News Releases

ZURICH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ACE Limited (NYSE: ACE) today reported net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, of $1.98 per share, compared with $1.58 per share for the same quarter last year.⁽¹⁾ Income excluding net realized gains (losses) was $2.01 per share, compared with $2.09 per share for the same quarter last year.⁽²⁾ Book value increased $774 million during the quarter, up 4% from March 31, 2010. Book value per share now stands at $63.20. Annualized operating return on average equity for the quarter was 13.8%.⁽³⁾ The property and casualty (P&C) combined ratio for the quarter was 89.7%.

bined ratio for the quarter was 89.7%.

Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2010, was $4.21 per share, compared with $3.27 per share for 2009. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, income excluding net realized gains (losses) was $3.72 per share, compared with $4.08 per share for 2009. Book value increased $1.7 billion, up 9% during the six months ended June 30, 2010. The P&C combined ratio for the six months ended June 30, 2010, was 91.2%.

Evan G. Greenberg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ACE Limited, commented: “ACE had an excellent second quarter and first half. In the quarter, we produced operating income of $688 million and grew book value per share by almost 4%, and 8% year to date. Our operating ROE for the quarter was 13.8%.

“For the industry, this was an active quarter for natural catastrophes in the U.S., and for ACE, our total catastrophe losses were double the amount from the prior year. I believe our combined ratio of 89.7% speaks to our risk management, balance of operations, overall reserve strength and underlying underwriting performance.

“Slow economic recovery in the major developed economies of the United States, Europe and Japan and competitive global insurance markets impacted total premium growth, and I expect these conditions will be with us for some time. However, we continue to identify and realize opportunities for profitable growth as a result of our on-the-ground local presence globally and a broad specialty-oriented product capability.

“We are affirming the guidance we provided in January, which was $6.25 - $6.75 per share of operating income, and now expect to be at the top end of the range.”

Operating highlights for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, were as follows: ⁽¹⁾

• Net premiums written were flat and net premiums earned decreased 1%. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange, net premiums written decreased 2% while net premiums earned decreased 3%. Adjusting for a large loss portfolio transaction written in 2009 and lower crop written premium than in 2009, the growth rate in constant dollars was 2%.
• Total catastrophe losses were $81 million including reinstatement premiums compared with $31 million for the second quarter of 2009. Net after-tax catastrophe losses were $62 million compared with $24 million for the second quarter of 2009.
• Favorable prior period development pre-tax was $149 million, compared with $158 million in 2009.
• The P&C combined ratio was 89.7% compared with 87.7% last year.
• P&C underwriting income was $294 million compared with $355 million in 2009.
• Operating cash flow was $868 million.
• Net loss reserves decreased $286 million. Excluding foreign exchange valuation, net loss reserves decreased $33 million.
• Net investment income increased 2% to $518 million.
• Annualized operating return on average equity was 13.8%.⁽³⁾
• Book value per share⁽⁴⁾ increased 4% from $60.94 at March 31, 2010, to $63.20, and increased 8% from $58.44 at December 31, 2009.
• Tangible book value per share⁽⁴⁾ increased 5% from $49.48 at March 31, 2010, to $51.88, and increased 11% from $46.76 at December 31, 2009.
• Net realized and unrealized gains after tax from our investment portfolio totaled approximately $426 million. Net realized losses from derivative accounting related to the guaranteed minimum income benefits (GMIBs) of our life reinsurance business, net of associated hedges, were approximately $160 million due to the increase in fair value liability of the variable annuity business, driven by decreases in interest rates and equity markets.

Details of our financial results for our business segments are available in the ACE Limited Financial Supplement. Key segment items for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, include:

• Insurance-North American: Net premiums written decreased 1%. The combined ratio was 90.3% compared with 90.0%.
• Insurance-Overseas General: Net premiums written increased 3%. Adjusting for the impact of foreign exchange, they decreased 1%. The combined ratio was 90.9% compared with 89.8%.
• Global Reinsurance: Net premiums written decreased 12%. The combined ratio was 64.7% compared with 48.2%.
• Life: Net premiums written increased 7%. Operating income increased to $78 million compared with $66 million.

Please refer to the ACE Limited Financial Supplement dated June 30, 2010, which is posted on the company's website in the Investor Information section, and access Financial Reports for more detailed information on individual segment performance, together with additional disclosure on reinsurance recoverable, loss reserves, investment portfolio, and capital structure. The URL reference is: http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/10/100907/fin_supp_june_30_2010.xls.

ACE will host its second quarter earnings conference call and webcast on Wednesday, July 28, 2010, beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET. The earnings conference call will be available via live and archived webcast atwww.acelimited.com or by dialing 888-428-9507 (within the United States) or 719-325-2192 (international); passcode 6802447. Please refer to the ACE Limited website in the Investor Information section under Calendar of Events for details. A replay of the call will be available for approximately one month. To listen to the replay, dial: 888-203-1112 (in the United States) or 719-457-0820 (international); passcode 6802447.

Celebrating 25 years of insuring progress, the ACE Group is a global leader in insurance and reinsurance serving a diverse group of clients. Headed by ACE Limited (NYSE:ACE), a component of the S&P 500 stock index, the ACE Group conducts its business on a worldwide basis with operating subsidiaries in more than 50 countries. Additional information can be found at: www.acegroup.com.

⁽¹⁾ All comparisons are with the same period last year unless specifically stated.

⁽²⁾ Non-GAAP Financial Measures:

Operating Income or Income excluding net realized gains (losses), net of tax is a common performance measurement for insurance companies. We believe this presentation enhances the understanding of our results of operations by highlighting the underlying profitability of our insurance business. We exclude net realized gains (losses) and net realized gains (losses) included in Other income (expense) related to partially-owned entities because the amounts of these gains (losses) do not relate to their respective operations.

Underwriting income is calculated by subtracting losses and loss expenses, policy benefits, policy acquisition costs and administrative expenses from net premiums earned. We use underwriting income and operating ratios to monitor the results of our operations without the impact of certain factors, including net investment income, other income (expense), interest and income tax expense and net realized gains (losses). Life underwriting income includes net investment income. We believe the use of these measures enhances the understanding of our results of operations by highlighting the underlying profitability of our insurance business.

See reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures on page 26 in the Financial Supplement. These measures should not be viewed as a substitute for net income determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

⁽³⁾ Calculated using income excluding net realized gains (losses) divided by average shareholders' equity for the period excluding unrealized gains (losses) on investments and the deferred tax component included in shareholders' equity. To annualize a quarterly rate, multiply by four.

⁽⁴⁾ Book value per common share is shareholders’ equity divided by the shares outstanding. Tangible book value per common share is shareholders’ equity less goodwill and other intangible assets divided by the shares outstanding.

NM – not meaningful comparison

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Forward-looking statements made in this press release, such as those related to guidance, economic outlook, insurance market conditions, and company performance reflect the company’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in these statements. For example, the company’s forward-looking statements could be affected by competition, pricing and policy term trends, the levels of new and renewal business achieved, the frequency of unpredictable catastrophic events, actual loss experience, uncertainties in the reserving or settlement process, integration activities and performance of acquired companies, new theories of liability, judicial, legislative, regulatory and other governmental developments, litigation tactics and developments, investigation developments and actual settlement terms, the amount and timing of reinsurance recoverable, credit developments among reinsurers, rating agency action, possible terrorism or the outbreak and effects of war, and economic, political, regulatory, insurance and reinsurance business conditions, as well as management’s response to these factors, and other factors identified in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the dates on which they are made. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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