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ZURICH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ACE Limited (NYSE: ACE) today reported net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, of $1.86 per share, compared with a net loss of $0.11 per share for the same quarter last year.⁽¹⁾ Income excluding net realized gains (losses) was $2.01 per share, compared with $2.20 per share for the same quarter last year.⁽²⁾ Book value and tangible book value increased 4.7% and 5.0%, respectively, from June 30, 2012. Book value and tangible book value per share now stand at $79.36 and $64.67, respectively. Operating return on equity for the quarter was 11.5%.⁽²⁾ The property and casualty (P&C) combined ratio for the quarter was 92.0%.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, net income was $5.67 per share, compared with $2.36 per share for 2011. Income excluding net realized gains (losses) was $6.23 per share, compared with $4.94 per share for 2011. Book value increased $2.6 billion, up 10.8% from December 31, 2011, and tangible book value increased $2.4 billion, up 12.5%. The P&C combined ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, was 90.2%.

Evan G. Greenberg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ACE Limited, commented: “ACE had an excellent third quarter marked by strong earnings, outstanding growth in book value, broad-based premium revenue growth and two acquisition announcements that further our global strategy.

“After-tax operating income was $688 million or $2.01 per share. While the drought conditions in the U.S. severely impacted our crop insurance business and reduced operating income by $0.28 per share, as a total company we delivered outstanding underwriting results as demonstrated by a P&C combined ratio of 92% and produced an operating ROE of 11.5%. Moreover, book value grew 4.7% in the quarter and is now up about 11% for the year.

“Premium revenue growth in the quarter was the strongest so far this year with total company net premiums written up 8.6%, or 11.1% when adjusted for the impact of foreign exchange. We continue to benefit from the favorable P&C pricing trend in North America, where we recorded strong double-digit premium growth, and internationally, excluding the impact of foreign exchange, we also registered good growth across a broad spectrum of property and casualty, accident and health, and personal lines businesses, particularly in Asia and Latin America.

“In the last 60 days, we closed an acquisition in Indonesia and announced two separate acquisitions that will significantly enhance our presence and capabilities in Mexico. We are optimistic about our future growth opportunities in these two exciting countries as well as globally. We believe that with our exceptional positioning, growing capabilities and strong balance sheet, our strategic options are accelerating.”

Operating highlights for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, were as follows: ⁽¹⁾

• Total company net premiums written increased 8.6% and 11.1% on a constant-dollar basis.
• P&C net premiums written increased 9.6% and 12.3% on a constant-dollar basis.
• P&C underwriting income was $335 million compared with $391 million in 2011.
• The P&C combined ratio was 92.0% compared with 90.2% last year.
• Favorable prior period development pre-tax was $236 million, representing 5.7 percentage points of the combined ratio, compared with $194 million last year.
• The current accident year P&C combined ratio excluding catastrophe losses and crop insurance results was 90.5% compared with 91.9% last year.
• The net adverse impact included in crop insurance underwriting results due to the drought in the U.S. was $147 million pre-tax and $97 million after-tax. Crop insurance losses represented 7.4 percentage points of the P&C combined ratio. No net profit or loss is expected on this business in the fourth quarter related to the 2012 crop year. The combined ratio for crop insurance was 114% for the quarter and is expected to be approximately 104% for the full year.
• Total pre-tax and after-tax catastrophe losses including reinstatement premiums were $53 million and $41 million, respectively, compared with $121 million and $86 million, respectively, in 2011.
• The P&C expense ratio for the quarter was 23.1% compared with 25.3% last year.
• Operating cash flow was $1.6 billion for the quarter.
• Net loss reserves increased $1.2 billion in the quarter.
• Net investment income for the quarter decreased 5.6% to $533 million due to lower reinvestment rates and the negative impact of foreign exchange, partially offset by higher distributions from private equity funds.
• Net realized and unrealized gains pre-tax from the investment portfolio totaled $754 million primarily from lower yields on investment-grade and high yield bonds. Net realized losses from derivative accounting related to variable annuity reinsurance were $64 million.
• Foreign exchange had a positive impact increasing book value by $94 million in the quarter.
• Operating return on equity was 11.5% for the quarter⁽²⁾ and 12.1% for the year. Return on equity computed using net income was 9.7% for the quarter and 10.1% for the year.
• Book value per share⁽²⁾ increased 4.4% to $79.36 from $75.98 at June 30, 2012, and increased 9.9% from $72.22 at December 31, 2011.⁽³⁾
• Tangible book value per share⁽²⁾ increased 4.7% to $64.67 from $61.75 at June 30, 2012, and increased 11.6% from $57.97 at December 31, 2011.

Details of financial results by business segment are available in the ACE Limited Financial Supplement. Key segment items for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, include:

• Insurance-North American: Net premiums written increased 14.9%. Excluding the company’s agriculture business, which includes crop insurance, net premiums written increased 20.3%. The combined ratio was 97.8% compared with 94.2% last year. The current accident year combined ratio excluding catastrophe losses and crop results was 88.9% compared with 91.4% last year.
• Insurance-Overseas General: Net premiums written decreased 1.0%. On a constant-dollar basis, net premiums written increased 5.5%. The combined ratio was 82.7% compared with 85.6% last year. The current accident year combined ratio excluding catastrophe losses was 91.9% compared with 92.9% last year.
• Global Reinsurance: Net premiums written increased 22.2%. Adjusted for a one-time transaction, net premiums written increased 7.3% and 8.0% on a constant-dollar basis. The combined ratio was 72.7% compared with 65.4% last year. The current accident year combined ratio excluding catastrophe losses and the one-time transaction was 72.5% compared with 74.1% last year.
• Life: Operating income was $87 million compared with $80 million last year.

The company is updating guidance for full-year 2012. The range is now $7.73 to $8.03 per share of after-tax operating income for the year. First, the update reflects the positive prior period reserve development and lower-than-planned catastrophe losses in the first three quarters of $1.60 per share. Second, the update includes a reduction of $0.57 per share after-tax related to the company’s crop insurance business, increased from the second quarter guidance estimate of $0.19 per share after-tax. The guidance for crop insurance provided with second quarter earnings estimated a $68 million after-tax reduction in third quarter operating income due to the drought in the U.S., with an additional reduction of $200 million after-tax possible under an estimated worst-case scenario. The company now expects full-year operating income to be reduced by approximately $195 million after-tax, or approximately $73 million less than the $268 million after-tax worst-case estimate noted above. Finally, the update includes estimated catastrophe losses of $100 million after-tax for the fourth quarter. Guidance for the balance of the year is for the current accident year only.

Please refer to the ACE Limited Financial Supplement, dated September 30, 2012, 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.

ACE will host its third quarter earnings conference call and webcast on Wednesday, October 24, 2012, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern. The earnings conference call will be available via live and archived webcast atwww.acegroup.com or by dialing 800-390-5202 (within the United States) or 719-325-2132 (international); passcode 6724647. Please refer to the ACE Group website in the Investor Information section under Calendar of Events for details. A replay of the call will be available until Wednesday, November 7, 2012. To listen to the replay, dial 888-203-1112 (in the United States) or 719-457-0820 (international); passcode 6724647.

The ACE Group is one of the world's largest multiline property and casualty insurers. With operations in 53 countries, ACE provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. ACE Limited, the parent company of the ACE Group, is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ACE) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. 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 amount of these gains (losses) is heavily influenced by, and fluctuates in part according to, the availability of market opportunities.

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 and gains (losses) from fair value changes in separate account assets that do not qualify for separate account reporting under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). P&C underwriting income and consolidated underwriting income are non-GAAP financial measures. We believe the use of these measures enhances the understanding of our results of operations by highlighting the underlying profitability of our insurance business.

Operating return on equity (ROE) or ROE calculated using income excluding net realized gains (losses) is an annualized non-GAAP financial measure. The ROE numerator includes income adjusted to exclude net realized gains (losses), net of tax. The ROE denominator includes the average shareholders' equity for the period adjusted to exclude unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of tax. To annualize a quarterly rate, multiply by four. Operating ROE is a useful measure as it enhances the understanding of the return on shareholders' equity by highlighting the underlying profitability relative to shareholders' equity excluding the effect of unrealized gains and losses on our investments.

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.

See reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures on pages 21-22 in the Financial Supplement. These measures should not be viewed as a substitute for net income, return on equity, or effective tax rate determined in accordance with GAAP.

⁽³⁾ The book value amounts reflect the effects of new accounting guidance for deferred acquisition costs that is retroactively applied to periods prior to January 1, 2012. Refer to the Financial Supplement page 1 for further detail.

NM - not meaningful comparison

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Forward-looking statements made in this press release, such as those related to company performance and guidance, insurance market conditions and acquisitions and strategic options, reflect our 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 that could cause actual results to differ materially, including without limitation, the following: 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, failure of announced acquisitions to close, 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 our 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. We undertake 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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