Edgar Filing: AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LTD

Form 10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2008

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number 001-31721

AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

BERMUDA

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

98-0395986

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

92 Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke, Bermuda HM 08

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

(441) 496-2600

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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 such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer x Accelerated filer ¨ Non-accelerated filer ¨ Smaller reporting company ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No x

As of August 1, 2008 there were 144,925,025 Common Shares, $0.0125 par value per share, of the registrant outstanding.

AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q


		Page
	PART I

	Financial Information	3

Item 1.	Consolidated Financial Statements	4

Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	26

Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	52

Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	53

	PART II

	Other Information	54

Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	54

Item 1A.	Risk Factors	54

Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	55

Item 4.	Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders	56

Item 6.	Exhibits	57

	Signatures	58

PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-looking Statements

This quarterly report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. We intend these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in the United States securities laws. In some cases, these statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “plan,” “believe,” “predict,” “potential” and “intend”. Forward-looking statements contained in this report may include information regarding our estimates of losses related to hurricanes and other catastrophes, our expectations regarding pricing and other market conditions, our growth prospects, the amount of our acquisition costs, the amount of our net losses and loss reserves, the projected amount of our capital expenditures, managing interest rate and foreign currency risks, valuations of potential interest rate shifts and foreign currency rate changes and measurements of potential losses in fair market values of our investment portfolio. Forward-looking statements only reflect our expectations and are not guarantees of performance.

These statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements. We believe that these factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

•

the occurrence of natural and man-made disasters,

•

actual claims exceeding our loss reserves,

•

the failure of any of the loss limitation methods we employ,

•

the effects of emerging claims and coverage issues,

•

the failure of our cedants to adequately evaluate risks,

•

the loss of one or more key executives,

•

a decline in our ratings with rating agencies,

•

loss of business provided to us by our major brokers,

•

changes in accounting policies or practices,

•

changes in governmental regulations,

•

increased competition,

•

changes in the political environment of certain countries in which we operate or underwrite business,

•

interest rate and/or currency value fluctuations,

•

general economic conditions, and

•

the other matters set forth under Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

ITEM 1.

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


		Page

Consolidated Balance Sheets as at June 30, 2008 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2007		5

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 (Unaudited)		6

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 (Unaudited)		7

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 (Unaudited)		8

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 (Unaudited)		9

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)		10

AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

JUNE 30, 2008 (UNAUDITED) AND DECEMBER 31, 2007


(in thousands)	2008			2007
Assets
Investments:
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost 2008: $8,835,014; 2007: $8,301,528)	$	8,703,346		$	8,331,666
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value (cost 2008: $268,492; 2007:$10,850)		247,845			7,746
Other investments, at fair value		724,239			638,241

Total investments		9,675,430			8,977,653
Cash and cash equivalents		1,094,429			1,332,921
Accrued interest receivable		89,261			87,338
Insurance and reinsurance premium balances receivable		1,652,295			1,231,494
Reinsurance recoverable balances		1,340,452			1,280,295
Reinsurance recoverable balances on paid losses		82,677			76,598
Deferred acquisition costs		355,587			276,801
Prepaid reinsurance premiums		263,461			242,940
Securities lending collateral		813,737			865,256
Net receivable for investments sold		-			86,356
Goodwill and intangible assets		61,035			61,653
Other assets		178,025			156,004

Total assets	$	15,606,389		$	14,675,309


Liabilities
Reserve for losses and loss expenses	$	5,995,731		$	5,587,311
Unearned premiums		2,603,676			2,146,087
Insurance and reinsurance balances payable		249,710			244,988
Securities lending payable		812,833			863,906
Senior notes		499,315			499,261
Other liabilities		144,689			175,134
Net payable for investments purchased		37,273			-

Total liabilities		10,343,227			9,516,687


*Commitments and Contingencies*

Shareholders’ equity
Preferred shares - Series A and B		500,000			500,000
Common shares (2008: 139,653; 2007: 142,520)		1,877			1,850
Additional paid-in capital		1,922,356			1,869,810
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income		(150,721	)		22,668
Retained earnings		3,377,051			2,968,900
Treasury shares, at cost (2008: 10,676; 2007: 5,466)		(387,401	)		(204,606	)

Total shareholders’ equity		5,263,162			5,158,622

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	15,606,389		$	14,675,309

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 AND 2007


	Three months ended						Six months ended
	2008			2007			2008			2007
	(in thousands, except for per share amounts)
Revenues
Net premiums earned	$	680,291		$	693,941		$	1,338,925		$	1,379,245
Net investment income		137,015			113,685			222,666			238,965
Net realized investment gains (losses)		1,552			(4,656	)		37,237			(4,356	)
Other insurance related (loss) income		(7,269	)		693			(5,267	)		2,633

Total revenues		811,589			803,663			1,593,561			1,616,487

Expenses
Net losses and loss expenses		371,717			358,723			733,398			751,521
Acquisition costs		97,780			95,745			192,260			193,884
General and administrative expenses		82,953			68,574			161,703			131,180
Foreign exchange losses (gains)		6,564			(6,883	)		(13,733	)		(9,274	)
Interest expense and financing costs		7,890			14,169			15,848			29,312

Total expenses		566,904			530,328			1,089,476			1,096,623


Income before income taxes		244,685			273,335			504,085			519,864
Income tax expense		4,199			12,519			16,658			22,266

Net income		240,486			260,816			487,427			497,598

Preferred share dividends		9,219			9,226			18,438			18,430

Net income available to common shareholders	$	231,267		$	251,590		$	468,989		$	479,168


Weighted average common shares and common share equivalents:
Basic		142,333			149,027			142,786			149,727

Diluted		157,602			166,320			158,893			166,175


Earnings per common share:
Basic	$	1.62		$	1.69		$	3.28		$	3.20

Diluted	$	1.47		$	1.51		$	2.95		$	2.88


Cash dividends declared per common share	$	0.185		$	0.165		$	0.37		$	0.33

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)

FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 AND 2007


	Three months ended						Six months ended
	2008			2007			2008			2007
	(in thousands)
Net income	$	240,486		$	260,816		$	487,427		$	497,598
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
Change in unrecognized prior service cost on the supplemental executive retirement plans (SERPs)		562			562			1,125			1,125
Unrealized losses arising during the period		(148,491	)		(90,202	)		(138,997	)		(67,694	)
Adjustment for re-classification of investment (gains) losses realized in net income		(2,688	)		5,072			(35,517	)		4,514

Comprehensive income	$	89,869		$	176,248		$	314,038		$	435,543

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 AND 2007


	2008			2007
	(in thousands)
Common shares (shares outstanding)
Balance at beginning of period		142,520			149,982
Shares issued		2,343			643
Shares repurchased for treasury		(5,210	)		(1	)
Shares repurchased and cancelled		-			(2,700	)

Balance at end of period		139,653			147,924


Preferred shares - Series A and B
Balance at beginning and end of period	$	500,000		$	500,000


Common shares (par value)
Balance at beginning of period		1,850			1,875
Shares issued		27			8
Shares repurchased and cancelled		-			(34	)

Balance at end of period		1,877			1,849


Additional paid-in capital
Balance at beginning of period		1,869,810			1,929,406
Shares issued		2,329			1,282
Shares repurchased and cancelled		-			(103,431	)
Stock options exercised		21,142			6,333
Share-based compensation expense		29,075			16,457

Balance at end of period		1,922,356			1,850,047


Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Balance at beginning of period		22,668			(44,638	)
Unrealized depreciation on fixed maturities and equities		(179,427	)		(63,153	)
Amortization of prior service cost on the SERPs		1,125			1,125
Change in deferred taxes		4,913			(27	)

Balance at end of period		(150,721	)		(106,693	)


Retained earnings
Balance at beginning of period		2,968,900			2,026,004
Net income		487,427			497,598
Series A and B preferred share dividends		(18,438	)		(18,430	)
Common share dividends		(60,838	)		(56,461	)

Balance at end of period		3,377,051			2,448,711


Treasury shares, at cost
Balance at beginning of period		(204,606	)		-
Shares repurchased for treasury		(182,795	)		(32	)

Balance at end of period		(387,401	)		(32	)


Total shareholders’ equity	$	5,263,162		$	4,693,882

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 AND 2007


	2008			2007
	(in thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	487,427		$	497,598
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net realized investment (gains) losses		(37,237	)		4,356
Net unrealized losses (gains) of other investments		34,888			(24,474	)
Amortization/accretion of fixed maturities		1,331			4,423
Other amortization and depreciation		5,603			4,866
Share-based compensation expense		29,075			16,457
Changes in:
Accrued interest receivable		(1,923	)		(5,184	)
Reinsurance recoverable balances		(66,236	)		21,443
Deferred acquisition costs		(78,786	)		(94,519	)
Prepaid reinsurance premiums		(20,521	)		(17,653	)
Reserve for loss and loss expenses		408,420			344,951
Unearned premiums		457,589			533,187
Insurance and reinsurance balances, net		(416,079	)		(522,497	)
Other items		(64,536	)		(47,634	)

Net cash provided by operating activities		739,015			715,320


Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of fixed maturities		(5,043,455	)		(3,715,332	)
Sales and maturities of fixed maturities		4,636,109			3,016,094
Purchases of equity securities		(262,863	)		-
Sales of equity securities		38,538			-
Purchases of other investments		(130,500	)		(40,250	)
Sales of other investments		9,615			87,479
Purchases of assets		(5,605	)		(33,725	)
Other		-			(22,118	)

Net cash used in investing activities		(758,161	)		(707,852	)


Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchase of shares		(182,795	)		(103,497	)
Dividends paid - common shares		(54,784	)		(56,414	)
Dividends paid - preferred shares		(18,430	)		(18,430	)
Proceeds from issuance of common shares		23,498			7,623

Net cash used in financing activities		(232,511	)		(170,718	)


Effect of exchange rate changes on foreign currency cash		13,165			11,638

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(238,492	)		(151,612	)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period		1,332,921			1,989,287

Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	$	1,094,429		$	1,837,675

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

1.	BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

Our consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2008 and the consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 have not been audited. The balance sheet at December 31, 2007 is derived from the audited financial statements.

These statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position and results of operations as at the end of and for the periods presented. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results for a full year. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated. In these notes, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company” refer to AXIS Capital Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries.

The following information is unaudited and should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation. Tabular dollars and share amounts are in thousands, except per share amounts.

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

The terms “FAS” and “FASB” used in these notes refer to Statements of Financial Accounting Standards issued by the United States Financial Accounting Standards Board.

(a) Fair Value Measurement

We adopted FAS 157, Fair Value Measurements (“FAS 157”), effective January 1, 2008. Under this standard, fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e. the “exit price”) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

In determining fair value, we use various valuation approaches, including market and income approaches. FAS 157 establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. The hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on the reliability of inputs as follows:

•

Level 1—Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that we have the ability to access. Valuation adjustments and block discounts are not applied to Level 1 instruments. Since valuations are based on quoted prices that are readily and regularly available in an active market, valuation of these products does not entail a significant degree of judgment.

Examples of assets and liabilities utilizing Level 1 inputs include: exchange-traded equity securities and listed derivatives that are actively traded.

AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

1.	BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

•

Level 2—Valuations based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which significant inputs are observable (e.g. interest rates, yield curves, prepayment speeds, default rates, loss severities, etc.) or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Examples of assets and liabilities utilizing Level 2 inputs include: exchange-traded equity securities and listed derivatives that are not actively traded; U.S. government and agency securities; non-U.S. government obligations; corporate and municipal bonds; mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) and asset-backed securities (“ABS”); and over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives (e.g. foreign currency options and forward contracts).

•

Level 3—Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement. The unobservable inputs reflect our own assumptions about assumptions that market participants might use.

Examples of assets and liabilities utilizing Level 3 inputs include: insurance and reinsurance derivative contracts; hedge funds with partial transparency; and collateralized loan obligation (“CLO”) – equity tranche securities, credit funds and short duration high yield funds that are traded in less liquid markets.

The availability of observable inputs can vary from financial instrument to financial instrument and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including, for example, the type of financial instrument, whether the financial instrument is new and not yet established in the marketplace, and other characteristics particular to the transaction. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires significantly more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by management in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. We use prices and inputs that are current as of the measurement date, including during periods of market dislocation. In periods of market dislocation, the observability of prices and inputs may be reduced for many instruments. This condition could cause an instrument to be reclassified between levels.

The adoption of FAS 157 did not result in any cumulative-effect adjustment to our beginning retained earnings at January 1, 2008, or any material impact on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity. In February 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 157-2, Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157 (“FSP FAS 157-2”), which permits a one-year deferral of the application of FAS 157 for all non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). Accordingly, we have also adopted FSP FAS 157-2 effective January 1, 2008, FAS 157 will not be applied to our goodwill and other intangible assets measured annually for impairment testing purposes only. We will adopt FAS 157 for non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities on January 1, 2009. We do not anticipate this adoption will have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

(b) Fair Value Option

FAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“FAS 159”), became effective on January 1, 2008. Under this standard, an entity is permitted to irrevocably elect fair value on a contract-by-contract basis as the initial and subsequent measurement attribute for many financial instruments and certain other items including insurance contracts. We did not elect the fair value option for our available for sale investments and therefore future changes in unrealized gains and losses on these investments, net of tax, will continue to be reported through accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in our shareholders’ equity. Accordingly, FAS 159 did not have an impact on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

1.	BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

(a) Business Combinations and Non-controlling Interests

In December 2007, the FASB issued FAS No. 141(R), Business Combinations (“FAS 141(R)”) and FAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—an amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51 (“FAS 160”). SFAS 141(R) requires the acquiring entity in a business combination to recognize the full fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the transaction (whether a full or partial acquisition); establishes the acquisition-date fair value as the measurement objective for all assets acquired and liabilities assumed; requires expensing of most transaction and restructuring costs; and requires the acquirer to provide additional disclosures on the nature and financial effect of the business combination. FAS 141(R) applies to all transactions or other events in which the acquirer obtains control of one or more businesses, even if control is not obtained by purchasing equity interests or net assets. FAS 160 requires reporting entities to present noncontrolling (minority) interests as equity (as opposed to as a liability or mezzanine equity) and provides guidance on the accounting for transactions between an entity and noncontrolling interests. Both FAS 141(R) and FAS 160 apply prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after December 15, 2008, except for the presentation and disclosure requirements of FAS 160 which will be applied retrospectively for all periods presented.

(b) Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

In March 2008, the FASB issued FAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 (“FAS 161”). This Statement expands the disclosure requirements of FAS 133 and requires the reporting entity to provide enhanced disclosures about the objectives and strategies for using derivative instruments, quantitative disclosures about fair values and amounts of gains and losses on derivative contracts, and credit-risk related contingent features in derivative agreements. FAS 161 will be effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years. As FAS 161 requires only additional disclosures concerning derivatives and hedging activities, its adoption will not affect our results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

c) Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts

On May 23, 2008, the FASB issued FAS No. 163, Accounting for Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts (“FAS 163”). This new standard clarifies how FAS No. 60, Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises, applies to financial guarantee insurance contracts issued by insurance enterprises, including the recognition and measurement of premium revenue and claim liabilities. It also requires expanded disclosures about financial guarantee insurance contracts. FAS 163 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and all interim periods within those fiscal years, except for disclosures about the insurance enterprise’s risk-management activities, which are effective the first period (including interim periods) beginning after May 23, 2008. Except for the required disclosures, earlier application is not permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of FAS 163 on our financial condition and results of operations.

AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

2.	SEGMENT INFORMATION

Our underwriting operations are organized around our two global underwriting platforms, AXIS Insurance and AXIS Re and therefore we have determined that we have two reportable segments, insurance and reinsurance. Except for goodwill and intangible assets, we do not allocate our assets by segment as we evaluate the underwriting results of each segment separately from the results of our investment portfolio.

Insurance

Our insurance segment offers specialty insurance products to a variety of niche markets on a global basis. The following are the lines of business in our insurance segment:

•

Property: provides physical damage and business interruption coverage primarily for industrial and commercial properties and physical damage, business interruption and liability coverage for onshore energy properties and operations. The book consists of both primary and excess risks, some of which are catastrophe-exposed.

•

Marine: provides coverage for hull, liability, cargo and specie and recreational marine risks. These risks include property damage or physical loss to ships, pollution damage caused by vessels on a sudden and accidental basis, protection for general cargo and the contents of armored cars, vaults, exhibitions and museums, and specific war related risks. This line of business also provides physical damage, business interruption and liability coverage for offshore energy property and operations.

•

Terrorism: provides coverage for physical damage and business interruption of an insured following an act of terrorism.

•

Aviation: includes hull and liability and specific war coverage for passenger and cargo airlines and privately owned aircraft as well as select aviation product liability coverage.

•

Political risk: provides protection against sovereign default or sovereign actions that result in the impairment of cross-border investments for banks and major corporations. This book also provides sovereign and corporate credit insurance within emerging markets, where lenders seek to mitigate the risk of non-payment from their borrowers.

•

Professional lines: includes coverage for directors’ and officers’ liability, errors and omissions liability, employment practices liability, media, cyber, technology and miscellaneous professional liability coverage.

•

Liability: primarily targets general liability and umbrella and excess liability in the U.S. excess and surplus lines markets. Target classes include mercantile, manufacturing and building/premises, with particular emphasis on commercial and consumer products, commercial construction and miscellaneous general liability.

•

Other: primarily includes employee medical coverage for self-insured, small and medium sized employers for losses in excess of a retention.

AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

2.	SEGMENT INFORMATION (CONTINUED)

Reinsurance

Our reinsurance segment provides treaty and facultative property and casualty reinsurance to insurance companies on a worldwide basis. The following are the lines of business in our reinsurance segment:

•

Catastrophe: provides protection for most catastrophic losses that are covered in the underlying insurance policies written by our ceding company clients. The exposure in the underlying policies is principally property exposure but also covers other exposures including workers compensation, personal accident and life. The principal perils in this portfolio are hurricane and windstorm, earthquake, flood, tornado, hail and fire. In some instances, terrorism may be a covered peril or the only peril. We underwrite catastrophe reinsurance principally on an excess of loss basis, meaning that our exposure only arises when our customers’ claims exceed a certain retained amount.

•

Property: includes reinsurance written on both a pro rata and a per risk basis and covers underlying personal lines and commercial property exposures. Property pro rata treaty reinsurance covers a cedent’s aggregate losses from all events in the covered period on a proportional basis. Property per risk treaty reinsurance reinsures a portfolio of particular property risks of ceding companies on an excess of loss basis.

•

Professional Liability: covers directors’ and officers’ liability, employment practices liability, medical malpractice and miscellaneous errors and omissions insurance risks.

•

Credit and Bond: consists principally of reinsurance of trade credit insurance products and includes both proportional and excess-of loss structures. The underlying insurance indemnifies sellers of goods and services against a payment default by the buyer of those goods and services. Also included in this book is coverage for ceding insurers against losses arising from a broad array of surety bonds issued by bond insurers principally to satisfy regulatory demands in a variety of jurisdictions around the world, but predominantly in Europe.

•

Motor: provides coverage to insurers for motor liability losses arising out of any one occurrence. The occurrence can involve one or many claimants where the ceding insurer aggregates the claims from the occurrence.

•

Liability: provides coverage to insurers of standard casualty lines, including auto liability, general liability, personal and commercial umbrella and workers’ compensation.

•

Engineering: provides coverage for all types of civil construction risks and risks associated with erection, testing and commissioning of machinery and plants during the construction stage. This line of business also includes operational risks for machinery, plant and equipment, electronic equipment and business interruption. We write engineering business on a proportional and non-proportional treaty basis as well as on a facultative basis.

•

Other: includes aviation, marine, personal accident and crop reinsurance.

AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

2.	SEGMENT INFORMATION (CONTINUED)

The following table summarizes the underwriting results of our operating segments for the periods indicated and the carrying values of goodwill and intangible assets as at June 30, 2008 and 2007:


	2008						2007
Three months ended June 30,	Insurance		Reinsurance		Total		Insurance		Reinsurance		Total
Gross premiums written	$	555,464	$	318,705	$	874,169	$	612,671	$	346,707	$	959,378
Net premiums written		365,511		318,705		684,216		406,885		348,457		755,342
Net premiums earned		297,429		382,862		680,291		298,245		395,696		693,941
Other insurance related (loss) income		(7,509)		240		(7,269)		360		333		693
Net losses and loss expenses		(159,696)		(212,021)		(371,717)		(133,568)		(225,155)		(358,723)
Acquisition costs		(31,120)		(66,660)		(97,780)		(27,442)		(68,303)		(95,745)
General and administrative expenses		(48,141)		(17,077)		(65,218)		(39,167)		(15,223)		(54,390)

Underwriting income	$	50,963	$	87,344		138,307	$	98,428	$	87,348		185,776

Corporate expenses						(17,735)						(14,184)
Net investment income						137,015						113,685
Net realized investment gains (losses)						1,552						(4,656)
Foreign exchange (losses) gains						(6,564)						6,883
Interest expense and financing costs						(7,890)						(14,169)

Income before income taxes					$	244,685					$	273,335


Net loss and loss expense ratio		53.7%		55.4%		54.6%		44.8%		56.9%		51.7%
Acquisition cost ratio		10.4%		17.4%		14.4%		9.2%		17.3%		13.8%
General and administrative expense ratio		16.2%		4.5%		12.2%		13.1%		3.8%		9.9%

Combined ratio		80.3%		77.3%		81.2%		67.1%		78.0%		75.4%


Goodwill and intangible assets	$	61,035	$	-	$	61,035	$	62,511	$	-	$	62,511

AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

2.	SEGMENT INFORMATION (CONTINUED)


	2008						2007
Six months ended June 30,	Insurance		Reinsurance		Total		Insurance		Reinsurance		Total
Gross premiums written	$	990,321	$	1,148,029	$	2,138,350	$	1,049,159	$	1,212,842	$	2,262,001
Net premiums written		637,243		1,138,748		1,775,991		688,931		1,205,769		1,894,700
Net premiums earned		596,986		741,939		1,338,925		613,177		766,068		1,379,245
Other insurance related (loss) income		(6,322)		1,055		(5,267)		1,127		1,506		2,633
Net losses and loss expenses		(319,146)		(414,252)		(733,398)		(319,520)		(432,001)		(751,521)
Acquisition costs		(62,834)		(129,426)		(192,260)		(62,791)		(131,093)		(193,884)
General and administrative expenses		(95,960)		(34,447)		(130,407)		(74,690)		(29,966)		(104,656)

Underwriting income	$	112,724	$	164,869		277,593	$	157,303	$	174,514		331,817


Corporate expenses						(31,296)						(26,524)
Net investment income						222,666						238,965
Net realized investment gains (losses)						37,237						(4,356)
Foreign exchange gains						13,733						9,274
Interest expense and financing costs						(15,848)						(29,312)

Income before income taxes					$	504,085					$	519,864


Net loss and loss expense ratio		53.5%		55.8%		54.8%		52.1%		56.4%		54.5%
Acquisition cost ratio		10.5%		17.5%		14.3%		10.2%		17.1%		14.1%
General and administrative expense ratio		16.1%		4.6%		12.1%		12.2%		3.9%		9.5%

Combined ratio		80.1%		77.9%		81.2%		74.5%		77.4%		78.1%


Goodwill and intangible assets	$	61,035	$	-	$	61,035	$	62,511	$	-	$	62,511

AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

3.	INVESTMENTS

a)	Fixed Maturities

The following tables summarize the fixed maturities in an unrealized loss position and the aggregate fair value and gross unrealized loss by length of time the security has continuously been in an unrealized loss position:



As at June 30, 2008	12 months or greater					Less than 12 months					Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Value		Unrealized Losses
U.S. government and agency	$	-	$	-		$	620,536	$	(9,275	)	$	620,536	$	(9,275	)
Non-U.S. government		-		-			85,375		(3,468	)		85,375		(3,468	)
Corporate		125,549		(14,080	)		1,317,898		(97,917	)		1,443,447		(111,997	)
Mortgage-backed		348,692		(16,943	)		1,970,335		(49,259	)		2,319,027		(66,202	)
Asset-backed		51,723		(5,491	)		152,110		(4,784	)		203,833		(10,275	)
Municipals		478		(4	)		180,439		(2,494	)		180,917		(2,498	)

Total	$	526,442	$	(36,518	)	$	4,326,693	$	(167,197	)	$	4,853,135	$	(203,715	)



As at December 31, 2007	12 months or greater					Less than 12 months					Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Value		Unrealized Losses
U.S. government and agency	$	67,131	$	(169	)	$	7,304	$	(18	)	$	74,435	$	(187	)
Non-U.S. government		-		-			87,214		(4,244	)		87,214		(4,244	)
Corporate		188,901		(4,391	)		776,234		(56,296	)		965,135		(60,687	)
Mortgage-backed		1,064,646		(13,100	)		241,920		(2,204	)		1,306,566		(15,304	)
Asset-backed		68,959		(1,391	)		132,735		(6,754	)		201,694		(8,145	)
Municipals		32,053		(150	)		50,782		(87	)		82,835		(237	)

Total	$	1,421,690	$	(19,201	)	$	1,296,189	$	(69,603	)	$	2,717,879	$	(88,804	)

At June 30, 2008, 1,894 securities (2007: 1,440) were in an unrealized loss position with a fair value of $4,853 million (2007: $2,718 million) of which 372 securities (2007: 1,065) have been in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or greater and have a fair value of $526 million (2007: $1,422 million). The unrealized losses from these securities were primarily as a result of interest rates movements. In the first six months of 2008, we recorded an impairment charge of $16 million (2007: $2 million) relating to 26 securities (2007: 8) that we determined to be other than temporarily impaired which were included in net realized investment gains (losses) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

3.	INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

b)	Equity Securities

Equity securities include common stock and non-redeemable preferred stock of publicly traded companies. The cost and fair value of our equity securities at June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 are as follows:


As at June 30, 2008	Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value

Type of Investment
Common stocks	$	143,867	$	2,674	$	(16,338	)	$	130,203
Non-redeemable preferred stocks		124,625		624		(7,607	)		117,642

Total	$	268,492	$	3,298	$	(23,945	)	$	247,845

As at December 31, 2007

Cost

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

Fair
Value

Type of Investment

Common stocks

10,850

(3,104

)

7,746

c)	Other Investments

The table below provides breakdown of our portfolio of other investments:



	June 30, 2008			December 31, 2007

Hedge funds	$	338,675	47%	$	277,757	44%
Credit funds		224,443	31%		194,241	30%
CLO - equity tranches		114,570	16%		120,596	19%
Short duration high yield fund		46,551	6%		45,647	7%

Total other investments	$	724,239	100%	$	638,241	100%

AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

3.	INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

d)	Net Investment Income

Net investment income was derived from the following sources:


	Three months ended June 30,						Six months ended June 30,
	2008			2007			2008			2007
Fixed maturities and cash equivalents	$	116,929		$	113,525		$	240,632		$	216,229
Other investments		19,883			3,358			(15,807	)		28,670
Equity securities		3,179			-			3,179			-

Gross investment income		139,991			116,883			228,004			244,899
Investment expenses		(2,976	)		(3,198	)		(5,338	)		(5,934	)

Net investment income	$	137,015		$	113,685		$	222,666		$	238,965

The following provides an analysis of gross realized gains/losses and the change in unrealized gains/losses on available for sale investments included within accumulated other comprehensive loss:


	Three months ended June 30,						Six months ended June 30,
	2008			2007			2008			2007
Gross realized gains	$	11,814		$	1,047		$	74,935		$	7,692
Gross realized losses		(10,348	)		(6,214	)		(37,347	)		(12,477	)

Net realized gains (losses) on fixed maturities		1,466			(5,167	)		37,588			(4,785	)
Changes in fair values of investments derivatives		86			511			(351	)		429

Net realized investment gains (losses) on investments	$	1,552		$	(4,656	)	$	37,237		$	(4,356	)


Change in unrealized losses on available for sale investments	$	(151,279	)	$	(85,866	)	$	(179,427	)	$	(63,153	)

AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

4.	FAIR VALUE

a)	Fair Value Hierarchy

At June 30, 2008, we classified our financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the following valuation hierarchy:


	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total Fair Value

Assets
Fixed maturities	$	-	$	8,703,346	$	-	$	8,703,346
Equity securities		247,845		-		-		247,845
Other investments		-		46,551		677,688		724,239

Total	$	247,845	$	8,749,897	$	677,688	$	9,675,430


Liabilities
Derivative liabilities	$	-	$	750	$	23,790	$	24,540

b)	Level 3 Financial Instruments

The following table presents changes in Level 3 for our financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the three months ended June 30, 2008:


	Other Investments			Derivative Liability

Balance as at April 1, 2008	$	600,897		$	16,346
Change in net unrealized gains/losses		12,869			7,444
Net purchases, sales, and distributions		63,923			-
Net transfers in (out of) of Level 3		-			-

Balance as at June 30, 2008	$	677,689		$	23,790


Change in net unrealized gains/losses relating to financial instruments held at reporting date	$	12,869	⁽¹⁾	$	7,444	⁽²⁾

⁽¹⁾Included in net investment income

⁽²⁾Included in other insurance related (loss) income

AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

4.	FAIR VALUE (CONTINUED)

The following table presents changes in Level 3 for our financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the six months ended June 30, 2008:


		Other Investments			Derivative Liability

Balance as at January 1, 2008	$	592,593		$	16,346
Change in net unrealized gains/losses		(29,764	)		7,444
Net purchases, sales, and distributions		114,860			-
Net transfers in (out of) of Level 3		-			-

Balance as at June 30, 2008	$	677,689		$	23,790


Change in net unrealized (losses) gains relating to financial instruments held at reporting date	$	(29,764	)⁽¹⁾	$	7,444	⁽²⁾

⁽¹⁾Included in net investment income

⁽²⁾Included in other insurance related (loss) income

Other Investments

Hedge funds, credit funds and equity tranches of CLOs are included within Level 3. The fair value for hedge funds and credit funds are based on the most recently published net asset value as advised by the external fund manager or third party administrator. For these funds we do not have full access to the underlying investment holdings to enable us to corroborate the fair value measurement used by the fund managers. However, we regularly review performance directly with the fund managers and perform qualitative analysis to corroborate the reasonabless of the published net asset values.

Observable equity tranche CLO trades in the secondary markets are infrequent, particularly given the dislocation in the current credit markets. Accordingly, because we were unable to corroborate non-binding quotes from brokers with observable market data, we continue to use a valuation model which includes inputs such as industry default rates, collateral spreads, and prepayments.

Derivative Liability

We classified our insurance derivative contract with longevity risk exposure within Level 3 as the inputs used in our valuation model include significant unobservable inputs. The most significant unobservable input used in this model is the margin that a market participant would require for insuring a $400 million note collateralized by a portfolio of life settlements comprising less than 200 insured individuals. We exercised significant judgment in determining a fair value for this derivative instrument.

AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

5.	RESERVE FOR LOSSES AND LOSS EXPENSES

The following table shows a reconciliation of our beginning and ending gross unpaid losses and loss expenses for the periods indicated:



Six months ended June 30,	2008			2007
Gross unpaid losses and loss expenses at beginning of period	$	5,587,311		$	5,015,113
Less reinsurance recoverable balances at beginning of period		(1,356,893	)		(1,359,154	)

Net losses and loss expense reserves at beginning of period		4,230,418			3,655,959

Net incurred losses related to:
Current year		908,253			914,305
Prior years		(174,855	)		(162,784	)

		733,398			751,521

Net paid losses related to:
Current year		(57,385	)		(36,771	)
Prior years		(350,832	)		(359,890	)

		(408,217	)		(396,661	)

Foreign exchange loss		17,003			11,534

Net losses and loss expense reserves at end of period		4,572,602			4,022,353
Reinsurance recoverable balances at end of period		1,423,129			1,337,711

Gross unpaid losses and loss expenses at end of period	$	5,995,731		$	5,360,064

Net losses and loss expenses incurred includes net favorable prior period reserve development of $175 million and $163 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Prior period development arises from changes to loss estimates recognized in the current year that relate to losses incurred in previous calendar years. The following table summarizes net favorable reserve development by segment:



Six months ended June 30,	2008		2007
Insurance	$	100,686	$	84,541
Reinsurance		74,169		78,243

Total	$	174,855	$	162,784

The first six months of 2008 included favorable development of $60 million from the political risk line of business of our insurance segment, to recognize both the absence of reported losses on the sovereign and corporate credit products within the line and the lower likelihood of future reported losses emanating from our traditional political risk coverage from accident years 2004 and prior. We also refined the loss development profile on the sovereign and corporate credit portion of our book during the second quarter of 2008. Following an actuarial review, we began to use a more accelerated loss development profile.

The remaining net favorable development in both periods was predominately generated from our short tail insurance and reinsurance lines of business, and reflected the occurrence of fewer late reported claims than we originally anticipated in our reserving process. In addition to the many uncertainties inherent in our reserving process, the potential for deviation between expected and actual claims experience is often greater for a company like ours which relies more heavily upon industry based loss development profiles as a result of having a limited operating history. Given the inherent limitations of this, our estimate of ultimate losses in prior years have included a provision for reporting delays and other uncertainties specific to our business. This includes, for example, the inherent delays we expect to arise from obtaining loss information on high excess layers of business across our diverse worldwide exposures. Because late reporting has been less prevalent than we anticipated, our actual claims experience has been better than we projected.

AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

6.	STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Stock Options

The following is a summary of stock options outstanding and exercisable at June 30, 2008, and related activity for the six months ended:


	Number of Stock Options		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	Aggregate Intrinsic Value*
Outstanding - January 1, 2008	4,810		$	18.46
Granted	-			-
Exercised	(1,631	)		12.98
Forfeited	-			-

Outstanding - June 30, 2008	3,179		$	21.27	5.00 years	$	30,188

* The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value (the difference between our closing stock price on June 30, 2008, and the exercisable price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money-options) that would have been received by the stock option holders had all stock option holders exercised their stock options on June 30, 2008.

The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the first six months of 2008 and 2007 was $34 million and $4 million, respectively, and we received proceeds of $21 million and $6 million, respectively. At December 31, 2007, there was no remaining unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options and accordingly we incurred no related compensation costs during 2008.

The following table summarizes information about our stock options outstanding and exercisable at June 30, 2008:


Range of Exercise Prices	Number of Stock Options	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term
$12.50 - $13.75	930	$	12.61	3.55
$13.76 - $15.00	582		14.50	4.45
$15.01 - $16.25	29		16.25	5.00
$16.26 - $25.65	40		25.50	5.09
$25.66 - $29.62	1,598		28.77	6.05

Total	3,179	$	21.27	5.00

Restricted Stock

The following table provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance of nonvested restricted stock for six months ended June 30, 2008:


	Number of Shares		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Non-vested restricted stock - January 1, 2008	3,312		$	31.44
Granted	2,665			37.45
Vested	(773	)		29.81
Forfeited	(100	)		34.03

Non-vested restricted stock - June 30, 2008	5,104		$	34.77

AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

6.	STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)

During the three months ended June 30, 2008, we granted 1,106,480 restricted shares to employees, including 1,000,000 shares with a grant date fair value of $35.17 per share to our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) in connection with an amendment to his employment agreement. The grant made to our CEO will vest as follows: 500,000 shares on January 31, 2009; 166,667 shares on January 1, 2010; 166,667 shares on January 1, 2012; and 166,666 shares on January 1, 2013. We have elected the straight-line recognition method for awards subject to graded vesting based on a service condition.

For the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, we incurred compensation costs of $19 million and $9 million, respectively, in respect of restricted stock, and recorded tax benefits thereon of $3 million and $2 million, respectively. For the first six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, we incurred compensation costs of $29 million and $16 million, respectively, in respect of restricted stock, and recorded tax benefits thereon of $4 million and $3 million, respectively. The compensation costs incurred in 2008 include $2 million for modified grants and an additional charge for the acceleration of restricted shares vesting for certain employees that have reached retirement eligibility under our 2007 Plan.

The total fair value of shares vested during the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, was $7 million and negligible, respectively. At June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, there was $121 million and $47 million, respectively, of unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock awards, which is expected to be recognized over the weighted average period of 2.8 years.

During the first six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, we also realized additional tax benefits for certain vested restricted stocks and exercised stock options of $1 million. These excess tax benefits are included in our cash flows from financing activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

7.	EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

The following table sets forth the comparison of basic and diluted earnings per common share:


	Three months ended June 30,				Six months ended June 30,
	2008		2007		2008		2007
Basic earnings per common share
Net income available to common shareholders	$	231,267	$	251,590	$	468,989	$	479,168

Weighted average common shares outstanding		142,333		149,027		142,786		149,727

Basic earnings per common share	$	1.62	$	1.69	$	3.28	$	3.20


Diluted earnings per common share
Net income available to common shareholders	$	231,267	$	251,590	$	468,989	$	479,168

Weighted average common shares outstanding		142,333		149,027		142,786		149,727
Share equivalents:
Warrants		12,579		13,305		12,870		12,844
Restricted stock		1,496		1,505		1,511		1,265
Options		1,194		2,483		1,726		2,339

Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted		157,602		166,320		158,893		166,175

Diluted earnings per common share	$	1.47	$	1.51	$	2.95	$	2.88

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, there were 911,537 and 891,175 restricted shares, respectively, which would have resulted in the issuance of common shares that were excluded in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would be anti-dilutive. There were no such anti-dilutive restricted shares or options for the three or six months ended June 30, 2007.

AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

8.	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

a)	Legal Proceedings

Except as noted below, we are not a party to any material legal proceedings. From time to time, we are subject to routine legal proceedings, including arbitrations, arising in the ordinary course of business. These legal proceedings generally relate to claims asserted by or against us in the ordinary course of insurance or reinsurance operations. In our opinion, the eventual outcome of these legal proceedings is not expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

In 2005, a putative class action lawsuit was filed against our U.S. insurance subsidiaries. In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation was filed on August 15, 2005 in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and includes as defendants numerous insurance brokers and insurance companies. The lawsuit alleges antitrust and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”) violations in connection with the payment of contingent commissions and manipulation of insurance bids and seeks damages in an unspecified amount. On October 3, 2006, the District Court granted, in part, motions to dismiss filed by the defendants, and ordered plaintiffs to file supplemental pleadings setting forth sufficient facts to allege their antitrust and RICO claims. After plaintiffs filed their supplemental pleadings, defendants renewed their motions to dismiss. On April 15, 2007, the District Court dismissed without prejudice plaintiffs’ complaint, as amended, and granted plaintiffs thirty (30) days to file another amended complaint and/or revised RICO Statement and Statements of Particularity. In May 2007, plaintiffs filed (i) a Second Consolidated Amended Commercial Class Action complaint, (ii) a Revised Particularized Statement Describing the Horizontal Conspiracies Alleged in the Second Consolidated Amended Commercial Class Action Complaint, and (iii) a Third Amended Commercial Insurance Plaintiffs’ RICO Case Statement Pursuant to Local Rule 16.1(B)(4). On June 21, 2007, the defendants filed renewed motions to dismiss. On September 28, 2007, the District Court dismissed with prejudice plaintiffs’ antitrust and RICO claims and declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over plaintiffs’ remaining state law claims. Plaintiffs have appealed this decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, where their appeal is currently pending. We believe that the lawsuit is completely without merit and we continue to vigorously defend the filed action.

b)	Dividends for Common Shares and Preferred Shares

On May 9, 2008 the Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.185 per common share to shareholders of record at June 30, 2008 and payable on July 15, 2008. The Board of Directors also declared a dividend of $0.453125 per Series A 7.25% Preferred Share and a dividend of $1.875 per Series B 7.5% Preferred Share. The Series A Preferred Share dividend is payable on July 15, 2008, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 30, 2008 and the Series B Preferred Share dividend is payable on September 2, 2008, to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 15, 2008.

c)	Reinsurance Purchase Commitment

During the second quarter of 2008, we purchased reinsurance coverage for our insurance lines of business. The minimum reinsurance premiums are contractually due on a quarterly basis in advance. Accordingly at June 30, 2008, we have an outstanding reinsurance purchase commitment of $141 million.

9.	SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, we repurchased in the open market 5,009,195 shares at an average price of $34.96 per share, for a total cost of $175 million. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, we repurchased 201,081 common shares from employees for $8 million to satisfy withholding tax liabilities upon the vesting of restricted stock awards and the exercise of stock options. These share repurchases are held in treasury.

ITEM 2.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following is a discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations. This should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Item 1 of this report and also our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. Tabular dollars are in thousands, except per share amounts. Amounts in tables may not reconcile due to rounding differences.

FINANCIAL MEASURES

We believe the following financial indicators are important in evaluating our performance and measuring the overall growth in value generated for our common shareholders:

Return on average common equity (“ROACE”): ROACE represents the level of net income available to common shareholders generated from the average of the opening and closing common shareholders’ equity during the period. Our objective is to generate superior returns on capital that appropriately reward our common shareholders for the risks we assume and to grow revenue only when we deem the returns meet or exceed our requirements. ROACE was 19.2% and 19.9% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively, compared to 24.1% and 23.6% for the same periods in 2007. The reduction in our ROACE ratios in 2008 was primarily related to a 16% increase in our average common shareholders’ equity in both the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 versus the prior year periods. The increase in shareholders’ equity was largely generated from additional retained earnings over the last year.

Diluted book value per common share: Diluted book value per common share represents total common shareholders’ equity divided by the number of common shares and diluted common share equivalents outstanding, using the treasury stock method. We consider diluted book value per common share an appropriate measure of our returns to common shareholders, as we believe growth in our book value on a diluted basis ultimately translates into growth of our stock price. Diluted book value per share increased from $28.79 at December 31, 2007 to $30.30 at June 30, 2008. The increase was substantially due to earnings generated in the first six months of 2008.

Cash dividends per common share: Our dividend policy is an integral part of the value we create for our shareholders. Our quarterly cash dividend was $0.185 per common share in the first two quarters of 2008 compared to $0.165 in the first two quarters of 2007. Our Board of Directors reviews our dividend policy on a regular basis and in December 2007, they authorized a 12% increase in the quarterly dividend.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS OVERVIEW

The table below breaks out net income into three components; underwriting income, investment income and net realized gains/losses, and other revenues and expenses. Underwriting income on a segment basis is a measure of underwriting profitability that takes into account net premiums earned and other insurance related income as revenue and net losses and loss expenses, acquisition costs and underwriting related general and administrative costs as expenses. Underwriting income is the difference between these revenue and expense items. Because our investment portfolio is managed on a total return basis, we have reviewed investment income and net realized gains/losses together. Other revenues and expenses represent corporate expenses, foreign exchange gains/losses, interest expense and income tax expense.


	Three months ended June 30,							Six months ended June 30,

	2008			2007			Change	2008			2007			Change
Underwriting income:
Insurance	$	50,963		$	98,428		(48%)	$	112,724		$	157,303		(28%)
Reinsurance		87,344			87,348		-		164,869			174,514		(6%)
Investment income and net realized gains/losses		138,567			109,029		27%		259,903			234,609		11%
Other revenues and expenses		(36,388	)		(33,989	)	7%		(50,069	)		(68,828	)	(27%)

Net income		240,486			260,816		(8%)		487,427			497,598		(2%)
Preferred share dividends		(9,219	)		(9,226	)	-		(18,438	)		(18,430	)	-

Net income available to common shareholders	$	231,267		$	251,590		(8%)	$	468,989		$	479,168		(2%)

Our results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, were impacted, by among other things, the following significant items:

Underwriting Results

•

Higher current accident year claims: our current accident year loss ratio increased 1.7 ratio points to 67.4% for the quarter and by 1.5 ratio points to 67.8% for the year to date. These increases were primarily due to the higher frequency and severity of large property losses within our insurance segment this year. The current year loss ratio in our reinsurance segment for the quarter and year to date was largely consistent with the prior year periods with catastrophe and other large losses impacting both years.

•

Prior year favorable reserve development: total net favorable development in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 was $87 million and $175 million respectively, compared to $97 million and $163 million in the respective periods of 2007.

•

A declining premium base in both our underwriting segments: net premiums earned decreased by $14 million, or 2%, in the quarter, and by $40 million, or 3%, over the year to date. The reduction in net premiums earned, which impacted both our segments, largely related to a 7% reduction in net premiums written in the rolling twelve months to June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The decrease in net premiums written is primarily associated with exposure reductions in many of our lines as a result of deteriorating market conditions, coupled with rate reductions on new and renewed business.

•

Higher general and administrative costs: including corporate expenses, our general and administrative costs increased $14 million, or 2.3 ratio points, this quarter, and by $31 million, or 2.6 ratio points, year to date. The increase in our general and administrative ratio was primarily due to a combination of lower net premiums earned, additional headcount and higher share-based compensation costs. The increase in share-based compensation costs was primarily driven by the renewed employment contract for our CEO and a higher grant date fair value on issued awards year over year (refer to Item 1, Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Overall, total underwriting income from our segments for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 decreased 26% and 16%, respectively, over the same periods in 2007. For further discussion of our underwriting results, including segmental analysis, refer to ‘Underwriting Results’ sections below.

Investment Results

•

Higher average fixed maturity balances: Our average fixed maturity balances in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 increased 21% and 23%, respectively, over the comparative periods of 2007. This drove an increase in net investment income from our fixed maturities of $16 million, or 18%, in the quarter, and $45 million, or 27%, over the year to date.

•

Other investment income: Other investment income increased $17 million in the quarter. Other investment income in the second quarter of 2007 included a loss of $17 million on our life settlements investment. Other investment income quarter over quarter was otherwise largely comparable. Over the year to date, income from our other investments decreased $44 million, largely emanating from a decline in the fair value of our credit related funds, and to a lesser extent, hedge funds, during the first quarter of 2008. These losses were related to technical imbalances and illiquidity proliferating throughout the credit markets resulting in a continued re-pricing of risk. During the second quarter of 2008, there was a recovery in overall prices, but this was not sufficient enough to fully recover the declines that occurred during the first quarter.

•

Reduction in interest income from cash and cash equivalents: Interest income from our cash and cash equivalent balances decreased $13 million, or 55%, in the quarter and $21 million, or 45%, over the year to date. These decreases reflect both a reduction in average U.S. dollar deposit rates and also a reduction in our average cash balances during 2008.

•

Increase in net realized investment gains: For the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, we experienced net realized investment gains of $2 million and $37 million, respectively, compared to a loss of $5 million and $4 million in the same periods last year.

For further discussion and analysis of our investment results, refer to ‘Investment Income’ section below.

Other Revenues and Expenses

Our other revenues and expenses were as follows:


	Three months ended June 30,						Six months ended June 30,

	2008		Change	2007			2008			Change	2007
Corporate expenses	$	17,735	25%	$	14,184		$	31,296		18%	$	26,524
Foreign exchange losses (gains)		6,564	(195%)		(6,883	)		(13,733	)	48%		(9,274	)
Interest expense		7,890	(44%)		14,169			15,848		(46%)		29,312
Income tax expense		4,199	(66%)		12,519			16,658		(25%)		22,266

Total	$	36,388	7%	$	33,989		$	50,069		(27%)	$	68,828

•

Corporate expenses: Our corporate expenses include holding company costs necessary to support our worldwide insurance and reinsurance operations and costs associated with operating as a publicly-traded company. As a percentage of net premiums earned corporate expenses were 2.6% and 2.3%, in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, compared to 2.0% and 1.9%, in the same periods of 2007.

•

Foreign exchange gains: Some of our business is written in currencies other than U.S. dollars. The foreign exchange losses in second quarter of 2008 were primarily due to an increase and remeasurement of claims reserves denominated in Euro, and the remeasurement of net asset balances denominated in the Japanese Yen, following its depreciation against the U.S. dollar during this period. The foreign exchange gains in the first six months of 2008 were principally made on the remeasurement of net asset balances denominated in Euro, the Australian dollar and Swiss Franc, following substantial appreciation of these currencies against the U.S. dollar. The gains in the three months and six months ended June 30, 2007, were principally made on the remeasurement of net asset balances denominated in Sterling and Euro, following appreciation of these currencies against the U.S. dollar. Net asset balances referred to above exclude foreign currency denominated investments. Changes in remeasurements of foreign currency denominated investments are not included in the foreign exchange gains/ losses, but are reflected in changes in accumulated other comprehensive income/ loss.

•

Interest expense: Interest expense in the three and six months ended June, 30 2007 included interest costs of $6 million and $13 million on a $400 million repurchase agreement we entered into in 2006 to finance a life settlements investment. We terminated the repurchase agreement in September 2007.

•

Income tax expense: Income tax expense is generated primarily through our foreign operations in the United States and Europe. Our effective tax rate on net income, which we calculate as income tax expense divided by income before income tax, was 1.7% and 3.3% in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to 4.6% and 4.3% in the same periods of 2007. Our effective tax rate may vary between periods depending on the distribution of net income or losses among our various taxable jurisdictions. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, the portion of total income generated by our U.S. subsidiaries was lower than the comparative periods of 2007, which therefore reduced our effective tax rates.

UNDERWRITING RESULTS - GROUP

UNDERWRITING REVENUES

Premiums Written: Gross and net premiums written, by segment, for the three and six months ended June 30, were as follows:


	Gross Premiums Written
	Three months ended June 30,							Six months ended June 30,
	2008			Change	2007			2008			Change	2007
Insurance	$	555,464		(9%)	$	612,671		$	990,321		(6%)	$	1,049,159
Reinsurance		318,705		(8%)		346,707			1,148,029		(5%)		1,212,842

Total	$	874,169		(9%)	$	959,378		$	2,138,350		(5%)	$	2,262,001


% ceded
Insurance		34.2	%	0.6%		33.6	%		35.6	%	1.3%		34.3	%
Reinsurance		0.0	%	0.5%		(0.5	%)		0.8	%	0.2%		0.6	%
Total		21.7	%	0.4%		21.3	%		16.9	%	0.7%		16.2	%

	Net Premiums Written
	Three months ended June 30,							Six months ended June 30,
	2008			Change	2007			2008			Change	2007
Insurance	$	365,511		(10%)	$	406,885		$	637,243		(8%)	$	688,931
Reinsurance		318,705		(9%)		348,457			1,138,748		(6%)		1,205,769

Total	$	684,216		(9%)	$	755,342		$	1,775,991		(6%)	$	1,894,700

The reduction in gross premiums written in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the same periods of 2007 primarily reflects the impact of increasing competition across the insurance and reinsurance markets. This has led to deteriorating market rates and/or deteriorating market terms and conditions for new and renewal business, and we have therefore reduced our exposures accordingly. In addition, we have experienced a continued trend within our reinsurance segment for some cedants to purchase less reinsurance. We did find opportunity to grow certain parts of our portfolio during 2008. In our insurance segment, we wrote additional political risk and professional lines business in both the quarter and year to date. In our reinsurance segment, favorable rates and market growth allowed us to write additional excess of loss crop reinsurance business this quarter, while over the year to date we increased our market participation on engineering and credit and bond pro rata business.

The increase in our ceded premium ratios in 2008 reflects the purchase of additional quota share reinsurance coverage within our casualty and professional lines insurance business this year. This was partially offset by lower reinsurance costs within our property book this quarter. Our main property treaty renews in the second quarter and the reduced costs reflect rate reductions, increased retentions within certain parts of our book, and the impact of renewal timing this quarter versus the prior year quarter.

Premiums Earned: Net premiums earned by segment were as follows:


	Three months ended June 30,							Six months ended June 30,

	2008			2007			Change	2008			2007			Change
Insurance	$	297,429	44%	$	298,245	43%	-	$	596,986	45%	$	613,177	44%	(3%)
Reinsurance		382,862	56%		395,696	57%	(3%)		741,939	55%		766,068	56%	(3%)

Total	$	680,291	100%	$	693,941	100%	(2%)	$	1,338,925	100%	$	1,379,245	100%	(3%)

Changes in net premiums earned reflect period to period changes in net premiums written and business mix, together with normal variability in premium earning patterns. In our reinsurance segment, where a significant portion of our business is written in the first half of the year, the reduction in net premiums earned this year largely reflects the lower gross premiums written, as discussed above.

In our insurance segment, where premiums are written more evenly throughout the year, the reduction in year to date net premiums earned of 3% was driven by a 4% reduction in gross premiums written in the rolling twelve months to June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. In the quarter, the impact of this was largely offset by lower ceded premium amortized costs in our property line of business, which is discussed further in the insurance section below.

UNDERWRITING EXPENSES

The following table shows the components of our combined ratio:


	Three months ended June 30,			Six months ended June 30,

	2008	Change	2007	2008	Change	2007
Loss ratio	54.6%	2.9%	51.7%	54.8%	0.3%	54.5%
Acquisition cost ratio	14.4%	0.6%	13.8%	14.3%	0.2%	14.1%
General and administrative expense ratio⁽¹⁾	12.2%	2.3%	9.9%	12.1%	2.6%	9.5%

Combined ratio	81.2%	5.8%	75.4%	81.2%	3.1%	78.1%

(1) Our general and administration expense ratio includes corporate expenses not allocated to our underwriting segments of 2.6% and 2.3%, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively, and 2.0% and 1.9% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively. These costs are discussed further in “Other Revenue and Expenses” above.

Loss Ratio: The table below shows the components of our net loss and loss expense ratio (“loss ratio”):


	Three months ended June 30,			Six months ended June 30,

	2008	Change	2007	2008	Change	2007
Current year	67.4%	1.7%	65.7%	67.8%	1.5%	66.3%
Prior period development	(12.8%)	1.2%	(14.0%)	(13.0%)	(1.2%)	(11.8%	)

Loss ratio	54.6%	2.9%	51.7%	54.8%	0.3%	54.5%

Current Year:

The increase in our current year loss ratio in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the prior year periods emanates from our insurance segment, where we experienced a higher frequency and severity of large property losses. The quarter and year to date current year loss ratios in our reinsurance segment were largely comparable with the prior year periods, with similar levels of catastrophe and other large losses impacting both years. Our expected loss ratios in 2008 were generally higher than those in 2007, primarily reflecting the impact of pricing deterioration in several of our lines of business, as discussed above. Partially offsetting this, our initial loss ratios were favorably impacted by the incorporation of more of our own historical loss experience, rather than industry benchmarks, relative to the prior year quarter.

Prior Year Reserve Development:

Prior period development was the net favorable result of several underlying reserve developments, identified during our quarterly reserving process. The following table provides a break down of prior period development by segment:


	Three months ended June 30,				Six months ended June 30,

	2008		2007		2008		2007
Insurance	$	46,106	$	55,814	$	100,686	$	84,541
Reinsurance		40,638		41,006		74,169		78,243

Total	$	86,744	$	96,820	$	174,855	$	162,784

The three and six months ended June 30, 2008 included favorable development from the political risk line of business of our insurance segment of $26 million and $60 million, respectively. The remaining net favorable development in both years was predominately generated from our short tail insurance and reinsurance lines of business, and reflected the occurrence of fewer late reported claims than we originally anticipated in our reserving process. During the first six months of 2008, there was no material development in our expected losses from our sub-prime related exposures from accident year 2007.

In addition to the many uncertainties inherent in our reserving process, the potential for deviation between expected and actual claims experience is often greater for a company like ours which relies more heavily upon industry based loss development profiles as a result of having a limited operating history. Given the inherent limitations of this, our estimate of ultimate losses in prior years have included a provision for reporting delays and other uncertainties specific to our business. This includes, for example, the inherent delays we expect to arise from obtaining loss information on high excess layers of business across our diverse worldwide exposures. Because late reporting has been less prevalent than we anticipated, our actual claims experience has been better than we projected.

As our company matures and we accumulate more loss experience, we expect that our loss profiles will become more credible, and our reserving assumptions will incorporate more of our own experience, as discussed above. Conditions and trends that affected the development of liabilities in the past may not necessarily occur in the future. Accordingly, it is inappropriate to anticipate future redundancies or deficiencies based on historical experience. Prior period reserve development is discussed in more detail in our segmental sections below.

UNDERWRITING RESULTS – BY SEGMENT

INSURANCE SEGMENT

Results from our insurance segment were as follows:


	Three months ended June 30,							Six months ended June 30,
	2008			Percentage Change	2007			2008			Percentage Change	2007
Revenues:
Gross premiums written	$	555,464		(9%)	$	612,671		$	990,321		(6%)	$	1,049,159
Net premiums written		365,511		(10%)		406,885			637,243		(8%)		688,931
Net premiums earned		297,429		-		298,245			596,986		(3%)		613,177
Other insurance related income		(7,509	)	nm		360			(6,322	)	nm		1,127
Expenses:
Current year net losses and loss expenses		(205,802	)	9%		(189,382	)		(419,832	)	4%		(404,061	)
Prior period reserve development		46,106		(17%)		55,814			100,686		19%		84,541
Acquisition costs		(31,120	)	13%		(27,442	)		(62,834	)	-		(62,791	)
General and administrative expenses		(48,141	)	23%		(39,167	)		(95,960	)	28%		(74,690	)

Underwriting income	$	50,963		(48%)	$	98,428		$	112,724		(28%)	$	157,303


Ratios:				Point Change							Point Change
Current year loss ratio		69.2%		5.7%		63.5%			70.3%		4.4%		65.9%
Prior period reserve development		(15.5%)		3.2%		(18.7%)			(16.8%)		(3.0%)		(13.8%)
Acquisition cost ratio		10.4%		1.2%		9.2%			10.5%		0.3%		10.2%
General and administrative ratio		16.2%		3.1%		13.1%			16.1%		3.9%		12.2%

Combined ratio		80.3%		13.2%		67.1%			80.1%		5.6%		74.5%

nm – not meaningful

Gross Premiums Written: The following table provides gross premiums written by line of business:


	Three months ended June 30,								Six months ended June 30,
	2008				2007			Change	2008			2007			Change
Property	$	175,017		31%	$	223,884	37%	(22%)	$	302,308	31%	$	362,279	34%	(17%)
Marine		64,601		12%		70,183	11%	(8%)		129,488	13%		148,075	14%	(13%)
Terrorism		14,612		3%		17,082	3%	(14%)		22,961	2%		29,869	3%	(23%)
Aviation		8,715		2%		10,940	2%	(20%)		26,201	3%		27,081	3%	(3%)
Political risk		65,636		12%		56,720	9%	16%		120,212	12%		85,697	8%	40%
Professional lines		175,199		31%		161,371	26%	9%		283,376	29%		258,697	25%	10%
Liability		52,406		9%		67,627	11%	(23%)		102,329	10%		121,110	11%	(16%)
Other		(722	)	0%		4,864	1%	(115%)		3,446	0%		16,351	2%	(79%)

Total	$	555,464		100%	$	612,671	100%	(9%)	$	990,321	100%	$	1,049,159	100%	(6%)

Insurance markets globally continued to be highly competitive during 2008 with surplus capacity and price deterioration remaining prevalent. Gross premiums written declined in most of our lines of business in 2008 reflecting declining rates for new and renewal business, as well as the non-renewal of business that did not meet our underwriting requirements. Partially offsetting this, new opportunities allowed us to grow the emerging market sovereign and corporate credit lines of our political risk book this year. Premiums on this line can vary considerably between periods depending on the timing of major transactions and pricing is not correlated to the property and casualty cycle. Gross premiums written also increased in our professional lines book in 2008, largely driven by the additional renewal rights we acquired in conjunction with our purchase of the Media Pro business at the end of the second quarter of 2007. During the second quarter of 2008 we also experienced some rate increases and new opportunities within our financial institutions business.

Ceded Premiums: Premiums ceded in the second quarter of 2008 were $190 million, or 34.2% of gross premiums written, compared with $206 million, or 33.6%, in the comparative period of 2007. For the first six months of 2008, premiums ceded were $353 million, or 35.6% of gross premiums written, compared with $360 million, or 34.3%, in the prior year period. The increase in our ceded premium ratios in 2008 reflects the purchase of additional quota share coverage within our casualty and professional lines business this year. This was partially offset by lower reinsurance costs within our property book this quarter. Our main property treaty renews in the second quarter and the reduced costs reflect rate reductions, increased retentions within certain parts of our book, and the impact of renewal timing this quarter versus the prior year quarter. Overall, we expect the ceded premium ratio in our insurance segment through the rest of 2008 to be broadly similar with the prior year.

Net Premiums Earned: The following table provides net premiums earned by line of business:


	Three months ended June 30,							Six months ended June 30,

	2008			2007			Change	2008			2007			Change
Property	$	87,644	30%	$	77,745	26%	13%	$	163,748	28%	$	160,351	26%	2%
Marine		35,618	12%		37,469	13%	(5%)		80,165	13%		83,478	14%	(4%)
Terrorism		10,679	4%		14,735	5%	(28%)		22,533	4%		34,047	6%	(34%)
Aviation		15,255	5%		21,258	7%	(28%)		32,727	6%		47,177	8%	(31%)
Political risk		33,828	11%		29,874	10%	13%		67,062	11%		55,194	9%	22%
Professional lines		84,519	28%		81,854	27%	3%		166,736	28%		164,050	27%	2%
Liability		26,579	9%		26,476	9%	-		55,622	9%		51,922	7%	7%
Other		3,307	1%		8,834	3%	(63%)		8,393	1%		16,958	3%	(51%)

Total	$	297,429	100%	$	298,245	100%	-	$	596,986	100%	$	613,177	100%	(3%)

The 3% reduction in net premiums earned over the year to date was driven by a 4% reduction in gross premiums written in the rolling twelve months to June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. This downward trend was less marked in the second quarter of 2008, which benefited from additional net premiums earned from our property line of business. Although gross premiums written on this line decreased 11% in the rolling twelve months to June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, we benefited from lower ceded premium amortized costs this quarter, as discussed above. Overall, we expect net premiums earned to decrease throughout the remainder of 2008 compared to the prior year, given the level of pricing deterioration continuing to impact many of our lines.

Other Insurance Related Income / Loss: During the current quarter, we recorded a reduction in value of $7 million relating to longevity risk exposure on our insurance derivative contract (refer to Item 1, Note 4(b) to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Insurance Losses

Loss Ratio: The table below shows the components of our loss ratio:


	Three months ended June 30,				Six months ended June 30,
	2008	Point Change	2007		2008	Point Change	2007
Current year	69.2%	5.7%	63.5%		70.3%	4.4%	65.9%
Prior period reserve development	(15.5%)	3.2%	(18.7%	)	(16.8%)	(3.0%)	(13.8%	)

Loss ratio	53.7%	8.9%	44.8%		53.5%	1.4%	52.1%

Current Year:

The increase in our current year loss ratio in the second quarter of 2008 compared to the same quarter in 2007 is primarily associated with a higher frequency and severity of large property losses. Large property losses this quarter were only partially within our expectations, and therefore our current year loss ratio increased over the prior year quarter.

The increase in our current accident year loss ratio for the first six months of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007 also reflects a higher frequency and severity of large property losses. In addition to the second quarter losses, 2008 also included estimated losses of $25 million from mining losses in Australia and other worldwide property risk losses in the first quarter. This was partially offset by a lower level of large losses within our marine lines of business this year.

Our initial expected loss ratios in 2008 are generally higher than those in 2007, reflecting the impact of pricing deterioration in many of our lines of business, as discussed above. Offsetting this, our initial loss ratios were favorably impacted by the incorporation of more of our own historical loss experience, rather than industry benchmarks, relative to the prior year quarter.

Prior Period Reserve Development:

We experienced net favorable prior period reserve development of $46 million and $101 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively. Included in these amounts is favorable development from our political risk line of business of $26 million, or 8.9 ratio points, for the second quarter, and $60 million, or 10.0 ratio points, for the year to date. The favorable development for the quarter was primarily related to the sovereign and corporate credit portion of our political risk book. This was partially in recognition of an absence of reported losses from prior years and also due to a change in our loss development profiles. Following an actuarial review, we began to use a more accelerated loss development profile. Favorable development on our political risk book for the first six months of 2008 also included recognition of the lower likelihood of future reported losses emanating from our traditional political risk coverage from accident years 2004 and prior.

The balance of the favorable reserve development in 2008 has predominately been generated from our accident years 2006 and 2007 property lines of business, and has been in recognition of limited late reporting of losses as well as minimal deterioration on previously reported claims in these lines. The second quarter of 2008 included favorable reserve development of $8 million, or 2.6 ratio points, from a reduction in an individual property per risk loss from accident year 2007.

The net favorable development of $56 million and $85 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, was predominately generated from our accident year 2006 property lines of business, recognizing lower than expected emergence of claims on these lines. The second quarter of 2007 also included $15 million, or 5.0 ratio points, of favorable development on our directors and officers’ liability business. This related to a specific claim, which we had previously made provision for, but removed following a favorable court ruling.

Insurance Outlook

In our insurance segment, all of our lines of business are under pricing pressure with only one notable exception. We continue to see improvement in the financial institutions classes within our professional lines business. However, the balance of our professional lines business remains under pressure with rate decreases in the single digits. On most lines of business we are beginning to witness pressure on terms and conditions, including increased sub limits and lower deductibles, and we continue to maintain a cautious posture on those lines where this is most prevalent.

For property and energy business, although current rate levels are generally within our profitability targets, given the significant surplus of capacity within most of these lines, we expect to see further erosion of pricing during the year. Large account property rate decreases freely applied by the market continue to be in the range of 20-50%, although our own experience is generally within the lower end of this range given our declination of under-priced business. Despite recent market losses, there has been no noticeable impact on general levels of pricing in the market. In the mining and heavy industrial sectors where recent large losses have been concentrated, the market has put through price increases at renewal but at levels we do not consider adequate. Overall property account retention in our U.S. surplus lines insurance business has been impacted by extreme competition, particularly for the Californian Earthquake peril, and this has led us to declining business in an increasing number of cases. Exposure-adjusted offshore energy rate decreases are in the region of 20% for international business and 15% for Gulf of Mexico business. Our aviation and terrorism lines continue to be under significant pricing pressure and we expect to further reduce our participation on this business in 2008.

U.S. liability insurance business continues to see rate decline. Umbrella business has lagged primary casualty for some time in terms of the level of competition, but competition here has accelerated to the point where it has caught up with primary casualty. Our U.S. liability portfolio, which we believe is not representative of the overall market, because we write this account very selectively, is seeing rate decline by about 10%. We believe our areas of focus in both our liability and professional lines business still contain good profit potential, but risk selection and overall execution strategy have become more critical.

REINSURANCE SEGMENT

Overview

Results in our reinsurance segment were as follows:


	Three months ended June 30,							Six months ended June 30,
	2008			Percentage Change	2007			2008			Percentage Change	2007
Revenues:
Gross premiums written	$	318,705		(8%)	$	346,707		$	1,148,029		(5%)	$	1,212,842
Net premiums written		318,705		(9%)		348,457			1,138,748		(6%)		1,205,769
Net premiums earned		382,862		(3%)		395,696			741,939		(3%)		766,068
Other insurance related income		240		(28%)		333			1,055		(30%)		1,506
Expenses:
Current year net losses and loss expenses		(252,659	)	(5%)		(266,161	)		(488,421	)	(4%)		(510,244	)
Prior period reserve development		40,638		(1%)		41,006			74,169		(5%)		78,243
Acquisition costs		(66,660	)	(2%)		(68,303	)		(129,426	)	(1%)		(131,093	)
General and administrative expenses		(17,077	)	12%		(15,223	)		(34,447	)	15%		(29,966	)

Underwriting income	$	87,344		-	$	87,348		$	164,869		(6%)	$	174,514


Ratios:				Point Change							Point Change
Current year loss ratio		66.0%		(1.3%)		67.3%			65.8%		(0.8%)		66.6%
Prior period reserve development		(10.6%)		(0.2%)		(10.4%)			(10.0%)		0.2%		(10.2%)
Acquisition cost ratio		17.4%		0.1%		17.3%			17.5%		0.4%		17.1%
General and administrative ratio		4.5%		0.7%		3.8%			4.6%		0.7%		3.9%

Combined ratio		77.3%		(0.7%)		78.0%			77.9%		0.5%		77.4%

Gross Premiums Written: The following tables provide gross premiums written by line of business for the periods indicated:



Three months ended June 30,	2008			2007			Change	Excluding FX ⁽¹⁾Impact
Catastrophe	$	117,306	37%	$	142,602	41%	(18%)	(20%)
Property		86,416	27%		78,817	23%	10%	9%
Professional Lines		31,806	10%		59,060	17%	(46%)	(46%)
Credit and bond		9,230	3%		8,789	2%	5%	(2%)
Motor		16,831	5%		9,080	3%	85%	76%
Liability		28,917	9%		30,973	9%	(7%)	(9%)
Engineering		7,895	3%		9,611	3%	(18%)	(20%)
Other		20,304	6%		7,775	2%	161%	161%

Total	$	318,705	100%	$	346,707	100%	(8%)	(10%)

⁽¹⁾Foreign exchange

In general, the reinsurance markets continued to be increasingly competitive during the second quarter of 2008, with softening rates and/or deteriorating terms and conditions impacting several of our business lines. In addition, we have experienced a continued trend among some of our cedants to increase their retentions and/or purchase less reinsurance compared to 2007. In the second quarter of 2008, these conditions primarily impacted our catastrophe and professional lines business, where exposure reductions were the main driver for the premium decreases.

These premium reductions were partially offset by additional excess of loss crop business (included in ‘other’ premium), where pricing improved during the quarter. In addition, our property and motor lines of business benefited from positive premium adjustments to prior year proportional and excess of loss contracts. In the second quarter of 2008, we recorded positive premium adjustments of $10 million and $9 million on our property and motor lines of business, respectively, compared to $5 million and $5 million, respectively, in the second quarter of 2007.



Six months ended June 30,	2008			2007				Change	Excluding FX ⁽¹⁾Impact
Catastrophe	$	330,254	29%	$	386,727	32%		(15%)	(18%)
Property		227,824	20%		225,976	19%		1%	(4%)
Professional Lines		119,182	10%		147,486	12%		(19%)	(19%)
Credit and bond		143,804	13%		112,908	9%		27%	18%
Motor		92,357	8%		90,211	7%		2%	(6%)
Liability		137,676	12%		176,902	15%		(22%)	(23%)
Engineering		61,119	5%		47,962	4%		27%	23%
Other		35,813	3%		24,670	2%		45%	39%

Total	$	1,148,029	100%	$	1,212,842	100	%	(5%)	(9%)

⁽¹⁾Foreign exchange

Gross premiums written in our reinsurance segment in the six months ended June 30, 2008 benefited from a weakened U.S. dollar, most significantly against the Euro, relative to the same period in 2007. The impact of foreign exchange rate movements is highlighted in the table above. Gross premiums written otherwise decreased 9% this year, reflecting exposure reductions, and to a lesser extent, rate deterioration across several of our lines. In addition, our professional lines business was negatively impacted by premium adjustments to prior year proportional and excess of loss contracts. In the first six months of 2008, we recorded negative premium adjustments in our professional lines business of $14 million, compared to positive adjustments of $11 million in the same period of 2007.

These premium reductions were partially offset by growth within our crop, engineering and credit and property pro rata lines of business, where margins were generally more favorable. Our property line of business benefited from the renewal of a significant 16-month pro rata contract in the first quarter of 2008, previously renewed in the fourth quarter of 2006.

Net Premiums Earned: The following table shows net premiums earned by line of business:


	Three months ended June 30,							Six months ended June 30,

	2008			2007			Change	2008			2007			Change
Catastrophe	$	108,747	29%	$	119,231	30%	(9%)	$	214,158	29%	$	233,785	30%	(8%)
Property		81,341	21%		89,246	22%	(9%)		152,700	21%		170,785	22%	(11%)
Professional Lines		54,172	14%		63,127	16%	(14%)		109,100	15%		127,262	17%	(14%)
Credit and bond		34,391	9%		26,700	7%	29%		67,904	9%		51,020	7%	33%
Motor		30,080	8%		27,348	7%	10%		52,649	7%		52,264	7%	1%
Liability		47,288	12%		54,982	14%	(14%)		100,064	13%		102,435	13%	(2%)
Engineering		12,328	3%		7,457	2%	65%		24,354	3%		13,877	2%	75%
Other		14,515	4%		7,605	2%	91%		21,010	3%		14,640	2%	44%

Total	$	382,862	100%	$	395,696	100%	(3%)	$	741,939	100%	$	766,068	100%	(3%)

The reductions in net premiums earned in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the comparative periods of 2007 is driven by a 5% reduction in year to date gross premiums written. This was partially offset by growth of our liability business over the last few years, which given the large level of pro rata business on this line, had a positive impact on our net premiums earned this year. The reduction in net premiums earned on our property lines of business during 2008 reflects a 21% reduction in gross premiums written on this line over the rolling twelve months to June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, offset partially by higher positive premium adjustments to prior year business this year. We expect our total net premiums earned in our reinsurance segment to continue to decline through the remainder of 2008, given the prevailing unfavorable market conditions impacting many of our lines.

Reinsurance Losses

Loss Ratio: The following table shows the components of our loss ratio:


	Three months ended June 30,			Six months ended June 30,
	2008	Point Change	2007	2008	Point Change	2007
Current year	66.0%	(1.3%)	67.3%	65.8%	(0.8%)	66.6%
Prior period reserve development	(10.6%)	(0.2%)	(10.4%)	(10.0%)	0.2%	(10.2%	)

Loss ratio	55.4%	(1.5%)	56.9%	55.8%	(0.6%)	56.4%

Current Year:

Our current year loss ratio for the second quarter of 2008 was largely consistent with the same quarter in 2007, with large losses impacting both periods. The second quarter of 2008 includes estimated losses of $19 million, or 5.0 ratio points, from several named U.S. catastrophes, generated from our regional mid-west treaty business. Our results for the quarter also included estimated losses from an earthquake in China and other world property per risk losses. In comparison, the second quarter of 2007 included losses of $47 million, or 11.9 ratio points, associated with flooding and storms in Australia and the U.K.

Our current year loss ratio for the first six months of 2008 was also comparable with the same period in 2007. In addition to the second quarter losses discussed above, 2008 also included an estimated $21 million of estimated losses related to several large property per risk and catastrophe losses in the first quarter. Our results for the first six months of 2007 included large losses of $76 million, including losses incurred of $29 million on Windstorm Kyrill in the first quarter.

Our initial expected loss ratios in 2008 were generally higher than those in 2007, reflecting the impact of pricing deterioration in many of our lines of business, as discussed above. In addition, we increased the expected loss ratios on our credit and bond and motor lines of business to reflect our outlook on current market conditions. Offsetting this, our initial loss ratios were favorably impacted by the incorporation of more of our own historical loss experience, rather than industry benchmarks, relative to the prior year quarter.

Prior Period Reserve Development:

We experienced net favorable prior period reserve development of $41 million and $74 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively. The favorable reserve development in 2008 has principally emanated from our accident year 2007 and 2006 property and catastrophe lines of business, in recognition of lower-than-expected claims emergence on these lines. The second quarter of 2008 also included $12 million, or 3.1 ratio points, of favorable development from accident year 2005, which included a reported reserve reduction on a large property catastrophe claim. The second quarter of 2008 also included adverse development on our accident year 2007 credit pro rata business of $4 million, or 1.1 ratio points, relating to our outlook on current market conditions.

The net favorable development of $41 million and $78 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, was predominately generated from our accident year 2006 property and catastrophe lines of business and was due to better than expected emergence of claims identified as part of our regular quarterly reserving process. This includes the fact that our exposure to certain events was less than we had originally estimated as resultant claims did not reach the attachment points for potentially impacted treaties.

Reinsurance Outlook

Although reinsurance markets remain relatively disciplined compared to the primary markets, we continue to observe increased competition and rate deterioration across most of our lines. The balance of our reinsurance writing in 2008 will largely emanate from our U.S. property, catastrophe, professional lines and casualty lines given the main renewal date for our other lines was January 1. On the non-proportional property and catastrophe front, although we observed rate reductions on our July 1 renewals in the region of 5-15%, slightly higher than earlier in the year, critically, we did not experience any significant erosion to major terms and conditions.

We continue to experience significant pressure within our U.S. liability business, largely emanating from the continuing trend among certain cedants to retain more of their own business, as well as rate reductions in the region of 10%. Within our professional lines reinsurance business, although we are beginning to experience deteriorating terms and conditions in certain parts of the book, we are also identifying new opportunities, particularly in our financial institutions and commercial directors and officers lines, which we believe will perform well.

NET INVESTMENT INCOME AND NET REALIZED INVESTMENT GAINS/LOSSES

Our investment portfolio is structured to preserve capital and provide us with a high level of liquidity. Additionally, we invest our portfolio with a focus on total return rather than establishing yield or income targets. The following table provides a breakdown of net investment income, net realized investment gains/losses and average investment balances:


	Three months ended June 30,							Six months ended June 30,

	2008			Change	2007			2008			Change	2007
Fixed maturities	$	106,395		18%	$	90,082		$	215,207		27%	$	170,003
Cash and cash equivalents		10,534		(55%)		23,443			25,425		(45%)		46,226
Other investments		19,883		492%		3,358			(15,911	)	nm		28,670
Equities		3,179		nm		-			3,283		nm		-

Gross investment income		139,991		20%		116,883			228,004		(7%)		244,899
Investment expenses		(2,976	)	(7%)		(3,198	)		(5,338	)	(10%)		(5,934	)

Net investment income		137,015		21%		113,685			222,666		(7%)		238,965
Net realized investment gains (losses)		1,552		nm		(4,656	)		37,237		nm		(4,356	)

Net investment income and net realized investment gains (losses)	$	138,567		27%	$	109,029		$	259,903		11%	$	234,609


Average investment balances ⁽¹⁾

Fixed maturities	$	8,602,542		21%	$	7,090,802		$	8,490,465		23%	$	6,878,590
Cash and cash equivalents		1,347,854		(29%)		1,897,176			1,426,194		(27%)		1,955,802
Other investments		677,685		(38%)		1,094,251			656,632		(41%)		1,114,261
Equities		187,288		nm		-			130,667		nm		-

Total cash and investments	$	10,815,369		7%	$	10,082,229		$	10,703,958		8%	$	9,948,653

nm- not meaningful

(1) The average investment balances are calculated by taking the average of the month-end balances during the quarter and six month periods.

Net Investment Income:

Fixed Maturities:

The increase in investment income from our fixed maturities in the quarter and year to date reflects the impact of positive operating cash flows on our average investment balances over the last year. Our annualized effective yield on fixed maturities was 4.8% and 4.9% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 respectively, comparable with a 5.0% yield in both the three and six months ended June 30, 2007.

Cash and Cash Equivalents:

The reduction in investment income from our cash and cash equivalents in the quarter and year to date reflects a substantial reduction in average U.S. dollar deposit rates, coupled with lower average cash balances this year. The reduction in our cash balances is largely associated with the strategic funding of our fixed income and equity portfolios, as well as funding of share repurchases over the last year.

Other Investments:

Net investment income from other investments by category was as follows:


	Three months ended June 30,								Six months ended June 30,
	2008		2007			Change			2008			2007			Change
Hedge funds	$	8,237	$	9,915		$	(1,678	)	$	(4,468	)	$	19,912		$	(24,380	)
Credit funds		4,757		6,105			(1,348	)		(24,677	)		14,137			(38,814	)
CLO- equity tranches		5,995		3,186			2,809			12,332			12,373			(41	)
Short duration high yield fund		894		559			335			902			2,113			(1,211	)
Life settlement contracts		-		(16,407	)		16,407			-			(19,865	)		19,865

Total	$	19,883	$	3,358		$	16,525		$	(15,911	)	$	28,670		$	(44,581	)