conversion of the stock into Ordinary Shares with a par value equal to the New Par Value (the Par Value Conversion). The Par Value Conversion was followed immediately by a stock dividend, to effectively return shareholders to the number of Ordinary Shares held before the Par Value Conversion. The stock dividend did not therefore have the affect of diluting earnings per share. Upon the effectiveness of the Continuation, the Company’s Ordinary Shares became Common Shares. Notwithstanding the change of the currency in which the par value of Common Shares is stated, the Company continues to use U.S. dollars as its reporting and functional currency for preparing the consolidated financial statements. In accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 4, Equity Accounts, changes in capital structure of this nature that occur after the balance sheet date but before the release of the consolidated financial statements must be given retroactive effect in the reported balance sheet. Accordingly, the consolidated financial statements at June 30, 2008, reflect the increase in par value. For purposes of the consolidated financial statements, the increase in par value was accomplished by a corresponding reduction first to retained earnings and second to additional paid-in capital to the extent that the increase in par value exhausted retained earnings at the balance sheet date. Under Swiss corporate law, the Company is required to declare and pay dividends, including distributions through a reduction in par value, in Swiss francs. For the foreseeable future, the Company expects to pay dividends as a repayment of share capital in the form of a reduction in par value or qualified paid-in capital, which would not be subject to Swiss withholding tax.

Under Swiss corporate law, the Company may not generally issue registered shares below their par value. In the event there is a need to raise common equity at a time when the trading price of the Company’s registered shares is below par value, the Company will need to obtain shareholder approval to decrease the par value of the registered shares.

 

35


ITEM 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following is a discussion of our results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity and capital resources as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008. Our results of operations and cash flows for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of our results for the full year. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes and our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. Any written or oral statements made by us or on our behalf may include forward-looking statements that reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors that could, should potential events occur, cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors (which are described in more detail elsewhere herein and in other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)) include but are not limited to:

 

   

losses arising out of natural or man-made catastrophes such as hurricanes, typhoons, earthquakes, floods, or terrorism which could be affected by:

 

   

the number of insureds and ceding companies affected,

 

   

the amount and timing of losses actually incurred and reported by insureds,

 

   

the impact of these losses on our reinsurers and the amount and timing of reinsurance recoverables actually received,

 

   

the cost of building materials and labor to reconstruct properties following a catastrophic event, and

 

   

complex coverage and regulatory issues such as whether losses occurred from storm surge or flooding and related lawsuits;

 

   

actions that rating agencies may take from time to time, such as changes in our claims-paying ability, financial strength or credit ratings or placing these ratings on credit watch negative or the equivalent;

 

   

global political conditions, the occurrence of any terrorist attacks, including any nuclear, radiological, biological, or chemical events, or the outbreak and effects of war, and possible business disruption or economic contraction that may result from such events;

 

   

the ability to collect reinsurance recoverables, credit developments of reinsurers, and any delays with respect thereto and changes in the cost, quality, or availability of reinsurance;

 

   

the occurrence of catastrophic events or other insured or reinsured events with a frequency or severity exceeding our estimates;

 

   

actual loss experience from insured or reinsured events and the timing of claim payments;

 

   

the uncertainties of the loss-reserving and claims-settlement processes, including the difficulties associated with assessing environmental damage and asbestos-related latent injuries, the impact of aggregate-policy-coverage limits, and the impact of bankruptcy protection sought by various asbestos producers and other related businesses and the timing of loss payments;

 

   

judicial decisions and rulings, new theories of liability, legal tactics, and settlement terms;

 

   

the effects of public company bankruptcies and/or accounting restatements, as well as disclosures by and investigations of public companies relating to possible accounting irregularities, and other corporate governance issues, including the effects of such events on:

 

   

the capital markets;

 

   

the markets for directors and officers and errors and omissions insurance; and

 

   

claims and litigation arising out of such disclosures or practices by other companies;

 

36


   

uncertainties relating to governmental, legislative and regulatory policies, developments, actions, investigations and treaties, which, among other things, could subject us to insurance regulation or taxation in additional jurisdictions or affect our current operations;

 

   

the actual amount of new and renewal business, market acceptance of our products, and risks associated with the introduction of new products and services and entering new markets, including regulatory constraints on exit strategies;

 

   

the competitive environment in which we operate, including trends in pricing or in policy terms and conditions, which may differ from our projections and changes in market conditions that could render our business strategies ineffective or obsolete;

 

   

Combined Insurance Company of America (Combined Insurance) and its subsidiaries, or any other acquisitions made by us, performing differently than expected or the failure to realize anticipated expense-related efficiencies from acquisitions;

 

   

developments in global financial markets, including changes in interest rates, stock markets, and other financial markets, and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, which could affect our statement of operations, investment portfolio, and financing plans;

 

   

risks associated with our re-domestication to Switzerland, including anticipated reduced flexibility with respect to certain aspects of capital management and the potential for additional regulatory burdens;

 

   

the potential impact from government-mandated insurance coverage for acts of terrorism;

 

   

the availability of borrowings and letters of credit under our credit facilities;

 

   

changes in the distribution or placement of risks due to increased consolidation of insurance and reinsurance brokers;

 

   

material differences between actual and expected assessments for guaranty funds and mandatory pooling arrangements;

 

   

the effects of investigations into market practices in the property and casualty (P&C) industry;

 

   

changing rates of inflation and other economic conditions, for example, recession;

 

   

the amount of dividends received from subsidiaries;

 

   

loss of the services of any of our executive officers without suitable replacements being recruited in a reasonable time frame;

 

   

the ability of our technology resources to perform as anticipated; and

 

   

management’s response to these factors and actual events (including, but not limited to, those described above).

The words “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “should,” “plan,” “expect,” “intend,” “hope,” “will likely result,” or “will continue,” and variations thereof and similar expressions, identify forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Overview

ACE and its direct and indirect subsidiaries are a global insurance and reinsurance organization, servicing the insurance needs of commercial and individual customers in more than 140 countries and jurisdictions. Our product and geographic diversification differentiates us from the vast majority of our competitors and has been a source of stability during periods of industry volatility. Our long-term business strategy focuses on sustained growth in book value achieved through a combination of underwriting and investment income. By doing so, we provide value to our clients and shareholders through the utilization of our substantial capital base in the insurance and reinsurance markets.

 

37


Redomestication to Zurich, Switzerland

On July 10, 2008, and July 14, 2008, our shareholders approved proposals submitted by our Board of Directors to change our jurisdiction of incorporation from the Cayman Islands to Zurich, Switzerland (the Continuation). As a result of the Continuation, we are deregistered in the Cayman Islands and are now subject to Swiss corporate law. We do not expect the re-domestication to have a material impact on the way we operate our business or on our financial condition or results of operations.

In connection with the Continuation, we changed the currency in which the par value of Ordinary Shares was stated from U.S. dollars to Swiss francs and increased the par value of Ordinary Shares from $0.041666667 to CHF 33.74 (the New Par Value) through a conversion of all issued Ordinary Shares into “stock” and re-conversion of the stock into Ordinary Shares with a par value equal to the New Par Value (the Par Value Conversion). The Par Value Conversion was followed immediately by a stock dividend, to effectively return shareholders to the number of Ordinary Shares held before the Par Value Conversion. Upon the effectiveness of the Continuation, our Ordinary Shares became Common Shares. Notwithstanding the change of the currency in which the par value of Common Shares is stated, we continue to use U.S. dollars as our reporting and functional currency for preparing our Consolidated Financial Statements. In accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 4, Equity Accounts, changes in capital structure of this nature that occur after the balance sheet date but before the release of the Consolidated Financial Statements must be given retroactive effect in the reported balance sheet. Accordingly, the Consolidated Financial Statements for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, reflect the increase in par value. For purposes of the Consolidated Financial Statements, the increase in par value was accomplished by a corresponding reduction first to retained earnings and second to additional paid-in capital to the extent that the increase in par value exhausted retained earnings at the balance sheet date. Under Swiss corporate law, we are required to declare and pay dividends, including distributions through a reduction in par value, in Swiss francs, which we expect to convert via our transfer agent into U.S. dollars for distribution to shareholders. For the foreseeable future, we expect to pay dividends as a repayment of share capital in the form of a reduction in par value or qualified paid-in capital, which would not be subject to Swiss withholding tax. Refer to “Liquidity and Capital Resources” below and Note 14 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

The Combined Insurance Acquisition

On April 1, 2008, ACE acquired all of the outstanding shares of Combined Insurance and certain of its subsidiaries from AON Corporation for $2.56 billion. ACE financed the transaction through a combination of available cash, the use of reverse repurchase agreements, and new private and public long-term debt (refer to “Capital Resources” for more information). Combined Insurance, which was founded in 1919 and headquartered in Glenview, Illinois, is a leading underwriter and distributor of specialty individual accident and supplemental health insurance products targeted to middle income consumers in the U.S., Europe, Canada, and Asia Pacific. Combined Insurance serves more than four million policyholders worldwide. This acquisition has diversified our accident and health (A&H) distribution capabilities by adding thousands of agents, while almost doubling our A&H franchise. We believe this will provide significant long-term growth opportunities. Our A&H operations have represented an increasing portion of our business in recent years. Within our A&H operations (including Combined Insurance), our primary business is personal accident. We are not in the primary health care business. Our products include, but are not limited to, accidental death, accidental disability, supplemental medical, hospital indemnity, and income protection coverages. With respect to our supplemental medical and hospital indemnity products, we typically pay fixed amounts for claims and are therefore insulated from rising health care costs. ACE recorded the acquisition using the purchase method of accounting. The interim Consolidated Financial Statements include the results of Combined Insurance beginning April 1, 2008. The acquisition generated $723 million of goodwill and other intangible assets, based on ACE’s preliminary purchase price allocation. The Combined Insurance results were included in our Insurance – Overseas General segment or Life Insurance and Reinsurance segment according to the nature of the business written. Results from Combined Insurance’s North American operations are included in ACE’s Life Insurance and Reinsurance segment and the results from Combined Insurance’s international operations are included in ACE’s Insurance – Overseas General segment. Refer to Note 3 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

 

38


Market Conditions

The P&C industry is little changed from the first quarter of 2008. We are in a period of excess underwriting capacity, as defined by availability of capital and, as a result, prices are declining globally across all lines and territories, with little exception, although pricing conditions vary by line and country.

Our global A&H business continues to grow, and has also benefited from favorable foreign exchange impact. Our P&C business generally faces difficult underwriting conditions globally, offset by growth in continental Europe, Latin America, and Asia. A number of our specialty businesses in the U.S. where we judge the pricing to be reasonable relative to risk, experienced growth in the quarter ended June 30, 2008. These include errors and omissions (E&O), international coverages for small U.S. companies doing business overseas, our crop/hail business, and our political risk business in North America and the U.K. We are declining business in other areas where competitive pressures are reducing prices to unreasonable levels. Our Lloyd’s based wholesale business decreased given competitive marine, property and aviation market conditions. Our U.S. wholesale casualty business, inland marine, retail workers’ compensation, and our commercial Directors & Officers (D&O), and on the reinsurance side our casualty and risk property business decreased. U.S. catastrophe-related pricing, particularly for wind exposure, has remained reasonably disciplined. We believe the weak market conditions will continue for the foreseeable future. Overall, the market continues to become more competitive despite the increased risks presented by the slowing economy and inflation. We are focused on holding our renewal business and writing less new business – we will continue to drive for growth in those areas we believe will provide an adequate rate of return while curtailing or eliminating other areas. As we have stated previously, we believe our global platform affords us opportunities for growth not available to smaller or less diversified insurance companies, particularly in this difficult environment.

Refer to “Overview” in our “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included under Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 (2007 Form 10-K).

Fair Value Measurements

We partially adopted the provisions of Financial Accounting Standard No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (FAS 157) on January 1, 2008. FAS 157 defines fair value as the price to sell an asset or transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants and establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy in which inputs into valuation techniques used to measure fair value are classified. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable data. Inputs in Level 1 are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. Level 2 includes inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for assets or liabilities either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include, among other items, quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability such as interest rates and yield curves. Level 3 inputs are unobservable and reflect our judgments about assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

At June 30, 2008, our Level 3 assets represented approximately 3.7 percent of our assets measured at fair value, and 2.0 percent of our total assets. Our Level 3 liabilities represented approximately 98 percent of our liabilities measured at fair value, and less than one percent of our total liabilities, at June 30, 2008. During the quarter ended June 30, 2008, we transferred $95 million out of Level 3. The following is a description of the valuation measurements used for our financial instruments (Levels 1, 2, and 3) carried or disclosed at fair value, as well as the general classification of such financial instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.

 

   

Fixed maturities with active markets such as U.S. Treasury and agency securities are classified within Level 1 as fair values are based on quoted market prices. For fixed maturities that trade in less active markets, including corporate and municipal securities, fair values are based on the output of “pricing matrix models”, the significant inputs into which include, but are not limited to, yield curves, credit

 

39


 

risks and spreads, measures of volatility, and prepayment speeds. These fixed maturities are classified within Level 2. Our pricing incorporates back-testing of valuation techniques as a standard part of our process. Fixed maturities for which pricing is unobservable are classified within Level 3.

 

   

Equity securities with active markets are classified within Level 1 as fair values are based on quoted market prices. For nonpublic equity securities, fair values are based on market valuations and are classified within Level 2.

 

   

Short-term investments, which comprise securities due to mature within one year of the date of purchase, that are traded in active markets are classified within Level 1 as fair values are based on quoted market prices. Securities such as commercial paper and discount notes are classified within Level 2 because these securities are typically not actively traded due to their approaching maturity and, as such, their cost approximating par value.

 

   

Fair values for other investments, principally other direct equity investments, investment funds, and limited partnerships, are based on the net asset value or financial statements and are included within Level 3. Equity securities and fixed maturities held in rabbi trusts maintained by ACE for deferred compensation plans, and included in Other investments, are classified within the valuation hierarchy on the same basis as our other equity securities and fixed maturities.

 

   

For actively traded investment derivative instruments, including futures, options, and exchange-traded forward contracts, we obtain quoted market prices to determine fair value. As such, these instruments are included within Level 1. Forward contracts that are not exchange-traded are priced using a pricing matrix model principally employing observable inputs and, as such, are classified within Level 2. Our position in interest rate and credit default swaps is typically classified within Level 3.

 

   

We maintain positions in other derivative instruments including option contracts designed to limit exposure to a severe equity market decline, which would cause an increase in expected claims and, therefore, reserves for guaranteed minimum death benefits (GMDB) and guaranteed minimum income benefits (GMIB) reinsurance business. The fair value of the majority of our positions in other derivative instruments is based on significant observable inputs including equity security and interest rate indices. Accordingly, these are classified within Level 2. Our position in credit default swaps is typically included within Level 3.

 

   

For GMIB reinsurance, we estimate fair value using an internal valuation model which includes the use of management estimates and current market information. The cumulative effect of partially adopting FAS 157 resulted in a reduction to retained earnings of $4 million related to an increase in risk margins included in the valuation of certain GMIB contracts. The fair value depends on a number of inputs, including changes in interest rates, changes in equity markets, changes in market volatility, changes in policyholder behavior, and changes in policyholder mortality. The model and related assumptions are continuously re-evaluated by management and enhanced, as appropriate, based upon improvements in modeling techniques and availability of more timely market information, such as market conditions and demographics of in-force annuities. The two most significant policyholder behavior assumptions include lapse rates and annuitization rates using the guaranteed benefit (GMIB annuitization rate). A lapse rate is the percentage of in-force policies surrendered in a given calendar year. All else equal, as lapse rates increase, ultimate claim payments will decrease. The GMIB annuitization rate is the percentage of policies for which the customer will elect to annuitize using the guaranteed benefit provided under the GMIB. All else equal, as GMIB annuitization rates increase, ultimate claim payments will increase, subject to treaty claim limits. Assumptions regarding lapse rates and GMIB annuitization rates differ by treaty but the underlying methodology to determine rates applied to each treaty is comparable. The assumptions regarding lapse and GMIB annuitization rates determined for each treaty are based on a dynamic calculation that uses several underlying factors. The effect of changes in key market factors on assumed lapse and annuitization rates is principally based on historical experience for variable annuity contracts as well as considerable judgment, particularly for newer benefits with limited historical experience. We view our variable annuity reinsurance business as

 

40


 

having a similar risk profile to that of catastrophe reinsurance, with the probability of a cumulative long-term economic net loss relatively small. However, in the short run, adverse changes in market factors will have an adverse impact on both life underwriting income and our net income, which may be material. Because of the significant use of unobservable inputs including policyholder behavior, GMIB reinsurance is classified within Level 3. Refer to the “Critical Accounting Estimates – Guaranteed minimum income benefits derivatives” and “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk – Reinsurance of GMIB and GMDB guarantees” in our 2007 Form 10-K.

Our net income is directly impacted by changes in the reserves calculated in connection with the reinsurance of variable annuity guarantees, primarily GMDB and GMIB. These reserves are calculated in accordance with AICPA Statement of Position 03-1, Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Non-traditional Long-duration Contracts and for Separate Accounts (SOP 03-1). Changes in these reserves are reflected as future policy benefits, which is included in life underwriting income. In addition, our net income is directly impacted by the change in the fair value of the GMIB liability, which is classified as a derivative according to Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (FAS 133). The fair value liability established for a GMIB reinsurance contract represents the difference between the fair value of the contract and the SOP 03-1 reserves. Changes in the fair value of the GMIB liability, net of associated changes in the calculated SOP 03-1 reserves, are reflected as realized gains or losses.

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, we recorded $75 million of net realized gains and $130 million of net realized losses, respectively, in connection with changes in reported liabilities on GMIB reinsurance carried at fair value. For the quarter ended June 30, 2008, the change was caused by favorable market conditions, including an increase in long-term interest rates, and a decrease in implied volatility for both equity markets and interest rates. The change for the six months ended June 30, 2008, which resulted in net realized losses, was caused by adverse financial market conditions, primarily poor equity market performance.

The SOP 03-1 reserves and fair value liability calculations are directly affected by market factors, the most significant of which are equity levels, interest rate levels, and implied equity volatilities. The table below shows the sensitivity, as of June 30, 2008, of the SOP 03-1 reserves and fair value liability associated with the variable annuity guarantee reinsurance portfolio. Note that the change in the fair value liability includes offsetting changes in the fair value of specific derivative instruments held to partially offset the risk in the variable annuity guarantee reinsurance portfolio. These derivatives do not receive hedge accounting treatment.

 

     10% Worldwide
Equity Decrease
   Impact of 100 bp
Decrease in
Interest Rates
   Long-term
Equity Implied
Volatility Up 2%
     (in millions of U.S. dollars)

Increase in SOP 03-1 reserves/reduction in Life underwriting income

   $ 30    $ 12    $ —  

Increase in fair value liability, net

     107      198      31
                    

Reduction in net income

   $ 137      210    $ 31
                    

The table above demonstrates, for example, that a 10 percent decrease in worldwide equities would reduce our life underwriting income by $30 million and cause a net realized loss of $107 million, for a total reduction in net income of $137 million. The sensitivity of the liabilities to market risks will change over time and these changes could be significant. Factors affecting the sensitivities include changes in account values and guaranteed values of the variable annuity policies reinsured; receipt of reinsurance premium and payment of reinsurance claims; policyholder deaths, lapses, withdrawals, and asset reallocation; the addition of new reinsurance treaties; changes in equity and interest rate levels and volatility; model changes and improvements; and the passage of time.

Note 4 to our Consolidated Financial Statements presents a break-down of our financial instruments carried or disclosed at fair value by valuation hierarchy as well as a roll-forward of Level 3 financial instruments for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008.

 

41


Mortgage-backed and Asset-backed Securities

Our sub-prime portfolio represented less than one percent of our investment portfolio at June 30, 2008, and we hold no collateralized debt obligations or collateralized loan obligations. Additional details on the mortgage-backed and asset-backed components of our investment portfolio at June 30, 2008, are provided below:

Mortgage-backed and Asset-backed Securities

Market Value

(in millions of U.S. dollars)

 

     S&P Credit Rating
     AAA    AA    A    BBB    BB
and below
   Total

Mortgage-backed securities

                 

Residential mortgage-backed (RMBS)

                 

GNMA

   $ 377    $ —      $ —      $ —      $ —      $ 377

FNMA

     5,066      —        —        —        —        5,066

Freddie Mac

     2,035      —        —        —        —        2,035
                                         

Total agency RMBS

     7,478      —        —        —        —        7,478

Non-agency RMBS

     2,712      9      1      10      —        2,732
                                         

Total RMBS

     10,190      9      1      10      —        10,210

Commercial mortgage-backed

     2,440      4      10      4      —        2,458
                                         

Total mortgage-backed securities

   $ 12,630    $ 13    $ 11    $ 14    $ —      $ 12,668
                                         

Asset-backed securities

                 

Sub-prime

   $ 103    $ 6    $ 5    $ —      $ —      $ 114

Credit Cards

     62      —        16      8      —        86

Autos

     537      31      8      6      —        582

Other

     252      1      4      —        1      258
                                         

Total asset-backed securities

   $ 954    $ 38    $ 33    $ 14    $ 1    $ 1,040
                                         

Mortgage-backed and Asset-backed Securities

Amortized Cost

(in millions of U.S. dollars)

 

     S&P Credit Rating
     AAA    AA    A    BBB    BB
and below
   Total

Mortgage-backed securities

                 

Residential mortgage-backed (RMBS)

                 

GNMA

   $ 376    $ —      $ —      $ —      $ —      $ 376

FNMA

     5,054      —        —        —        —        5,054

Freddie Mac

     2,020      —        —        —        —        2,020
                                         

Total agency RMBS

     7,450      —        —        —        —        7,450

Non-agency RMBS

     2,881      10      1      10      —        2,902
                                         

Total RMBS

     10,331      10      1      10      —        10,352

Commercial mortgage-backed

     2,475      4      10      3      —        2,492
                                         

Total mortgage-backed securities

   $ 12,806    $ 14    $ 11    $ 13    $ —      $ 12,844
                                         

Asset-backed securities

                 

Sub-prime

   $ 109    $ 6    $ 5    $ —      $ —      $ 120

Credit Cards

     61      —        16      8      —        85

Autos

     534      32      8      6      —        580

Other

     253      1      5      1      1      261
                                         

Total asset-backed securities

   $ 957    $ 39    $ 34    $ 15    $ 1    $ 1,046
                                         

 

42


Consolidated Operating Results – Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007

As discussed previously, on April 1, 2008, we acquired all outstanding shares of Combined Insurance and certain of its subsidiaries. As such, consolidated operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, include the results of the acquired Combined Insurance business from April 1, 2008.

 

     Three Months Ended June 30     Six Months Ended June 30
             2008                     2007                     2008                     2007        
     (in millions of U.S. dollars)

Net premiums written

   $ 3,598     $ 3,082     $ 6,752     $ 6,352

Net premiums earned

     3,428       3,008       6,368       6,090

Net investment income

     532       471       1,021       922

Net realized gains (losses)

     (126 )     (11 )     (479 )     5
                              

Total revenues

   $ 3,834     $ 3,468     $ 6,910     $ 7,017
                              

Losses and loss expenses

     1,895       1,793       3,474       3,653

Future policy benefits

     89       33       152       69

Policy acquisition costs

     569       434       1,037       851

Administrative expenses

     461       356       836       712

Interest expense

     62       42       108       88

Other (income) expense

     (125 )     (4 )     (110 )     —  
                              

Total expenses

   $ 2,951     $ 2,654     $ 5,497     $ 5,373
                              

Income before income tax

     883       814       1,413       1,644

Income tax expense

     137       165       290       294
                              

Net income

   $ 746     $ 649     $ 1,123     $ 1,350
                              

Net premiums written, which reflect the premiums we retain after purchasing reinsurance protection, increased 17 percent and 6 percent in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, compared with the prior year periods. Net premiums written were bolstered by the inclusion of the acquired Combined Insurance business which added $404 million to our total net premiums written in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008. In addition, our recently acquired ACE Private Risk Services unit added $38 million and $147 million to our net premiums written in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively. The quarter ended June 30, 2008, also included approximately $69 million of net premiums written related primarily to large structured programs, including $109 million related to a structured professional liability reinsurance transaction written in the second quarter of 2008, partially offset by premium adjustments of approximately $44 million, reflecting better than expected loss experience on several loss sensitive programs. The six months ended June 30, 2007, included $168 million in net premiums written and earned relating to a one-time large assumed loss portfolio transfer written in the first quarter of 2007. Overall, we have continued to experience very competitive conditions across most lines of business and regions of operation, offset by a favorable foreign exchange impact and growth in our international A&H business.

The following table provides a consolidated breakdown of net premiums earned by line of business for the periods indicated.

 

     Three Months Ended June 30     Six Months Ended June 30  
     2008    % of
total
    2007    % of
total
    2008    % of
total
    2007    % of
total
 
     (in millions of U.S. dollars, except for percentages)  

Property and all other

   $ 982    29 %   $ 923    31 %   $ 1,863    29 %   $ 1,782    29 %

Casualty

     1,451    42 %     1,584    52 %     2,949    46 %     3,331    55 %
                                                    

Subtotal

     2,433    71 %     2,507    83 %     4,812    75 %     5,113    84 %

Personal accident (A&H)

     875    25 %     414    14 %     1,336    21 %     802    13 %

Life

     120    4 %     87    3 %     220    4 %     175    3 %
                                                    

Net premiums earned

   $ 3,428    100 %   $ 3,008    100 %   $ 6,368    100 %   $ 6,090    100 %
                                                    

 

43


Net premiums earned reflect the portion of net premiums written that were recorded as revenues for the period as the exposure period expires. Net premiums earned increased 14 percent and 5 percent in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively, compared with the prior year periods. As discussed, the increase was primarily related to the inclusion of the acquired Combined Insurance business which added $401 million to our total net premiums earned. ACE Private Risk Services added $35 million and $73 million to our net premiums earned in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively. The three and six months ended June 30, 2008, were negatively impacted by premium adjustments totaling $44 million reflecting better than expected loss experience on several loss sensitive programs. The six months ended June 30, 2007, included $168 million in net premiums earned relating to a one-time large assumed loss portfolio transfer (included under casualty in the prior year periods). As noted above, our A&H business continues to report growth.

Net investment income increased 13 percent and 11 percent in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively, compared with the prior year periods. This increase was primarily due to the investment of positive operating cash flows which have resulted in a higher overall average invested asset base. Refer to “Net Investment Income” and “Investments”.

In evaluating our segments excluding Life Insurance and Reinsurance, we use the combined ratio, the loss and loss expense ratio, the policy acquisition cost ratio, and the administrative expense ratio. We calculate these ratios by dividing the respective expense amounts by net premiums earned. We do not calculate these ratios for the Life Insurance and Reinsurance segment as we do not use these measures to monitor or manage that segment. The combined ratio is determined by adding the loss and loss expense ratio, the policy acquisition cost ratio, and the administrative expense ratio. A combined ratio under 100 percent indicates underwriting income and a combined ratio exceeding 100 percent indicates underwriting losses.

The following table shows our consolidated loss and loss expense ratio, policy acquisition ratio, administrative expense ratio, and combined ratio for the periods indicated.

 

     Three Months Ended June 30     Six Months Ended June 30  
             2008                     2007                     2008                     2007          

Loss and loss expense ratio

   58.5 %   61.4 %   57.1 %   61.8 %

Policy acquisition cost ratio

   16.5 %   14.5 %   16.3 %   14.0 %

Administrative expense ratio

   12.8 %   11.7 %   12.8 %   11.6 %
                        

Combined ratio

   87.8 %   87.6 %   86.2 %   87.4 %
                        

The following table shows the impact of catastrophe losses, prior period development, and other significant events on our loss and loss expense ratio for the periods indicated.

 

     Three Months Ended June 30     Six Months Ended June 30  
             2008                     2007                     2008                     2007          

Loss and loss expense ratio, as reported

   58.5 %   61.4 %   57.1 %   61.8 %

Catastrophe losses

   (1.9 )%   (2.9 )%   (1.5 )%   (2.0 )%

Prior period development

   3.4 %   1.4 %   4.8 %   1.0 %

Large assumed loss portfolio transfer

   —       —       —       (1.0 )%
                        

Loss and loss expense ratio, adjusted

   60.0 %   59.9 %   60.4 %   59.8 %
                        

We recorded $58 million and $89 million in net catastrophe losses in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively, compared with $81 million and $115 million in the prior year periods, respectively. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, our catastrophe losses were primarily related to floods in the U.S. Prior period development arises from changes to loss estimates recognized in the current year that relate to loss reserves first reported in previous calendar years and excludes the effect of losses from the development of

 

44


earned premium from previous accident years. We experienced $104 million and $285 million of net favorable prior period development in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively. This compares with net favorable prior period development of $40 million and $58 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively. The favorable prior period development was the net result of several underlying favorable and adverse movements. Overall, the loss and loss expense ratio, adjusted, has increased over the prior year periods by approximately three percentage points due to unfavorable market conditions. This increase is included in the adjusted loss ratio in the above table and is being reduced by the positive impact that the increasing mix of ACE International’s A&H business and Combined Insurance has on the current period loss ratios. A&H experiences lower loss ratios relative to P&C business, and the increased concentration of A&H to the overall P&C business, has reduced the adjusted loss ratio by approximately 1.0 percentage point. Additionally, the six months ended June 30, 2007, was negatively impacted by the large assumed loss portfolio transfer which was written at a higher loss ratio compared with other types of business. This contract added approximately one percentage point to the prior period’s loss and loss expense ratio.

Our policy acquisition costs include commissions, premium taxes, underwriting, and other costs that vary with, and are primarily related to, the production of premium. Administrative expenses include all other operating costs. Our policy acquisition cost ratio increased significantly in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, compared with the prior year periods. The increase was primarily related to the growth in A&H business, including the recently acquired Combined Insurance business, which is predominantly A&H. A&H business typically attracts higher commission rates than traditional P&C business. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, the increase in policy acquisition costs also included the impact of higher acquisition costs on ACE Westchester’s crop/hail business, reflecting more profitable crop/hail results on final settlement. This generated a higher profit share commission which added approximately 0.7 percentage points to our policy acquisition cost ratio in the six months ended June 30, 2008. Additionally, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, we experienced higher costs due to the inclusion of the recently acquired ACE Private Risk Services unit which typically generates a higher acquisition cost ratio than our commercial P&C business. Our administrative expenses increased in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, compared with the prior year periods, primarily due to an adverse foreign exchange impact in our ACE International operations and the inclusion of administrative expenses related to the recently acquired Combined Insurance and ACE Private Risk Services. We continue to focus on reducing expenses where possible.

Our effective income tax rate, which we calculate as income tax expense divided by income before income tax, is dependent upon the mix of earnings from different jurisdictions with various tax rates. A change in the geographic mix of earnings would change the effective income tax rate. Our effective tax rate was 15 percent and 20 percent in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively. This compares with an effective tax rate of 20 percent and 18 percent in the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively. The six months ended June 30, 2008, was adversely impacted by large realized losses on investments and derivatives. The first quarter of 2007 benefited from a decrease in our liability for unrecognized tax benefits and also experienced a higher proportion of net income earned in lower-tax paying jurisdictions.

 

45


Prior Period Development

The favorable prior period development of $104 million and $40 million during the quarters ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, was the net result of several underlying favorable and adverse movements. In the sections following the table below, significant prior period movements within each reporting segment are discussed in more detail. The following table summarizes prior period development, (favorable) and adverse, by segment and claim-tail attribute for the periods indicated.

 

Three months ended June 30:    Long-tail     Short-tail     Total     % of net
unpaid
reserves*
 
     (in millions of U.S. dollars, except for
percentages)
 

2008

        

Insurance – North American

   $ 7     $ (30 )   $ (23 )   0.2 %

Insurance – Overseas General

     (39 )     (15 )     (54 )   0.8 %

Global Reinsurance

     (3 )     (24 )     (27 )   1.0 %
                              

Total

   $ (35 )   $ (69 )   $ (104 )   0.4 %
                              

2007

        

Insurance – North American**

   $ (47 )   $ 41     $ (6 )   0.0 %

Insurance – Overseas General

     (4 )     (27 )     (31 )   0.5 %

Global Reinsurance

     2       (5 )     (3 )   0.1 %
                              

Total

   $ (49 )   $ 9     $ (40 )   0.2 %
                              

 

* Calculated based on the segment beginning of period net unpaid loss and loss expense reserves.
** Insurance – North American: $52 million of workers’ compensation industrial accident/catastrophe was reclassified from short-tail to long-tail.

 

Six months ended June 30:    Long-tail     Short-tail     Total     % of net
unpaid
reserves*
 
     (in millions of U.S. dollars, except for
percentages)
 

2008

        

Insurance – North American

   $ 13     $ (159 )   $ (146 )   1.0 %

Insurance – Overseas General

     (42 )     (56 )     (98 )   1.5 %

Global Reinsurance

     (4 )     (37 )     (41 )   1.5 %
                              

Total

   $ (33 )   $ (252 )   $ (285 )   1.2 %
                              

2007

        

Insurance – North American**

   $ (50 )   $ 54     $ 4     0.0 %

Insurance – Overseas General

     1       (53 )     (52 )   0.8 %

Global Reinsurance***

     (2 )     (8 )     (10 )   0.4 %
                              

Total

   $ (51 )   $ (7 )   $ (58 )   0.3 %
                              

 

* Calculated based on the segment beginning of period net unpaid loss and loss expense reserves.
** Insurance – North American: $52 million of workers’ compensation industrial accident/catastrophe was reclassified from short-tail to long-tail.
*** Global Reinsurance: $5 million of workers’ compensation industrial accident/catastrophe was reclassified from short-tail to long-tail.

 

46


Insurance – North American

Insurance – North American experienced $23 million of net favorable prior period development in the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared with net favorable prior period development of $6 million in the prior year quarter. The net prior period development for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, was the net result of underlying adverse and favorable movements.

 

   

Net adverse development of $7 million on long-tail business including:

 

   

Adverse development of $15 million in our national accounts workers’ compensation portfolios comprised of two items of significance. First, favorable development of $47 million arising on accident year 2007, due to the absence of multi-claimant events such as industrial accidents. The majority of our exposure for these perils falls under our national accounts high deductible and excess product lines. We evaluate this exposure on an annual basis, after the accident year has closed, allowing for the late reporting or identification of significant losses and for an initial assessment of the accident year. Our review in 2008 of potential 2007 events, coupled with our initial assessment of the accident year has led to a decrease in our estimate of the required provision for these claims. Second, adverse development of $62 million relating to 2003 and prior accident years. This development was the direct result of reported loss activity greater than expected in our prior review. During the past year, a targeted open case reserve review was conducted by our claims staff. This review identified a relatively small number of large case reserve revisions primarily due to increased medical costs and lengthened life expectancies which contributed to our change in estimates.

 

   

Favorable development of $19 million in our national accounts commercial auto and general liability product lines impacting accident years 2003 and prior. The exposures affected were written on an excess basis. The combination of continued lower than expected reported incurred loss activity for the 2001-2003 accident years as well as increased weight on loss development reserving methods as these years mature has driven the majority of the improvement in projected ultimate losses.

 

   

Adverse development of $9 million on a run-off portfolio of assumed reinsurance impacting the 1998-2000 accident years. The change was largely attributable to bordereaux received during the quarter ended June 30, 2008, on a single cedant currently in liquidation.

 

   

Favorable development of $17 million on a run-off portfolio of fronted programs impacting the 2001 and prior accident years. During the quarter ended June 30, 2008, an account reconciliation was completed on the programs from the date of inception. It was determined that a combination of duplicate loss processing and unregistered reinsurance recoveries on paid losses had led to an overstatement of the required reserves for this product line in prior quarters.

 

   

Adverse development of $29 million on a portfolio of primary casualty business written by ACE Westchester impacting the 2002-2004 accident years. This adverse activity was a function of higher than expected loss and allocated expenses on business that has a heavy concentration of exposure to commercial contractors. In the past few quarters, both paid and incurred development patterns for the tail period beyond 60 months have developed worse than industry benchmark factors which formed the basis for our projections in prior analyses.

 

   

Favorable development of $19 million on excess casualty and umbrella business in our ACE Westchester unit primarily impacting accident years 2002-2004. This favorable activity was a function of a shift in weighting from expected loss based reserving methods to direct projections of ultimate losses as this long tailed exposure begins to mature for these accident periods.

 

   

Adverse development of $10 million on an ACE Bermuda professional lines claim in accident year 2001 as a result of a review in the quarter ended June 30, 2008, that identified significant erosion below our attachment.

 

47


   

Net favorable development of $30 million on short-tail business including:

 

   

Favorable development of $11 million on the ACE Westchester crop/hail business relating to the recording of the April 2008 bordereau largely impacting the 2007 accident year.

 

   

Favorable settlements of $15 million on ACE Bermuda property claims mainly in accident years 2005-2007 as a result of favorable claims experience. A review of all open claims was performed this quarter, which concluded that actual experience to date had been more favorable than the assumptions used to establish the reserves for the open claims.

The net prior period development for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, was the net result of several underlying favorable and adverse movements.

 

   

Net favorable development of $47 million on long-tail business including:

 

   

Net favorable development on three long-tail workers’ compensation portfolios in the amount of $34 million:

 

   

The first portfolio, a run-off book of first dollar workers’ compensation written through a managing general agent, impacted the 2000-2003 accident years. During the latter half of 2006 and into the first half of 2007, all open claim files were reviewed on this portfolio and adjustments to case reserves were recorded. This claims activity was greater than our expectations leading to a $6 million increase in our estimates of ultimate claims.

 

   

The second portfolio was our high deductible workers’ compensation business where we experienced adverse development of $12 million for the 2005 and prior accident years. This adverse development was due to unfavorable trends in allocated claims expense, primarily in the 2002 – 2004 accident years. Allocated claims expense includes costs directly attributable to claims such as claim service and legal costs. Since this portfolio is in excess of deductibles, as the accident years mature, we have been assigning greater credibility towards experience-based methods and away from the expected loss ratio method. The loss development approaches, while highly leveraged, indicate higher allocated claims cost than our initial expectations.

 

   

Favorable development of $52 million arising from ACE USA’s national accounts long-tail workers’ compensation business, primarily for the 2006 accident year. Reported losses for large claims including multi-claimant industrial accidents on our high deductible and excess business have been better than expected to date through June 30, 2007, and in the quarter ended June 30, 2007.

 

   

Favorable development on national accounts long-tail casualty lines of $21 million for the 2002-2004 accident years. This business is generally written excess of a self insured retention or deductible and therefore, losses tend to be slow to emerge and develop. Loss activity over the 12 months ended June 30, 2007, had been favorable relative to expectations and, as the loss history matures and gains credibility, we have assigned greater weight towards experience-based methods than the expected loss ratio method.

 

   

Net adverse development of $41 million on short-tail business including:

 

   

Adverse development based on an appeals court ruling rendered during the quarter ended June 30, 2007, whereby our liabilities for future costs for two related short-tail claims from a run-off financial guaranty program were re-evaluated and increased by $20 million.

 

   

Favorable settlements of $5 million relating to the 2006 crop year in our crop/hail short-tail product line. This prior period crop/hail movement was the direct result of the loss amounts in loss reports issued during the second quarter of 2007 being lower than our preliminary estimate.

 

   

Adverse development on the 2005 accident year hurricanes in the amount of $29 million. This was primarily due to a small number of losses on excess policies that reached settlement in the quarter for amounts in excess of our case reserves prompting an adjustment to our projection of ultimate

 

48


 

losses during the quarter ended June 30, 2007. These hurricanes present complex and unique causation and coverage issues. These issues continued to be present at June 30, 2007, and may have a further material adverse impact on our financial results after that date.

Insurance – Overseas General

Insurance – Overseas General experienced $54 million of net favorable prior period development in the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared with net favorable prior period development of $31 million in the prior year quarter. The net prior period development for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, was the net result of several underlying favorable and adverse movements.

 

   

Net favorable development of $39 million on long-tail business including:

 

   

Favorable development of $38 million primarily in our U.K. and Ireland primary and miscellaneous casualty books mainly in accident years 2005 and prior. Continued lower than expected reported incurred loss activity for these accident years has driven the majority of the improvement in projected ultimate losses.

 

   

Net favorable development of $15 million on short-tail business including:

 

   

Net favorable prior period development of $21 million comprised of $27 million favorable development on short-tail property, fire, tech, and marine lines primarily in accident years 2005-2007 in ACE Europe, offset by $6 million adverse development on property claims for ACE Global Markets mainly in years 2006 and 2007. This net favorable development was driven by lower frequency and severity of late reported claims than anticipated in the previous reserve review. The length of the payment and reporting patterns for the short-tail property, fire, and marine lines is such that a credible adjustment to the prior accident year can be made six months after the end of the prior year based on actual claim emergence.

 

   

Adverse prior period development of $17 million in aviation, primarily in accident years 2004-2007, in ACE Global Markets and impacting the products liability and airport liability portfolios. This adverse prior period development was largely driven by upwards revisions to case reserving assumptions on several claims following notifications received during the quarter ended June 30, 2008.

 

   

Favorable prior period development of $18 million in A&H, primarily in accident years 2005-2007, in Europe. This favorable prior period development was driven by better than expected loss experience relative to prior reserving assumptions. The favorable experience arose in direct marketing and group A&H businesses across several countries with no particular underlying trend identifiable.

 

   

Adverse prior period development of $6 million in marine, primarily following an adverse court ruling during the quarter ended June 30, 2008, on a claim arising on a policy written in 2001 at ACE Global Markets.

The net prior period development for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, was the net result of several underlying favorable and adverse movements:

 

   

Net favorable development of $4 million on long-tail business across many lines and years.

 

   

Net favorable development of $27 million on short-tail business including:

 

   

Favorable prior period development of $21 million on short-tail property and fire lines primarily in accident year 2006 in Europe. The length of the payment and reporting patterns for the short-tail property and fire lines is such that a reasonable determination of the prior accident year can be made after six months. The favorable development in the quarter arose on the 2006 accident year and was driven by lower than anticipated frequency and severity of late reported property claims that emerged during the quarter and favorable development and settlement of several previously reported large losses.

 

49


   

Favorable prior period development of $10 million in marine, primarily in accident years 1999-2002 in ACE Global Markets. This favorable prior period development was largely driven by the settlement and resulting commutation in the quarter ended June 30, 2007, of several legacy underwriting agreements on terms better than those used to establish the held reserves.

 

   

Favorable prior period development of $6 million in A&H primarily in accident years 2005 and 2006 in Europe. This favorable prior period development followed the completion of our quarterly reserve analysis and was driven by better than expected loss experience relative to prior reserving assumptions. The favorable experience arose in direct marketing and group A&H businesses across several countries with no particular underlying trend identifiable.

 

   

Adverse prior period development of $5 million in ACE Global Markets aviation driven primarily by case reserve deterioration in the quarter on a single large event in accident year 2006.

Global Reinsurance

Global Reinsurance experienced $27 million of net favorable prior period development in the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared with $3 million of net favorable prior period development in the prior year quarter. The net prior period development for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, was the net result of several underlying favorable and adverse movements.

 

   

Net favorable development of $3 million on long-tail business across many lines and years. The larger movements include:

 

   

Adverse development of $4 million for U.S. Professional Liability/D&O resulting from an increase in reserves due to sub-prime losses.

 

   

Favorable development of $4 million for workers’ compensation catastrophe business in ACE Tempest Re USA mainly in accident years 2003-2005. For workers’ compensation catastrophe business, a review of the remaining open claims was performed by the actuarial department in conjunction with the claims department. The conclusions of that review recommended the release of reserves.

 

   

Net favorable development of $24 million on short-tail business including:

 

   

Favorable prior period development of $12 million for trade credit business in ACE Tempest Re USA in accident years 2004 and prior. The release was the result of an exposure study that was concluded in second quarter and continued favorable loss emergence.

 

   

Favorable prior period development of $4 million for property business in ACE Tempest Re USA in accident years 2003-2007. For U.S. Property, the reserve release reflects continued favorable development in the quarter on the underlying book of reserves and the short-tail nature of the line.

 

   

Net favorable development of $8 million, primarily driven by $3 million favorable development from aviation exposures in ACE Tempest Re Europe across accident years 2004-2007. The release was driven by lower than expected frequency of claims relative to the reserving assumptions.

The net prior period development for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, was the net result of several underlying favorable and adverse movements:

 

   

Adverse development of $3 million on long-tail business in the 2002 year due to worse than expected claims development.

 

   

Net favorable development of $5 million on short-tail business including:

 

   

Favorable development of $9 million from short-tail business in years 2006 and prior as a result of claims closing or better than expected claims development in recent quarters prior to June 30, 2007.

 

   

Adverse development of $3 million from short-tail business in years 2003 and 2006 due to specific large claims.

 

50


Segment Operating Results – Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007

The discussions that follow include tables, which show our segment operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007. In presenting our segment operating results, we have discussed our performance with reference to underwriting results which is a non-GAAP measure. We consider this measure, which may be defined differently by other companies, to be important in understanding our overall results of operations. Underwriting results are calculated by subtracting losses and loss expenses, future policy benefits, policy acquisition costs, and administrative expenses from net premiums earned. We use underwriting results and operating ratios to monitor the results of our operations without the impact of certain factors, including net investment income, other (income) expense, interest expense, income tax expense, and net realized gains (losses). We believe the use of these measures enhances the understanding of our results of operations by highlighting the underlying profitability of our insurance and reinsurance businesses. Underwriting results should not be viewed as a substitute for measures determined in accordance with GAAP.

We operate through the following business segments: Insurance – North American, Insurance – Overseas General, Global Reinsurance, and Life Insurance and Reinsurance. As discussed previously, we completed the acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of Combined Insurance and certain of its subsidiaries on April 1, 2008. As such, segment operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, include the results of the acquired Combined Insurance business from April 1, 2008. The Combined Insurance results are included in our Insurance – Overseas General segment or Life Insurance and Reinsurance segment according to the nature of the business written. Results from Combined Insurance’s North American operations are included in ACE’s Life Insurance and Reinsurance segment and the results from Combined Insurance’s international operations are included in ACE’s Insurance – Overseas General segment. For more information on each of our segments refer to “Segment Information”, under Item 1 of our 2007 Form 10-K.

Insurance – North American

The Insurance – North American segment comprises our operations in the U.S., Canada, and Bermuda. This segment includes the operations of ACE USA (including ACE Canada), ACE Westchester, ACE Bermuda, and various run-off operations, including Brandywine Holdings Corporation (Brandywine Holdings). In addition, beginning in the quarter ended March 31, 2008, Insurance – North American includes ACE Private Risk Services, our recently acquired underwriting unit that provides personal lines coverages (homeowners, automobile) for high net worth clients.

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30
    Six Months Ended
June 30
 
         2008             2007             2008             2007      
     (in millions of U.S. dollars)  

Net premiums written

   $ 1,511     $ 1,497     $ 2,871     $ 3,011  

Net premiums earned

     1,365       1,455       2,719       2,994  

Losses and loss expenses

     962       1,016       1,831       2,127  

Policy acquisition costs

     129       128       290       244  

Administrative expenses

     131       130       266       263  
                                

Underwriting income

   $ 143     $ 181     $ 332     $ 360  
                                

Net investment income

     282       257       551       498  

Net realized gains (losses)

     (105 )     15       (166 )     52  

Other (income) expense

     3       1       3       10  

Income tax expense

     106       115       229       243  
                                

Net income

   $ 211     $ 337     $ 485     $ 657  
                                

Loss and loss expense ratio

     70.5 %     69.8 %     67.3 %     71.1 %

Policy acquisition cost ratio

     9.5 %     8.8 %     10.7 %     8.1 %

Administrative expense ratio

     9.5 %     8.9 %     9.8 %     8.8 %
                                

Combined ratio

     89.5 %     87.5 %     87.8 %     88.0 %
                                

 

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Net premiums written for the Insurance – North American segment increased one percent and decreased five percent in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively, compared with the prior year periods. The quarter ended June 30, 2008, included approximately $69 million of net premiums written related primarily to large structured programs, including $109 million related to a structured professional liability reinsurance transaction written in the second quarter of 2008, partially offset by premium adjustments of approximately $44 million, reflecting better than expected loss experience on several loss sensitive programs. The three and six months ended June 30, 2008, were also bolstered by our recently acquired ACE Private Risk Services unit which added $38 million and $147 million, respectively, to this segment’s net premiums written. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, the decrease in net premiums written was primarily due to a decrease in assumed loss portfolio business – the first quarter of 2007 included a one-time large assumed loss portfolio transfer, which produced approximately $168 million of net premiums written and earned. ACE USA, this segment’s U.S.–based retail division, experienced competitive conditions across the majority of its units, resulting in lower new and renewal business, particularly for large risk accounts. ACE Westchester, our wholesale operation, reported increased production in its crop/hail business due to higher commodity prices, offset by continued weakness in its casualty and inland marine units. With respect to crop/hail, we are one of the largest writers of crop insurance in the U.S. and mitigate our exposure to heavy losses through reinsurance provided by the U.S. government as well as stop-loss coverage purchased from the private market. ACE Bermuda experienced declines in its excess liability, property, and D&O business, primarily due to our declining of business submitted to us with unfavorable rates relative to risk exposure.

The following two tables provide a line of business and entity/divisional breakdown of Insurance – North American’s net premiums earned for the periods indicated.

 

     Three Months Ended June 30     Six Months Ended June 30  
     2008    % of
total
    2007    % of
total
    2008    % of
total
    2007    % of
total
 
     (in millions of U.S. dollars, except for percentages)  

Line of Business

                    

Property and all other

   $ 357    26 %   $ 347    24 %   $ 663    24 %   $ 641    21 %

Casualty

     946    69 %     1,054    72 %     1,934    71 %     2,249    75 %

Personal accident (A&H)

     62    5 %     54    4 %     122    5 %     104    4 %
                                                    

Net premiums earned

   $ 1,365    100 %   $ 1,455    100 %   $ 2,719    100 %   $ 2,994    100 %
                                                    

Entity/Business

                    

ACE USA

   $ 926    68 %   $ 1,016    70 %   $ 1,898    70 %   $ 2,152    72 %

ACE Westchester

     315    23 %     342    24 %     568    21 %     646    21 %

ACE Bermuda

     89    6 %     97    6 %     180    6 %     196    7 %

ACE Private Risk Services

     35    3 %     —      —         73    3 %     —      —    
                                                    

Net premiums earned

   $ 1,365    100 %   $ 1,455    100 %   $ 2,719    100 %   $ 2,994    100 %
                                                    

ACE USA’s net premiums earned decreased 9 percent and 12 percent in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively, compared with the prior year periods. The decline in net premiums earned was primarily due to decreases in middle-market workers’ compensation business and large risk accounts. The three and six months ended June 30, 2008, were negatively impacted by premium adjustments totaling $44 million reflecting better than expected loss experience for several loss sensitive programs. These decreases were partially offset by growth in ACE USA’s professional liability, specialty casualty and A&H units, as well as favorable foreign exchange impact in the Canadian operations. Additionally, as discussed above, the prior year first quarter included a non-renewable assumed loss portfolio transfer which generated $168 million in net premiums earned. ACE Westchester’s net premiums earned decreased 8 percent and 12 percent in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively, compared with the prior year periods. This decrease was primarily in the casualty and inland marine lines due to lower production, partly offset by increased crop/hail earnings on the strength of higher commodity prices. ACE Bermuda’s net premiums earned decreased eight percent in the three and six

 

52


months ended June 30, 2008, compared with the prior year periods, primarily due to lower production. The three and six months ended June 30, 2008, include premiums from ACE Private Risk Services, which we formed in the first quarter of 2008.

The following table shows the impact of catastrophe losses, prior period development, and other significant events on this segment’s loss and loss expense ratio for the periods indicated.

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30
    Six Months Ended
June 30
 
         2008             2007             2008             2007      

Loss and loss expense ratio, as reported

   70.5 %   69.8 %   67.3 %   71.1 %

Catastrophe losses

   (1.6 )%   (1.1 )%   (1.3 )%   (0.6 )%

Prior period development

   1.7 %   0.4 %   5.4 %   (0.1 )%

Large assumed loss portfolio transfer

   —       —       —       (1.6 )%
                        

Loss and loss expense ratio, adjusted

   70.6 %   69.1 %   71.4 %   68.8 %
                        

Insurance – North American’s net catastrophe losses were $22 million and $37 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively, compared with $16 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2007. The catastrophe losses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, were primarily related to floods and severe weather in the U.S. Insurance – North American experienced net favorable prior period development of $23 million and $146 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively. This compares with net favorable prior period development of $6 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2007, and net unfavorable prior period development of $4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2007. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, Insurance – North American’s loss and loss expense ratio was positively impacted by the final settlement of 2007 crop year results for ACE Westchester, which reduced the segment’s loss and loss expense ratio by approximately four percentage points in the six months ended June 30, 2008. With respect to ACE Westchester’s heavily ceded crop/hail business, during the first quarter of each year, the previous crop year is settled based on actual experience. The settlement for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, reduced Insurance – North American’s losses and loss expenses by approximately $105 million and, as discussed below, gave rise to $44 million in profit share commission. Refer to “Prior Period Development” for more information. The first quarter of 2007 was negatively impacted by the large assumed loss portfolio transfer which was written at a higher loss ratio compared with other types of business. This contract added approximately 1.6 percentage points to the loss and loss expense ratio for the six months ended June 30, 2007. After considering the impact of the 2007 loss portfolio transfer and the crop settlement, the loss and loss expense ratio, adjusted, has increased from the prior year periods due primarily to competitive market conditions and increasing loss cost trends. The three and six months ended June 30, 2008, benefited from an adjustment to claim expense reserves at ACE Westchester, which reduced our loss and loss expenses by $30 million in the second quarter of 2008. During the quarter ended June 30, 2007, we had a $16 million release for a bad debt provision, principally for a specific reinsurance recoverable we now expect to collect.

Insurance – North American’s policy acquisition cost ratio increased in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, compared with the prior year periods. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, the increase in the policy acquisition cost ratio relates to the inclusion of the recently acquired ACE Private Risk Services unit which typically generates a higher acquisition cost ratio than our commercial P&C business. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, the increase was primarily related to higher acquisition costs on ACE Westchester’s crop/hail business, reflecting more profitable crop/hail results on the first quarter final settlement as well as increased crop/hail production in the quarter ended June 30, 2008. This required a higher profit share commission which added approximately 1.6 percentage points to Insurance – North American’s policy acquisition cost ratio in the six months ended June 30, 2008. The prior year periods benefited from lower premium taxes due to reassessment of obligations for premium-based assessments and guaranty funds. In addition, for the six months ended June 30, 2007, the assumed loss portfolio transfer written in the prior year period as noted above, gave rise to low acquisition costs, which is typical for these transactions.

 

53


Insurance – North American’s administrative expense ratio increased in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, primarily due to the inclusion of the recently acquired ACE Private Risk Services unit. For the quarter ended June 30, 2008, administrative expenses benefited from higher net profits from ESIS (third party claim services), which we include in administrative expenses.

Insurance – Overseas General

The Insurance – Overseas General segment consists of ACE International, which comprises our network of indigenous insurance operations, the wholesale insurance operations of ACE Global Markets, our London market underwriting unit including Lloyd’s Syndicate 2488 (2008 capacity of £330 million) and the international A&H and life business of Combined Insurance. This segment has four regions of operations: ACE European Group, which is comprised of ACE Europe and ACE Global Markets branded business, ACE Asia Pacific, ACE Far East, and ACE Latin America. Combined Insurance distributes specialty individual accident and supplemental health insurance products targeted to middle income consumers in Europe and Asia Pacific.

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30
    Six Months Ended
June 30
 
         2008             2007             2008             2007      
     (in millions of U.S. dollars)  

Net premiums written

   $ 1,443     $ 1,166     $ 2,788     $ 2,358  

Net premiums earned

     1,439       1,141       2,662       2,253  

Losses and loss expenses

     715       614       1,308       1,178  

Future policy benefits

     5       —         5       —    

Policy acquisition costs

     323       230       568       454  

Administrative expenses

     208       162       381       324  
                                

Underwriting income

   $ 188     $ 135     $ 400     $ 297  
                                

Net investment income

     134       111       251       215  

Net realized gains (losses)

     (58 )     (27 )     (141 )     (53 )

Other (income) expense

     (17 )     1       (20 )     4  

Income tax expense

     38       58       85       98  
                                

Net income

   $ 243     $ 160     $ 445     $ 357  
                                

Loss and loss expense ratio

     50.0 %     53.9 %     49.3 %     52.3 %

Policy acquisition cost ratio

     22.4 %     20.1 %     21.3 %     20.1 %

Administrative expense ratio

     14.5 %     14.2 %     14.3 %     14.4 %
                                

Combined ratio

     86.9 %     88.2 %     84.9 %     86.8 %
                                

Insurance – Overseas General’s net premiums written increased 24 percent and 18 percent in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, compared with the prior year periods. The increases were primarily related to our recent acquisition of Combined Insurance which added $135 million of net premiums written and favorable foreign exchange impact at ACE International due to the strengthening of the euro relative to the U.S. dollar (refer to the table below for the impact of foreign exchange on net premiums written and earned). ACE International continues to report growth in its A&H business, particularly in Latin America (Mexico, Chile, and Colombia) and Asia Pacific (Thailand, Korea, and Australia). On the P&C side, ACE International reported growth in emerging markets in Europe and the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, offset by declines in the U.K. ACE Global Markets reported lower production in most product lines, particularly property, aviation, financial lines, and political risks, primarily due to competitive conditions.

 

54


The following two tables provide a line of business and entity/divisional breakdown of Insurance – Overseas General’s net premiums earned for the periods indicated.

 

     Three Months Ended June 30     Six Months Ended June 30  
     2008    % of
total
    2007    % of
total
    2008    % of
total
    2007    % of
total
 
     (in millions of U.S. dollars, except for percentages)  

Line of Business

                    

Property and all other

   $ 470    33 %   $ 422    37 %   $ 920    35 %   $ 824    37 %

Casualty

     403    28 %     359    31 %     775    29 %     731    32 %

Personal accident (A&H)

     566    39 %     360    32 %     967    36 %     698    31 %
                                                    

Net premiums earned

   $ 1,439    100 %   $ 1,141    100 %   $ 2,662    100 %   $ 2,253    100 %
                                                    

Entity/Division

                    

ACE Europe

   $ 573    40 %   $ 490    43 %   $ 1,086    41 %   $ 960    43 %

ACE Asia Pacific

     185    13 %     152    13 %     363    13 %     306    13 %

ACE Far East

     105    7 %     92    8 %     205    8 %     181    8 %

ACE Latin America

     201    14 %     159    14 %     394    15 %     311    14 %
                                                    

ACE International

     1,064    74 %     893    78 %     2,048    77 %     1,758    78 %

ACE Global Markets

     240    17 %     248    22 %     479    18 %     495    22 %

Combined Insurance International

     135    9 %     —      —         135    5 %     —      —    
                                                    

Net premiums earned

   $ 1,439    100 %   $ 1,141    100 %   $ 2,662    100 %   $ 2,253    100 %
                                                    

Insurance – Overseas General’s net premiums earned increased 26 percent and 18 percent in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively, compared with the prior year periods. The increases were primarily driven by favorable foreign exchange impact on ACE International business as well as $135 million of new business relating to our recent acquisition of Combined Insurance. ACE International’s net premiums earned increased 19 percent and 16 percent in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively, compared with the prior year periods. This segment continues to benefit from current and recent growth in its A&H business, particularly in ACE Asia Pacific and ACE Latin America. For several years, these regions have been successfully utilizing unique and innovative distribution channels to grow their A&H customer base. Our A&H business is mainly personal accident with some supplemental medical cover, typically paying fixed amounts for claims, and is therefore insulated from rising health care costs. Following decreased production over the last year, ACE Global Markets reported decreases in net premiums earned of three percent in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, compared with the prior year periods.

Insurance – Overseas General conducts business internationally and in most major foreign currencies. The following table summarizes the approximate effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on the growth of net premiums written and earned, excluding Combined Insurance, for the periods indicated.

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30, 2008
    Six Months Ended
June 30, 2008
 

Net premiums written:

    

Growth in original currency

   4.6 %   5.3 %

Foreign exchange effect

   7.7 %   7.2 %
            

Growth as reported in U.S. dollars

   12.3 %   12.5 %
            

Net premiums earned:

    

Growth in original currency

   5.7 %   4.7 %

Foreign exchange effect

   8.6 %   7.5 %
            

Growth as reported in U.S. dollars

   14.3 %   12.2 %
            

 

55


The following table shows the impact of catastrophe losses and prior period development on this segment’s loss and loss expense ratio for the periods indicated.

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30
    Six Months Ended
June 30
 
         2008             2007             2008             2007      

Loss and loss expense ratio, as reported

   50.0 %   53.9 %   49.3 %   52.3 %

Catastrophe losses

   (1.7 )%   (5.4 )%   (1.5 )%   (3.4 )%

Prior period development

   3.7 %   2.7 %   3.7 %   2.3 %
                        

Loss and loss expense ratio, adjusted

   52.0 %   51.2 %   51.5 %   51.2 %
                        

Net catastrophe losses were $25 million and $40 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively. This compares with net catastrophe losses of $58 million and $73 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2007. The catastrophe losses for the current periods were primarily associated with tornadoes in the U.S. and the earthquake in China. Insurance – Overseas General experienced net favorable prior period development of $54 million and $98 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively, compared with net favorable prior period development of $31 million and $52 million, respectively, in the prior year periods. Refer to “Prior Period Development” for more information. Our loss and loss expense ratio will tend to decrease on a comparative basis as the proportion of A&H business to P&C business grows. We expect that this trend will continue in the future as we continue to grow our A&H franchise. A&H business typically experiences a much lower loss and loss expense ratio (and a higher policy acquisition cost ratio) than traditional P&C business. The impact of both the growth in A&H business relative to P&C and the addition of Combined Insurance resulted in a 1.9 percentage point decrease in the adjusted loss ratios for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008. After considering this impact, the adjusted loss ratios in the current periods are increasing over the comparable prior year periods due to deteriorating market conditions.

Insurance – Overseas General’s policy acquisition cost ratio increased in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, compared with the prior year periods, primarily due to the growth in A&H business and the impact of the recently acquired Combined Insurance business, which is predominantly A&H business. A&H business typically attracts higher commission rates than traditional P&C business. In addition, changes to ACE International’s reinsurance structure in its financial lines resulted in reduced ceding commissions which had the effect of increasing policy acquisition costs. ACE Global Markets continued to experience a decline in its policy acquisition cost ratio primarily due to reduced gross commission costs associated with our political risks and energy business together with higher ceding commissions on energy. Insurance – Overseas General’s administrative expense ratio was relatively stable in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, compared with the prior year periods, primarily due to successful expense management. Administrative expenses increased primarily due to unfavorable foreign exchange impact and the inclusion of administrative expenses related to the recently acquired Combined Insurance business.

 

56


Global Reinsurance

The Global Reinsurance segment represents ACE’s reinsurance operations, comprising ACE Tempest Re Bermuda, ACE Tempest Re USA, ACE Tempest Re Europe, and ACE Tempest Re Canada. Global Reinsurance markets its reinsurance products worldwide under the ACE Tempest Re brand name and provides a broad range of coverages to a diverse array of primary P&C companies.

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30
    Six Months Ended
June 30
 
         2008             2007             2008             2007      
     (in millions of U.S. dollars)  

Net premiums written

   $ 270     $ 332     $ 614     $ 808  

Net premiums earned

     257       325       520       668  

Losses and loss expenses

     108       163       225       348  

Policy acquisition costs

     54       64       108       130  

Administrative expenses

     14       16       29       33  
                                

Underwriting income

   $ 81     $ 82     $ 158     $ 157  
                                

Net investment income

     79       66       152       132  

Net realized gains (losses)

     (20 )     (7 )     (65 )     (1 )

Other (income) expense

     1       2       1       3  

Income tax expense

     11       7       15       14  
                                

Net income

   $ 128     $ 132     $ 229     $ 271  
                                

Loss and loss expense ratio

     42.1 %     50.1 %     43.3 %     52.0 %

Policy acquisition cost ratio

     21.0 %     19.9 %     20.8 %     19.5 %

Administrative expense ratio

     5.5 %     5.0 %     5.6 %     5.0 %
                                

Combined ratio

     68.6 %     75.0 %     69.7 %     76.5 %
                                

Global Reinsurance’s net premiums written decreased 19 percent and 24 percent in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively, compared with the prior year periods. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, Global Reinsurance continued to experience intense competition across the majority of its regions of operations. This segment reported decreased net premiums written due to declines in production as cedants generally opted to increase risk retention, which resulted in increased competition and rate reductions.

The following two tables provide a line of business and entity/divisional breakdown of Global Reinsurance’s net premiums earned for the periods indicated.

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30
    Six Months Ended
June 30
 
     2008    % of
total
    2007    % of
total
    2008    % of
total
    2007    % of
total
 
     (in millions of U.S. dollars, except for percentages)  

Line of Business

                    

Property and all other

   $ 39    15 %   $ 72    22 %   $ 97    19 %   $ 148    22 %

Casualty

     102    40 %     171    53 %     240    46 %     351    53 %

Property catastrophe

     116    45 %     82    25 %     183    35 %     169    25 %
                                                    

Net premiums earned

   $ 257    100 %   $ 325    100 %   $ 520    100 %   $ 668    100 %
                                                    

Entity/Division

                    

ACE Tempest Re Bermuda

   $ 70    27 %   $ 87    27 %   $ 137    26 %   $ 175    26 %

ACE Tempest Re USA

     128    50 %     177    55 %     261    50 %     364    55 %

ACE Tempest Re Europe

     55    21 %     60    18 %     114    22 %     127    19 %

ACE Tempest Re Canada

     4    2 %     1    —         8    2 %     2    —    
                                                    

Net premiums earned

   $ 257    100 %   $ 325    100 %   $ 520    100 %   $ 668    100 %
                                                    

 

57


Global Reinsurance’s net premiums earned decreased 21 percent and 22 percent in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively, compared with the prior year periods, primarily due to lower production. ACE Tempest Re Bermuda reported a decline in net premiums earned due to greater than anticipated rate reductions, cedants increasing their risk retention, and decreases in offered capacity. ACE Tempest Re USA and ACE Tempest Re Europe reported declines in net premiums earned, primarily due to lower production throughout 2007 and 2008.

The following table shows the impact of catastrophe losses and prior period development on this segment’s loss and loss expense ratio for the periods indicated.

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30
    Six Months Ended
June 30
 
         2008             2007             2008             2007      

Loss and loss expense ratio, as reported

   42.1 %   50.1 %   43.3 %   52.0 %

Catastrophe losses

   (4.2 )%   (2.1 )%   (2.3 )%   (3.7 )%

Prior period development

   10.3 %   1.0 %   7.9 %   1.6 %
                        

Loss and loss expense ratio, adjusted

   48.2 %   49.0 %   48.9 %   49.9 %
                        

Global Reinsurance reported $11 million and $12 million of net catastrophe losses in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively. This compares with net catastrophe losses of $7 million and $26 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively. The catastrophe losses incurred during the quarter ended June 30, 2008, were primarily related to floods in the U.S. Global Reinsurance experienced net favorable prior period development of $27 million and $41 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively. This compares with net favorable prior period development of $3 million and $10 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively. Refer to “Prior Period Development” for more detail. The reduction in the adjusted loss ratio in the table above has been impacted by both business mix trends as well as the non-renewal of higher loss cost reinsurance treaties.

The policy acquisition cost ratio increased in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, primarily due to changes in the type of contracts written. Administrative expenses decreased for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 due to lower staffing costs; the administrative expense ratio increased during the same periods due to the decrease in net premiums earned.

 

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Life Insurance and Reinsurance

The Life Insurance and Reinsurance segment includes the operations of ACE Tempest Life Re (ACE Life Re), ACE International Life, and the domestic A&H and life business of Combined Insurance. Combined Insurance distributes specialty individual accident and supplemental health insurance products that are targeted to middle income consumers in the U.S. and Canada. We assess the performance of our life insurance and reinsurance business based on life underwriting income which includes net investment income.

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30
    Six Months Ended
June 30
 
         2008            2007             2008             2007      
     (in millions of U.S. dollars)  

Net premiums written

   $ 374    $ 87     $ 479     $ 175  

Net premiums earned

     367      87       467       175  

Loss and loss expenses

     110      —         110       —    

Future policy benefits

     84      33       147       69  

Policy acquisition costs

     63      12       71       23  

Administrative expenses

     69      12       82       24  

Net investment income

     40      14       55       26  
                               

Life underwriting income

     81      44       112       85  

Net realized gains (losses)

     64      (1 )     (122 )     (5 )

Other (income) expense

     4      —         4       —    

Income tax expense (benefit)

     12      1       10       (1 )
                               

Net income (loss)

   $ 129    $ 42     $ (24 )   $ 81  
                               

The following table provides a line of business breakdown of Life Insurance and Reinsurance’s net premiums earned for the periods indicated.

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30
    Six Months Ended
June 30
 
     2008    % of
total
    2007    % of
total
    2008    % of
total
    2007    % of
total
 
     (in millions of U.S. dollars, except for percentages)  

Line of Business

                    

Personal accident (A&H)

   $ 247    67 %   $ —      —       $ 247    53 %   $ —      —    

Life insurance

     35    10 %     19    22 %     55    12 %     40    23 %

Life reinsurance

     85    23 %     68    78 %     165    35 %     135    77 %
                                                    

Net premiums earned

   $ 367    100 %   $ 87    100 %   $ 467    100 %   $ 175    100 %
                                                    

Life underwriting income increased 84 percent and 32 percent in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively, compared with the prior year periods. The increases are primarily related to the inclusion of the operating results of the acquired Combined Insurance business as of April 1, 2008, the date of the acquisition. ACE Life Re reported stable life underwriting income for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared with the prior year quarter. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, ACE Life Re’s life underwriting income decreased compared with the prior year period as its benefit reserves increased primarily due to poor worldwide equity market performance. Benefit reserves reflect the expected value of future claims on earned premium exposures and fluctuate with movements in equity indices and interest rates. The net realized gains (losses) relate primarily to changes in reported liabilities on GMIB reinsurance carried at fair value. For the quarter ended June 30, 2008, the change was caused by favorable market conditions, including an increase in long-term interest rates, and a decrease in implied volatility for both equity markets and interest rates. The changes for the six months ended June 30, 2008, which resulted in net realized losses, were caused by adverse financial market conditions, primarily poor equity market performance. Refer to “Fair Value Measurements” for more information.

 

59


Net Investment Income

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30
    Six Months Ended
June 30
 
         2008             2007             2008             2007      
     (in millions of U.S. dollars)  

Fixed maturities

   $ 502     $ 436     $ 971     $ 850  

Short-term investments

     30       33       57       66  

Equity securities

     29       20       49       33  

Other

     (3 )     6       (9 )     13  
                                

Gross investment income

     558       495       1,068       962  

Investment expenses

     (26 )     (24 )     (47 )     (40 )
                                

Net investment income

   $ 532     $ 471     $ 1,021     $ 922  
                                

Net investment income is influenced by a number of factors, including the amounts and timing of inward and outward cash flows, the level of interest rates, and changes in overall asset allocation. Net investment income includes accretion from the new cost basis of securities for which other than temporary impairments have been recorded. Net investment income increased 13 percent and 11 percent in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively, compared with the prior year periods. The increase in net investment income is primarily due to several years of positive operating cash flows which have resulted in a higher overall average invested asset base. The investment portfolio’s average market yield on fixed maturities was 5.6 percent and 5.7 percent at June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Other includes changes in fair value of trading securities included within rabbi trusts maintained for compensation plans.

Net Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses)

We take a long-term view with our investment strategy and our investment managers manage our investment portfolio to maximize total return within certain specific guidelines designed to minimize risk. The majority of our investment portfolio is available for sale and reported at fair value. Our held to maturity investment portfolio is reported at amortized cost.

The effect of market movements on our available for sale investment portfolio impacts net income (through net realized gains (losses)) when securities are sold or when “other-than-temporary” impairments are recorded on invested assets. Additionally, net income is impacted through the reporting of changes in the fair value of derivatives, including financial futures, options, swaps, and GMIB reinsurance. Changes in unrealized appreciation and depreciation on available for sale securities, which result from the revaluation of securities held, are reported as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity.

 

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The following table presents our pre-tax net realized and unrealized gains (losses) for the periods indicated.

 

    Three months ended
June 30, 2008
    Three months ended
June 30, 2007
 
    Net Realized
Gains
(Losses)
    Net Unrealized
Gains

(Losses)
    Net Impact     Net Realized
Gains
(Losses)
    Net Unrealized
Gains

(Losses)
    Net Impact  
    (in millions of U.S. dollars)  

Fixed maturities and short-term investments

  $ (198 )   $ (469 )   $ (667 )   $ (63 )   $ (462 )   $ (525 )

Equity securities

    13       (75 )     (62 )     51       34       85  

Foreign currency gains (losses)

    12       —         12       1       —         1  

Other

    3       (11 )     (8 )     2       13       15  

Derivatives:

           

Equity and fixed income derivatives

    (16 )     —         (16 )     (7 )     —         (7 )

Fair value adjustment on insurance derivatives

    60       —         60       5       —         5  
                                               

Subtotal derivatives

    44       —         44       (2 )     —         (2 )
                                               

Total gains (losses)

  $ (126 )   $ (555 )   $ (681 )   $ (11 )   $ (415 )   $ (426 )
                                               

 

    Six months ended
June 30, 2008
    Six months ended
June 30, 2007
 
    Net Realized
Gains
(Losses)
    Net Unrealized
Gains
(Losses)
    Net Impact     Net Realized
Gains
(Losses)
    Net Unrealized
Gains
(Losses)
    Net Impact  
    (in millions of U.S. dollars)  

Fixed maturities and short-term investments

  $ (303 )   $ (653 )   $ (956 )   $ (84 )   $ (405 )   (489 )

Equity securities

    (41 )     (231 )     (272 )     85       33     118  

Foreign currency gains (losses)

    18       —         18       1       —       1  

Other

    (23 )     (16 )     (39 )     12       33     45  

Derivatives:

           

Equity and fixed income derivatives

    (25 )     —         (25 )     (14 )     —       (14 )

Fair value adjustment on insurance derivatives

    (105 )     —         (105 )     5       —       5  
                                             

Subtotal derivatives

    (130 )     —         (130 )     (9 )     —       (9 )
                                             

Total gains (losses)

  $ (479 )   $ (900 )   $ (1,379 )   $ 5     $ (339 )   (334 )
                                             

For a sensitivity discussion of the effect of changes in interest rates and equity indices on the fair value of derivatives and the resulting impact on our net income, refer to Item 7A. of our 2007 Form 10-K.

We regularly review our investment portfolio for possible impairment based on criteria including economic conditions, credit loss experience, and issuer-specific developments. If there is a decline in a security’s net realizable value, we must determine whether that decline is temporary or “other-than-temporary”. The process of determining whether a decline in value is temporary or “other-than-temporary” requires considerable judgment and differs depending on whether or not the security is traded on a public market as well as by type of security. We review all of our fixed maturities and equity securities for potential impairment each quarter. Refer to Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, which includes a table that summarizes all of our securities in an unrealized loss position at June 30, 2008. Refer to Note 3 e) to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2007 Form 10-K for criteria we consider in assessing potential impairment.

 

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When a security is in an unrealized loss position for twelve consecutive months, management’s policy is to no longer assert that it intends to hold the security to recovery. Our net realized gains (losses) in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, included write-downs of $210 million and $399 million, respectively, as a result of conditions which caused us to conclude that the decline in fair value was “other-than-temporary”. The impairments were primarily due to increased equity market volatility and fixed income securities in an unrealized loss position for greater than 12 months reflecting global interest rate conditions, including widening credit spreads on corporate and structured credit investments. Credit-related impairments were approximately $28 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, write-downs amounted to $16 million and $54 million, respectively. A breakdown of write-downs by security type is included in Note 5 b) to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Our net realized and unrealized loss in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 included approximately $660 million and $830 million, respectively, of decline in our investment grade fixed income portfolio and approximately $12 million and $137 million, respectively, on our high yield bond portfolio.

Other Income and Expense Items

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30
    Six Months Ended
June 30
 
         2008             2007             2008             2007      
     (in millions of U.S. dollars)  

Equity in net income of partially-owned companies

   $ (130 )   $ (14 )   $ (114 )   $ (27 )

Minority interest expense

     1       1       4       3  

Federal excise tax

     6       2       7       12  

Other

     (2 )     7       (7 )     12  
                                

Other (income) expense

   $ (125 )   $ (4 )   $ (110 )   $ —    
                                

Other (income) expense is primarily comprised of our equity in net income of Assured Guaranty Ltd. (AGO), included in equity in net income of partially-owned companies. During 2008, AGO recorded mark-to-market realized gains in its credit derivatives portfolio, our portion of which was $106 million and $70 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively. These gains were reported as net realized gains by AGO. Our relationship with AGO is limited to our equity investment, which had a carrying value of $481 million at June 30, 2008. We conduct no financial guaranty business directly or with AGO and we retain no financial guaranty exposures with AGO. Other income and expense also includes certain federal excise taxes incurred as a result of capital management initiatives. These transactions are considered capital in nature and are excluded from underwriting results.

Investments

Our investment portfolio is invested primarily in fixed income securities with an average credit quality of AA, as rated by the independent investment rating service Standard and Poor’s (S&P). The portfolio is externally managed by independent, professional investment managers. The average duration of our fixed income securities, including the effect of options and swaps, was 3.7 years at June 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007. We estimate that a 100 basis point (bps) increase in interest rates would reduce our book value by approximately $1.5 billion at June 30, 2008. Our “Other investments” are principally comprised of direct investments, investment funds, and limited partnerships. Our exposure to sub-prime asset backed securities was $114 million at June 30, 2008, which represented less than one percent of our investment portfolio. We do not expect any material investment loss from our exposure to sub-prime mortgages. We hold no collateralized debt obligations or collateralized loan obligations in our investment portfolio.

 

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The following table shows the fair value and cost/amortized cost of our invested assets at June 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007.

 

     June 30, 2008    December 31, 2007
     Fair
Value
   Cost/
Amortized Cost
   Fair
Value
   Cost/
Amortized Cost
     (in millions of U.S. dollars)

Fixed maturities available for sale

   $ 34,870    $ 35,355    $ 33,184    $ 32,994

Fixed maturities held to maturity

     2,932      2,932      3,015      2,987

Short-term investments

     3,137      3,137      2,631      2,631
                           
     40,939      41,424      38,830      38,612

Equity securities

     1,490      1,502      1,837      1,618

Other investments

     1,414      1,182      1,140      880
                           

Total investments

   $ 43,843    $ 44,108    $ 41,807    $ 41,110
                           

The fair value of our total investments increased $2 billion during the six months ended June 30, 2008. The increase was primarily due to the investing of operating cash flows and the net addition of Combined Insurance’s investment portfolio. This was partially offset by unrealized depreciation on investments, the payment of dividends on the Common and Preferred Shares, and redemption of the Preferred Shares. Other investments increased primarily due to additional funding of limited partnerships and investment funds.

The following tables show the market value of our fixed maturities and short-term investments at June 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007. The first table lists investments according to type and the second according to S&P credit rating.

 

     June 30, 2008     December 31, 2007  
     Market
Value
   Percentage
of Total
    Market
Value
   Percentage
of Total
 
     (in millions of
U.S. dollars)
         (in millions of
U.S. dollars)
      

Treasury

   $ 1,043    2 %   $ 1,145    3 %

Agency

     1,730    4 %     1,820    5 %

Corporate

     10,080    25 %     9,015    23 %

Mortgage-backed securities

     12,668    31 %     13,733    35 %

Asset-backed securities

     1,040    2 %     1,150    3 %

Municipal

     1,950    5 %     1,844    5 %

Non-U.S.

     9,291    23 %     7,492    19 %

Short-term investments

     3,137    8 %     2,631    7 %
                          

Total

   $ 40,939    100 %   $ 38,830    100 %
                          

AAA

   $ 24,740    60 %   $ 24,553    63 %

AA

     4,285    10 %     3,747    10 %

A

     5,572    14 %     4,590    12 %

BBB

     3,463    9 %     3,297    8 %

BB

     1,390    3 %     1,073    3 %

B

     1,416    4 %     1,481    4 %

Other

     73    —         89    —    
                          

Total

   $ 40,939    100 %   $ 38,830    100 %
                          

 

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Reinsurance Recoverable on Ceded Reinsurance

The composition of our reinsurance recoverable on losses and loss expenses at June 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, is as follows:

 

     June 30
    2008    
    December 31
        2007        
 
     (in millions of U.S. dollars)  

Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses and loss expenses

   $ 13,418     $ 13,990  

Provision for uncollectible reinsurance on unpaid losses and loss expenses

     (486 )     (470 )
                

Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses and loss expenses, net of a provision for uncollectible reinsurance

     12,932       13,520  

Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses and loss expenses

     1,085       1,050  

Provision for uncollectible reinsurance on paid losses and loss expenses

     (178 )     (216 )
                

Net reinsurance recoverable on losses and loss expenses

   $ 13,839     $ 14,354  
                

We evaluate the financial condition of our reinsurers and potential reinsurers on a regular basis and also monitor concentrations of credit risk with reinsurers. The provision for uncollectible reinsurance is required principally due to the failure of reinsurers to indemnify us, primarily because of disputes under reinsurance contracts and insolvencies. The decrease in reinsurance recoverable was due to a decrease in gross and ceded IBNR for catastrophe losses, the settlement of ACE Westchester’s heavily ceded crop/hail business in the first quarter of 2008 as the previous crop year was settled based on favorable actual experience, collections on active business, and collections on run-off business of approximately $321 million. The acquisition of Combined Insurance added $33 million to our reinsurance recoverable.

Unpaid losses and loss expenses

As an insurance and reinsurance company, we are required, by applicable laws and regulations and GAAP, to establish loss and loss expense reserves for the estimated unpaid portion of the ultimate liability for losses and loss expenses under the terms of our policies and agreements with our insured and reinsured customers. The estimate of the liabilities includes provision for claims that have been reported but unpaid at the balance sheet date (case reserves) and for future obligations from claims that have been incurred but not reported (IBNR) at the balance sheet date (IBNR may also include a provision for additional development on reported claims in instances where the case reserve is viewed to be insufficient). The reserves provide for liabilities on the premium earned on policies as of the balance sheet date. The loss reserve also includes an estimate of expenses associated with processing and settling these unpaid claims (loss expenses). At June 30, 2008, our unpaid loss and loss expense reserves were $37.7 billion. The table below presents a roll-forward of our unpaid losses and loss expenses for the indicated periods.

 

     Gross
Losses
    Reinsurance
Recoverable
    Net
Losses
 
     (in millions of U.S. dollars)  

Balance at December 31, 2007

   $ 37,112     $ 13,520     $ 23,592  

Losses and loss expenses incurred

     1,659       80       1,579  

Losses and loss expenses paid

     (1,748 )     (601 )     (1,147 )

Other (including foreign exchange revaluation)

     159       71       88  
                        

Balance at March 31, 2008

   $ 37,182     $ 13,070     $ 24,112  

Losses and loss expenses incurred

     2,736       841       1,895  

Losses and loss expenses paid

     (2,620 )     (1,024 )     (1,596 )

Other (including foreign exchange revaluation)

     12       12       —    

Losses and loss expenses acquired

     386       33       353  
                        

Balance at June 30, 2008

   $ 37,696     $ 12,932     $ 24,764  
                        

 

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During the first quarter of 2008 our gross and ceded loss and loss expenses incurred and paid were favorably impacted by the settlement of the crop/hail business resulting in a decrease in the gross reserve of approximately $273 million and the ceded reserves of approximately $215 million. Losses and loss expenses acquired are in connection with the acquisition of Combined Insurance. Net unpaid losses and loss expenses, excluding the acquired losses and loss expenses, increased $299 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2008.

The process of establishing loss reserves for property and casualty claims can be complex and is subject to considerable variability as it requires the use of informed estimates and judgments based on circumstances known at the date of accrual. The following table shows our total reserves segregated between case reserves (including loss expense reserves) and IBNR reserves at June 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007.

 

     June 30, 2008    December 31, 2007
     Gross    Ceded    Net    Gross    Ceded    Net
     (in millions of U.S. dollars)

Case reserves

   $ 16,270    $ 6,304    $ 9,966    $ 15,625    $ 6,077    $ 9,548

IBNR

     21,426      6,628      14,798      21,487      7,443      14,044
                                         

Total

   $ 37,696    $ 12,932    $ 24,764    $ 37,112    $ 13,520    $ 23,592
                                         

Asbestos and Environmental (A&E) and Other Run-off Liabilities

Due to timing constraints associated with statutory reporting, this section is presented on a one quarter lag basis.

Included in our liabilities for losses and loss expenses are amounts for A&E. These A&E liabilities principally relate to claims arising from bodily-injury claims related to asbestos products and remediation costs associated with hazardous waste sites. The estimation of these liabilities is particularly sensitive to future changes in the legal, social, and economic environment. We have not assumed any such future changes in setting the value of our A&E reserves, which include provisions for both reported and IBNR claims.

Our exposure to A&E claims principally arises out of liabilities acquired when we purchased Westchester Specialty in 1998 and the P&C business of CIGNA in 1999, with the larger exposure contained within the liabilities acquired in the CIGNA transaction. In 1996, prior to our acquisition of the P&C business of CIGNA, the Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner approved a plan to restructure INA Financial Corporation and its subsidiaries (the Restructuring) which included the division of Insurance Company of North America (INA) into two separate corporations: (1) an active insurance company that retained the INA name and continued to write P&C business and (2) an inactive run-off company, now called Century Indemnity Company (Century). As a result of the division, predominantly all A&E and certain other liabilities of INA were allocated to Century and extinguished, as a matter of Pennsylvania law, as liabilities of INA. As part of the Restructuring, most A&E liabilities of various U.S. affiliates of INA were reinsured to Century, and Century and certain other run-off companies having A&E and other liabilities were contributed to Brandywine Holdings. As part of the 1999 acquisition of the P&C business of CIGNA, we acquired Brandywine Holdings and its various subsidiaries. For more information refer to “Brandywine Run-Off Entities” below.

 

65


The table below presents a roll forward of our consolidated A&E loss reserves, allocated and unallocated loss expense reserves for A&E exposures, and the provision for uncollectible reinsurance for the quarter ended March 31, 2008.

 

     Asbestos     Environmental     Total  
     Gross     Net(1)     Gross     Net     Gross     Net  
     (in millions of U.S. dollars)  

Balance at December 31, 2007

   $ 2,942     $ 1,482     $ 418     $ 393     $ 3,360     $ 1,875  

Incurred activity

     —         (11 )     —         —         —         (11 )

Payment activity

     (72 )     (12 )     (47 )     (17 )     (119 )     (29 )

Foreign currency revaluation

     1       1       —         —         1       1  
                                                

Balance at March 31, 2008

   $ 2,871     $ 1,460     $ 371     $ 376     $ 3,242     $ 1,836  
                                                

 

(1)

The balance at December 31, 2007, was reduced by $10 million to reflect reserve reclassification between Asbestos and Other.

The A&E net loss reserves including allocated and unallocated loss expense reserves and provision for uncollectible reinsurance at March 31, 2008, of $1.836 billion shown in the above table are comprised of $1.29 billion in reserves held by Brandywine run-off companies, $210 million of reserves held by Westchester Specialty, $168 million of reserves held by ACE Bermuda, $147 million of reserves held by Insurance – Overseas General, and $21 million of reserves held by active ACE USA companies.

The net figures in the above table reflect third-party reinsurance other than reinsurance provided by NICO under three aggregate excess of loss contracts described below (collectively, the NICO contracts). We exclude the NICO contracts as they cover non-A&E liabilities as well as A&E liabilities. The split of coverage provided under the NICO contracts for A&E liabilities as compared to non-A&E liabilities is entirely dependant on the timing of the payment of the related claims. Our ability to make an estimate of this split is not practicable. We believe, instead, that the A&E discussion is best provided excluding the NICO contracts, while separately discussing the NICO contracts in relation to the total subject business, both A&E and non-A&E, covered by those contracts. With certain exceptions, the NICO contracts provide coverage for our net A&E incurred losses and allocated loss expenses within the limits of coverage and above ACE’s retention levels. These exceptions include losses arising from certain operations of Insurance–Overseas General and participations by ACE Bermuda as a co-reinsurer or retrocessionaire in the NICO contracts.

Brandywine run-off-impact of NICO contracts on ACE’s run-off liabilities

As part of the acquisition of CIGNA’s P&C business, NICO provided $2.5 billion of reinsurance protection to Century on all Brandywine loss and allocated loss adjustment expense reserves and on the A&E reserves of various ACE INA insurance subsidiaries reinsured by Century (in each case, including uncollectible reinsurance). The benefits of this NICO contract (the “Brandywine NICO Agreement”) flow to the other Brandywine companies and to the ACE INA insurance subsidiaries through agreements between those companies and Century. The Brandywine NICO Agreement was exhausted on an incurred basis in the fourth quarter of 2002.

 

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The following table presents a roll forward of net loss reserves, allocated and unallocated loss adjustment expense reserves, and provision for uncollectible reinsurance in respect of Brandywine operations only, including the impact of the Brandywine NICO Agreement. The table presents Brandywine incurred activity for the quarter ended March 31, 2008.

 

     Brandywine     NICO
Coverage(2)
    Net of NICO
Coverage
     A&E     Other(1)     Total      
     (in millions of U.S. dollars)

Balance at December 31, 2007

   $ 1,323     $ 1,064     $ 2,387     $ 1,630     $ 757

Incurred activity

     (11 )     25       14       —         14

Payment activity

     (22 )     (27 )     (49 )     (51 )     2
                                      

Balance at March 31, 2008

   $ 1,290     $ 1,062     $ 2,352     $ 1,579     $ 773
                                      

 

(1)

Other consists primarily of workers’ compensation, non-A&E general liability losses, and provision for uncollectible reinsurance on non-A&E business. The Other reserve balance at December 31, 2007, has been increased by $24 million to reflect final activity on the fourth quarter 2007 NICO bordereau.

(2)

The balance at December 31, 2007, has been increased by $33 million to reflect final activity on the fourth quarter 2007 NICO bordereau.

The Brandywine A&E incurred benefit and the Brandywine Other incurred loss were primarily related to changes in bad debt estimation as a result of our regular revaluation of reinsurer credit ratings and changes in recoverable balances.

Reserve reviews

During 2007, we conducted an internal review of our consolidated A&E liabilities as of June 30, 2007. As a result of the internal review, we concluded that our net loss reserves for the Brandywine operations, including A&E, were adequate and, therefore, no change to the carried reserve was required.

In 2006, a team of external actuaries performed an evaluation as to the adequacy of the reserves of Century. This external review was conducted in accordance with the Brandywine Restructuring Order, which requires that an external actuarial review of Century’s reserves be completed every two years. The results of the external review

were addressed with the Pennsylvania Insurance Department and no changes to statutory-basis loss reserves were deemed necessary.

The internal and external actuarial reviews of our consolidated A&E liabilities are currently being performed and any required adjustment will be recorded in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Our A&E reserves are not discounted and do not reflect any anticipated future changes in the legal, social, or economic environment, or any benefit from future legislative reforms.

Westchester Specialty – impact of NICO contracts on ACE’s run-off liabilities

As part of the acquisition of Westchester Specialty in 1998, NICO provided a 75 percent pro-rata share of $1 billion of reinsurance protection on losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred on or before December 31, 1996, in excess of a retention of $721 million (the 1998 NICO Agreement). NICO has also provided an 85 percent pro-rata share of $150 million of reinsurance protection on losses and allocated loss adjustment expenses incurred on or before December 31, 1992, in excess of a retention of $755 million (the 1992 NICO Agreement). At December 31, 2007, the remaining unused incurred limit under the 1998 NICO Agreement was $488 million, which is only available for losses and loss adjustment expenses. The 1992 NICO Agreement is exhausted on an incurred basis.

 

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The following table presents a roll forward of net loss reserves, allocated and unallocated loss adjustment expense reserves, and provision for uncollectible reinsurance in respect of 1996 and prior Westchester Specialty operations that are the subject business of the NICO covers. The table presents incurred activity for the period ended March 31, 2008.

 

     Westchester Specialty     NICO
Coverage
    Net of NICO
Coverage
 
     A&E(1)     Other(2)     Total      
     (in millions of U.S. dollars)  

Balance at December 31, 2007

   $ 214     $ 130     $ 344     $ 298     $ 46  

Incurred activity

     —         —         —         —         —    

Payment activity

     (4 )     (8 )     (12 )     (11 )     (1 )
                                        

Balance at March 31, 2008

   $ 210     $ 122     $ 332     $ 287     $ 45  
                                        

 

(1)

The balance at December 31, 2007, has been reduced by $10 million to reflect reserve classification between Asbestos and Other.

(2)

Other consists primarily of non-A&E general liability and products liability losses. Other reserves were increased by $10 million to reflect reserve reclassification between Asbestos and Other.

Reserving considerations

For asbestos, we face claims relating to policies issued to manufacturers, distributors, installers, and other parties in the chain of commerce for asbestos and products containing asbestos. Claims can be filed by individual claimants or groups of claimants with the potential for hundreds of individual claimants at one time. Claimants will generally allege damages across an extended time period which may coincide with multiple policies for a single insured.

Environmental claims present exposure for remediation and defense costs associated with the contamination of property as a result of pollution. It is common, especially for larger defendants, to be named as a potentially responsible party at multiple sites.

Brandywine run-off entities

In addition to housing a significant portion of our A&E exposure, the Brandywine operations include run-off liabilities related to various insurance and reinsurance businesses. The following companies comprise ACE’s Brandywine operations: Century (a Pennsylvania insurer), Century Re (a Pennsylvania insurer), and Century International Reinsurance Company Ltd. (a Bermuda insurer (CIRC)). All of the Brandywine companies are direct or indirect subsidiaries of Brandywine Holdings.

The U.S.-based ACE INA companies assumed two contractual obligations in respect of the Brandywine operations in connection with the Restructuring: a dividend retention fund obligation and a surplus maintenance obligation in the form of an aggregate excess of loss reinsurance agreement. In accordance with the Brandywine restructuring order, INA Financial Corporation established and funded a dividend retention fund (the Dividend Retention Fund) consisting of $50 million plus investment earnings. The full balance of the Dividend Retention Fund was contributed to Century as of December 31, 2002. To the extent future dividends are paid by INA Holdings Corporation to its parent, INA Financial Corporation, and to the extent INA Financial Corporation then pays such dividends to INA Corporation, a portion of those dividends must be withheld to replenish the principal of the Dividend Retention Fund to $50 million within five years. In the quarter ended March 31, 2008, and in the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, no such dividends were paid and, therefore, no replenishment of the Dividend Retention Fund occurred. The obligation to maintain and to replenish the Dividend Retention Fund as necessary and to the extent dividends are paid is ongoing until ACE INA receives prior written approval from the Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner to terminate the fund.

 

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In addition, an ACE INA insurance subsidiary provided reinsurance coverage to Century in the amount of $800 million under an aggregate excess of loss reinsurance agreement (the Aggregate Excess of Loss Agreement) if the statutory capital and surplus of Century falls below $25 million or if Century lacks liquid assets with which to pay claims as they become due, after giving effect to the contribution of the balance, if any, of the Dividend Retention Fund. Coverage under the Aggregate Excess of Loss Agreement was triggered as of December 31, 2002, following contribution of the balance of the Dividend Retention Fund, because Century’s capital and surplus fell below $25 million at December 31, 2002.

Effective December 31, 2004, ACE INA Holdings contributed $100 million to Century in exchange for a surplus note. After giving effect to the contribution and issuance of the surplus note, the statutory surplus of Century at March 31, 2008, was $25 million and approximately $317 million in statutory-basis losses were ceded to the Aggregate Excess of Loss Agreement. Century reports the amount ceded under the Aggregate Excess of Loss Agreement in accordance with statutory accounting principles, which differ from GAAP by, among other things, allowing Century to discount its asbestos and environmental reserves. For GAAP reporting purposes, intercompany reinsurance recoverables related to the Aggregate Excess of Loss Agreement are eliminated upon consolidation. To estimate ACE’s remaining claim exposure under the Aggregate Excess of Loss Agreement on a GAAP basis, we adjust the statutory cession to exclude the discount embedded in statutory loss reserves and we adjust the statutory provision for uncollectible reinsurance to a GAAP basis amount. At March 31, 2008, approximately $569 million in GAAP basis losses were ceded under the Aggregate Excess of Loss Agreement, leaving a remaining limit of coverage under that agreement of approximately $231 million. At December 31, 2007, the remaining limit of coverage under the agreement was $228 million. While we believe ACE has no legal obligation to fund losses above the Aggregate Excess of Loss Agreement limit of coverage, ACE’s consolidated results would nevertheless continue to include any losses above the limit of coverage for so long as the Brandywine companies remain consolidated subsidiaries of ACE.

Uncertainties relating to ACE’s ultimate Brandywine exposure

In addition to the Dividend Retention Fund and Aggregate Excess of Loss Agreement commitments described above, certain ACE entities are primarily liable for asbestos, environmental, and other exposures that they have reinsured to Century. Accordingly, if Century were to become insolvent and ACE were to lose control of Century, some or all of the recoverables due to these ACE companies from Century could become uncollectible, yet those ACE entities would continue to be responsible to pay claims to their insureds or reinsureds. Under such circumstances, ACE would recognize a loss in its consolidated statement of operations. As of March 31, 2008, the aggregate reinsurance balances ceded by the active ACE companies to Century were approximately $1.5 billion. At March 31, 2008, Century’s carried gross reserves (including reserves ceded by the active ACE companies to Century) were $3.4 billion. We believe the intercompany reinsurance recoverables, which relate to liabilities payable over many years (i.e., 25 years or more), are not impaired at this time. A substantial portion of the liabilities ceded to Century by its affiliates have in turn been ceded by Century to NICO and, as of March 31, 2008, approximately $1.6 billion of cover remains on a paid basis. Should Century’s loss reserves experience adverse development in the future and should Century be placed into rehabilitation or liquidation, the reinsurance recoverables due from Century to its affiliates would be payable only after the payment in full of certain expenses and liabilities, including administrative expenses and direct policy liabilities. Thus, the intercompany reinsurance recoverables would be at risk to the extent of the shortage of assets remaining to pay these recoverables. As of March 31, 2008, losses ceded by Century to the active ACE companies and other amounts owed to Century by the active ACE companies were approximately $598 million in the aggregate.

Catastrophe Management

We continue to closely monitor our catastrophe accumulation around the world and have significantly reduced our U.S. wind exposure since 2005. Our modeled annual aggregate 1 in 100 year return period U.S. hurricane probable maximum loss, net of reinsurance is approximately $952 million; i.e., there is a one percent chance that ACE’s losses incurred in any year from U.S. hurricanes could be in excess of $952 million (or approximately six

 

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percent of our total shareholders’ equity at June 30, 2008). We estimate that at such hypothetical loss levels, aggregate industry losses would be approximately $133 billion. If the 2005 hurricanes were to recur with similar path and intensity, our net losses on an “as-if” basis would be approximately 30 percent lower. Our modeled single occurrence 1 in 100 return period California earthquake probable maximum loss, net of reinsurance is approximately $630 million; i.e., there is a one percent chance that ACE’s losses incurred in any single California earthquake event could be in excess of $630 million (or approximately four percent of our total shareholders’ equity at June 30, 2008). We estimate that at such hypothetical loss levels, the industry losses would be approximately $37 billion. ACE’s modeled losses reflect our in-force portfolio and reinsurance program as of April 1, 2008, with the inclusion of an additional $75 million catastrophe reinsurance coverage for our U.S. hurricane exposure with an inception date of July 1st, 2008.

The modeling estimates of both ACE and industry loss levels are inherently uncertain owing to key assumptions. First, while the use of third-party catastrophe modeling packages to simulate potential hurricane and earthquake losses is prevalent within the insurance industry, the models are reliant upon significant meteorology, seismology, and engineering assumptions to estimate hurricane and earthquake losses. In particular, modeled hurricane and earthquake events are not always a representation of actual events and ensuing additional loss potential. Second, there is no universal standard in the preparation of insured data for use in the models and the running of the modeling software. Third, we are reliant upon third-party estimates of industry insured exposures and there is significant variation possible around the relationship between ACE’s loss and that of the industry following an event. Fourth, we assume that our reinsurance recoveries following an event are fully collectible. These loss estimates do not represent ACE’s potential maximum exposures and it is highly likely that ACE’s actual incurred losses would vary materially from the modeled estimates.

Crop Insurance

We are, and have been since the 1980’s, one of the leading writers of crop insurance in the U.S. and conduct such business through Rain and Hail L.L.C., a managing general agency (MGA). We provide protection throughout the U.S. and are therefore, geographically diversified which reduces the risk of exposure to heavy accumulation of losses in any one region.

Our crop insurance book comprises two components – multi-peril crop insurance (MPCI) and hail insurance.

The MPCI program is a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The policies cover crop losses due to natural causes such as drought, excessive moisture, hail, wind, frost, insects, and disease. Generally, policies have deductibles ranging from 10 percent to 50 percent of the producer’s liability. The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) sets the policy terms and conditions, rates and forms, and is also responsible for setting compliance standards. As a participating company, we report all details of policies underwritten to the RMA and are party to a Standard Reinsurance Agreement (SRA), which sets out the relationship between private insurance companies and the federal government concerning the terms and conditions regarding the risks each will bear. In addition to the pro-rata and excess of loss reinsurance protections inherent in the SRA, we cede business on a quota-share basis to third-party reinsurers and further protect our net retained position through the purchase of stop-loss reinsurance in the private market place.

Our hail program is a private offering where we use industry data to develop our own rates and forms for the coverage offered. The policy primarily protects farmers against yield reduction caused by hail and/or fire, and related costs such as transit to storage. We offer various deductibles to allow the grower to partially self-insure for a reduced premium cost. We limit our hail exposures through the use of township liability limits, quota-share reinsurance cessions, and stop-loss reinsurance on our net retained hail business.

On the MPCI business, we recognize net premiums written as we receive acreage reports from the policyholders on the various crops throughout the U.S. The program has specific timeframes as to when producers must report acreage to us. These reports allow us to determine the actual premium associated with the liability that is being

 

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planted. Once the net premium written has been booked, the premium is then earned over the growing season for the crops. Given the major crops that are covered in the program, we typically see a substantial written premium impact in the second and third quarter and the earned premium is also more concentrated in the second and third quarters.

On the hail program, the premium is recognized when the policy is issued and the premium for this business is also earned over the coverage period of the policy. Given the very short nature of the growing season, most hail business is typically written in the second and third quarters with the earned premium also more heavily occurring during this time frame.

During the first quarter of each calendar year our MGA reports to us the results from the previous crop year. Typically, this results in an adjustment to the previously estimated losses and loss expenses and profit share commission which impacts our policy acquisition costs. For example, for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, the 2007 crop-year settlement reduced our losses and loss expenses by approximately $105 million and gave rise to $44 million in profit share commission resulting in a net benefit to income of approximately $61 million.

Liquidity

The payments of dividends or other statutorily permissible distributions from our operating companies are subject to the laws and regulations applicable to each jurisdiction, as well as the need to maintain capital levels adequate to support the insurance and reinsurance operations, including financial strength ratings issued by independent rating agencies. During the six months ended June 30, 2008, we were able to meet all of our obligations, including the payment of dividends declared on our Common Shares and Preferred Shares, with our net cash flows and dividends received.

We anticipate that positive cash flows from operations (underwriting activities and investment income) should be sufficient to cover cash outflows under most loss scenarios through 2008. Should the need arise, we generally have access to the capital markets and other available credit facilities. At June 30, 2008, our available credit lines totaled $2.2 billion and usage was $1.4 billion.

We assess which subsidiaries to draw dividends from based on a number of factors. Considerations such as regulatory and legal restrictions as well as the subsidiary’s financial condition are paramount to the dividend decision. The legal restrictions on the payment of dividends from retained earnings by our Bermuda subsidiaries are currently satisfied by the share capital and additional paid-in capital of each of the Bermuda subsidiaries. During the six months ended June 30, 2008, ACE Bermuda declared and paid dividends of $280 million ($168 million in the prior year period), and ACE Tempest Life Re declared and paid dividends of $915 million ($Nil in the prior year period). A portion of the dividends received were used in connection with the acquisition of Combined Insurance. We expect that a majority of our cash inflows for the remainder of 2008 will be from our Bermuda subsidiaries.

The payment of any dividends from ACE Global Markets or its subsidiaries is subject to applicable U.K. insurance laws and regulations. In addition, the release of funds by Syndicate 2488 to subsidiaries of ACE Global Markets is subject to regulations promulgated by the Society of Lloyd’s. ACE INA’s U.S. insurance subsidiaries may pay dividends, without prior regulatory approval, subject to restrictions set out in state law of the subsidiary’s domicile (or, if applicable, “commercial domicile”). ACE INA’s international subsidiaries are also subject to insurance laws and regulations particular to the countries in which the subsidiaries operate. These laws and regulations sometimes include restrictions that limit the amount of dividends payable without prior approval of regulatory insurance authorities.

ACE Limited did not receive any dividends from ACE Global Markets or ACE INA during the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007. The debt issued by ACE INA is serviced by statutorily permissible distributions by ACE INA’s insurance subsidiaries to ACE INA as well as other group resources.

 

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Sources of liquidity include cash from operations, routine sales of investments, and financing arrangements. The following is a discussion of our cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007.

 

   

Our consolidated net cash flows from operating activities were $2.1 billion in the six months ended June 30, 2008, compared with $2.4 billion for the prior year period. These amounts reflect net income for each period, adjusted for non-cash items and changes in working capital. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2008, was $1.1 billion compared with $1.3 billion in the prior year period. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, significant adjustments included net realized gains (losses) of $479 million, unearned premiums of $671 million and reinsurance recoverable on loss and loss expenses of $641 million. The unpaid losses and loss expenses and reinsurance recoverable were significantly impacted by the crop/hail business settled during the period. These adjustments were partially offset by an increase in insurance/reinsurance balances receivable and prepaid reinsurance premiums, which resulted in an adjustment to net cash flows from operating activities of $769 million.

 

   

Our consolidated net cash flows used for investing activities were $3.2 billion in the six months ended June 30, 2008, compared with $2.2 billion for the prior year period. For the indicated periods, net investing activities were related primarily to net purchases and maturities on the fixed maturities portfolio and the acquisition of Combined Insurance of $2.56 billion.

 

   

Our consolidated net cash flows from financing activities were $1.2 billion in the six months ended June 30, 2008, compared with net cash flows used for financing of $139 million in the prior year period. Net cash flows from financing activities in the six months ended June 30, 2008, include net proceeds from the issuance of $1.9 billion in debt (net of repayment of debt), including $705 million in reverse repurchase agreements. These items were partially offset by $777 million of net cash flows used for financing activities relating to the redemption of our Preferred Shares (refer to “Capital Resources” for more information) and dividends on our Common and Preferred Shares.

Capital Resources

Capital resources consist of funds deployed or available to be deployed to support our business operations. The following table summarizes the components of our capital resources at June 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007.

 

     June 30
    2008    
    December 31
        2007        
 
     (in millions of U.S. dollars,
except for percentages)
 

Short-term debt

   $ 1,050     $ 372  

Long-term debt

     3,008       1,811  
                

Total debt

     4,058       2,183  
                

Trust preferred securities

     309       309  
                

Preferred Shares

     —         557  

Ordinary shareholders’ equity

     16,327       16,120  
                

Total shareholders’ equity

     16,327       16,677  
                

Total capitalization

   $ 20,694     $ 19,169  
                

Ratio of debt to total capitalization

     19.6 %     11.4 %

Ratio of debt plus trust preferred securities to total capitalization

     21.1 %     13.0 %

During the quarter ended March 31, 2008, and the quarter ended December 31, 2007, we executed reverse repurchase agreements with certain counterparties. Under these reverse repurchase agreements, we agreed to sell securities and repurchase them at a date in the future for a predetermined price. At June 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007, short-term debt included $705 million and $35 million, respectively, of amounts owed to brokers under these reverse repurchase transactions. We elected to use reverse repurchase agreements in

 

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connection with the financing of the Combined Insurance acquisition, instead of liquidating higher yielding investment assets. This will temporarily increase our short-term debt for approximately one more quarter. We expect to fund the repurchase of the securities using operating cash flows and maturing investments. In addition, in February 2008, ACE INA issued $300 million of 5.8 percent senior notes due March 2018 and, on April 1, 2008, we entered into a $450 million unsecured term loan repayable in April 2013. This has increased our ratio of debt to total capitalization to 19.6 percent. Assuming current capital levels, once the reverse repurchase agreements have been settled, our debt to total capitalization ratio will decline to 16.8 percent. The proceeds of the reverse repurchase agreements, the notes, and the term loan were applied to pay a portion of the purchase price of the acquisition of the outstanding capital stock of Combined Insurance.

On May 12, 2008, ACE INA issued $450 million of 5.6 percent senior notes, due May 2015. The net proceeds plus available cash were used to redeem all $575 million of the 7.8 percent Preferred Shares and related depository shares on June 13, 2008.

Total shareholders’ equity decreased $350 million in the six months ended June 30, 2008. The following table reports the significant movements in our shareholders’ equity for the six months ended June 30, 2008.

 

     June 30, 2008  
     (in millions of
U.S. dollars)
 

Total shareholders’ equity, beginning of period

   $ 16,677  

Net income

     1,123  

Dividends on Common Shares

     (186 )

Dividends on Preferred Shares

     (24 )

Proceeds from exercise of options

     80  

Redemption of Preferred Shares

     (575 )

Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

     (834 )

Other movements, net

     66  
        

Total shareholders’ equity, end of period

   $ 16,327  
        

As part of our capital management program, in November 2001, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of any ACE issued debt or capital securities including Common Shares up to $250 million. At June 30, 2008, this authorization had not been utilized. We generally maintain shelf registration capacity at all times in order to allow capital market access for refinancing as well as for unforeseen capital needs. Consistent with this policy, in 2005, we filed an unlimited shelf registration which expires in December 2008. We expect to file a new shelf registration to replace the one that expires in December 2008.

On January 11, 2008, and April 14, 2008, we paid dividends of 27 cents per Ordinary Share to shareholders of record on December 31, 2007, and March 31, 2008, respectively. On July 11, 2008, we paid dividends of 29 cents per share to shareholders of record on June 30, 2008. We have paid dividends each quarter since we became a public company in 1993. On March 1, and June 1, 2008, we paid a dividend of $4.875 per Preferred Share to shareholders of record on February 29, 2008, and May 31, 2008, respectively. As discussed above, the Preferred Shares were redeemed on June 13, 2008.

Effects of the Continuation on Dividends

Under Swiss law all dividends, including distributions through a reduction in par value, must be approved in advance by our shareholders, though the determination of the record and payment dates may be delegated to our Board of Directors. Swiss law permits distributions to shareholders by way of par value reductions if (a) after the implementation of the par value reduction the reduced aggregate nominal value of the share capital and the statutory reserves is covered by net assets, (b) they are approved by shareholders at a general meeting, (c) the

 

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auditor confirms to the general meeting in a written report that the claims of the creditors are fully covered despite the par value reduction, (d) creditors are informed by way of public notification in the Swiss Commercial Gazette that they can within two months ask for discharge of or the posting of security for their claims and (e) the par value reduction is registered in the Swiss commercial register. We currently intend, subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors and the needs of our business, to propose at each annual general meeting, beginning with our annual general meeting in 2009, a reduction in par value that will be effected in four quarterly installments. The amount of a proposed par value reduction will be based on the Board of Directors’ determination of an appropriate U.S. dollar dividend for the succeeding year and will be converted into Swiss francs for purposes of obtaining shareholder approval based on the U.S. dollar/Swiss franc exchange rate shortly before the annual general meeting. Dividends, including distributions through a reduction in par value, must be paid by ACE in Swiss francs. However, we have arranged for our transfer agent to convert dividend payments so they will be distributed by our transfer agent in U.S. dollars converted at the U.S. dollar/Swiss franc exchange rate shortly before the payment date. As a result, shareholders will be exposed to fluctuations in the U.S. dollar/Swiss franc exchange rate between the date a dividend amount is determined and the relevant dividend payment date. Our Board of Directors may, but is not required to, take into account in determining a proposed par value reduction the amount of U.S. dollars actually received by shareholders in the prior year versus the U.S. dollar amount on which the prior year’s par value reduction was based. Should we determine to pay dividends other than by a reduction in par value, under Swiss law, such dividends (other than through reductions in par value) may be paid out only if the corporation has sufficient distributable profits from previous business years, or if the reserves of the corporation are sufficient to allow distribution of a dividend. The board of directors of a Swiss corporation may propose that a dividend be paid, but cannot itself set the dividend. The Company auditors must confirm that the dividend proposal of the board of directors conforms with statutory law. Prior to the distribution of dividends, five percent of the annual profits must be allocated to the general reserve until the amount of general reserves has reached twenty percent of the paid-in nominal share capital. Our Swiss Articles of Association can provide for a higher general reserve or for the creation of further reserves setting forth their purpose and use. Once this level has been reached and maintained, the shareholders meeting may approve a distribution of each year’s profit within the framework of applicable legal requirements. Dividends paid from retained earnings are usually due and payable immediately after the shareholders’ resolution relating to the allocation of profits has been passed. Under Swiss law, the statute of limitations in respect of claims for dividend payments is five years. As noted above, for the foreseeable future, we expect to pay dividends as a repayment of share capital in the form of a reduction in par value or qualified paid-in capital, which would not be subject to Swiss withholding tax.

Effects of the Continuation on par value of Common Shares

In connection with the Continuation, we changed the currency in which the par value of Ordinary Shares is stated from U.S. dollars to Swiss francs and increased the par value of Ordinary Shares from $0.041666667 to CHF 33.74 (the New Par Value) through a conversion of all issued Ordinary Shares into “stock” and re-conversion of the stock into Ordinary Shares with a par value equal to the New Par Value (the Par Value Conversion). The Par Value Conversion was followed immediately by a stock dividend, to effectively return shareholders to the number of Ordinary Shares held before the Par Value Conversion. Upon the effectiveness of the Continuation, our Ordinary Shares became Common Shares. For purposes of the Consolidated Financial Statements, the increase in par value was accomplished by a corresponding reduction first to retained earnings and second to additional paid-in capital to the extent that the increase in par value exhausted retained earnings at the balance sheet date.

For more information, including covenant restrictions on our credit facilities, refer to “Liquidity and Capital Resources” included in our 2007 Form 10-K.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Refer to Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Refer to the Item 7A. included in our 2007 Form 10-K. There have been no material changes to this item since December 31, 2007.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in allowing information required to be disclosed in reports filed under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 to be recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC and accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

During the quarter ended June 30, 2008, there was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to claims litigation involving disputed interpretations of policy coverages and, in some jurisdictions, direct actions by allegedly-injured persons seeking damages from policyholders. These lawsuits, involving claims on policies issued by our subsidiaries which are typical to the insurance industry in general and in the normal course of business, are considered in our loss and loss expense reserves. In addition to claims litigation, we and our subsidiaries are subject to lawsuits and regulatory actions in the normal course of business that do not arise from, or directly relate to, claims on insurance policies. This category of business litigation typically involves, amongst other things, allegations of underwriting errors or misconduct, employment claims, regulatory activity, or disputes arising from our business ventures.

While the outcomes of the business litigation involving us cannot be predicted with certainty at this point, we are disputing and will continue to dispute allegations against us that are without merit and believe that the ultimate outcomes of the matters in this category of business litigation will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, future operating results, or liquidity, although an adverse resolution of a number of these items could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations in a particular quarter or fiscal year.

Information on the insurance industry investigations and related matters is set forth in Note 8 b) to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

The following supplements the factors that could have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition as described under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A. of Part I of our 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K and under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A. of Part II of our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2008. The Risk Factors under the headings “Regulatory and Other Governmental Developments”, “Company Structure”, “Charter Documents and Applicable Law” and “Taxation” in our 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K are amended and restated to read in their entirety as set forth below.

Regulatory and Other Governmental Developments

The regulatory regimes under which we operate, and potential changes thereto, could have an adverse effect on our business.

Our insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries conduct business globally, including in all 50 states of the United States and the District of Columbia. Our businesses in each of these jurisdictions are subject to varying degrees of regulation and supervision. The laws and regulations of the jurisdictions in which our insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries are domiciled require, among other things, that these subsidiaries maintain minimum levels of statutory capital, surplus, and liquidity, meet solvency standards, and submit to periodic examinations of their financial condition. In some jurisdictions, laws and regulations also restrict payments of dividends and reductions of capital. Applicable statutes, regulations, and policies may also restrict the ability of these subsidiaries to write insurance and reinsurance policies, to make certain investments, and to distribute funds. The purpose of insurance laws and regulations generally is to protect insureds and ceding insurance companies, not our shareholders. We may not be able to comply fully with, or obtain appropriate exemptions from, applicable statutes and regulations. Failure to comply with or to obtain appropriate authorizations and/or exemptions under any applicable laws and regulations could result in restrictions on our ability to do business or undertake activities that are regulated in one or more of the jurisdictions in which we conduct business and could subject us to fines and other sanctions. In addition, changes in the laws or regulations to which our insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries are subject could have an adverse effect on our business.

Current legal and regulatory activities relating to insurance brokers and agents, contingent commissions, and certain finite-risk insurance products could adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

As described in greater detail in Note 8 b) to the Consolidated Financial Statements ACE has received numerous regulatory inquiries, subpoenas, interrogatories, and civil investigative demands from regulatory authorities in

 

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connection with pending investigations of insurance industry practices. ACE is cooperating and will continue to cooperate with such inquiries. We cannot assure you that we will not receive any additional requests for information or subpoenas or what actions, if any, any of these governmental agencies will take as a result of these investigations. Additionally, at this time, we are unable to predict the potential effects, if any, that these actions may have upon the insurance and reinsurance markets and industry business practices or what, if any, changes may be made to laws and regulations regarding the industry and financial reporting. Any of the foregoing could adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

Events may result in political, regulatory, and industry initiatives which could adversely affect our business.

Government intervention has occurred in the insurance and reinsurance markets in relation to terrorism coverage both in the U.S. and through industry initiatives in other countries. TRIA, which was enacted in 2002 to ensure the availability of insurance coverage for certain types of terrorist acts in the U.S., was extended in 2007 for seven years, through 2014. Refer to “Regulation – U.S. Operations” for more information in our 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Government intervention and the possibility of future interventions has created uncertainty in the insurance and reinsurance markets about the definition of terrorist acts and the extent to which future coverages will extend to terrorist acts. Government regulators are generally concerned with the protection of policyholders to the exclusion of other constituencies, including shareholders of insurers and reinsurers. While we cannot predict the exact nature, timing, or scope of possible governmental initiatives, such proposals could adversely affect our business by:

 

   

providing insurance and reinsurance capacity in markets and to consumers that we target;

 

   

requiring our participation in industry pools and guaranty associations;

 

   

expanding the scope of coverage under existing policies;

 

   

regulating the terms of insurance and reinsurance policies; or

 

   

disproportionately benefiting the companies of one country over those of another.

The insurance industry is also affected by political, judicial, and legal developments that may create new and expanded theories of liability. Such changes may result in delays or cancellations of products and services by insurers and reinsurers, which could adversely affect our business.

Our operations in developing nations expose us to political developments that could have an adverse effect on our business, liquidity, results of operations, and financial condition.

Our international operations include operations in various developing nations. Both current and future foreign operations could be adversely affected by unfavorable political developments including law changes, tax changes, regulatory restrictions, and nationalization of ACE operations without compensation. Adverse actions from any one country could have an adverse effect on our business, liquidity, results of operations, and financial condition depending on the magnitude of the event and ACE’s net financial exposure at that time in that country.

We may become subject to additional Swiss regulation.

The Swiss Federal Office of Private Insurance, which we refer to as “FOPI,” has the discretion to supervise our group activities. Under so-called “group supervision,” FOPI has the right to supervise the Company on a group-wide basis. The regulatory power of FOPI covers in particular the following areas:

 

   

reporting on organization;

 

   

reporting on structure;

 

   

reporting on internal transactions;

 

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solvency;

 

   

group/conglomerate report; and

 

   

corporate governance/risk management/internal control system

In March 2008, we received written confirmation from FOPI that it will not subject us to group supervision so long as certain business parameters within Switzerland are not exceeded. While we currently intend to operate within these parameters, we cannot assure you that our future business needs may not require that we exceed these parameters or that FOPI will not change these parameters or otherwise determine to exercise group supervision over us. The costs and administrative burdens of such group supervision could be substantial.

Company Structure

Our ability to pay dividends and to make payments on indebtedness may be constrained by our holding company structure.

ACE Limited is a holding company and does not have any significant operations or assets other than its ownership of the shares of its operating insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries. Dividends and other permitted distributions from our insurance subsidiaries are our primary source of funds to meet ongoing cash requirements, including any future debt service payments and other expenses, and to pay dividends to our shareholders. Some of our insurance subsidiaries are subject to significant regulatory restrictions limiting their ability to declare and pay dividends. The inability of our insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends in an amount sufficient to enable us to meet our cash requirements at the holding company level could have an adverse effect on our operations and our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders and/or meet our debt service obligations.

ACE Limited is a Swiss company; it may be difficult for you to enforce judgments against it or its directors and executive officers.

ACE Limited is incorporated pursuant to the laws of Switzerland. In addition, certain of our directors and officers reside outside the United States and all or a substantial portion of our assets and the assets of such persons are located in jurisdictions outside the United States. As such, it may be difficult or impossible to effect service of process within the United States upon those persons or to recover against us or them on judgments of U.S. courts, including judgments predicated upon civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws.

ACE has been advised by Niederer Kraft & Frey AG, its Swiss counsel, that there is doubt as to whether the courts in Switzerland would enforce:

 

   

judgments of U.S. courts based upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. Federal securities laws obtained in actions against it or its directors and officers, who reside outside the United States; or

 

   

original actions brought in Switzerland against these persons or ACE predicated solely upon U.S. Federal securities laws.

ACE has also been advised by Niederer Kraft & Frey AG that there is no treaty in effect between the United States and Switzerland providing for this enforcement, and there are grounds upon which Swiss courts may not enforce judgments of United States courts. Some remedies available under the laws of United States jurisdictions, including some remedies available under the U.S. Federal securities laws, would not be allowed in Swiss courts as contrary to that nation’s public policy.

As a result of the increase in par value of our shares that occurred in connection with our Continuation to Switzerland, we will have less flexibility with respect to certain aspects of capital management than previously.

In connection with our Continuation to Switzerland, we increased the par value of our shares from $0.041666667 to CHF 33.74. Under Swiss law, we may not generally issue registered shares below their par value. In the event

 

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there is a need to raise common equity capital at a time when the trading price of our registered shares is below our par value, we will need to obtain approval of our shareholders to decrease the par value of our registered shares. We cannot assure you that we would be able to obtain such shareholder approval. Furthermore, obtaining shareholder approval would require filing a preliminary proxy statement with the SEC and convening a meeting of shareholders which would delay any capital raising plans. Furthermore, any reduction in par value would decrease our ability to pay dividends as a repayment of share capital, which is not subject to Swiss withholding tax. See “Taxation – Shareholders may be subject to Swiss withholding taxes on the payment of dividends.”

Charter Documents and Applicable Law

There are provisions in our charter documents that may reduce the voting rights of our Common Shares.

Our Articles of Association generally provide that shareholders have one vote for each Common Share held by them and are entitled to vote at all meetings of shareholders. However, the voting rights exercisable by a shareholder may be limited so that certain persons or groups are not deemed to hold 10 percent or more of the voting power conferred by our Common Shares. Under these provisions, some shareholders may have the ability to exercise their voting rights limited to less than one vote per share. Moreover, these provisions could have the effect of reducing the voting power of some shareholders who would not otherwise be subject to the limitation by virtue of their direct share ownership. Our Board of Directors may refuse to register holders of shares as shareholders with voting rights based on certain grounds, including if the holder would, directly or indirectly, formally, constructively or beneficially own (as defined in Article 15 of our Articles of Association) or otherwise control voting rights with respect to 10 percent or more of the registered share capital recorded in the commercial register. In addition, the Board of Directors shall reject entry of holders of registered shares as shareholders with voting rights in the share register or shall decide on their deregistration when the acquirer or shareholder upon request does not expressly state that she/he has acquired or holds the shares in her/his own name and for her/his account.

Applicable laws may make it difficult to effect a change of control of our company.

Before a person can acquire control of a U.S. insurance company, prior written approval must be obtained from the insurance commissioner of the state where the domestic insurer is domiciled. Prior to granting approval of an application to acquire control of a domestic insurer, the state insurance commissioner will consider such factors as the financial strength of the applicant, the integrity and management of the applicant’s Board of Directors and executive officers, the acquirer’s plans for the future operations of the domestic insurer, and any anti-competitive results that may arise from the consummation of the acquisition of control. Generally, state statutes provide that control over a domestic insurer is presumed to exist if any person, directly or indirectly, owns, controls, holds with the power to vote, or holds proxies representing 10 percent or more of the voting securities of the domestic insurer. Because a person acquiring 10 percent or more of our Common Shares would indirectly control the same percentage of the stock of our U.S. insurance subsidiaries, the insurance change of control laws of various U.S. jurisdictions would likely apply to such a transaction. Laws of other jurisdictions in which one or more of our existing subsidiaries are, or a future subsidiary may be, organized or domiciled may contain similar restrictions on the acquisition of control of ACE.

While our Articles of Association limit the voting power of any shareholder to less than 10 percent, there can be no assurance that the applicable regulatory body would agree that a shareholder who owned 10 percent or more of our Common Shares did not, because of the limitation on the voting power of such shares, control the applicable insurance subsidiary.

These laws may discourage potential acquisition proposals and may delay, deter, or prevent a change of control of the Company, including transactions that some or all of our shareholders might consider to be desirable.

 

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U.S. persons who own our Common Shares may have more difficulty in protecting their interests than U.S. persons who are shareholders of a U.S. corporation.

Swiss corporate law, which applies to us, differs in certain material respects from laws generally applicable to U.S. corporations and their shareholders. These differences include the manner in which directors must disclose transactions in which they have an interest, the rights of shareholders to bring class action and derivative lawsuits, and the scope of indemnification available to directors and officers.

Anti-takeover provisions in our charter and corporate documents could impede an attempt to replace our directors or to effect a change of control, which could diminish the value of our Common Shares.

Our Articles of Association contain provisions that may make it more difficult for shareholders to replace directors and could delay or prevent a change of control that a shareholder might consider favorable. These provisions include a staggered Board of Directors and voting restrictions. These provisions may prevent a shareholder from receiving the benefit from any premium over the market price of our Common Shares offered by a bidder in a potential takeover. Even in the absence of an attempt to effect a change in management or a takeover attempt, these provisions may adversely affect the prevailing market price of our Common Shares if they are viewed as discouraging takeover attempts in the future.

Registered holders must exchange their Cayman share certificates in order to exercise certain rights.

Holders of our Ordinary Shares prior to our Continuation to Switzerland continue to own one Registered Share of ACE Limited, a Swiss company for each Ordinary Share of ACE Limited, a Cayman Islands company held before our Continuation to Switzerland. However, until they exchange their certificates for new certificates, registered holders will not be able to exercise any voting rights, prove their ownership interest in the Company, transfer their shares or exercise certain other shareholder rights, though they will be entitled to dividends, preemptive rights and liquidation proceeds. In addition, registered holders must apply to us for enrollment in our share register (Aktienbuch) as shareholders with voting rights, in order to be able to exercise voting rights.

Registered holders of our Common Shares must apply for enrollment in our share register as shareholders with voting rights in order to have voting rights; we may deny such registration under certain circumstances.

To be able to exercise voting rights, registered holders of the shares must apply to us for enrollment in our share register (Aktienbuch) as shareholders with voting rights. Our Board of Directors may refuse to register holders of shares as shareholder with voting rights based on certain grounds, including if the holder would, directly or indirectly, formally, constructively or beneficially own (as defined in Article 15 of our Articles of Association) or otherwise control voting rights with respect to 10 percent or more of the registered share capital recorded in the commercial register.

We are required to declare and pay dividends in Swiss francs and any currency fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and Swiss francs will affect the dollar value of the dividends we pay.

Under Swiss corporate law, we are required to declare and pay dividends, including distributions through a reduction in par value, in Swiss francs. Dividend payments will be made by our transfer agent in USD converted at the USD/CHF exchange rate shortly before the payment date. As a result, shareholders will be exposed to fluctuations in the USD/CHF exchange rate between the date used for purposes of calculating the CHF amount of any proposed dividend or par value reduction and the relevant payment date, which will not be shorter than two months and could be as long as a year.

Shareholder voting requirements under Swiss law may provide the Company with less flexibility with respect to certain aspects of capital management than it had as a Cayman Islands company.

Swiss law allows our shareholders to authorize share capital which can be issued by our Board of Directors without shareholder approval but this authorization must be renewed by the shareholder every two years. Swiss

 

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law also does not provide as much flexibility in the various terms that can attach to different classes of stock as the Company had as a Cayman Islands company. Swiss law also reserves for approval by shareholders many corporate actions over which our Board of Directors previously had authority when the Company was incorporated in the Cayman Islands. For example, dividends must be approved by shareholders. While we do not believe that the differences between Swiss law and Cayman Island law relating to our capital management will have an adverse effect on the Company, we cannot assure you that situations will not arise where such flexibility would have provided substantial benefits to our shareholders.

Taxation

Shareholders may be subject to Swiss withholding taxes on the payment of dividends.

Our dividends will generally be subject to a Swiss federal withholding tax at a rate of 35 percent. The withholding tax must be withheld from the gross distribution, and be paid to the Swiss Federal Tax Administration. A U.S. holder that qualifies for benefits under the Convention between the United States of America and the Swiss Confederation for the Avoidance of Double Taxation with Respect to Taxes on Income, which we refer to as the “US-Swiss Treaty,” may apply for a refund of the tax withheld in excess of the 15 percent treaty rate (or for a full refund in the case of qualifying retirement arrangements). Payment of a dividend in the form of a par value reduction or qualifying paid-in capital reduction is not subject to Swiss withholding tax. In connection with and prior to the Company’s Continuation to Switzerland, we increased the par value of each share to CHF 33.74. We currently intend, subject to the requirements of our business and applicable law, to recommend to shareholders that dividends be paid in the form of a reduction of our par value or qualifying paid-in capital. We estimate we would be able to pay dividends in the form of a reduction of par value or qualifying paid-in capital, and thus exempt from Swiss withholding tax, for approximately 15-20 years. This range may vary depending upon changes in annual dividends, special dividends, fluctuations in USD/CHF exchange rates, increases/decreases in par value or qualifying paid-in capital, or changes or new interpretations to Swiss tax law or regulations. However, there can be no assurance that our shareholders will approve a reduction in par value or qualifying paid-in capital each year that we will be able to meet the other legal requirements for a reduction in par value, or that Swiss withholding rules will not be changed in the future.

We may become subject to taxes in Bermuda after March 28, 2016, which may have an adverse effect on our results of operations and your investment.

The Bermuda Minister of Finance, under the Exempted Undertakings Tax Protection Act 1966 of Bermuda, as amended, has given each of ACE Limited and its Bermuda insurance subsidiaries a written assurance that if any legislation is enacted in Bermuda that would impose tax computed on profits or income, or computed on any capital asset, gain, or appreciation, or any tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax, then the imposition of any such tax would not be applicable to those companies or any of their respective operations, shares, debentures, or other obligations until March 28, 2016, except insofar as such tax would apply to persons ordinarily resident in Bermuda or is payable by us in respect of real property owned or leased by us in Bermuda. Given the limited duration of the Minister of Finance’s assurance, we cannot be certain that we will not be subject to any Bermuda tax after March 28, 2016.

ACE Limited and our Bermuda-based subsidiaries may become subject to U.S. tax, which may have an adverse effect on our results of operations and your investment.

ACE Limited, ACE Bermuda Insurance Ltd., ACE Tempest Life Reinsurance Ltd., and our other Bermuda-based insurance subsidiaries operate in a manner so that none of these companies should be subject to U.S. tax (other than U.S. excise tax on insurance and reinsurance premium income attributable to insuring or reinsuring U.S. risks and U.S. withholding tax on some types of U.S. source investment income), because none of these companies should be treated as engaged in a trade or business within the United States. However, because there is considerable uncertainty as to the activities that constitute being engaged in a trade or business within the United States, we cannot be certain that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will not contend successfully that any

 

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of ACE Limited or its Bermuda-based subsidiaries is/are engaged in a trade or business in the United States. If ACE Limited or any of its Bermuda-based subsidiaries were considered to be engaged in a trade or business in the United States, such entity could be subject to U.S. corporate income and additional branch profits taxes on the portion of its earnings effectively connected to such U.S. business, in which case its results of operations and your investment could be adversely affected.

If you acquire 10 percent or more of ACE Limited’s shares, you may be subject to taxation under the “controlled foreign corporation” (the CFC) rules.

Under certain circumstances, a U.S. person who owns 10 percent or more of the voting power of a foreign corporation that is a CFC (a foreign corporation in which 10 percent U.S. shareholders own more than 50 percent of the voting power or value of the stock of a foreign corporation or more than 25 percent of a foreign insurance corporation) for an uninterrupted period of 30 days or more during a taxable year must include in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes such “10 percent U.S. Shareholder’s” pro rata share of the CFC’s “subpart F income”, even if the subpart F income is not distributed to such 10 percent U.S. Shareholder if such 10 percent U.S. Shareholder owns (directly or indirectly through foreign entities) any of our shares on the last day of our fiscal year. Subpart F income of a foreign insurance corporation typically includes foreign personal holding company income (such as interest, dividends, and other types of passive income), as well as insurance and reinsurance income (including underwriting and investment income) attributable to the insurance of risks situated outside the CFC’s country of incorporation.

We believe that because of the dispersion of our share ownership, provisions in our organizational documents that limit voting power, and other factors, no U.S. person or U.S. Partnership who acquires shares of ACE Limited directly or indirectly through one or more foreign entities should be required to include our subpart F income in income under the CFC rules of the IRS Code. It is possible, however, that the IRS could challenge the effectiveness of these provisions and that a court could sustain such a challenge, in which case your investment could be adversely affected if you own 10 percent or more of ACE Limited’s stock.

U.S. persons who hold shares may be subject to U.S. federal income taxation at ordinary income rates on their proportionate share of our Related Person Insurance Income (RPII).

If the RPII of any of our non-U.S. insurance subsidiaries (each a “Non-U.S. Insurance Subsidiary”) were to equal or exceed 20 percent of that company’s gross insurance income in any taxable year and direct or indirect insureds (and persons related to those insureds) own directly or indirectly through foreign entities 20 percent or more of the voting power or value of ACE Limited, then a U.S. person who owns any shares of ACE Limited (directly or indirectly through foreign entities) on the last day of the taxable year would be required to include in its income for U.S. federal income tax purposes such person’s pro rata share of such company’s RPII for the entire taxable year, determined as if such RPII were distributed proportionately only to U.S. persons at that date regardless of whether such income is distributed. In addition, any RPII that is includible in the income of a U.S. tax-exempt organization may be treated as unrelated business taxable income. We believe that the gross RPII of each Non-U.S. Insurance Subsidiary did not in prior years of operation and is not expected in the foreseeable future to equal or exceed 20 percent of each such company’s gross insurance income, and we do not expect the direct or indirect insureds of each Non-U.S. Insurance Subsidiary (and persons related to such insureds) to directly or indirectly own 20 percent or more of either the voting power or value of our shares, but we cannot be certain that this will be the case because some of the factors which determine the extent of RPII may be beyond our control. If these thresholds are met or exceeded, and if you are an affected U.S. person, your investment could be adversely affected.

U.S. persons who hold shares will be subject to adverse tax consequences if we are considered to be a Passive Foreign Investment Company (PFIC) for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

If ACE Limited is considered a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a U.S. person who owns any shares of ACE Limited will be subject to adverse tax consequences, including subjecting the investor to a greater tax

 

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liability than might otherwise apply and subjecting the investor to tax on amounts in advance of when tax would otherwise be imposed, in which case your investment could be adversely affected. In addition, if ACE Limited were considered a PFIC, upon the death of any U.S. individual owning shares, such individual’s heirs or estate would not be entitled to a “step-up” in the basis of the shares which might otherwise be available under U.S. federal income tax laws. We believe that we are not, have not been, and currently do not expect to become, a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We cannot assure you, however, that we will not be deemed a PFIC by the IRS. If we were considered a PFIC, it could have adverse tax consequences for an investor that is subject to U.S. federal income taxation. There are currently no regulations regarding the application of the PFIC provisions to an insurance company. New regulations or pronouncements interpreting or clarifying these rules may be forthcoming. We cannot predict what impact, if any, such guidance would have on an investor that is subject to U.S. federal income taxation.

U.S. tax-exempt organizations who own our shares may recognize unrelated business taxable income.

A U.S. tax-exempt organization may recognize unrelated business taxable income if a portion of our insurance income is allocated to the organization, which generally would be the case if either we are a CFC and the tax-exempt shareholder is a 10 percent U.S. shareholder or there is RPII, certain exceptions do not apply, and the tax-exempt organization, directly or indirectly through foreign entities, owns any shares of ACE Limited. Although we do not believe that any U.S. persons or U.S. Partnerships should be allocated such insurance income, we cannot be certain that this will be the case. Potential U.S. tax-exempt investors are advised to consult their tax advisors.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Union are considering measures that might encourage countries to increase our taxes.

A number of multilateral organizations, including the European Union, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Financial Action Task Force, and the Financial Stability Forum (FSF) have, in recent years, identified some countries as not participating in adequate information exchange, engaging in harmful tax practices, or not maintaining adequate controls to prevent corruption, such as money laundering activities. Recommendations to limit such harmful practices are under consideration by these organizations, and a report published on November 27, 2001 by the OECD at the behest of the FSF titled “Behind the Corporate Veil: Using Corporate Entities for Illicit Purposes”, contains an extensive discussion of specific recommendations. The OECD has threatened non-member jurisdictions that do not agree to cooperate with the OECD with punitive sanctions by OECD member countries, though specific sanctions have yet to be adopted by OECD member countries. It is as yet unclear what these sanctions will be, who will adopt them, and when or if they will be imposed. In an April 18, 2002 report, updated as of June 2004, Bermuda was not listed as an uncooperative tax haven jurisdiction by the OECD because it previously committed to eliminate harmful tax practices and to embrace international tax standards for transparency, exchange of information, and the elimination of regimes for financial and other services that attract businesses with no substantial domestic activity. We cannot assure you, however, that the action taken by Bermuda would be sufficient to preclude all effects of the measures or sanctions described above, which, if ultimately adopted, could adversely affect our Bermuda subsidiaries. However, it should be noted that in respect of exchange of information, Bermuda has entered into Tax information Exchange Agreements (“TIEAs”) with Australia and the United Kingdom and that other TIEA negotiations are currently underway.

Changes in U.S. federal income tax law could adversely affect an investment in our shares.

Legislation is periodically introduced in the U.S. Congress intended to eliminate some perceived tax advantages of companies (including insurance companies) that have legal domiciles outside the United States but have certain U.S. connections. It is possible that legislative proposals could emerge in the future that could have an adverse impact on us or our shareholders.

 

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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The following table provides information with respect to purchases by the Company of its Common Shares during the three months ended June 30, 2008.

Issuer’s Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Period

   Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased*
   Average Price
Paid per Share
   Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly 
Announced Plan**
   Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares that
May Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plan**

April 1 through April 30

   3,176    $ 58.11    —      $ 250 million

May 1 through May 31

   30,407    $ 60.22    —      $ 250 million

June 1 through June 30

   2,378    $ 62.59    —      $ 250 million
             

Total

   35,961         
             

 

* For the quarter ended June 30, 2008, this column represents the surrender to the Company of 23,935 Common Shares to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of restricted stock issued to employees, the surrender to the Company of 18 Common Shares to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the exercise of employee stock options, and the surrender to the Company of 12,008 Common Shares to satisfy the option cost on options exercised.
** As part of ACE’s capital management program, in November 2001, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of any ACE issued debt or capital securities, including Common Shares, up to $250 million. At June 30, 2008, this authorization had not been utilized.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

The Annual General Meeting commenced on July 10, 2008 and reconvened on July 14, 2008.

The following matters were voted on at the Annual General Meeting:

 

i) The following directors were elected.

 

     Term Expiring    Shares with
Votes in Favor
   Shares with
Votes Against
   Shares with
Votes Abstaining

Evan G. Greenberg

   2011    251,249,089    7,544,887    18,425,883

John A. Krol

   2011    251,877,029    7,215,603    18,127,227

Leo F. Mullin

   2011    253,545,082    5,545,732    18,129,045

Olivier Steimer

   2011    251,898,395    7,184,666    18,136,798

There were no broker non-votes.

The following table lists directors whose terms of office as directors continued after the Annual General Meeting and were confirmed as such:

 

     Term Expiring    Shares with
Votes in Favor
   Shares with
Votes Against
   Shares with
Votes Abstaining

Michael G. Atieh

   2009    251,174,234    7,731,431    18,314,194

Mary A. Cirillo

   2009    251,921,844    7,120,121    18,177,894

Bruce L. Crockett

   2009    251,389,074    7,516,732    18,314,053

Thomas J. Neff

   2009    250,036,279    9,011,826    18,171,754

Gary M. Stuart

   2009    251,244,781    7,676,183    18,298,895

Robert M. Hernandez

   2010    249,736,731    9,309,032    18,174,096

Peter Menikoff

   2010    251,215,926    7,703,158    18,300,775

Robert Ripp

   2010    251,380,820    7,537,078    18,301,961

Dermot F. Smurfit

   2010    249,847,545    9,199,631    18,172,683

 

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ii) The amendment (the “De-Registration Amendment”) of the Company’s Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association (our “Articles”) to permit de-registration of the Company from the Cayman Islands was approved. The holders of 263,474,869 shares voted in favor, 488,460 shares voted against, and 2,243,995 shares abstained. There were 9,781,864 broker non-votes.

 

iii) The amendment (the “Financial Statement Amendment”) to our Articles to require the Company to prepare and provide to shareholders not less than annually an unconsolidated balance sheet of the Company valuing the Company’s investment in its subsidiaries on an “mark-to-market” basis was approved. The holders of 263,547,128 shares voted in favor, 431,376 shares voted against, and 2,228,820 shares abstained. There were 9,781,864 broker non-votes.

 

iv) The amendments having the effect of increasing the par value of our Common Shares from $0.041666667 to CHF 33.74 (“the “New Par Value”)) by converting all or any of our issued Common Shares into “stock” and re-converting that “stock” into Common Shares of any denomination; converting all of our issued Common Shares into “stock”; reconverting the stock into Common Shares with a par value equal to the New Par Value (which decreased the number of our issued Common Shares); increasing the number of authorized Common Shares back to 500,000,000 shares; and paying of a stock dividend the effect of which increased the number of issued Common Shares back to the number of issued Common Shares immediately prior to the conversion and re-conversion were approved. The holders of 263,882,832 shares voted in favor, 91,629 shares voted against, and 2,232,864 shares abstained. There were 9,781,863 broker non-votes.

 

v) The Company’s De-Registration Amendment from the Cayman Islands and the Company’s Continuation in Zurich, Switzerland (the “Continuation”) was approved. The holders of 263,633,581 shares voted in favor, 329,382 shares voted against, and 2,244,360 shares abstained. There were 9,781,865 broker non-votes.

 

vi) The name of the Company was approved. The holders of 274,896,449 shares voted in favor, 94,225 shares voted against, and 2,225,186 shares abstained. There were no broker non-votes.

 

vii) The purpose of the Company was approved. The holders of 274,822,385 shares voted in favor, 153,737 shares voted against, and 2,243,737 shares abstained. There were no broker non-votes.

 

viii) The rearrangement of the Company’s existing share capital was approved. The holders of 262,453,916 shares voted in favor, 1,353,251 shares voted against, and 2,251,472 shares abstained. There were 11,261,220 broker non-votes.

 

ix) The Company’s Articles of Association were approved. The holders of 262,381,896 shares voted in favor, 1,432,672 shares voted against, and 2,244,070 shares abstained. There were 11,161,221 broker non-votes.

 

x) The confirmation of Swiss law as the authoritative legislation governing the Company was approved. The holders of 263,592,175 shares voted in favor, 217,550 shares voted against, and 2,248,913 shares abstained. There were 11,161,221 broker non-votes.

 

xi) The place of business of the Company was approved as Zurich, Switzerland. The holders of 263,669,530 shares voted in favor, 151,561 shares voted against, and 2,237,548 shares abstained. There were 11,161,220 broker non-votes.

 

xii) The appointment of BDO Visura as special auditor until our next annual general meeting was approved. The holders of 272,491,062 shares voted in favor, 2,473,877 shares voted against, and 2,254,920 shares abstained. There were no broker non-votes.

 

xiii) The 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan as amended through the fourth amendment was approved. The holders of 196,195,589 shares voted in favor, 67,299,000 shares voted against, and 2,564,050 shares abstained. There were 11,161,220 of broker non-votes.

 

xiv) The appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent registered public accountants for the Company for the year ended December 31, 2008, and the election of PricewaterhouseCoopers AG as our statutory auditors for a term of one year until our next annual general meeting were approved. The holders of 271,367,710 shares voted in favor, 3,597,422 shares voted against, and 2,254,728 shares abstained. There were no broker non-votes.

 

85


xv) The payment of a dividend (the “Dividend”) through a reduction of the par value of our shares in an amount equal to the Swiss franc equivalent of $0.87, converted into Swiss francs and the payment of such amount in three equal quarterly installments at such times during the period through our next annual general meeting was approved. The holders of 263,670,850 shares voted in favor, 147,624 shares voted against, and 2,240,164 shares abstained. There were 11,161,221 broker non-votes.

Item 5. Other Information

The Company currently expects its 2009 annual meeting of shareholders to be held on May 21, 2009, although the exact date has not yet been formally established. As a result, the Company’s next annual meeting of shareholders will be held more than 30 days before the anniversary date of the 2008 annual meeting, which commenced on July 10, 2008. Accordingly, the deadline for submitting shareholder proposals to be considered for inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials for the 2009 annual meeting has changed. Any shareholder who wishes to submit a proposal to be considered for inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials for the 2009 annual meeting of shareholders must send it to the Corporate Secretary, ACE Limited, Mainaustrasse 30, Zurich CH-8008 Switzerland so that it is received not later than December 22, 2008. In addition, any such proposal must otherwise comply with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Commission to be eligible for inclusion in the Company’s 2009 annual meeting proxy statement and form of proxy.

Under Swiss law, one or more shareholders of record owning registered shares with an aggregate nominal value of CHF 1,000,000 or more can ask an item to be put on the agenda of a shareholders’ meeting. The request must be made at least 45 days prior to the shareholders meeting. Any such requests should be sent to the Corporate Secretary, ACE Limited, Mainaustrasse 30, Zurich CH-8008 Switzerland. However, we are not required to consider any such requests received after December 22, 2008, for inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials for the 2009 annual general meeting. Under the circumstances described in, and upon compliance with, Rule 14a-4(c) under the Securities Exchange Act, management proxies would be allowed to use their discretionary voting authority to vote on any proposal with respect to which the foregoing requirements have been met.

Item 6. Exhibits

 

  4.1    Amendment to the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated June 6, 2008.
  4.2    Articles of Association of the Company.
  4.3    Organizational Regulations of the Company.
  4.4    Specimen share certificate.
10.1*    Form of employment agreement between the Company (or subsidiaries of the Company) and executive officers of the Company to allocate a percentage of aggregate salary to the Company (or subsidiaries of the Company).
10.2*    ACE Limited 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended through the fourth amendment.
10.3    Third Amendment and Waiver dated as of 10 July 2008 to Credit Agreement dated as of 13 December 2005, as amended on 22 June 2007 and as amended and restated on 19 December 2007, among ACE Australia Holdings Pty Limited, as borrower, the Company, as guarantor, various financial institutions and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as agent.
10.4    Second Amendment and Waiver dated as of July 10, 2008 to Credit Agreement dated as of December 13, 2005, as previously amended, among ACE European Holdings No. 2 Limited, as borrower, the Company, as guarantor, various financial institutions and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as agent.
10.5    Ninth Amendment Agreement dated as of 10 July, 2008 to Letter of Credit Facility Agreement originally dated as of 19 November, 1999 (as most recently amended pursuant to the Seventh Amendment and Restatement Agreement dated 17 November, 2006 and the Eighth Amendment Agreement dated as of 16 November, 2007) between, among others, the Company, as account party, certain subsidiaries thereof, as guarantors, various banks and Citibank International plc, as agent and security trustee for the banks.

 

86


10.6    First Amendment and Waiver dated as of July 10, 2008 to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 8, 2007, among the Company and certain subsidiaries thereof, as borrowers, various financial institutions and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent.
10.7    First Amendment and Waiver dated as of July 10, 2008 to Second Amended and Restated Reimbursement Agreement dated as of November 8, 2007, among the Company and certain subsidiaries thereof, as account parties, various financial institutions and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as administrative agent.
10.8    First Amendment and Waiver dated as of July 10, 2008 to Term Loan Agreement dated as of April 1, 2008, among ACE INA Holdings Inc., as borrower, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries, as guarantors, various financial institutions and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent.
31.1    Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2    Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1    Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2    Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

* Management or compensation plan

 

87


ACE LIMITED

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

   

ACE LIMITED

August 7, 2008     /s/    EVAN G. GREENBERG        
    Evan G. Greenberg
   

Chairman and Chief

Executive Officer

August 7, 2008     /s/    PHILIP V. BANCROFT        
    Philip V. Bancroft
    Chief Financial Officer

 

88


        Incorporated by Reference    

Exhibit

Number

 

Exhibit Description

  Form   Original
Number
  Date
Filed
  SEC File
Reference
Number
  Filed
Herewith
    4.1   Amendment to the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated June 6, 2008.   8-K   4.1   June 10, 2008   001-11778  
    4.2   Articles of Association of the Company.   8-K   4.1   July 18, 2008   001-11778  
    4.3   Organizational Regulations of the Company.   8-K   4.2   July 18, 2008   001-11778  
    4.4   Specimen share certificate.   8-K   4.3   July 18, 2008   001-11778  
  10.1*   Form of employment agreement between the Company (or subsidiaries of the Company) and executive officers of the Company to allocate a percentage of aggregate salary to the Company (or subsidiaries of the Company).   8-K   10.1   July 16, 2008   001-11778  
  10.2*   ACE Limited 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended through the fourth amendment.   8-K   10.2   July 16, 2008   001-11778  
  10.3   Third Amendment and Waiver dated as of 10 July 2008 to Credit Agreement dated as of 13 December 2005, as amended on 22 June 2007 and as amended and restated on 19 December 2007, among ACE Australia Holdings Pty Limited, as borrower, the Company, as guarantor, various financial institutions and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as agent.   8-K   10.3   July 16, 2008   001-11778  
  10.4   Second Amendment and Waiver dated as of July 10, 2008 to Credit Agreement dated as of December 13, 2005, as previously amended, among ACE European Holdings No. 2 Limited, as borrower, the Company, as guarantor, various financial institutions and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as agent.   8-K   10.4   July 16, 2008   001-11778  
  10.5   Ninth Amendment Agreement dated as of 10 July, 2008 to Letter of Credit Facility Agreement originally dated as of 19 November, 1999 (as most recently amended pursuant to the Seventh Amendment and Restatement Agreement dated 17 November, 2006 and the Eighth Amendment Agreement dated as of 16 November, 2007) between, among others, the Company, as account party, certain subsidiaries thereof, as guarantors, various banks and Citibank International plc, as agent and security trustee for the banks.   8-K   10.5   July 16, 2008   001-11778  
  10.6   First Amendment and Waiver dated as of July 10, 2008 to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 8, 2007, among the Company and certain subsidiaries thereof, as borrowers, various financial institutions and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent.   8-K   10.6   July 16, 2008   001-11778  

 

89


        Incorporated by Reference    

Exhibit

Number

 

Exhibit Description

  Form   Original
Number
  Date
Filed
  SEC File
Reference
Number
  Filed
Herewith
  10.7   First Amendment and Waiver dated as of July 10, 2008 to Second Amended and Restated Reimbursement Agreement dated as of November 8, 2007, among the Company and certain subsidiaries thereof, as account parties, various financial institutions and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as administrative agent.   8-K   10.7   July 16, 2008   001-11778  
  10.8   First Amendment and Waiver dated as of July 10, 2008 to Second Amended and Restated Reimbursement Agreement dated as of November 8, 2007, among the Company and certain subsidiaries thereof, as account parties, various financial institutions and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as administrative agent.   8-K   10.8   July 16, 2008   001-11778  
  31.1   Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.           X
  31.2   Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.           X
  32.1   Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.           X
  32.2   Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.           X

 

* Management or compensation plan

 

90

EX-31.1 2 dex311.htm CERTIFICATION OF CEO PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 Certification of CEO Pursuant to Section 302

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

SECTION 302 OF

THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Evan G. Greenberg, certify that:

 

  1) I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of ACE Limited;

 

  2) Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

  3) Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

  4) The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

  (a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  (b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  (c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  (d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

  5) The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  (a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  (b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date August 7, 2008

/s/    EVAN G. GREENBERG
Evan G. Greenberg
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
EX-31.2 3 dex312.htm CERTIFICATION OF CFO PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 Certification of CFO Pursuant to Section 302

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

SECTION 302 OF

THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Philip V. Bancroft, certify that:

 

  1) I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of ACE Limited;

 

  2) Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

  3) Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

  4) The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

  (a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  (b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  (c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  (d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

  5) The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  (a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  (b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date August 7, 2008
/s/    PHILIP V. BANCROFT
Philip V. Bancroft
Chief Financial Officer
EX-32.1 4 dex321.htm CERTIFICATION OF CEO PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 Certification of CEO Pursuant to Section 906

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

The undersigned officer of ACE Limited (the “Corporation”) hereby certifies that the Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, fully complies with the applicable reporting requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m(a)) and that the information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of ACE Limited.

 

Dated: August 7, 2008     /s/    EVAN G. GREENBERG
   

Evan G. Greenberg

Chairman and

Chief Executive Officer

EX-32.2 5 dex322.htm CERTIFICATION OF CFO PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 Certification of CFO Pursuant to Section 906

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

The undersigned officer of ACE Limited (the “Corporation”) hereby certifies that the Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, fully complies with the applicable reporting requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m(a)) and that the information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of ACE Limited.

 

Dated: August 7, 2008     /s/     PHILIP V. BANCROFT
   

Philip V. Bancroft

Chief Financial Officer

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