10-K 1 y62391e10vk.htm THE CHUBB CORPORATION THE CHUBB CORPORATION
 

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 11, 2003


UNITED   STATES   SECURITIES   AND   EXCHANGE   COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

FORM 10-K

     
x
  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002
o
  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. 1-8661

The Chubb Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
New Jersey
  13-2595722
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
15 Mountain View Road, P.O. Box 1615    
Warren, New Jersey
  07061-1615
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(908) 903-2000

(Registrant’s telephone number)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

       
Common Stock, par value $1 per share  
New York Stock Exchange
Series B Participating Cumulative    
 
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
 
New York Stock Exchange
Common Stock Purchase Warrants1  
New York Stock Exchange
4% Senior Notes Due 20071  
New York Stock Exchange
(Title of each class)  
(Name of each exchange on which registered)

1 Offered together in the form of 7% Equity Units.

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None
(Title of class)

      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 ü. No.  .

      Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [  ]

      Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act) Yes üNo.  .

      The aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $12,121,280,512 as of June 30, 2002, computed on the basis of the closing sales price of common stock on that date.

171,217,974
Number of shares of common stock outstanding as of January 31, 2003

Documents Incorporated by Reference

      Portions of the definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on April 29, 2003 are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K.




 

PART I.

Item 1.  Business

General

      The Chubb Corporation (the Corporation) was incorporated as a business corporation under the laws of the State of New Jersey in June 1967. The Corporation is a holding company for a family of property and casualty insurance companies known informally as the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies (the Group). Since 1882, the Group has provided property and casualty insurance to businesses and individuals around the world. According to A.M. Best, the Group is the 13th largest U.S. property and casualty insurance group based on 2001 net written premiums.

      In 2000, the Corporation organized Chubb Financial Solutions to develop and provide customized risk-financing services through both the capital and insurance markets.

      At December 31, 2002, the Corporation had total assets of $34.1 billion and shareholders’ equity of $6.9 billion. Revenues, income before income tax and assets for each operating segment for the three years ended December 31, 2002 are included in Note (19) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The Corporation and its subsidiaries employed approximately 13,300 persons worldwide on December 31, 2002.

      The Corporation’s principal executive offices are located at 15 Mountain View Road, Warren, New Jersey 07061-1615, and our telephone number is (908) 903-2000.

      The Corporation’s internet address is www.chubb.com. The Corporation’s annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act are available free of charge on this website as soon as reasonably practicable after they have been electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Property and Casualty Insurance

      The Group is divided into three strategic business units. Chubb Commercial Insurance offers a full range of commercial customer insurance products, including coverage for multiple peril, casualty, workers’ compensation and property and marine. Chubb Commercial Insurance is known for writing niche business, where our expertise can add value for our agents, brokers and policyholders. Chubb Specialty Insurance offers a wide variety of specialized executive protection and professional liability products for privately and publicly owned companies, financial institutions, professional firms and healthcare organizations. Chubb Personal Insurance offers products for individuals with fine homes and possessions who require more coverage choices and higher limits than standard insurance policies.

      The Group provides insurance coverages principally in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and part of Latin America and the Far East. Revenues of the Group by geographic area for the three years ended December 31, 2002 are included in Note (19) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

      The principal members of the Group are Federal Insurance Company (Federal), Pacific Indemnity Company (Pacific Indemnity), Vigilant Insurance Company (Vigilant), Great Northern Insurance Company (Great Northern), Chubb Custom Insurance Company (Chubb Custom), Chubb National Insurance Company (Chubb National), Chubb Indemnity Insurance Company (Chubb Indemnity), Chubb Insurance Company of New Jersey (Chubb New Jersey), Texas Pacific Indemnity Company, Northwestern Pacific Indemnity Company, Executive Risk Indemnity Inc. (Executive Risk Indemnity), Executive Risk Specialty Insurance Company (Executive Risk Specialty) and Quadrant Indemnity Company (Quadrant) in the United States, as well as Chubb Atlantic Indemnity Ltd. (a Bermuda company), Chubb Insurance Company of Canada, Chubb Insurance Company of Europe, S.A., Chubb Insurance Company of Australia Limited, Chubb Argentina de Seguros, S.A. and Chubb do Brasil Companhia de Seguros.

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      Federal is the manager of Vigilant, Pacific Indemnity, Great Northern, Chubb National, Chubb Indemnity, Chubb New Jersey, Executive Risk Indemnity, Executive Risk Specialty and Quadrant. Federal also provides certain services to other members of the Group. Acting subject to the supervision and control of the Boards of Directors of the members of the Group, the Chubb & Son division of Federal provides day to day executive management and operating personnel and makes available the economy and flexibility inherent in the common operation of a group of insurance companies.

  Premiums Written

      A summary of the Group’s premiums written during the past three years is shown in the following table:

                                 
Direct Reinsurance Reinsurance Net
Premiums Premiums Premiums Premiums
Year Written Assumed(a) Ceded(a) Written





(in millions)
2000
  $ 6,741.6     $ 384.4     $ 792.8     $ 6,333.2  
2001
    7,534.3       525.2       1,098.0       6,961.5  
2002
    9,799.3       835.9       1,587.9       9,047.3  


      (a) Intercompany items eliminated.

      The net premiums written during the last three years for major classes of the Group’s business are included in the Property and Casualty Insurance — Underwriting Results section of the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A).

      One or more members of the Group are licensed and transact business in each of the 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Canada, Europe, Australia, and parts of Latin America and the Far East. In 2002, approximately 83% of the Group’s direct business was produced in the United States, where the Group’s businesses enjoy broad geographic distribution with a particularly strong market presence in the Northeast. The four states accounting for the largest amounts of direct premiums written were New York with 12%, California with 10%, Texas with 6% and New Jersey with 5%. No other state accounted for 5% or more of such premiums. Approximately 9% of the Group’s direct premiums written was produced in Europe and 3% was produced in Canada.

  Underwriting Results

      A frequently used industry measurement of property and casualty insurance underwriting results is the combined loss and expense ratio. The Group uses the statutory definition of combined loss and expense ratio. This ratio is the sum of the ratio of incurred losses and related loss adjustment expenses to premiums earned (loss ratio) plus the ratio of underwriting expenses to premiums written (expense ratio) after reducing both premium amounts by dividends to policyholders. When the combined ratio is under 100%, underwriting results are generally considered profitable; when the combined ratio is over 100%, underwriting results are generally considered unprofitable. Investment income is not reflected in the combined ratio. The profitability of property and casualty insurance companies depends on income from both underwriting operations and investments.

      The net premiums and the loss, expense and combined loss and expense ratios of the Group for the last three years are shown in the following table:

                                         
Net Premiums Combined
(in millions) Loss and

Loss Expense Expense
Year Written Earned Ratios Ratios Ratios






2000
  $ 6,333.2     $ 6,145.9       67.5 %     32.9 %     100.4 %
2001
    6,961.5       6,656.4       80.8       32.6       113.4  
2002
    9,047.3       8,085.3       75.4       31.3       106.7  
     
     
                         
Three years ended December 31, 2002
  $ 22,342.0     $ 20,887.6       74.8       32.2       107.0  
     
     
                         

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      The 2001 net premiums and ratios include the effect of estimated net claims and claim expenses of $665 million and net reinsurance reinstatement premium revenue of $30 million related to the September 11 attack in the United States. The 2001 ratios also include the effect of net surety bond losses of $220 million arising from the bankruptcy of Enron Corp. Excluding the effect of these two loss events, the loss ratio, the expense ratio and the combined loss and expense ratio were 67.7%, 32.8% and 100.5%, respectively, for the year 2001.

      The 2002 ratios include the effect of aggregate net losses of $700 million recognized in the third and fourth quarters related to asbestos and toxic waste claims (the “$700 million asbestos charge”) and a reduction in net surety losses of $88 million resulting from the settlement of litigation related to Enron. Excluding the effect of these two loss events, the loss ratio, the expense ratio and the combined loss and expense ratio were 67.8%, 31.3% and 99.1%, respectively, for the year 2002.

      Excluding the effects of the asbestos charge, the Enron surety losses and related settlement and the September 11 attack, the loss ratio, the expense ratio and the combined loss and expense ratio were 67.7%, 32.2% and 99.9%, respectively, for the three years ended December 31, 2002.

      The combined loss and expense ratios during the last three years for major classes of the Group’s business are included in the Property and Casualty Insurance — Underwriting Results section of MD&A.

      Another frequently used measurement in the property and casualty insurance industry is the ratio of statutory net premiums written to policyholders’ surplus. At December 31, 2002 and 2001, such ratio for the Group was 2.00 and 1.82, respectively.

  Producing and Servicing of Business

      In the United States and Canada, the Group is represented by approximately 5,000 independent agencies and accepts business on a regular basis from an estimated 1,000 insurance brokers. In most instances, these agencies and brokers also represent other companies that compete with the Group. The Group’s branch and service offices assist these agencies and brokers in producing and servicing the Group’s business. In addition to the administrative offices in Warren and Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, the Group has seven zone offices and branch and service offices throughout the United States and Canada.

      The Group’s overseas business is developed by its foreign agencies and brokers through local branch offices of the Group and by its United States and Canadian agencies and brokers. In conducting its overseas business, the Group reduces the risks relating to currency fluctuations by maintaining investments in those foreign currencies in which the Group transacts business. Such investments have characteristics similar to the liabilities in those currencies. The net asset or liability exposure to the various foreign currencies is regularly reviewed.

      Business for the Group is also produced through participation in certain underwriting pools and syndicates. Such pools and syndicates provide underwriting capacity for risks which an individual insurer cannot prudently underwrite because of the magnitude of the risk assumed or which can be more effectively handled by one organization due to the need for specialized loss control and other services.

  Reinsurance

      In accordance with the normal practice of the insurance industry, the Group assumes and cedes reinsurance with other insurers or reinsurers. Reinsurance is ceded to provide greater diversification of risk and to limit the Group’s maximum net loss arising from large risks or from hazards of potential catastrophic events.

      Ceded reinsurance contracts do not relieve the Group of its primary obligation to the policyholders. Thus, a credit exposure exists with respect to reinsurance ceded to the extent that any reinsurer is

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unable to meet the obligations assumed under the reinsurance contracts. The collectibility of reinsurance is subject to the solvency of the reinsurers. The Group is selective in regard to its reinsurers, placing reinsurance with only those reinsurers with strong balance sheets and superior underwriting ability. The Group monitors the financial strength of its reinsurers on an ongoing basis. As a result, uncollectible amounts have not been significant.

      A large portion of the Group’s reinsurance is effected under contracts known as treaties under which all risks meeting prescribed criteria are automatically covered. Most of the Group’s treaty reinsurance arrangements consist of excess of loss and catastrophe contracts with other insurers or reinsurers which protect against a specified part or all of certain types of losses over stipulated amounts arising from any one occurrence or event. In certain circumstances, reinsurance is also effected by negotiation on individual risks. The amount of each risk retained by the Group is subject to maximum limits which vary by line of business and type of coverage. Retention limits are continually reviewed and are revised periodically as the Group’s capacity to underwrite risks changes.

      For a further discussion of the cost and availability of reinsurance, including a discussion of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002, see the Property and Casualty Insurance — Underwriting Results section of MD&A.

  Unpaid Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses and Related Amounts Recoverable from Reinsurers

      Insurance companies are required to establish a liability in their accounts for the ultimate costs (including claim adjustment expenses) of claims that have been reported but not settled and of claims that have been incurred but not reported. Insurance companies are also required to report as assets the portion of such liability that will be recovered from reinsurers.

      The process of establishing the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses is complex and imprecise as it is subject to variables that are influenced by significant judgmental factors. This is true because claim settlements to be made in the future will be impacted by changing rates of inflation, particularly medical cost inflation, and other economic conditions; changing legislative, judicial and social environments; and changes in the Group’s claim handling procedures.

      The Group’s estimates of losses for reported claims are established judgmentally on an individual case basis. Such estimates are based on the Group’s particular experience with the type of risk involved and its knowledge of the circumstances surrounding each individual claim. These estimates are reviewed on a regular basis or as additional facts become known. The reliability of the estimation process is monitored through comparison with ultimate settlements.

      The Group’s estimates of losses for unreported claims are principally derived from analyses of historical patterns of the development of paid and reported losses by accident year for each class of business. This process relies on the basic assumption that past experience, adjusted for the effects of current developments and likely trends, is an appropriate basis for predicting future outcomes. For certain classes of business where anticipated loss experience is less predictable because of the small number of claims and/or erratic claim severity patterns, the Group’s estimates are based on both expected and actual reported losses. Salvage and subrogation estimates are developed from patterns of actual recoveries.

      The Group’s estimates of unpaid claim adjustment expenses are based on analyses of the relationship of projected ultimate claim adjustment expenses to projected ultimate losses for each class of business. Claim staff has discretion to override these expense formulas where judgment indicates such action is appropriate.

      The Group’s estimates of reinsurance recoverable related to reported and unreported claims and claim adjustment expenses represent the portion of such liabilities that will be recovered from reinsurers. Amounts recoverable from reinsurers are recognized as assets at the same time and in a manner consistent with the liabilities associated with the reinsured policies.

5


 

      Estimates are continually reviewed and updated. Any changes in estimates are reflected in operating results in the period in which the estimates are changed.

      The anticipated effect of inflation is implicitly considered when estimating liabilities for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses. Estimates of the ultimate value of all unpaid claims are based in part on the development of paid losses, which reflect actual inflation. Inflation is also reflected in the case estimates established on reported open claims which, when combined with paid losses, form another basis to derive estimates of reserves for all unpaid claims. There is no precise method for subsequently evaluating the adequacy of the consideration given to inflation, since claim settlements are affected by many factors.

      Additional information related to the Group’s estimates related to unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses and the uncertainties in the estimation process is presented in the Property and Casualty Insurance — Loss Reserves section of MD&A.

      The Group continues to emphasize early and accurate reserving, inventory management of claims and suits, and control of the dollar value of settlements. The number of outstanding claims at year-end 2002 was approximately 4% lower than the number at year-end 2001. This compares with a 12% decrease in new arising claims during 2002. The reduction in outstanding claims was less than the decrease in new arisings due to several factors, including a shift in the mix of business toward those classes that generate less frequent, more severe claims that have a longer lag time.

      The significant uncertainties relating to asbestos and toxic waste claims on insurance policies written many years ago are discussed in the Property and Casualty Insurance — Loss Reserves section of MD&A.

      One master claim is generally established for all similar asbestos claims and lawsuits involving an insured. A counted claim can have from one to thousands of claimants. Generally, a toxic waste claim is established for each lawsuit, or alleged equivalent, against an insured where potential liability has been determined to exist under a policy issued by a member of the Group. Management does not believe the following claim count data is meaningful for analysis purposes.

      There were approximately 900 asbestos claims outstanding at December 31, 2002 compared with 1,000 asbestos claims outstanding at December 31, 2001 and 1,100 asbestos claims outstanding at December 31, 2000. In 2002, approximately 300 claims were opened and 400 claims were closed. In 2001, approximately 200 claims were opened and 300 claims were closed. In 2000, approximately 200 claims were opened and 700 claims were closed. Indemnity payments per claim have varied over time due primarily to variations in insureds, policy terms and types of claims. Management cannot predict whether indemnity payments per claim will increase, decrease or remain the same.

      There were approximately 600 toxic waste claims outstanding at December 31, 2002 compared with 650 toxic waste claims outstanding at December 31, 2001 and 2000. Approximately 250 claims were opened in 2002, 250 claims were opened in 2001 and 500 claims were opened in 2000. There were approximately 300 claims closed in 2002, 250 claims closed in 2001 and 450 claims closed in 2000. Because payments to date for toxic waste claims have varied from claim to claim, management cannot determine whether past claims experience will prove to be representative of future claims experience.

      A reconciliation of the beginning and ending liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses for the three years ended December 31, 2002 is included in Note (9) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

      The table on page 8 presents the subsequent development of the estimated year-end liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance recoverable, for the ten years prior to 2002. The Corporation acquired Executive Risk Inc. in 1999. The amounts in the table for the years ended December 31, 1992 through 1998 do not include Executive Risk’s unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses.

6


 

      The top line of the table shows the estimated liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses recorded at the balance sheet date for each of the indicated years. This liability represents the estimated amount of losses and loss adjustment expenses for claims arising in all prior years that are unpaid at the balance sheet date, including losses that had been incurred but not yet reported to the Group.

      The upper section of the table shows the reestimated amount of the previously recorded net liability based on experience as of the end of each succeeding year. The estimate is increased or decreased as more information becomes known about the frequency and severity of claims for each individual year. The increase or decrease is reflected in operating results in the year the estimate is changed. The “cumulative deficiency (redundancy)” as shown in the table represents the aggregate change in the reserve estimates from the original balance sheet dates through December 31, 2002. The amounts noted are cumulative in nature; that is, an increase in a loss estimate that related to a prior period occurrence generates a deficiency in each intermediate year. For example, a deficiency recognized in 2002 relating to losses incurred prior to December 31, 1992 would be included in the cumulative deficiency amount for each year in the period 1992 through 2001. Yet, the deficiency would be reflected in operating results only in 2002. The effect of changes in estimates of the liabilities for claims occurring in prior years on income before income taxes in each of the past three years is shown in Note (9) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

      In each of the years 1992 through 2001, there was substantial unfavorable development related to asbestos and toxic waste claims. The cumulative net deficiencies experienced related to asbestos and toxic waste claims were the result of: (1) an increase in the actual number of claims filed; (2) an increase in the number of potential claims estimated; (3) an increase in the severity of actual and potential claims; (4) an increasingly adverse litigation environment; and (5) an increase in litigation costs associated with such claims. This unfavorable development was offset in varying degrees in the years 1992 through 2000 by favorable loss experience for certain executive protection coverages, particularly directors and officers liability and fiduciary liability, and commercial excess liability.

      Conditions and trends that have affected development of the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses in the past will not necessarily recur in the future. Accordingly, it is not appropriate to extrapolate future redundancies or deficiencies based on the data in this table.

      The middle section of the table on page 8 shows the cumulative amount paid with respect to the reestimated liability as of the end of each succeeding year. For example, in the 1992 column, as of December 31, 2002 the Group had paid $4,748.4 million of the currently estimated $6,170.7 million of claims and claim adjustment expenses that were unpaid at the end of 1992; thus, an estimated $1,422.3 million of losses incurred through 1992 remain unpaid as of December 31, 2002, approximately 75% of which relates to asbestos and toxic waste claims.

      The lower section of the table on page 8 shows the gross liability, reinsurance recoverable and net liability recorded at each year-end beginning with 1992 and the reestimation of these amounts as of December 31, 2002.

      The liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance recoverable, reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) comprises the liabilities of U.S. and foreign members of the Group as follows:

                 
December 31

2002 2001


(in millions)
U.S. subsidiaries
  $ 11,093.3     $ 9,915.9  
Foreign subsidiaries
    1,548.3       1,093.8  
     
     
 
    $ 12,641.6     $ 11,009.7  
     
     
 

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ANALYSIS OF CLAIM AND CLAIM ADJUSTMENT EXPENSE DEVELOPMENT

                                                                                           
December 31

Year Ended 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002












(in millions)
Net Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses
  $ 5,267.6     $ 6,450.0     $ 6,932.9     $ 7,614.5     $ 7,755.9     $ 8,564.6     $ 9,049.9     $ 9,748.8     $ 10,051.3     $ 11,009.7     $ 12,641.6  
 
Net Liability Reestimated as of:
                                                                                       
 
One year later
    5,932.4       6,420.3       6,897.1       7,571.7       7,690.6       8,346.2       8,854.8       9,518.8       9,855.8       11,799.4          
 
Two years later
    5,904.1       6,363.1       6,874.5       7,520.9       7,419.6       7,899.8       8,516.5       9,094.5       10,550.7                  
 
Three years later
    5,843.5       6,380.4       6,829.8       7,256.8       6,986.2       7,564.8       8,058.0       9,652.9                          
 
Four years later
    5,894.6       6,338.1       6,605.4       6,901.5       6,719.4       7,145.0       8,527.1                                  
 
Five years later
    5,863.3       6,150.1       6,352.2       6,692.1       6,409.4       7,570.7                                          
 
Six years later
    5,738.4       5,904.9       6,191.4       6,476.7       6,886.9                                                  
 
Seven years later
    5,582.1       5,751.4       6,044.5       7,035.9                                                          
 
Eight years later
    5,500.4       5,692.2       6,655.4                                                                  
 
Nine years later
    5,467.8       6,346.4                                                                          
 
Ten years later
    6,170.7                                                                                  
 
Total Cumulative Net Deficiency
(Redundancy)
    903.1       (103.6 )     (277.5 )     (578.6 )     (869.0 )     (993.9 )     (522.8 )     (95.9 )     499.4       789.7          
 
Cumulative Net Deficiency Related to Asbestos and Toxic Waste Claims (Included in Above Total)
    2,296.2       1,520.5       1,405.3       1,223.5       1,072.8       947.6       879.8       833.0       802.0       741.1          
 
Cumulative Amount of
Net Liability Paid as of:
                                                                                       
 
One year later
    1,039.9       1,272.0       1,250.7       1,889.4       1,418.3       1,797.7       2,520.1       2,482.7       2,793.7       3,084.5          
 
Two years later
    1,858.5       1,985.7       2,550.7       2,678.2       2,488.2       3,444.2       3,707.8       4,079.3       4,668.7                  
 
Three years later
    2,332.3       3,015.8       3,073.7       3,438.8       3,757.0       4,160.6       4,653.1       5,285.8                          
 
Four years later
    3,181.4       3,264.5       3,589.8       4,457.6       4,194.8       4,710.9       5,351.1                                  
 
Five years later
    3,323.0       3,624.2       4,444.4       4,755.4       4,555.6       5,132.9                                          
 
Six years later
    3,603.5       4,367.9       4,683.3       5,010.6       4,857.2                                                  
 
Seven years later
    4,307.7       4,545.5       4,896.6       5,251.0                                                          
 
Eight years later
    4,468.3       4,738.2       5,068.1                                                                  
 
Nine years later
    4,627.5       4,883.6                                                                          
 
Ten years later
    4,748.4                                                                                  
 
Gross Liability, End of Year
  $ 7,220.9     $ 8,235.4     $ 8,913.2     $ 9,588.2     $ 9,523.7     $ 9,772.5     $ 10,356.5     $ 11,434.7     $ 11,904.6     $ 15,514.9     $ 16,713.1  
Reinsurance Recoverable, End of Year
    1,953.3       1,785.4       1,980.3       1,973.7       1,767.8       1,207.9       1,306.6       1,685.9       1,853.3       4,505.2       4,071.5  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Net Liability, End of Year
  $ 5,267.6     $ 6,450.0     $ 6,932.9     $ 7,614.5     $ 7,755.9     $ 8,564.6     $ 9,049.9     $ 9,748.8     $ 10,051.3     $ 11,009.7     $ 12,641.6  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Reestimated Gross Liability
  $ 8,261.7     $ 8,398.0     $ 8,835.6     $ 9,101.5     $ 8,643.3     $ 8,782.6     $ 9,936.2     $ 11,747.9     $ 12,832.9     $ 16,919.0          
Reestimated Reinsurance Recoverable
    2,091.0       2,051.6       2,180.2       2,065.6       1,756.4       1,211.9       1,409.1       2,095.0       2,282.2       5,119.6          
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
         
Reestimated Net Liability
  $ 6,170.7     $ 6,346.4     $ 6,655.4     $ 7,035.9     $ 6,886.9     $ 7,570.7     $ 8,527.1     $ 9,652.9     $ 10,550.7     $ 11,799.4          
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
         
 
Cumulative Gross Deficiency
(Redundancy)
  $ 1,040.8     $ 162.6     $ (77.6 )   $ (486.7 )   $ (880.4 )   $ (989.9 )   $ (420.3 )   $ 313.2     $ 928.3     $ 1,404.1          
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
         

The amounts for the years 1992 through 1998 do not include Executive Risk’s unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses. Executive Risk was acquired in 1999.

The cumulative deficiency for the year 1992 includes the effect of a $675 million increase in claims and claim adjustment expenses related to the settlement of asbestos related claims against Fibreboard Corporation.

The cumulative deficiencies for the years 1992 through 2001 include the effect of the $700 million asbestos charge recognized in 2002.

8


 

     Members of the Group are required to file annual statements with insurance regulatory authorities prepared on an accounting basis prescribed or permitted by such authorities (statutory basis). There is no difference between the liability for unpaid claims and expenses reported in the statutory basis financial statements of the U.S. members of the Group and such liability reported on a GAAP basis in the consolidated financial statements.

  Investments

      Investment decisions are centrally managed by investment professionals based on guidelines established by management and approved by the respective boards of directors for each member of the Group.

      Additional information about the investment portfolio of the Corporation and the Group as well as the Corporation’s approach to managing risks is presented in the Invested Assets and Market Risk of Financial Instruments — Investments sections of MD&A and Note (5) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

      The investment results of the Group for each of the past three years are shown in the following table.

                                 
Average Percent Earned
Invested Investment
Year Assets(a) Income(b) Before Tax After Tax





(in millions)
2000
  $ 15,223.9     $ 879.2       5.78 %     4.83 %
2001
    15,800.9       902.6       5.71       4.74  
2002
    17,665.9       929.4       5.26       4.31  

  (a)  Average of amounts for the years presented with fixed maturity securities at amortized cost and equity securities at market value.

  (b)  Investment income after deduction of investment expenses, but before applicable income tax.

Chubb Financial Solutions

      Since its inception, CFS’s non-insurance business has been primarily structured credit derivatives, principally as a counterparty in portfolio credit default swap contracts. The Corporation guarantees all of these obligations. The insurance and reinsurance solutions that CFS develops to meet the risk management needs of its customers are written by members of the Group. Additional information related to CFS’s operations is presented in the Chubb Financial Solutions and Market Risk of Financial Instruments — Credit Derivatives sections of MD&A.

Real Estate

      Bellemead Development Corporation and its subsidiaries (Bellemead) are involved in commercial development activities primarily in New Jersey and residential development activities primarily in central Florida.

      Bellemead owns approximately $300 million of land, which is expected to be developed in the future, and approximately $180 million of commercial properties and land parcels under lease. Bellemead is continuing to explore the sale of certain of its remaining properties. Additional information related to the Corporation’s real estate operations is included in the Corporate and Other — Real Estate section of MD&A.

Regulation, Premium Rates and Competition

      The Corporation is a holding company with subsidiaries primarily engaged in the property and casualty insurance business and is therefore subject to regulation by certain states as an insurance holding company. All states have enacted legislation which regulates insurance holding company systems such as the Corporation and its subsidiaries. This legislation generally provides that each insurance company in the system is required to register with the department of insurance of its state of

9


 

domicile and furnish information concerning the operations of companies within the holding company system which may materially affect the operations, management or financial condition of the insurers within the system. All transactions within a holding company system affecting insurers must be fair and equitable. Notice to the insurance commissioners is required prior to the consummation of transactions affecting the ownership or control of an insurer and of certain material transactions between an insurer and any person in its holding company system and, in addition, certain of such transactions cannot be consummated without the commissioners’ prior approval.

      The Group is subject to regulation and supervision in the states in which it does business. In general, such regulation is for the protection of policyholders rather than shareholders. The extent of such regulation varies but generally has its source in statutes which delegate regulatory, supervisory and administrative powers to a department of insurance. The regulation, supervision and administration relate to, among other things, the standards of solvency which must be met and maintained; the licensing of insurers and their agents; restrictions on insurance policy terminations; unfair trade practices; the nature of and limitations on investments; premium rates; restrictions on the size of risks which may be insured under a single policy; deposits of securities for the benefit of policyholders; approval of policy forms; periodic examinations of the affairs of insurance companies; annual and other reports required to be filed on the financial condition of companies or for other purposes; limitations on dividends to policyholders and shareholders; and the adequacy of provisions for unearned premiums, unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses, both reported and unreported, and other liabilities.

      The extent of insurance regulation on business outside the United States varies significantly among the countries in which the Group operates. Some countries have minimal regulatory requirements, while others regulate insurers extensively. Foreign insurers in many countries are subject to greater restrictions than domestic competitors. In certain countries, the Group has incorporated insurance subsidiaries locally to improve its position.

      The National Association of Insurance Commissioners has a risk-based capital requirement for property and casualty insurance companies. The risk-based capital formula is used by state regulatory authorities to identify insurance companies which may be undercapitalized and which merit further regulatory attention. The formula prescribes a series of risk measurements to determine a minimum capital amount for an insurance company, based on the profile of the individual company. The ratio of a company’s actual policyholders’ surplus to its minimum capital requirement will determine whether any state regulatory action is required. At December 31, 2002, each member of the Group had more than sufficient capital to meet the risk-based capital requirement.

      Regulatory requirements applying to premium rates vary from state to state, but generally provide that rates not be “excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory.” Rates for many lines of business, including automobile and homeowners insurance, are subject to prior regulatory approval in many states. However, in certain states, prior regulatory approval of rates is not required for most lines of insurance which the Group underwrites. Ocean marine insurance rates are exempt from regulation.

      Subject to regulatory requirements, the Group’s management determines the prices charged for its policies based on a variety of factors including claim and claim adjustment expense experience, inflation, tax law and rate changes, and anticipated changes in the legal environment, both judicial and legislative. Methods for arriving at prices vary by type of business, exposure assumed and size of risk. Underwriting profitability is affected by the accuracy of these assumptions, by the willingness of insurance regulators to approve changes in those rates which they control and by such other matters as underwriting selectivity and expense control.

      The property and casualty insurance industry is highly competitive both as to price and service. Members of the Group compete not only with other stock companies but also with mutual companies, other underwriting organizations and alternative risk sharing mechanisms. Some competitors obtain their business at a lower cost through the use of salaried personnel rather than independent agents and

10


 

brokers. Rates are not uniform for all insurers and vary according to the types of insurers and methods of operation. The Group competes for business not only on the basis of price, but also on the basis of availability of coverage desired by customers and quality of service, including claim adjustment service. The Group’s products and services are generally designed to serve specific customer groups or needs and to offer a degree of customization that is of value to the insured. The Group continues to work closely with its customers and to reinforce with them the stability, expertise and added value the Group provides.

      There are approximately 3,200 property and casualty insurance companies in the United States operating independently or in groups and no single company or group is dominant. The relatively large size and underwriting capacity of the Group provide opportunities not available to smaller companies.

      In all states, insurers authorized to transact certain classes of property and casualty insurance are required to become members of an insolvency fund. In the event of the insolvency of a licensed insurer writing a class of insurance covered by the fund in the state, members are assessed to pay certain claims against the insolvent insurer. Generally, fund assessments are proportionately based on the members’ written premiums for the classes of insurance written by the insolvent insurer. In certain states, a portion of these assessments is recovered through premium tax offsets and policyholder surcharges. In 2002, assessments to the members of the Group amounted to approximately $20 million. The amount of future assessments cannot be reasonably estimated.

      State insurance regulation requires insurers to participate in assigned risk plans, reinsurance facilities and joint underwriting associations, which are mechanisms that generally provide applicants with various basic insurance coverages when they are not available in voluntary markets. Such mechanisms are most prevalent for automobile and workers’ compensation insurance, but a majority of states also mandate participation in Fair Plans or Windstorm Plans, which provide basic property coverages. Some states also require insurers to participate in facilities that provide homeowners, crime and other classes of insurance where periodic market constrictions may occur. Participation is based upon the amount of a company’s voluntary written premiums in a particular state for the classes of insurance involved. These involuntary market plans generally are underpriced and produce unprofitable underwriting results.

      In several states, insurers, including members of the Group, participate in market assistance plans. Typically, a market assistance plan is voluntary, of limited duration and operates under the supervision of the insurance commissioner to provide assistance to applicants unable to obtain commercial and personal liability and property insurance. The assistance may range from identifying sources where coverage may be obtained to pooling of risks among the participating insurers.

      Although the federal government and its regulatory agencies generally do not directly regulate the business of insurance, federal initiatives often have an impact on the business in a variety of ways. Current and proposed federal measures which may significantly affect the insurance business include federal terrorism insurance, asbestos liability reform measures, tort reform, corporate governance including the expansion of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s oversight authority over public companies and public accounting firms, ergonomics, health care reform, including the containment of medical costs, medical malpractice reform and patients’ rights, privacy, e-commerce, international trade, federal regulation of insurance companies and the taxation of insurance companies.

      Insurance companies are also affected by a variety of state and federal legislative and regulatory measures as well as by decisions of their courts that define and extend the risks and benefits for which insurance is provided. These include redefinitions of risk exposure in areas such as water damage, including mold; products liability and commercial general liability; extension and protection of employee benefits, including workers’ compensation and disability benefits; and credit scoring.

      Legislative and judicial developments pertaining to asbestos and toxic waste exposures are discussed in the Property and Casualty Insurance — Loss Reserves section of MD&A.

11


 

Item 2.  Properties

      The executive offices of the Corporation are in Warren, New Jersey. The administrative offices of the Group are in Warren and Whitehouse Station, New Jersey. The Group maintains zone administrative and branch offices in major cities throughout the United States and also has offices in Canada, Europe, Australia, the Far East and Latin America. Office facilities are leased with the exception of buildings in Whitehouse Station and Branchburg, New Jersey and Simsbury, Connecticut. Management considers its office facilities suitable and adequate for the current level of operations.

Item 3.  Legal Proceedings

      As previously reported, a purported class action complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey on August 31, 2000 by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System. The complaint alleges that the Corporation and one current officer, Henry B. Schram, and two former officers, Dean R. O’Hare and David B. Kelso, and Executive Risk Inc. and three of its former officers, Stephen J. Sills, Robert H. Kullas and Robert V. Deutsch, are liable for certain misrepresentations and omissions regarding, among other matters, disclosures made between April 27, 1999 and October 15, 1999 relating to the improved pricing in the Corporation’s standard commercial insurance business and relating to the offer of the Corporation’s securities to, and solicitation of votes from, the former shareholders of Executive Risk Inc. in connection with the Corporation’s acquisition of Executive Risk Inc. The complaint seeks unspecified damages, a recission of the sale of Executive Risk Inc. to the Corporation or a new vote on the merger, and such other relief as the court may deem proper. On June 26, 2002, the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey entered an order dismissing in its entirety the previously reported purported class action complaint originally filed on August 31, 2000, as amended on September 4, 2001, and granting plaintiffs the right to file a Second Amended Complaint. On August 9, 2002, plaintiffs filed a Second Amended Complaint based on substantially the same allegations as previously reported. The Corporation is defending the action vigorously.

      Also, the Corporation and its Directors, as previously reported, have been named as defendants in a purported shareholder derivative action, which was filed on October 18, 2001 in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. The derivative action alleges that the Directors breached their fiduciary duties, engaged in gross mismanagement, and failed properly to exercise control over the dissemination of information regarding the Corporation’s operations and performance, which allegations are based on substantially the same allegations made in the complaint by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, described above. The complaint seeks unspecified damages on behalf of the Corporation. The parties to the derivative action have entered into a stipulation, entered as an order by the Court on September 13, 2002, extending defendants’ time to answer, move against or otherwise respond to the complaint filed in the derivative action until after the Court decides the currently pending motion to dismiss the Second Amended Complaint filed by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System.

      As previously reported, on December 11, 2001, JPMorgan Chase Bank (JPM), for and on behalf of Mahonia Limited and Mahonia Natural Gas Limited, commenced legal proceedings against Federal and certain other non-affiliated surety bond issuers in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, which action was subsequently removed to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (Mahonia Action). The Mahonia Action sought payment from the surety bond issuers, severally and not jointly, under bonds issued for two subsidiaries of Enron Corporation, as principal, and Mahonia Limited and Mahonia Natural Gas Limited, as obligees. The plaintiffs sought payment of approximately $184 million from Federal under two surety bonds under which Mahonia Limited is obligee. Federal filed its answer and counterclaim asserting, among other things, that the surety bonds were issued based upon material misrepresentations and fraud in the inducement on the part of JPM and Mahonia Limited, which were relied upon by Federal to its detriment. On January 2, 2003, the Corporation announced that Federal settled this matter for $95.8 million.

12


 

      Beginning in December, 2002, Chubb Indemnity was served with a number of complaints related to a series of actions commenced by various plaintiffs against Chubb Indemnity and other non-affiliated insurers in the District Courts of Nueces and Bexar Counties in Texas. The plaintiffs generally allege that Chubb Indemnity and the other defendants breached duties to asbestos product end-users and conspired to conceal risks associated with asbestos exposure. The plaintiffs seek to impose liability on insurers directly. The plaintiffs seek unspecified monetary damages and punitive damages. To date, discovery has not taken place nor has an answer yet been required to be filed. Chubb Indemnity intends to defend these actions vigorously.

      The Corporation and its subsidiaries are also defendants in various lawsuits arising out of their businesses. It is the opinion of management that the final outcome of these matters will not materially affect the consolidated financial position of the registrant.

      Information regarding certain litigation to which property and casualty insurance subsidiaries of the Corporation are a party is included in the Property and Casualty Insurance — Loss Reserves section of MD&A.

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

      No matters were submitted to a vote of the shareholders during the last quarter of the year ended December 31, 2002.

Executive Officers of the Registrant

                 
Year of
Age(a) Election(b)


John D. Finnegan, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation
    54       2002  
Joanne L. Bober, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the Corporation
    50       1999  
John J. Degnan, Vice Chairman of the Corporation
    58       1994  
Ralph E. Jones, III, Executive Vice President of Chubb & Son, a division of Federal
    47       1999  
Paul J. Krump, Executive Vice President of Chubb & Son, a division of Federal
    43       2001  
Michael J. Marchio, Executive Vice President of Chubb & Son, a division of Federal
    55       2002  
Andrew A. McElwee, Jr., Executive Vice President of Chubb & Son, a division of Federal
    48       1997  
Thomas F. Motamed, Vice Chairman of the Corporation
    54       1997  
Michael O’Reilly, Vice Chairman of the Corporation
    59       1976  
Henry B. Schram, Senior Vice President of the Corporation
    56       1985  

      (a) Ages listed above are as of April 29, 2003.

      (b) Date indicates year first elected or designated as an executive officer.

      All of the foregoing officers serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors of the Corporation or listed subsidiary and have been employees of the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation for more than five years except for Mr. Finnegan, Ms. Bober and Mr. Jones.

      Before joining the Corporation in 2002, Mr. Finnegan was Executive Vice President of General Motors Corporation and Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC). Previously, he had also served as President, Vice President and Group Executive of GMAC.

      Prior to joining the Corporation in 1999, Ms. Bober was Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of General Signal Corporation since 1997. Previously, she was a partner in the law firm of Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue.

      Before rejoining Chubb in 1999, Mr. Jones was a Director of Hiscox Plc and Managing Director of Hiscox Insurance Company Ltd. since July 1997. Mr. Jones was previously President and Director of Chubb Insurance Company of Europe, as well as a Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Chubb & Son Inc.

13


 

PART II.

Item 5.  Market for the Registrant’s Common Stock and Related Security Holder Matters

      The common stock of the Corporation is listed and principally traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the trading symbol “CB”. The following are the high and low closing sale prices as reported on the NYSE Composite Tape and the quarterly dividends declared per share for each quarter of 2002 and 2001.

                                   
2002

First Second Third Fourth
Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter




Common stock prices
                               
 
High
  $ 75.32     $ 78.20     $ 70.51     $ 62.23  
 
Low
    65.20       69.35       53.91       52.20  
Dividends declared
    .35       .35       .35       .35  
                                   
2001

First Second Third Fourth
Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter




Common stock prices
                               
 
High
  $ 83.44     $ 79.00     $ 76.89     $ 77.66  
 
Low
    65.27       64.32       58.59       66.02  
Dividends declared
    .34       .34       .34       .34  

      At January 31, 2003, there were approximately 6,100 common shareholders of record.

      The declaration and payment of future dividends to the Corporation’s shareholders will be at the discretion of the Corporation’s Board of Directors and will depend upon many factors, including the Corporation’s operating results, financial condition and capital requirements, and the impact of regulatory constraints discussed in Note (20)(f) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

14


 

Item 6.  Selected Financial Data

                                               
 2002  2001  2000  1999




 1998
(in millions except for per share amounts)
FOR THE YEAR
                                       
Revenues
                                       
Property and Casualty Insurance                                
   
Premiums Earned
  $ 8,085.3     $ 6,656.4     $ 6,145.9     $ 5,652.0     $ 5,303.8  
   
Investment Income
    952.2       914.7       890.8       832.6       760.0  
 
Corporate and Other
    68.9       182.1       163.3       157.6       144.1  
 
Realized Investment Gains
    33.9       .8       51.5       87.4       141.9  
     
     
     
     
     
 
     
Total Revenues
  $ 9,140.3     $ 7,754.0     $ 7,251.5     $ 6,729.6     $ 6,349.8  
     
     
     
     
     
 
Income
                                       
Property and Casualty Insurance                                
   
Underwriting Loss
  $ (625.9 )(b)   $ (903.5 )(c)   $ (23.6 )   $ (178.8 )   $ (6.6 )
   
Investment Income
    929.4       902.6       879.2       821.0       748.9  
   
Other Charges
    (25.3 )     (52.3 )(c)     (52.2 )     (16.0 )     (57.4 )(d)
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Property and Casualty Insurance Income (Loss)
    278.2       (53.2 )     803.4       626.2       684.9  
 
Chubb Financial Solutions
Non-Insurance Business
    (69.8 )     9.2       2.8              
 
Corporate and Other
    (73.9 )     (22.8 )     (6.7 )     (3.5 )     22.9  
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Operating Income (Loss) Before Income Tax
    134.5       (66.8 )     799.5       622.7       707.8  
 
Federal and Foreign Income Tax (Credit)
    (66.4 )     (177.8 )     118.4       57.4       93.0  
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Operating Income (a)
    200.9       111.0       681.1       565.3       614.8  
 
Realized Investment Gains After Income Tax
    22.0       .5       33.5       55.8       92.2  
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Net Income
  $ 222.9     $ 111.5     $ 714.6     $ 621.1     $ 707.0  
     
     
     
     
     
 
Per Share
                                       
 
Net Income
  $ 1.29 (b)   $ .63 (c)   $ 4.01     $ 3.66     $ 4.19 (d)
 
Dividends Declared on Common Stock
    1.40       1.36       1.32       1.28       1.24  
AT DECEMBER 31
                                       
Total Assets
  $ 34,114.4     $ 29,449.0     $ 25,026.7     $ 23,537.0     $ 20,746.0  
Long Term Debt
    1,959.1       1,351.0       753.8       759.2       607.5  
Total Shareholders’ Equity
    6,859.2       6,525.3       6,981.7       6,271.8       5,644.1  
Book Value Per Share
    40.06       38.37       39.91       35.74       34.78  

(a)  Operating income, a non-GAAP financial measure, is net income excluding after-tax realized investment gains and losses. Operating income should only be analyzed in conjunction with, and not in lieu of, net income.

(b)  Underwriting income has been reduced by aggregate net losses of $700.0 million ($455.0 million after-tax or $2.63 per share) recognized in the third and fourth quarters related to asbestos and toxic waste claims. Underwriting income has been increased by a reduction in net surety bond losses of $88.0 million ($57.2 million after-tax or $0.33 per share) resulting from the settlement of litigation related to Enron Corp.

(c)  Underwriting income has been reduced by net costs of $635.0 million and other charges includes costs of $10.0 million (in the aggregate, $420.0 million after-tax or $2.39 per share) related to the September 11 attack. Underwriting income also has been reduced by net surety bond losses of $220.0 million ($143.0 million after-tax or $0.81 per share) related to the bankruptcy of Enron Corp.

(d)  Property and casualty insurance other charges includes a restructuring charge of $40.0 million ($26.0 million after-tax or $0.15 per share).

15


 

Item 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

      Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations addresses the financial condition of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 compared with December 31, 2001 and the Corporation’s results of operations for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes beginning on page F-1.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

      Certain statements in this document may be considered to be “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements that include words or phrases as “will result”, “is expected to”, “will continue”, “is anticipated”, or similar expressions. Such statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions about our business. The factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by any such statements include but are not limited to those discussed or identified from time to time in the Corporation’s public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and specifically to risks or uncertainties associated with:

  •  the availability of primary and reinsurance coverage;
 
  •  global political conditions and the occurrence of any terrorist attacks, including any nuclear, biological or chemical events;
 
  •  the outbreak of war;
 
  •  premium price increases and profitability or growth estimates overall or by lines of business, or geographic area, and related expectations with respect to the timing and terms of any required regulatory approvals;
 
  •  our expectations with respect to cash flow projections and investment income and with respect to other income;
 
  •  the adequacy of loss reserves including:

  •  our expectations relating to insurance losses from the September 11 attack and related reinsurance recoverables;
 
  •  our estimates relating to ultimate asbestos liabilities and related reinsurance recoverables;
 
  •  any impact from the bankruptcy protection sought by various asbestos producers and other related businesses;
 
  •  developments in judicial decisions or legislative actions relating to coverage and liability for asbestos and toxic waste claims; and
 
  •  developments in judicial decisions or regulatory actions relating to coverage and liability for mold claims;

  •  the impact of the current economic climate on companies on whose behalf we have issued surety bonds, and in particular, on those companies that have experienced deterioration in creditworthiness;
 
  •  the effects of disclosures by and investigations of public companies relating to possible accounting irregularities, practices in the energy and securities industries and other corporate governance issues, including:

  •  the effects on the energy markets and the companies that participate in them, and in particular as they may relate to concentrations of risk in our surety business;

16


 

  •  the effects on the capital markets and the markets for directors and officers and error and omissions insurance;
 
  •  claims and litigation arising out of accounting and other corporate governance disclosures by other companies;
 
  •  claims and litigation arising out of investment banking practices; and
 
  •  legislative or regulatory proposals or changes, including the changes in law and regulation implemented under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002;

  •  the occurrence of significant weather-related or other natural or human-made disasters;
 
  •  any downgrade in our claims-paying, financial strength or credit ratings; and
 
  •  general economic conditions including:

  •  changes in interest rates, market spreads and the performance of the financial markets, generally and as they relate to credit risks assumed by our Chubb Financial Solutions unit in particular;
 
  •  changes in domestic and foreign laws, regulations and taxes;
 
  •  changes in competition and pricing environments;
 
  •  regional or general changes in asset valuations;
 
  •  the inability to reinsure certain risks economically;
 
  •  changes in the litigation environment; and
 
  •  general market conditions.

      The Corporation assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information set forth in this document, which speak as of the date hereof.

Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgments

      The consolidated financial statements include amounts based on informed estimates and judgments of management for those transactions that are not yet complete or for which the ultimate effects are uncertain. Such estimates and judgments affect the reported amounts in the financial statements. Those estimates and judgments that were most critical to the preparation of the financial statements involved the adequacy of loss reserves and the recoverability of related reinsurance recoverables, the fair value of credit derivative obligations, the recoverability of the carrying value of real estate properties and the realization of deferred income tax benefits. These estimates and judgments are discussed within the following analysis of our results of operations. If different estimates and judgments had been applied, materially different amounts might have been reported in the financial statements.

Earnings Summary

      Net income determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) was $223 million in 2002 compared with $112 million in 2001 and $715 million in 2000.

      Operating income, which excludes after-tax realized investment gains and losses, was $201 million in 2002 compared with $111 million in 2001 and $681 million in 2000. Management uses operating income, a non-GAAP financial measure, to evaluate its performance because the realization of investment gains and losses in any given period is largely discretionary as to timing and could distort the analysis of trends. Operating income should only be analyzed in conjunction with, and not in lieu of, net income.

17


 

      Results in 2001 were adversely affected by two large loss events. In the third quarter, we incurred net costs of $645 million, or $420 million after-tax, related to the September 11 attack in the United States. Then, in the fourth quarter, we recognized net surety bond losses of $220 million, or $143 million after-tax, arising from the bankruptcy of Enron Corp.

      Results in 2002 were adversely affected by aggregate net losses of $700 million, or $455 million after-tax, recognized in the third and fourth quarters related to asbestos and toxic waste claims. Results in 2002 were also adversely affected by a tax valuation allowance of $40 million from not being able to recognize for accounting purposes certain U.S. tax benefits related to European losses. Conversely, results in 2002 benefited from a reduction of net surety bond losses of $88 million, or $57 million after-tax, resulting from the settlement of litigation related to Enron.

      A summary of our results is as follows:

                             
Years Ended December 31

2002 2001 2000



(in millions)
Property and casualty insurance
                       
 
Underwriting
                       
   
Net premiums written
  $ 9,047.3     $ 6,961.5     $ 6,333.2  
   
Increase in unearned premiums
    (962.0 )     (305.1 )     (187.3 )
     
     
     
 
   
Premiums earned
    8,085.3       6,656.4       6,145.9  
     
     
     
 
   
Claims and claim expenses
    6,064.6       5,357.4       4,127.7  
   
Operating costs and expenses
    2,822.6       2,260.8       2,076.6  
   
Increase in deferred policy acquisition costs
    (212.5 )     (86.8 )     (62.3 )
   
Dividends to policyholders
    36.5       28.5       27.5  
     
     
     
 
   
Underwriting loss
    (625.9 )     (903.5 )     (23.6 )
     
     
     
 
 
Investments
                       
   
Investment income before expenses
    952.2       914.7       890.8  
   
Investment expenses
    22.8       12.1       11.6  
     
     
     
 
   
Investment income
    929.4       902.6       879.2  
     
     
     
 
 
Other charges
    (25.3 )     (52.3 )     (52.2 )
     
     
     
 
 
Property and casualty income (loss)
    278.2       (53.2 )     803.4  
Chubb Financial Solutions non-insurance business
    (69.8 )     9.2       2.8  
Corporate and other
    (73.9 )     (22.8 )     (6.7 )
     
     
     
 
Consolidated operating income (loss) before income tax
    134.5       (66.8 )     799.5  
Federal and foreign income tax (credit)
    (66.4 )     (177.8 )     118.4  
     
     
     
 
Consolidated operating income
    200.9       111.0       681.1  
Realized investment gains after income tax
    22.0       .5       33.5  
     
     
     
 
Consolidated net income
  $ 222.9     $ 111.5     $ 714.6  
     
     
     
 
Property and casualty investment income after income tax
  $ 760.6     $ 749.1     $ 735.2  
     
     
     
 

Property and Casualty Insurance

     Overview

      Our property and casualty business produced income before taxes of $278 million in 2002 compared with a loss of $53 million in 2001 and income of $803 million in 2000.

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      Results in 2001 and 2002 were impacted by a number of significant items. Results in 2001 were adversely affected by the net costs of $645 million related to the September 11 attack and the net surety losses of $220 million related to Enron. Results in 2002 were adversely affected by the recognition of aggregate net losses of $700 million in the third and fourth quarters related to asbestos and toxic waste claims (the “$700 million asbestos charge”). Results in 2002 benefited from the $88 million reduction in net surety losses resulting from the settlement of litigation related to Enron.

      The pre-tax costs of $645 million related to the September 11 attack had three components. First, in our insurance business, we incurred estimated net claims and claim expenses of $555 million plus reinsurance reinstatement costs of $50 million, for an aggregate cost of $605 million. Each of our underwriting segments was affected by the September 11 attack. However, the impact was by far the greatest on our financial institutions business. Second, in our reinsurance business written through Chubb Re, which is included in other specialty results, we incurred estimated net claims and claim expenses of $110 million and recognized reinstatement premium revenue of $80 million, for a net cost of $30 million. Finally, we recorded a $10 million charge, included in other charges, as our share of the losses publicly estimated by Hiscox plc, a U.K. insurer in which we have a minority interest.

      We estimate that our gross claims and claim expenses from the September 11 attack were about $3.2 billion. Most of the claims were from property exposure and business interruption losses. We also had significant workers’ compensation losses. Our net claims and claim expenses of $665 million were significantly lower than the gross amount due to various reinsurance agreements. Our property exposures were protected by facultative reinsurance, property per risk treaties that limited our net loss per risk, and our property catastrophe treaties. Our workers’ compensation losses were protected by a casualty catastrophe treaty and a casualty “clash” treaty that operates like a catastrophe treaty.

      Our property per risk reinsurance coverage is in several layers, with separate treaties covering each layer. About 30 reinsurers and 25 individual Lloyds syndicates participate in these treaties. Many of these reinsurers participate in each of the layers. In 2001, these treaties provided limits of up to $140 million for each individual risk in excess of the initial $10 million that we retained. We have approximately 30 individual property claims in excess of $10 million from the September 11 attack. The property per risk reinsurance agreements apply to each of these claims.

      Business interruption claims from the September 11 attack will take some time to resolve, while potential liability claims could take years to resolve. Also, certain of our reinsurers are questioning our interpretation and/or application of some provisions of our property per risk reinsurance agreements.

      The questions that have been raised generally involve the applicable limit of reinsurance coverage available to us, the definition of what constitutes one risk, our accumulation of exposure in the various buildings destroyed or damaged and our adherence to our underwriting guidelines. We have responded to these questions and are continuing discussions with the reinsurers. Most of the reinsurers are paying, although some are reserving their rights as they continue to discuss their open issues with us. One reinsurer is withholding payments pending the resolution of the questions raised.

      Based on current information, we estimate that the aggregate amount of reinsurance recoverable under the property per risk reinsurance agreements related to claims arising from the September 11 attack is approximately $1.2 billion. As of December 31, 2002, approximately $655 million had been billed under these agreements. We had collected $355 million of this amount at that date. Of the remaining $300 million billed, $70 million was outstanding for more than 90 days and, as of February 28, 2003, $24 million of that amount has been collected. The amounts billed relate to those individual losses on which we have already made payments to an insured in excess of our $10 million retention. The balance of the $1.2 billion reinsurance recoverable under the property per risk reinsurance treaties relates to similar claims on which we have not yet made such payments.

      We are optimistic that many of the outstanding concerns can be resolved through the ongoing discussions with our reinsurers. Nonetheless, we continue to monitor this situation closely and to consider all alternatives available to us under the property per risk reinsurance agreements, including

19


 

the commencement of arbitration proceedings to enforce our rights. We believe that our position is strong and that either our responses to the reinsurers’ questions will ultimately satisfy them or we will prevail in arbitration should that become necessary.

      Our loss reserve estimates related to the September 11 attack are subject to considerable uncertainty. However, we continue to believe that, whether we resolve the open issues with our reinsurers through discussions or through arbitration proceedings, our estimate of our net costs related to the September 11 attack is reasonable. It is possible that our estimate of ultimate gross losses related to the September 11 attack, as well as the collectibility of related reinsurance recoverables, may change in the future, and that the change in estimate could have a material effect on the Corporation’s results of operations. However, we do not expect that any such change would have a material effect on the Corporation’s financial condition or liquidity.

      The surety losses arising from the Enron bankruptcy relate to bonds issued to various obligees in connection with Enron commitments. Although certain of these surety bonds were the subject of litigation, we recognized our maximum exposure of $220 million, net of reinsurance, in the fourth quarter of 2001. As of the end of 2002, the litigation was settled, resulting in an $88 million reduction in our surety loss reserves.

      In October 2002, our actuaries and outside actuarial consultants completed their periodic ground-up exposure based analysis of our asbestos related liabilities. Upon completion of the analysis and assessment of the results, we increased our net loss reserves by $625 million in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, we reduced our previous estimate of reinsurance recoverable on potential asbestos claims, resulting in an additional increase in our net loss reserves of $75 million. Our asbestos related exposure is further discussed under “Loss Reserves.”

      The net costs related to the September 11 attack, the Enron surety losses and related settlement, and the asbestos charge are significant components in understanding and assessing our financial performance. However, these items had a distorting effect on our results. The following summary adjusts our reported property and casualty income or loss before taxes to exclude the impact of these items.

                         
2002 2001 2000



(in millions)
Property and casualty income (loss) before tax, as reported
  $ 278     $ (53 )   $ 803  
Net costs related to the September 11 attack
            645          
Net surety bonds losses related to Enron
            220          
Increase in asbestos and toxic waste loss reserves
    700                  
Reduction in surety bond losses resulting from settlement of litigation related to Enron
    (88 )                
     
     
     
 
Property and casualty income before tax, as adjusted
  $ 890     $ 812     $ 803  
     
     
     
 

      As adjusted, property and casualty earnings in 2002 were higher than in the prior year due primarily to a substantial improvement in underwriting results. Earnings in 2001 were similar to those in 2000.

 
Underwriting Results

      Net premiums written amounted to $9.0 billion in 2002, an increase of 30% over 2001. Net premiums written increased 10% in 2001 compared with 2000. Premiums written in 2001 included net reinsurance reinstatement premium revenue of $30 million related to the September 11 attack.

      U.S. premiums grew 31% in 2002 and 9% in 2001. Substantial premium growth was achieved outside the United States in 2002 and 2001. Reported non-U.S. premiums grew 27% in 2002 and 12% in 2001. In local currencies, such premiums grew 24% and 16% in 2002 and 2001, respectively.

20


 

      Net premiums written by class of business were as follows:

                             
Years Ended December 31

2002 2001 2000



(in millions)
Personal insurance
                       
 
Automobile
  $ 536.1     $ 480.2     $ 403.3  
 
Homeowners
    1,299.0       1,065.4       927.6  
 
Other
    478.6       435.5       391.9  
     
     
     
 
   
Total personal
    2,313.7       1,981.1       1,722.8  
     
     
     
 
Commercial insurance
                       
 
Multiple peril
    930.1       767.4       734.8  
 
Casualty
    1,119.0       799.8       781.3  
 
Workers’ compensation
    458.2       355.1       320.9  
 
Property and marine
    897.4       568.5       503.6  
     
     
     
 
   
Total commercial
    3,404.7       2,490.8       2,340.6  
     
     
     
 
Specialty insurance
                       
 
Executive protection
    1,702.4       1,348.7       1,274.7  
 
Financial institutions
    680.3       534.2       504.9  
 
Other
    946.2       606.7       490.2  
     
     
     
 
   
Total specialty
    3,328.9       2,489.6       2,269.8  
     
     
     
 
   
Total
  $ 9,047.3     $ 6,961.5     $ 6,333.2  
     
     
     
 

      In 2001, premium growth in personal lines was strong. In our commercial classes, which include multiple peril, casualty, workers’ compensation and property and marine, the marketplace improved with many of our competitors increasing rates. As a result, our commercial lines premiums began to increase as we retained more of our accounts at renewal and wrote more new business. Premium growth in specialty lines was restricted in 2001, primarily due to the lack of growth in our executive protection business caused by our writing fewer multi-year policies as well as our initiative to increase pricing and to not renew underperforming accounts.

      Premium growth in 2002 was strong in all segments of our business due primarily to higher rates. Premium growth was exceptionally strong in the commercial classes. In the wake of heavy insurance industry losses in recent years, exacerbated by the tragic event of September 11, 2001, many insurance companies have sought substantial price increases, raised deductibles, reduced coverage limits or declined outright to renew coverage. In this environment, we are seeing more opportunities to write new business and we are retaining more of our accounts. We are getting substantial rate increases on business we write, often with more favorable policy terms and conditions. We expect that this trend will continue throughout 2003.

      Premium growth in 2002 in our other specialty insurance business was primarily from Chubb Re, our reinsurance business that began operations in 1999.

      As a result of the substantial losses incurred by reinsurers in recent years, the cost of reinsurance in the marketplace has increased significantly and reinsurance capacity for certain coverages, such as terrorism, is limited and expensive.

      Our casualty per risk and casualty clash treaties in the aggregate cost approximately $20 million more in 2002 than in the previous year. We did not renew a workers’ compensation catastrophe treaty in 2002 that had substantially reduced our net losses from the September 11 attack because the terms and price that were offered were unreasonable.

21


 

      Our property reinsurance program was renewed in April 2002. The property per risk treaty and property catastrophe treaties in the aggregate cost approximately $120 million more on an annualized basis, with more restrictive terms, including terrorism exclusions. Our property per risk retention increased from $10 million to $15 million. Our catastrophe treaty for events in the United States was modified to increase our initial retention, to increase the reinsurance coverage at the top and to reduce our participation in certain layers of the program. The program now provides coverage for individual catastrophic events of approximately 87% of losses between $150 million and $650 million.

      The potential increase in our net risk concentrations from a catastrophic event that would result from these changes to our reinsurance arrangements may be offset to some degree by changes to our gross risk profile. In particular, we are making a concerted effort to reduce risk aggregations. Despite this effort, our future operating results could be more volatile due to the changes made to our reinsurance program.

      It is expected that the cost of reinsurance will continue to increase in 2003. The changes in our reinsurance program in 2003 will be more subtle than in 2002. We expect to discontinue some lower limit treaties that we believe are no longer economical and to increase our participation in certain layers of the treaties that we renew.

      The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (the Terrorism Act) was signed into law on November 26, 2002. The Terrorism Act established a program under which the federal government will share the risk of loss from certain acts of international terrorism with the insurance industry. The program terminates on December 31, 2005. The Terrorism Act is applicable to almost all commercial lines of insurance. Insurance companies with direct commercial insurance exposure in the United States are required to participate in the program. Each insurer has a separate deductible in the event of an act of terrorism before federal assistance becomes available. The deductible is based on a percentage of direct commercial earned premiums from the previous calendar year. For 2003, that deductible is 7% of direct commercial earned premiums in 2002. For losses above the deductible, the federal government will pay for 90% of insured losses, while the insurer contributes 10%. For certain classes of business, such as workers’ compensation, terrorism coverage is mandatory. For those classes of business where it is not mandatory, insureds may choose not to accept the terrorism coverage, which would reduce our exposure. While the provisions of the Terrorism Act will serve to mitigate our exposure in the event of a large-scale terrorist attack, our deductible is substantial, approximating $350 million in 2003. Therefore, we continue to monitor concentrations of risk.

      We also have exposure outside the United States to risk of loss from acts of terrorism. In some jurisdictions, we have access to government mechanisms that would mitigate our exposure.

      The combined loss and expense ratio, expressed as a percentage, is the key measure of underwriting profitability traditionally used in the property and casualty business. We use the statutory definition of combined loss and expense ratio. It is the sum of the ratio of losses to premiums earned (loss ratio) plus the ratio of underwriting expenses to premiums written (expense ratio) after reducing both premium amounts by dividends to policyholders. When the combined ratio is under 100%, underwriting results are generally considered profitable; when the combined ratio is over 100%, underwriting results are generally considered unprofitable.

      Underwriting results in 2002 were adversely affected by the $700 million asbestos charge, but such results benefited from the $88 million reduction in surety losses resulting from the settlement of litigation related to Enron. Underwriting results in 2001 were adversely affected by net costs of $635 million related to the September 11 attack and the Enron related surety losses of $220 million.

22


 

The combined loss and expense ratio, as reported and as adjusted to exclude the effects of the asbestos charge, the Enron surety losses and related settlement, and the September 11 attack, was as follows:
                         
Years Ended December 31

2002 2001 2000



As reported
                       
Loss ratio
    75.4 %     80.8 %     67.5 %
Expense ratio
    31.3       32.6       32.9  
     
     
     
 
Combined ratio
    106.7 %     113.4 %     100.4 %
     
     
     
 
As adjusted
                       
Loss ratio
    67.8 %     67.7 %     67.5 %
Expense ratio
    31.3       32.8       32.9  
     
     
     
 
Combined ratio
    99.1 %     100.5 %     100.4 %
     
     
     
 

      The loss ratio, as adjusted, was similar in the past three years. Losses from catastrophes other than the September 11 attack were $98 million in 2002 which represented 1.2 percentage points of the loss ratio compared with $114 million or 1.7 percentage points in 2001 and $72 million or 1.2 percentage points in 2000. Other than reinsurance recoveries related to the September 11 attack, we did not have any recoveries from our catastrophe reinsurance program during the three year period since there were no other individual catastrophes for which our losses exceeded the initial retention. Our initial retention level for each catastrophic event in the United States was increased from $100 million to $150 million during 2002. Our initial retention is generally $25 million outside the United States.

      Our expense ratio decreased in 2002 due to premiums written growing at a substantially higher rate than overhead expenses.

     Personal Insurance

      Net premiums from personal insurance, which represent 26% of the premiums written by our property and casualty subsidiaries, increased by 17% in 2002 compared with a 15% increase in 2001. In both years, premium growth occurred in all classes. However, as planned, growth in our in-force policy count slowed in 2002. Premium growth in 2002 was particularly significant in our homeowners business due primarily to higher rates and increased insurance-to-value. Homeowners premiums were up 22% in 2002, while the in-force policy count was up 3%.

      Our personal insurance business produced modestly profitable underwriting results in 2002 compared with slightly unprofitable results in 2001 and substantial profits in 2000. Results in 2001 included net costs of $20 million related to the September 11 attack. The combined loss and expense ratios for the classes of business within the personal insurance segment, as reported and as adjusted to exclude the effects of the September 11 attack, were as follows:

                         
Years Ended December 31

2002 2001 2000



As reported
                       
Automobile
    97.5 %     99.8 %     95.9 %
Homeowners
    104.5       112.6       100.8  
Other
    77.8       75.8       71.4  
     
     
     
 
Total personal
    97.2 %     101.3 %     92.9 %
     
     
     
 
As adjusted
                       
Automobile
    97.5 %     98.7 %     95.9 %
Homeowners
    104.5       111.2       100.8  
Other
    77.8       75.5       71.4  
     
     
     
 
Total personal
    97.2 %     100.2 %     92.9 %
     
     
     
 

      Homeowners results improved in 2002 but remained unprofitable. Results continued to be adversely affected by an increase in the severity of water damage claims, including those related to

23


 

mold, particularly in Texas. The improvement in 2002 was due to a decrease in the frequency of both catastrophe and non-catastrophe losses, the latter resulting in large part from the mild winter weather in the eastern half of the United States. Results deteriorated significantly in 2001 compared with 2000 due primarily to the substantial increase in the frequency and severity of water damage and mold claims as well as rate deficiencies in several states. Losses from catastrophes other than the September 11 attack represented 2.9 percentage points of the loss ratio for this class in 2002 compared with 5.4 percentage points in 2001 and 7.3 percentage points in 2000. Homeowners results were unprofitable in Europe in each of the past three years. We are in the process of disengaging from our personal lines operations in Continental Europe.

      Our remediation plan relating to our homeowners business, which began in the latter part of 2001, is on track. We have made substantial progress in implementing rate increases in states where rates have been deficient. However, we continue to be concerned about the proliferation of water damage claims, including those related to mold. We have made regulatory filings in most states to introduce contract changes that would enable us to treat mold as a separate peril available at an appropriate price. These changes have been implemented in 17 states, including Texas, and approved in 11 other states. If necessary, we will reduce our presence in states where we cannot attain rate adequacy due to regulatory constraints or adverse loss trends.

      Our personal automobile business was profitable in each of the last three years. Profitability increased modestly in 2002. Profitability decreased in 2001 compared with 2000 due to an increase in the frequency of losses in the liability component of this business. Results in each year benefited from stable loss severity.

      Other personal coverages, which include insurance for personal valuable articles and excess liability, produced highly profitable results in each of the past three years, as favorable loss experience has continued.

     Commercial Insurance

      Net premiums from commercial insurance, which represent 37% of our total writings, increased by 37% in 2002 compared with a 6% increase in 2001. The substantial premium growth in 2002, which occurred in all segments of this business, was due in large part to significantly higher rates and also to an increase in our in-force count. Retention levels have improved significantly, beginning in the second half of 2001. On the business that was renewed, rates have increased steadily. New business has accelerated, beginning toward the end of 2001. During 2002, we wrote more than two dollars of new business for every dollar of business we lost; during 2001, this ratio was about one to one. The substantial growth in new business was produced with the same underwriting discipline that existed over the past three years when we were shrinking the book of business. We expect that rates will continue to rise but that the level of rate increases will begin to decline.

      Our commercial insurance results were adversely affected in 2002 by the $700 million asbestos charge and in 2001 by net costs of $103 million related to the September 11 attack. The combined loss and expense ratios for the classes of business within commercial insurance, as reported and as adjusted to exclude the effects of the asbestos charge and the September 11 attack, were as follows:

                         
Years Ended December 31

2002 2001 2000



As reported
                       
Multiple peril
    99.7 %     109.6 %     114.5 %
Casualty
    166.6       114.9       118.7  
Workers’ compensation
    92.3       92.9       99.8  
Property and marine
    90.2       115.8       115.0  
     
     
     
 
Total commercial
    118.6 %     110.5 %     114.2 %
     
     
     
 
As adjusted
                       
Multiple peril
    99.7 %     102.1 %     114.5 %
Casualty
    94.2       111.0       118.7  
Workers’ compensation
    92.3       92.2       99.8  
Property and marine
    90.2       112.7       115.0  
     
     
     
 
Total commercial
    94.5 %     106.1 %     114.2 %
     
     
     
 

24


 

      Our commercial insurance results, as adjusted, have shown substantial improvement in each succeeding year. On an as adjusted basis, our commercial insurance business produced an underwriting profit in 2002 compared with underwriting losses in 2001 and 2000. The improvement has been due in large part to the cumulative effect of price increases, better terms and conditions and more stringent risk selection in recent years. While all segments of this business have improved, the improvement has been most significant in our casualty and property and marine classes.

      Commercial insurance results, particularly in the casualty classes, were adversely affected in each of the past three years by incurred losses relating to asbestos and toxic waste claims. In addition to the $700 million asbestos charge in 2002, asbestos and toxic waste losses were $41 million in 2002, $61 million in 2001 and $31 million in 2000. The as adjusted combined ratios exclude the effect of the $700 million asbestos charge but include the effect of all other asbestos and toxic waste losses.

      Multiple peril results, as adjusted, showed modest improvement in 2002 due to highly profitable overseas results. The improved results in 2001 compared with 2000 were principally in the liability component of this business due to a lower frequency and severity of losses. Losses from catastrophes other than the September 11 attack represented 2.2 percentage points of the loss ratio for this class in 2002 and 3.0 percentage points in 2001. There were virtually no catastrophe losses in 2000.

      Results for our casualty business, as adjusted, were profitable in 2002 compared with highly unprofitable results in 2001 and 2000. This business has shown significant improvement in each of the past two years due to higher rates and the culling of business where we could not attain price adequacy. In particular, the automobile component showed substantial improvement, producing highly profitable results in 2002 compared with modestly unprofitable results in 2001 and highly unprofitable results in 2000. Results for the primary liability component also improved in each succeeding year. The excess liability component produced breakeven results in 2002 compared with unprofitable results in 2001 and 2000. As noted above, casualty results in each of the past three years were adversely affected by incurred losses related to asbestos and toxic waste claims.

      Workers’ compensation results were highly profitable in 2002 and 2001 compared with near breakeven results in 2000. The strong results in 2002 and 2001 were due to higher rates as well as to a lower frequency of losses, resulting in large part from our disciplined risk selection during the past several years.

      Property and marine results were profitable in 2002 compared with highly unprofitable results in 2001 and 2000. Results in 2002 benefited from improved pricing, higher deductibles and better terms and conditions. Results in 2001 and 2000 were adversely affected by a high frequency of large losses, both in the United States and overseas. Losses from catastrophes other than the September 11 attack represented 6.6 percentage points of the loss ratio for this class in 2002 compared with 5.4 percentage points in 2001 and 1.7 percentage points in 2000.

     Specialty Insurance

      Net premiums from specialty insurance, which represent 37% of our total writings, increased by 34% in 2002 compared with a 10% increase in 2001. Premiums in 2001 included net reinsurance reinstatement premium revenue of $35 million related to the September 11 attack, primarily consisting of $80 million of premium revenue in our reinsurance business offset in part by costs of $40 million in our financial institutions business.

      Our strategy of working closely with our customers and our ability to differentiate our products continue to enable us to renew a considerable percentage of our executive protection and financial institutions business. The growth in 2002 in executive protection and the professional liability component of our financial institutions business was primarily attributable to higher rates. In response to claim severity trends, we initiated a program in 2001 to increase pricing and improve policy terms and to not renew business that no longer met our underwriting criteria. We have implemented better terms and conditions, including lower policy limits and higher deductibles. Most of our new business is coming from the small to mid-size market. In the standard commercial component of our financial institutions business, rates were higher as well. Growth of this business was somewhat restrained by

25


 

our management of terrorism exposure concentrations and higher reinsurance costs. Executive protection premium growth in 2001 was only 6% due to our writing fewer multi-year policies and the non-renewal of unprofitable business. Excluding the reinsurance reinstatement costs of $40 million in 2001, financial institutions premium growth was 19% in 2002 and 14% in 2001.

      A reunderwriting of our European executive protection business is underway using many of the strategies already implemented in the United States, including substantial rate increases, reductions in policy limits and higher deductibles.

      Growth in our other specialty insurance business was primarily from Chubb Re, our reinsurance assumed business. Premiums produced by Chubb Re amounted to $488 million in 2002 compared with $199 million in 2001, excluding the net reinstatement premium revenue of $80 million, and $158 million in 2000. We expect reinsurance assumed business to continue to grow significantly in 2003.

      Our specialty insurance results in 2002 benefited from the $88 million reduction in surety losses resulting from the settlement of litigation related to Enron. Results were adversely affected in 2001 by net costs of $512 million related to the September 11 attack and the Enron-related surety losses of $220 million. The combined loss and expense ratios for the classes of business within specialty insurance, as reported and as adjusted to exclude the effects of the September 11 attack and the Enron surety losses and related settlement, were as follows:

                         
Years Ended December 31

2002 2001 2000



As reported
                       
Executive protection
    110.3 %     94.0 %     86.2 %
Financial institutions
    110.7       187.7       90.6  
Other
    77.8       146.2       105.5  
     
     
     
 
Total specialty
    101.8 %     125.5 %     91.3 %
     
     
     
 
As adjusted
                       
Executive protection
    110.3 %     94.0 %     86.2 %
Financial institutions
    110.7       94.7       90.6  
Other
    88.8       99.2       105.5  
     
     
     
 
Total specialty
    104.8 %     95.3 %     91.3 %
     
     
     
 

      Our specialty insurance underwriting results, as adjusted, were unprofitable in 2002 compared with profitable results in 2001 and 2000.

      Executive protection results were unprofitable in 2002 compared with profitable results in 2001 and 2000. Results in 2002 were adversely affected by deteriorating claim trends in directors and officers liability and errors and omissions liability business due in large part to the corporate abuses and accounting irregularities in recent years. Results in Europe were particularly unprofitable in 2002. Loss experience in Europe started to deteriorate in 2001 due to adverse trends in loss severity caused by an increase in litigation, often involving European companies being sued in U.S. courts for securities fraud. Loss trends in Europe deteriorated further in 2002. Our employment practices liability business was profitable in 2002 compared with unprofitable results in 2001 and 2000. The improvement was due to our strategy to reduce our exposure to accounts with more than 10,000 employees, which are the accounts that had been generating most of our large losses in this class.

      Our financial institutions business, as adjusted, produced unprofitable results in 2002 compared with profitable results in 2001 and 2000. The fidelity component of this business was highly profitable in each of the last three years due to favorable loss experience. Results for the professional liability component were highly unprofitable in 2002 compared with modestly unprofitable results in 2001 and profitable results in 2000. The deterioration in 2002 was due to the same claim trends in the United States and Europe experienced in our executive protection business. The standard commercial

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business written on financial institutions produced profitable results in 2002 and 2001 compared with breakeven results in 2000. Results have improved in each succeeding year due in large part to the rate increases and more stringent risk selection in recent years.

      Other specialty results, as adjusted, were highly profitable in 2002 compared with near breakeven results in 2001 and unprofitable results in 2000. Excluding the impact of the Enron bankruptcy, our surety results were highly profitable in each of the past three years. Our reinsurance assumed business generated by Chubb Re produced a modest underwriting gain in 2002 compared with a modest loss in 2001 and 2000. Accident and aviation results also improved in 2002.

      The surety business tends to be characterized by infrequent but potentially high severity losses. Since the end of 2001, we have been reducing our exposure on an absolute basis and by specific bond type. The majority of our obligations are intended to be performance-based guarantees. When losses occur, they are mitigated by the customer’s balance sheet, contract proceeds and bankruptcy recovery.

      Notwithstanding our efforts to manage and reduce our surety exposure, we continue to have substantial commercial surety exposure for outstanding bonds. In that regard, we have exposures related to commercial surety bonds issued on behalf of companies that have experienced deterioration in creditworthiness. Given the current economic climate and its impact on these and other companies, there is an increased likelihood that we may experience an increase in filed claims and may incur high severity losses. Such losses would be recorded if and when claims are filed and determined to be valid.

      As a result of disarray in the surety reinsurance market caused by several years of declining prices and high losses, the availability of surety reinsurance in the near term has been significantly reduced. As a result, our future surety results could be more volatile.

      We have in force several gas forward purchase surety bonds similar to those we issued on behalf of Enron. The total amount of bonds with one principal, Aquila, Inc., is $550 million. These bonds are uncollateralized. The combined amount of all other gas forward surety bonds is approximately $245 million. Approximately $135 million of these bonds are uncollateralized. Our obligations under these bonds will decline over the terms of the bonds, the longest of which extends until 2012. There is currently no reinsurance in place covering our obligations under any of these bonds.

      Under the gas forward purchase surety bond structure, gas suppliers entered into long-term gas purchase agreements pursuant to which they agreed to supply specified quantities of gas to the beneficiaries under our surety bonds. In exchange for the gas purchase agreement, the beneficiaries under our surety bonds made an agreed upon advance payment for the gas. Our surety bonds secure the suppliers’ obligation to supply gas. Under the terms of these bonds, our entire obligation to pay could be triggered if the related supplier failed to provide gas under its forward purchase contracts or was the subject of a bankruptcy filing.

      Each of the suppliers continues to perform its obligations under the related gas forward purchase agreements. However, certain of these suppliers, including Aquila, Inc., have suffered ratings downgrades. If payment under the Aquila surety bonds were triggered or if payment under all of the other gas forward surety bonds were triggered, such payments would have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s results of operations and liquidity.

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     Loss Reserves

      Loss reserves, which are our property and casualty subsidiaries’ largest liability, include significant amounts related to the September 11 attack, to our Enron surety exposure and to asbestos and toxic waste claims. The components of our loss reserves were as follows:

                             
December 31

2002 2001 2000



(in millions)
Gross loss reserves
                       
 
Total, per balance sheet
  $ 16,713     $ 15,515     $ 11,904  
 
Less:
                       
   
Related to the September 11 attack
    2,063       2,775          
   
Related to Enron surety exposure
    113       333          
   
Related to asbestos and toxic waste claims
    1,136       423       465  
     
     
     
 
 
Total, as adjusted
  $ 13,401     $ 11,984     $ 11,439  
     
     
     
 
Reinsurance recoverable
                       
 
Total, per balance sheet
  $ 4,071     $ 4,505     $ 1,853  
 
Less:
                       
   
Related to the September 11 attack
    1,558       2,239          
   
Related to Enron surety exposure
    7       121          
   
Related to asbestos and toxic waste claims
    53       11       15  
     
     
     
 
 
Total, as adjusted
  $ 2,453     $ 2,134     $ 1,838  
     
     
     
 
Net loss reserves
                       
 
Total
  $ 12,642     $ 11,010     $ 10,051  
 
Total, as adjusted
    10,948       9,850       9,601  

      The loss reserves related to the September 11 attack, our Enron surety exposure and asbestos and toxic waste claims are significant components of our total loss reserves, but they distort the growth trend in our loss reserves. Adjusted to exclude such loss reserves, our loss reserves, net of reinsurance recoverable, increased by $1,098 million or 11% in 2002 compared with $249 million or 3% in 2001.

      Net loss reserves, as adjusted, by segment were as follows:

                         
December 31

2002 2001 2000



(in millions)
Personal insurance
  $ 1,064     $ 900     $ 762  
Commercial insurance
    4,714       4,661       4,842  
Specialty insurance
    5,170       4,289       3,997  
     
     
     
 
Net loss reserves, as adjusted
  $ 10,948     $ 9,850     $ 9,601  
     
     
     
 

      Loss reserves for personal insurance and specialty insurance increased significantly in 2002 and 2001. In particular, in specialty insurance, our European directors and officers and errors and omissions loss reserves for the current and prior accident years increased by about $250 million in the aggregate in 2002. Loss reserves for commercial insurance have not increased, reflecting the significant exposure reductions of the past several years and the improved accident year results in these years due to more stringent risk selection.

      A reconciliation of the beginning and ending liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses for the three years ended December 31, 2002 is included in Note (9) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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      During 2002, we experienced overall unfavorable development of $790 million on loss reserves established as of the previous year end. This compares with favorable development of $196 million in 2001 and $230 million in 2000. Such development was reflected in operating results in these respective years.

      The unfavorable development in 2002 was due primarily to our strengthening asbestos and toxic waste loss reserves by $741 million during the year. In addition, we experienced unfavorable development of about $100 million in the homeowners class due to the increase in the severity of water damage and related mold claims. In the executive protection classes, the adverse loss trends in Europe and the United States in the more recent accident years more than offset favorable loss experience in the United States in older accident years, resulting in unfavorable development of about $50 million during 2002. Offsetting the unfavorable development somewhat was the $88 million reduction in surety loss reserves related to the Enron settlement.

      The favorable development in 2001 and 2000 was due primarily to favorable claim experience in our commercial excess liability and executive protection coverages, offset in part by losses incurred related to asbestos and toxic waste claims.

      In Item 1 of the Form 10-K, we present an analysis of our consolidated loss reserve development on a calendar year basis for the ten years prior to 2002.

      Our U.S. property and casualty subsidiaries are required to file annual statements with insurance regulatory authorities prepared on an accounting basis prescribed or permitted by such authorities. These annual statements include an analysis of loss reserves, referred to as Schedule P, that presents accident year loss development information by line of business for the nine years prior to 2002. It is our intention to post the Schedule P for our combined U.S. property and casualty subsidiaries on our website as soon as it becomes available.

      The process of establishing loss reserves is complex and imprecise as it is subject to variables that are influenced by significant judgmental factors. This is true because claim settlements to be made in the future will be impacted by changing rates of inflation, particularly medical cost inflation, and other economic conditions; changing legislative, judicial and social environments; and changes in our claim handling procedures.

      Our loss reserves include amounts related to short tail and long tail classes of business. Short tail classes consist principally of homeowners, personal valuable articles and commercial property business. For these classes, the estimation of loss reserves is less complex because claims are generally reported and settled quickly and the claims relate to tangible property.

      Long-tail classes include directors and officers liability, errors and omissions liability and other executive protection coverages, commercial excess liability and other liability classes. Most of our loss reserves relate to long tail liability classes of business. For many liability claims significant periods of time, ranging up to several years or more, may elapse between the occurrence of the loss, the reporting of the loss and the settlement of the claim. The longer the time span between the incidence of a loss and the settlement of the claim, the more the ultimate settlement amount can vary. For the long tail liability classes, a relatively small proportion of net losses in the more recent accident years are reported claims and an even smaller proportion are paid losses. Therefore, a relatively large proportion of our net losses for these classes are reserves for incurred but not reported (IBNR) losses — claims that had not yet been reported to us, some of which were not yet known to the insured, and future development on reported claims. In fact, approximately 60% of our aggregate net loss reserves at December 31, 2002 were for IBNR.

      We use a variety of actuarial methods that analyze experience trends and other relevant factors to estimate loss reserves. These methods generally utilize analyses of historical patterns of the development of paid and reported losses by accident year by class of business. This process relies on the basic assumption that past experience, adjusted for the effects of current developments and likely trends, is an appropriate basis for predicting future outcomes. For certain long tail classes of business where

29


 

anticipated loss experience is less predictable because of the small number of claims and/or erratic claim severity patterns, estimates are based on both expected losses and actual reported losses. These classes include directors and officers liability, errors and omissions liability and commercial excess liability, among others. For these classes, we judgmentally set ultimate losses for each accident year based on our evaluation of loss trends and the current risk environment. The expected ultimate losses are adjusted as the accident years mature.

      Reserves for asbestos and toxic waste claims cannot be estimated with traditional actuarial techniques that rely on historical accident year loss development factors. We establish case reserves and expense reserves for costs of related litigation where sufficient information has been developed to indicate the involvement of a specific insurance policy. In addition, IBNR reserves are established to cover additional exposures on both known and unasserted claims.

      Judicial decisions and legislative actions continue to broaden liability and policy definitions and to increase the severity of claim payments. As a result of this and other societal and economic developments, the uncertainties inherent in estimating ultimate claim costs on the basis of past experience have been exacerbated, further complicating the already complex loss reserving process.

      The uncertainties relating to asbestos and toxic waste claims on insurance policies written many years ago are further exacerbated by inconsistent court decisions as well as judicial interpretations and legislative actions that in some cases have tended to broaden coverage beyond the original intent of such policies and in others have expanded theories of liability. The industry as a whole is engaged in extensive litigation over these coverage and liability issues and is thus confronted with a continuing uncertainty in its efforts to quantify these exposures.

      Asbestos remains the most significant and difficult mass tort for the insurance industry in terms of claims volume and dollar exposure. Early court cases established the “continuous trigger” theory with respect to insurance coverage. Under this theory, insurance coverage is deemed to be triggered from the time a claimant is first exposed to asbestos until the manifestation of any disease. This interpretation of a policy trigger can involve insurance companies over many years and increases their exposure to liability.

      To date, approximately 65 manufacturers and distributors of asbestos products have filed for bankruptcy protection as a result of asbestos liabilities. The rapid increase in both the frequency and severity of claims in recent years has accelerated the pace at which these bankruptcies have been filed. About 30 of these companies have been pushed into bankruptcy since 2000. In part as a result of these bankruptcies, the volume and value of claims against viable asbestos defendants continue to increase.

      Our most significant individual asbestos exposures involve product liability on the part of “traditional” defendants who manufactured, distributed or installed asbestos products. We wrote excess liability and/or general liability coverages for these insureds. While these insureds are relatively few in number, such exposure has increased in recent years due to the increased volume of claims, the erosion of much of the underlying limits and the bankruptcies of target defendants.

      Our other asbestos exposures involve non-product liability on the part of “peripheral” defendants, including a mix of manufacturers, distributors and installers of certain products that contain asbestos in small quantities and owners of properties on which asbestos exists. Generally, these insureds are named defendants on a regional rather than a nationwide basis. As the financial resources of traditional asbestos defendants have been depleted, plaintiffs are targeting these peripheral parties with greater frequency and, in many cases, for larger awards. In addition, the plaintiffs’ bar continues to solicit new claimants through extensive advertising and through asbestos medical screenings. Litigation is then initiated even though many of the claimants do not show any signs of asbestos-related disease. Thus, new asbestos claims and new exposures on existing claims have continued unabated despite the fact that usage of asbestos has declined since the mid-1970’s. Based on published projections, we expect that we will continue receiving asbestos claims at the current rate for at least the next several years.

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      Asbestos claims initially focused on the major manufacturers, distributors or installers of asbestos products under the products liability section of primary general liability policies as well as under excess liability policies, both of which typically had aggregate limits that capped an insurer’s liability. In recent years, a number of asbestos claims by insureds are being presented as “non-products” claims, such as those by installers of asbestos products and by property owners who allegedly had asbestos on their property, under the premises or operations section of primary general liability policies. Unlike products exposures, these non-products exposures typically had no aggregate limits, creating potentially greater exposure. Further, in an effort to seek additional insurance coverage, some insureds with installation activities who have substantially eroded their products coverage are presenting new asbestos claims as non-products operations claims or attempting to reclassify old products claims. The extent to which insureds will be liable under such theories and successful in obtaining coverage on this basis is uncertain.

      The expanded focus of asbestos litigation beyond asbestos manufacturers and distributors to installers and premises owners has created, in some instances, conflicts among insureds, primary insurers and excess insurers, mainly involving questions regarding allocation of indemnity and expense costs and exhaustion of policy limits. These issues are generating costly coverage litigation with the potential for inconsistent results.

      Federal legislation still appears to be the best vehicle for comprehensively addressing the asbestos problem. However, unified support among various defendant and insurer groups considered essential to any possible reform is lacking. We therefore have assumed a continuing unfavorable legal environment with no benefit from any asbestos reform legislation.

      In establishing our asbestos reserves, we evaluate the exposure presented by each insured. As part of this evaluation, we consider the available insurance coverage; limits and deductibles; the potential role of other insurance, particularly underlying coverage below our excess liability policies; and applicable coverage defenses, including asbestos exclusions.

      In the third quarter of 2002, our actuaries and outside actuarial consultants commenced their periodic ground-up exposure based analysis of our asbestos related liabilities. As part of this analysis, they considered the following recent adverse trends:

  •  Estimates of the ultimate liabilities for traditional asbestos defendants have increased as the number of plaintiff claims has surged over the past few years. The notable increase in claimants as well as potential future claimants has resulted in large settlements of asbestos related litigation. As a result, it now appears more likely that many of these traditional defendants will access higher excess layers of insurance coverage as well as more years of coverage than previously anticipated.
 
  •  Claims have been more aggressively pursued against peripheral asbestos defendants in recent years, partly in response to the bankruptcy or exhaustion of insurance coverage for many of the major traditional defendants.
 
  •  The number of claims filed under the non-aggregate premises or operations section of general liability policies has increased, creating potentially greater exposure.
 
  •  The litigation environment has become increasingly adverse. More than half of the lawsuits filed in recent years have been filed in five plaintiff oriented states, where significant verdicts historically have been rendered against commercial defendants.
 
  •  The number of asbestos defendants in bankruptcy has increased, resulting in an increase in the number and cost of declaratory judgment lawsuits to resolve coverage disputes and to effect settlements in the bankruptcy courts.

      Upon completion of the analysis and assessment of the results, we increased our net asbestos loss reserves by $545 million in the third quarter. Following a thorough review in the fourth quarter by our

31


 

internal actuarial, claims and reinsurance personnel, we reduced our previous estimate of reinsurance recoverable on potential asbestos claims. As a result, our net asbestos loss reserves increased by an additional $75 million.

      The following table presents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending loss reserves related to asbestos claims.

                         
Years Ended December 31

2002 2001 2000



(in millions)
Gross loss reserves, beginning of year
  $ 225     $ 225     $ 226  
Reinsurance recoverable, beginning of year
    10       13       10  
     
     
     
 
Net loss reserves, beginning of year
    215       212       216  
Net incurred losses
    657       57       30  
Net losses paid
    38       54       34  
     
     
     
 
Net loss reserves, end of year
    834       215       212  
Reinsurance recoverable, end of year
    51       10       13  
     
     
     
 
Gross loss reserves, end of year
  $ 885     $ 225     $ 225  
     
     
     
 

      Significant uncertainty remains as to our ultimate liability relating to asbestos related claims due to such factors as the long latency period between asbestos exposure and disease manifestation and the resulting potential for involvement of multiple policy periods for individual claims as well as the increase in the volume of claims by plaintiffs who claim exposure but who have no symptoms of asbestos-related disease and an increase in claims filed under the non-aggregate premises or operations section of general liability policies. There is also the possibility of federal legislation that would address the asbestos problem.

      Hazardous waste sites are another potential exposure. Under the federal “Superfund” law and similar state statutes, when potentially responsible parties (PRPs) fail to handle the clean-up at a site, regulators have the work done and then attempt to establish legal liability against the PRPs. Most sites have multiple PRPs.

      Most PRPs named to date are parties who have been generators, transporters, past or present landowners or past or present site operators. The PRPs disposed of toxic materials at a waste dump site or transported the materials to the site. These PRPs had proper government authorization in many instances. Insurance policies issued to PRPs were not intended to cover the clean-up costs of pollution and, in many cases, did not intend to cover the pollution itself. Pollution was not a recognized hazard at the time many of these policies were written. In more recent years, however, policies specifically exclude such exposures.

      As the costs of environmental clean-up became substantial, PRPs and others increasingly filed claims with their insurance carriers. Litigation against insurers extends to issues of liability, coverage and other policy provisions.

      There is great uncertainty involved in estimating our liabilities related to these claims. First, the liabilities of the claimants are extremely difficult to estimate. At any given site, the allocation of remediation costs among governmental authorities and the PRPs varies greatly depending on a variety of factors. Second, different courts have addressed liability and coverage issues regarding pollution claims and have reached inconsistent conclusions in their interpretation of several issues. These significant uncertainties are not likely to be resolved definitively in the near future.

      Uncertainties also remain as to the Superfund law itself. Superfund’s taxing authority expired on December 31, 1995 and has not been re-enacted. Federal legislation appears to be at a standstill. At this time, it is not possible to predict the direction that any reforms may take, when they may occur or the effect that any changes may have on the insurance industry.

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      Without federal movement on Superfund reform, the enforcement of Superfund liability is shifting to the states. States are being forced to reconsider state-level cleanup statutes and regulations. As individual states move forward, the potential for conflicting state regulation becomes greater. Significant uncertainty remains as to the cost of remediating the state sites. Because of the large number of state sites, such sites could prove even more costly in the aggregate than Superfund sites.

      Toxic waste losses appear to be developing as expected due to relatively stable claim trends. In many cases, claims are being settled for less than initially anticipated due to various factors, including more efficient site remediation efforts and increasing success with policy buy backs.

      Despite the stable claim trends, we increased our toxic waste loss reserves by $80 million in the third quarter of 2002 based on the most recent estimate of our actuaries and actuarial consultants as to our ultimate exposure.

      The following table presents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending loss reserves, net of reinsurance recoverable, related to toxic waste claims. There are virtually no reinsurance recoveries related to these claims.

                         
Years Ended December 31

2002 2001 2000



(in millions)
Reserves, beginning of year
  $ 197     $ 238     $ 308  
Incurred losses
    84       4       1  
Losses paid
    32       45       71  
     
     
     
 
Reserves, end of year
  $ 249     $ 197     $ 238  
     
     
     
 

      We continually review and update our loss reserves. Based on all information currently available, we believe that the aggregate loss reserves of the property and casualty subsidiaries at December 31, 2002 were adequate to cover claims for losses that had occurred, including both those known to us and those yet to be reported. In establishing such reserves, we consider facts currently known and the present state of the law and coverage litigation. However, given the judicial decisions and legislative actions that have broadened the scope of coverage and expanded theories of liability in the past and the possibilities of similar interpretations in the future, particularly as they relate to asbestos claims and, to a lesser extent, toxic waste claims, additional increases in loss reserves may emerge in future periods. Such increases could have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s future operating results. However, management does not expect that any such increases would have a material effect on the Corporation’s consolidated financial condition or liquidity.

     Catastrophe Exposure

      Our property and casualty subsidiaries have exposure to insured losses caused by hurricanes, earthquakes, winter storms, windstorms and other natural catastrophic events. The frequency and severity of natural catastrophes are unpredictable.

      The tragic event of September 11 changed the way the property and casualty insurance industry views catastrophic risk. Numerous classes of business have become exposed to terrorism related catastrophic risks in addition to the catastrophic risks related to natural occurrences. This has required us to change how we identify and evaluate risk accumulations. We have changed our underwriting protocols to address terrorism and the limited availability of terrorism reinsurance. However, given the uncertainty of the potential threats, we cannot be sure that we have addressed all the possibilities.

      The extent of losses from a catastrophe is a function of both the total amount of insured exposure in an area affected by the event and the severity of the event. We continually assess our concentration of underwriting exposures in catastrophe prone areas globally and develop strategies to manage this exposure through individual risk selection, subject to regulatory constraints, and through the purchase

33


 

of catastrophe reinsurance. In recent years, we have invested in modeling technologies and concentration management tools that allow us to better monitor and control our accumulations of potential losses from catastrophe exposures. We maintain records showing concentrations of risk in catastrophe prone areas such as California (earthquake and brush fires) and the gulf and east coasts of the United States (hurricanes). We also continue to explore and analyze credible scientific evidence, including the impact of global climate change, that may affect our potential exposure under insurance policies.

      Despite these efforts, the occurrence of one or more severe catastrophic events in heavily populated areas could have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.

     Investment Income

      Property and casualty investment income before taxes increased by 3% both in 2002 compared with 2001 and in 2001 compared with 2000. Growth in 2002 and 2001 was due to an increase in invested assets, which reflected substantial cash flow from operations over the period. Growth in 2002 also benefited from capital contributed to the property and casualty subsidiaries by the Corporation in the fourth quarter of 2001. Growth in both years was dampened by lower available reinvestment rates on fixed maturities that matured in each year.

      The effective tax rate on our investment income was 18.2% in 2002 compared with 17.0% in 2001 and 16.4% in 2000. The effective tax rate increased each year as a result of our holding a somewhat smaller proportion of our investment portfolio in tax-exempt securities. On an after-tax basis, property and casualty investment income increased by 2% in 2002 and in 2001. Management uses property and casualty investment income after-tax, a non-GAAP financial measure, to evaluate its investment performance because it reflects the impact of any change in the proportion of our investment portfolio invested in tax-exempt securities and is therefore more meaningful for analysis purposes than investment income before taxes.

     Other Charges

      Other charges include miscellaneous income and expenses of the property and casualty subsidiaries.

      Other charges in both 2001 and 2000 included goodwill amortization of approximately $20 million. The accounting for goodwill was changed in 2002, as discussed further under “Changes in Accounting Principles.” As a result, there was no goodwill amortization in 2002.

      Other charges in 2001 included a $10 million charge for our share of the losses of Hiscox plc from the September 11 attack.

Chubb Financial Solutions

      Chubb Financial Solutions (CFS) was organized by the Corporation in 2000 to develop and provide customized products to address specific financial needs of corporate clients. CFS operates through both the capital and insurance markets. Since its inception, CFS’s non-insurance business has been primarily structured credit derivatives, principally as a counterparty in portfolio credit default swap contracts. The Corporation guarantees all of these obligations.

      In a typical portfolio credit default swap, CFS participates in the senior layer of a structure designed to replicate the performance of a portfolio of corporate securities, a portfolio of asset-backed securities or a specified pool of loans. The structure of these portfolio credit default swaps generally requires CFS to make payment to counterparties to the extent cumulative losses, related to numerous credit events, exceed a specified threshold. The risk below that threshold, referred to as subordination, is assumed by other parties with the primary risk layer sometimes retained by the buyer. The amount of subordination for each contract varies based on the credit quality of the underlying portfolio and

34


 

the term to maturity of the contract. Credit events generally arise when one of the referenced entities within a portfolio becomes bankrupt, undergoes a debt restructuring or fails to make timely interest or principal payments on a senior unsecured debt obligation.

      Portfolio credit default swaps are derivatives and are carried in the financial statements at estimated fair value, which represents management’s best estimate of the cost to exit our positions. Changes in fair value are included in income in the period of the change. Thus, CFS’s results are subject to volatility, which could have a significant effect on the Corporation’s results of operations from period to period. Valuation models are used to estimate the fair value of our obligation in each credit default swap. Such valuations require considerable judgment and are subject to significant uncertainty.

      The fair value of our credit default swaps is subject to fluctuations arising from, among other factors, changes in credit spreads, the financial ratings of referenced asset-backed securities, actual credit events reducing subordination, credit correlation within a portfolio, anticipated recovery rates related to potential defaults and changes in interest rates. Short term fluctuations in the fair value of our future obligations may have little correlation to the ultimate profitability of this business. The ultimate profitability of this business depends on actual credit events over the lives of the contracts. While we have not had to make any payment under any of the contracts, we cannot be certain that there will never be any payment obligation under the credit default swap portfolio. The market risks associated with our obligations under portfolio credit default swaps are discussed under “Market Risk of Financial Instruments — Credit Derivatives.”

      Revenues from the non-insurance business of CFS, principally consisting of the change in fair value of derivative contracts, were $27 million in 2001 and $12 million in 2000. Revenues were negative $52 million in 2002 due to the adverse impact of changes in fair value during the year. This business produced a loss before taxes of $70 million in 2002 compared with income of $9 million in 2001 and $3 million in 2000.

      The substantial loss in 2002 was due to an adverse movement in the mark-to-market adjustment, which resulted in an increase in the fair value of our obligations related to the portfolio credit default swaps. The primary factors contributing to the increase in the fair value of our obligations were downgrades in the financial ratings of certain referenced asset-backed securities, a widening of market credit spreads, and, for one credit default swap, erosion in the risk layers that are subordinate to the CFS risk layer due to actual losses in those subordinate layers.

      At December 31, 2002, CFS’s aggregate exposure, or retained risk, referred to as notional amounts, from its in-force portfolio credit default swaps was approximately $38.7 billion. The notional amounts are used to express the extent of involvement in swap transactions. These amounts are used to calculate the exchange of contractual cash flows and are not necessarily representative of the potential for gain or loss. The notional amounts are not recorded on the balance sheet.

      Our realistic loss exposure is a very small portion of the $38.7 billion notional amount due to several factors. Our position is senior to subordinated interests of $6.4 billion in the aggregate. Of the $6.4 billion of subordination, there were only $97 million of defaults through December 31, 2002, none of which has pierced the subordination limits of any of our contracts. In addition, the underlying credits are primarily investment grade corporate credits and highly rated asset-backed securities.

      In addition to portfolio credit default swaps, CFS has entered into a derivative contract linked to an equity market index and a few other insignificant non-insurance transactions.

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      The notional amount and fair value of our future obligations by type of risk were as follows:

                                   
December 31

Notional Amount Fair Value


2002 2001 2002 2001




(in billions) (in millions)
Credit default swaps
                               
 
Corporate securities
  $ 21.2     $ 4.5     $ 88     $ 14  
 
Asset-backed securities
    15.5       7.4       103       26  
 
Loan portfolios
    2.0       2.4       4       8  
     
     
     
     
 
      38.7       14.3       195       48  
Other
    .4       .1       9       2  
     
     
     
     
 
    $ 39.1     $ 14.4     $ 204     $ 50  
     
     
     
     
 

      The insurance and reinsurance solutions that CFS develops to meet the risk management needs of its customers are written by our property and casualty subsidiaries. Results from this business are included within our insurance results. A property and casualty subsidiary issued a reinsurance contract to an insurer who provides financial guarantees on asset-backed transactions. At December 31, 2002, the amount of aggregate principal commitments related to this contract was approximately $350 million, net of reinsurance. These commitments expire by 2023.

      In February 2003, we announced that we are reviewing our strategic alternatives with respect to CFS. Although the risk financing business continues to have attractive growth characteristics and recent market movements have resulted in a favorable pricing environment for writing high quality credit default swaps, several recent developments have led us to examine our continuing commitment to this business. Most significantly, in order to take advantage of very attractive market conditions in the property and casualty insurance business, we will need to commit increasing amounts of capital to this business, which could limit the capital resources available to support CFS’s risk financing business. Also, our corporate debt rating has been downgraded to A+, which could limit our opportunities to participate competitively in the AAA credit default swap layer. Finally, as we saw in 2002, CFS’s business increases the volatility of our earnings due to mark-to-market accounting requirements.

Corporate and Other

      Corporate and other includes investment income earned on corporate invested assets, interest expense and other expenses not allocated to the operating subsidiaries, and the results of our real estate and other non-insurance subsidiaries. Corporate and other produced a loss before taxes of $74 million in 2002 compared with losses of $23 million and $7 million in 2001 and 2000, respectively. The substantially higher loss in 2002 was due to higher interest expense and lower investment income. The higher interest expense in 2002 was due to the issuance of $600 million of debt in the fourth quarter of 2001. The lower investment income in 2002 was due to the decrease in corporate invested assets resulting from the capital contribution to the property and casualty subsidiaries in the fourth quarter of 2001. In 2000, corporate and other included income of $10 million from a noncompete payment related to the sale of the Corporation’s 50% interest in Associated Aviation Underwriters, Inc. (AAU).

     Real Estate

      Real estate operations resulted in a loss before taxes of $6 million in 2002 compared with a loss of $4 million in both 2001 and 2000. These amounts are included in the corporate and other results. In each year, we sold selected commercial properties as well as residential properties. Real estate revenues were $76 million in 2002, $87 million in 2001 and $75 million in 2000.

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      We own approximately $300 million of land which we expect will be developed in the future. In addition, we own approximately $180 million of commercial properties and land parcels under lease. We are continuing to explore the sale of certain of our remaining properties.

      Loans receivable, which amounted to $86 million at December 31, 2002, are primarily purchase money mortgages. Such loans, which were issued in connection with our joint venture activities and other property sales, are generally collateralized by buildings and, in some cases, land. We continually evaluate the ultimate collectibility of such loans and establish appropriate reserves.

      The recoverability of the carrying value of our real estate assets is assessed based on our ability to fully recover costs through a future revenue stream. The assumptions used reflect future improvement in demand for office space, an increase in rental rates and the ability and intent to obtain financing in order to hold and develop such remaining properties and protect our interests over the long term. Management believes that it has made adequate provisions for impairment of real estate assets. However, if the assets are not sold or developed or if leased properties do not perform as presently contemplated, it is possible that additional impairment losses may be recognized that would have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s results of operations.

Realized Investment Gains and Losses

      Net realized investment gains were as follows:

                         
Years End December 31

2002 2001 2000



(in millions)
Equity securities
  $ 18     $ 2     $ (1 )
Fixed maturities
    16       (1 )     8  
Sale of AAU
                45  
     
     
     
 
Realized investment gains before tax
  $ 34     $ 1     $ 52  
     
     
     
 
Realized investment gains after tax
  $ 22     $ 1     $ 34  
     
     
     
 

      Decisions to sell securities are governed principally by considerations of investment opportunities and tax consequences. As a result, realized investment gains and losses on the sale of investments may vary significantly from year to year. A primary reason for the sale of fixed maturities in each of the last three years has been to improve our after-tax portfolio return without sacrificing quality where market opportunities have existed to do so.

      We regularly review the value of our invested assets for other than temporary impairment. In evaluating whether a decline in value is other than temporary, we consider various factors including the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than the cost, the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer, whether the debtor is current on contractually obligated interest and principal payments, and our intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow us to recover our cost. If a decline in the fair value of an individual security is deemed to be other than temporary, the difference between cost and estimated fair value is charged to income as a realized investment loss.

      In 2002, net realized gains on the sale of equities of $85 million were partially offset by writedowns of $67 million due to the recognition of other than temporary impairment on certain securities. Net realized gains on the sale of fixed maturities of $62 million were reduced by other than temporary impairment writedowns of $46 million. In 2001, realized gains on sales of equity securities and fixed maturities of $46 million and $34 million, respectively, were substantially offset by other than temporary impairment writedowns on certain securities. The increase in writedowns in 2002 and 2001 was due to credit deterioration and corporate failures, particularly in the telecommunications and, to a lesser extent, energy-related industries.

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Income Taxes

      We establish deferred income taxes on the undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries. Similarly, we establish deferred tax assets related to the expected future U.S. tax benefit of losses and foreign taxes incurred by our foreign subsidiaries. In the last three years, Chubb Insurance Company of Europe (Chubb Europe) has incurred substantial losses. These losses were the result of underwriting losses due to inadequate prices and adverse claim trends, particularly for directors and officers liability and errors and omissions liability coverages.

      At December 31, 2002 and 2001, we recorded a deferred income tax asset of $140 million and $90 million, respectively, related to the expected future U.S. tax benefit of the losses and foreign taxes incurred by Chubb Europe. To evaluate the realization of these deferred tax assets, management must consider whether it is more likely than not that Chubb Europe will generate sufficient taxable income to realize the future tax benefit of the deferred tax assets. Management’s judgment is based on its assessment of business plans and related projections of future taxable income that reflect assumptions about increased premium volume, higher rates and improved policy terms as well as available tax planning strategies.

      Results in Chubb Europe in 2002 were less favorable than we anticipated due to the deteriorating claim trends. While the tax loss carryforwards and foreign tax credits have no expiration and we expect to generate sufficient taxable income to realize these benefits in the future, we are required under generally accepted accounting principles to consider a relatively near term horizon when we evaluate the likelihood of realizing future tax benefits. During the fourth quarter of 2002, we established a valuation allowance of $40 million for the portion of these assets that we cannot recognize for accounting purposes due to this limitation. If our estimates of future taxable income in Chubb Europe were revised upward or downward, we would need to adjust the valuation allowance accordingly. The effect on the Corporation’s results of operations could be significant.

Invested Assets

      The main objectives in managing our investment portfolios are to maximize after-tax investment income and total investment returns while minimizing credit risks in order to provide maximum support to the insurance underwriting operations. Investment strategies are developed based on many factors including underwriting results and our resulting tax position, regulatory requirements, fluctuations in interest rates and consideration of other market risks. Investment decisions are centrally managed by investment professionals based on guidelines established by management and approved by the boards of directors.

      Our investment portfolio is primarily comprised of high quality bonds, principally tax-exempt, U.S. Treasury, government agency, mortgage-backed securities and corporate issues. In addition, the portfolio includes equity securities held primarily with the objective of capital a