10-K
Table of Contents

 
UNITED  STATES  SECURITIES  AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
FORM 10-K
 
     
x
  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008
    OR
o
  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM            TO          
Commission File No. 1-8661
 
The Chubb Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
     
New Jersey
  13-2595722
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
15 Mountain View Road    
Warren, New Jersey
  07059
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)
 
(908) 903-2000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
     
(Title of each class)        (Name of each exchange on which registered)
Common Stock, par value $1 per share   New York Stock Exchange
Series B Participating Cumulative   New York Stock Exchange
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights    
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
(Title of class)
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes [ü] No [  ]
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes [  ] No [ü]
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [ü] No [  ]
 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [  ]
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is 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. (Check one):
 
     
       Large accelerated filer [ü]
  Accelerated filer [  ]
       Non-accelerated filer [  ]
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
  Smaller reporting company [  ]
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [  ] No [ü]
 
The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $17,629,416,359 as of June 30, 2008, computed on the basis of the closing sale price of the common stock on that date.
 
352,324,016
Number of shares of common stock outstanding as of February 13, 2009
 
Documents Incorporated by Reference
 
Portions of the definitive Proxy Statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K.
 
 


 

 
CONTENTS
 
             
    ITEM  
DESCRIPTION
  PAGE
 
PART I
  1     3
    1A     12
    1B     17
    2     17
    3     18
    4     20
             
PART II
  5     21
    6     23
    7     24
    7A     61
    8     64
    9     64
    9A     64
    9B     65
             
PART III
  10     67
    11     67
    12     67
    13     67
    14     67
             
PART IV
  15     67
          68
          F-1
          E-1

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PART I.
 
Item 1.  Business
 
General
 
The Chubb Corporation (Chubb) was incorporated as a business corporation under the laws of the State of New Jersey in June 1967. Chubb and its subsidiaries are referred to collectively as the Corporation. Chubb is a holding company for a family of property and casualty insurance companies known informally as the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies (the P&C Group). Since 1882, the P&C Group has provided property and casualty insurance to businesses and individuals around the world. According to A.M. Best, the P&C Group is the 11th largest U.S. property and casualty insurance group based on 2007 net written premiums.
 
At December 31, 2008, the Corporation had total assets of $48 billion and shareholders’ equity of $13 billion. Revenues, income before income tax and assets for each operating segment for the three years ended December 31, 2008 are included in Note (11) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The Corporation employed approximately 10,400 persons worldwide on December 31, 2008.
 
The Corporation’s principal executive offices are located at 15 Mountain View Road, Warren, New Jersey 07059, and our telephone number is (908) 903-2000.
 
The Corporation’s internet address is www.chubb.com. The Corporation’s annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a)of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are available free of charge on this website as soon as reasonably practicable after they have been electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Chubb’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, charters of certain key committees of its Board of Directors, Restated Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws, Code of Business Conduct and Code of Ethics for CEO and Senior Financial Officers are also available on the Corporation’s website or by writing to the Corporation’s Corporate Secretary.
 
Property and Casualty Insurance
 
The P&C Group is divided into three strategic business units. Chubb Commercial Insurance offers a full range of commercial insurance products, including coverage for multiple peril, casualty, workers’ compensation and property and marine. Chubb Commercial Insurance is known for writing niche business, where our expertise can add value for our agents, brokers and policyholders. Chubb Specialty Insurance offers a wide variety of specialized professional liability products for privately and publicly owned companies, financial institutions, professional firms and healthcare organizations. Chubb Specialty Insurance also includes our surety business. Chubb Personal Insurance offers products for individuals with fine homes and possessions who require more coverage choices and higher limits than standard insurance policies.
 
The P&C Group provides insurance coverages principally in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and parts of Latin America and Asia. Revenues of the P&C Group by geographic area for the three years ended December 31, 2008 are included in Note (11) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
The principal members of the P&C Group are Federal Insurance Company (Federal), Pacific Indemnity Company (Pacific Indemnity), Vigilant Insurance Company (Vigilant), Great Northern Insurance Company (Great Northern), Chubb Custom Insurance Company (Chubb Custom), Chubb National Insurance Company (Chubb National), Chubb Indemnity Insurance Company (Chubb Indemnity), Chubb Insurance Company of New Jersey (Chubb New Jersey), Texas Pacific Indemnity Company, Northwestern Pacific Indemnity Company, Executive Risk Indemnity Inc. (Executive Risk Indemnity) and Executive Risk Specialty Insurance Company (Executive Risk Specialty) in the United States, as well as Chubb Atlantic Indemnity Ltd. (a Bermuda company), Chubb Insurance Company of

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Canada, Chubb Insurance Company of Europe, S.A., Chubb Insurance Company of Australia Limited, Chubb Argentina de Seguros, S.A., Chubb Insurance (China) Company Ltd. and Chubb do Brasil Companhia de Seguros.
 
Federal is the manager of Vigilant, Pacific Indemnity, Great Northern, Chubb National, Chubb Indemnity, Chubb New Jersey, Executive Risk Indemnity and Executive Risk Specialty. Federal also provides certain services to other members of the P&C Group. Acting subject to the supervision and control of the boards of directors of the members of the P&C Group, Federal provides day to day executive management and operating personnel and makes available the economy and flexibility inherent in the common operation of a group of insurance companies.
 
  Premiums Written
 
A summary of the P&C Group’s premiums written during the past three years is shown in the following table:
 
                                 
    Direct
    Reinsurance
    Reinsurance
    Net
 
    Premiums
    Premiums
    Premiums
    Premiums
 
Year
 
Written
   
Assumed(a)
   
Ceded(a)
   
Written
 
    (in millions)  
2006
  $ 12,224     $ 954     $ 1,204     $ 11,974  
2007
    12,432       775       1,335       11,872  
2008
    12,443       549       1,210       11,782  
 
(a) Intercompany items eliminated.
 
The net premiums written during the last three years for major classes of the P&C Group’s business are included in the Property and Casualty Insurance — Underwriting Results section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A).
 
One or more members of the P&C Group are licensed and transact business in each of the 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Canada, Europe, Australia, and parts of Latin America and Asia. In 2008, approximately 77% of the P&C Group’s direct business was produced in the United States, where the P&C Group’s businesses enjoy broad geographic distribution with a particularly strong market presence in the Northeast. The five states accounting for the largest amounts of direct premiums written were New York with 12%, California with 8%, Texas with 5%, Florida with 5% and New Jersey with 4%. Approximately 11% of the P&C Group’s direct premiums written was produced in Europe and 5% was produced in Canada.
 
  Underwriting Results
 
A frequently used industry measurement of property and casualty insurance underwriting results is the combined loss and expense ratio. The P&C Group uses the combined loss and expense ratio calculated in accordance with statutory accounting principles applicable to property and casualty insurance companies. This ratio is the sum of the ratio of losses and loss expenses to premiums earned (loss ratio) plus the ratio of statutory underwriting expenses to premiums written (expense ratio) after reducing both premium amounts by dividends to policyholders. When the combined ratio is under 100%, underwriting results are generally considered profitable; when the combined ratio is over 100%, underwriting results are generally considered unprofitable. Investment income is not reflected in the combined ratio. The profitability of property and casualty insurance companies depends on the results of both underwriting and investments operations.
 
The combined loss and expense ratios during the last three years in total and for the major classes of the P&C Group’s business are included in the Property and Casualty Insurance — Underwriting Operations section of MD&A.

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Another frequently used measurement in the property and casualty insurance industry is the ratio of statutory net premiums written to policyholders’ surplus. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the ratio for the P&C Group was .95 and .91, respectively.
 
  Producing and Servicing of Business
 
The P&C Group does not utilize a significant in-house distribution model for its products. Instead, in the United States, the P&C Group offers products through independent insurance agencies and accepts business on a regular basis from insurance brokers. In most instances, these agencies and brokers also offer products of other companies that compete with the P&C Group. The P&C Group’s branch and service offices assist these agencies and brokers in producing and servicing the P&C Group’s business. In addition to the administrative offices in Warren and Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, the P&C Group has territory, branch and service offices throughout the United States.
 
The P&C Group primarily offers products through insurance brokers outside the United States. Local branch offices of the P&C Group assist the brokers in producing and servicing the business. In conducting its foreign business, the P&C Group mitigates the risks relating to currency fluctuations by generally maintaining investments in those foreign currencies in which the P&C Group has loss reserves and other liabilities. The net asset or liability exposure to the various foreign currencies is regularly reviewed.
 
Business for the P&C Group is also produced through participation in certain underwriting pools and syndicates. Such pools and syndicates provide underwriting capacity for risks which an individual insurer cannot prudently underwrite because of the magnitude of the risk assumed or which can be more effectively handled by one organization due to the need for specialized loss control and other services.
 
  Reinsurance Ceded
 
In accordance with the normal practice of the insurance industry, the P&C Group cedes reinsurance to other insurance companies. Reinsurance is ceded to provide greater diversification of risk and to limit the P&C Group’s maximum net loss arising from large risks or from catastrophic events.
 
A large portion of the P&C Group’s ceded reinsurance is effected under contracts known as treaties under which all risks meeting prescribed criteria are automatically covered. Most of the P&C Group’s treaty reinsurance arrangements consist of excess of loss and catastrophe contracts that protect against a specified part or all of certain types of losses over stipulated amounts arising from any one occurrence or event. In certain circumstances, reinsurance is also effected by negotiation on individual risks. The amount of each risk retained by the P&C Group is subject to maximum limits that vary by line of business and type of coverage. Retention limits are regularly reviewed and are revised periodically as the P&C Group’s capacity to underwrite risks changes. For a discussion of the P&C Group’s reinsurance program and the cost and availability of reinsurance, see the Property and Casualty Insurance — Underwriting Results section of MD&A.
 
Ceded reinsurance contracts do not relieve the P&C Group of the primary obligation to its policyholders. Thus, an exposure exists with respect to reinsurance recoverable to the extent that any reinsurer is unable to meet its obligations or disputes the liabilities assumed under the reinsurance contracts. The collectibility of reinsurance is subject to the solvency of the reinsurers, coverage interpretations and other factors. The P&C Group is selective in regard to its reinsurers, placing reinsurance with only those reinsurers that the P&C Group believes have strong balance sheets and superior underwriting ability. The P&C Group monitors the financial strength of its reinsurers on an ongoing basis.

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  Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses and Related Amounts Recoverable from Reinsurers
 
Insurance companies are required to establish a liability in their accounts for the ultimate costs (including loss adjustment expenses) of claims that have been reported but not settled and of claims that have been incurred but not reported. Insurance companies are also required to report as assets the portion of such liability that will be recovered from reinsurers.
 
The process of establishing the liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses is complex and imprecise as it must take into consideration many variables that are subject to the outcome of future events. As a result, informed subjective estimates and judgments as to our ultimate exposure to losses are an integral component of our loss reserving process.
 
The anticipated effect of inflation is implicitly considered when estimating liabilities for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses. Estimates of the ultimate value of all unpaid losses are based in part on the development of paid losses, which reflect actual inflation. Inflation is also reflected in the case estimates established on reported open claims which, when combined with paid losses, form another basis to derive estimates of reserves for all unpaid losses. There is no precise method for subsequently evaluating the adequacy of the consideration given to inflation, since claim settlements are affected by many factors.
 
The P&C Group continues to emphasize early and accurate reserving, inventory management of claims and suits, and control of the dollar value of settlements. The number of outstanding claims at year-end 2008 was approximately 3% lower than the number at year-end 2007. The number of new arising claims during 2008 was approximately 1% higher than in the prior year.
 
Additional information related to the P&C Group’s estimates related to unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses and the uncertainties in the estimation process is presented in the Property and Casualty Insurance — Loss Reserves section of MD&A.
 
The table on page 7 presents the subsequent development of the estimated year-end liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance recoverable, for the ten years prior to 2008. The Corporation acquired Executive Risk Inc. in 1999. The amounts in the table for the year 1998 do not include Executive Risk’s unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses.
 
The top line of the table shows the estimated net liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses recorded at the balance sheet date for each of the indicated years. This liability represents the estimated amount of losses and loss adjustment expenses for claims arising in all years prior to the balance sheet date that were unpaid at the balance sheet date, including losses that had been incurred but not yet reported to the P&C Group.
 
The upper section of the table shows the reestimated amount of the previously recorded net liability based on experience as of the end of each succeeding year. The estimate is increased or decreased as more information becomes known about the frequency and severity of losses for each individual year. The increase or decrease is reflected in operating results of the period in which the estimate is changed. The “cumulative deficiency (redundancy)” as shown in the table represents the aggregate change in the reserve estimates from the original balance sheet dates through December 31, 2008. The amounts noted are cumulative in nature; that is, an increase in a loss estimate that is related to a prior period occurrence generates a deficiency in each intermediate year. For example, a deficiency recognized in 2008 relating to losses incurred prior to December 31, 1998 would be included in the cumulative deficiency amount for each year in the period 1998 through 2007. Yet, the deficiency would be reflected in operating results only in 2008. The effect of changes in estimates of the liabilities for losses occurring in prior years on income before income taxes in each of the past three years is shown in the reconciliation of the beginning and ending liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses in the Property and Casualty Insurance — Loss Reserves section of MD&A.

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ANALYSIS OF LOSS AND LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSE DEVELOPMENT
 
                                                                                         
    December 31  
Year Ended
 
1998
   
1999
   
2000
   
2001
   
2002
   
2003
   
2004
   
2005
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
    (in millions)  
 
Net Liability for Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
  $ 9,050     $ 9,749     $ 10,051     $ 11,010     $ 12,642     $ 14,521     $ 16,809     $ 18,713     $ 19,699     $ 20,316     $ 20,155  
                                                                                         
Net Liability Reestimated as of:
                                                                                       
One year later
    8,855       9,519       9,856       11,799       13,039       14,848       16,972       18,417       19,002       19,443          
Two years later
    8,517       9,095       10,551       12,143       13,634       15,315       17,048       17,861       18,215                  
Three years later
    8,058       9,653       10,762       12,642       14,407       15,667       16,725       17,298                          
Four years later
    8,527       9,740       11,150       13,246       14,842       15,584       16,526                                  
Five years later
    8,656       9,999       11,605       13,676       14,907       15,657                                          
Six years later
    8,844       10,373       11,936       13,812       15,064                                                  
Seven years later
    9,119       10,602       12,019       13,994                                                          
Eight years later
    9,324       10,702       12,170                                                                  
Nine years later
    9,434       10,828                                                                          
Ten years later
    9,536                                                                                  
                                                                                         
Total Cumulative Net Deficiency
(Redundancy)
    486       1,079       2,119       2,984       2,422       1,136       (283 )     (1,415 )     (1,484 )     (873 )        
                                                                                         
Cumulative Net Deficiency Related to Asbestos and Toxic Waste Claims (Included in Above Total)
    1,437       1,390       1,359       1,298       557       307       232       197       173       85          
                                                                                         
Cumulative Amount of
Net Liability Paid as of*:
                                                                                       
One year later
    2,520       2,483       2,794       3,135       3,550       3,478       3,932       4,118       4,066       4,108          
Two years later
    3,708       4,079       4,699       5,499       5,911       6,161       6,616       6,896       6,789                  
Three years later
    4,653       5,306       6,070       7,133       7,945       8,192       8,612       8,850                          
Four years later
    5,362       6,196       7,137       8,564       9,396       9,689       10,048                                  
Five years later
    5,925       6,909       8,002       9,588       10,543       10,794                                          
Six years later
    6,370       7,453       8,765       10,366       11,353                                                  
Seven years later
    6,719       8,009       9,305       10,950                                                          
Eight years later
    7,086       8,402       9,714                                                                  
Nine years later
    7,382       8,697                                                                          
Ten years later
    7,562                                                                                  
                                                                                         
Gross Liability, End of Year
  $ 10,357     $ 11,435     $ 11,904     $ 15,515     $ 16,713     $ 17,948     $ 20,292     $ 22,482     $ 22,293     $ 22,623     $ 22,367  
Reinsurance Recoverable, End of Year
    1,307       1,686       1,853       4,505       4,071       3,427       3,483       3,769       2,594       2,307       2,212  
                                                                                         
Net Liability, End of Year
  $ 9,050     $ 9,749     $ 10,051     $ 11,010     $ 12,642     $ 14,521     $ 16,809     $ 18,713     $ 19,699     $ 20,316     $ 20,155  
                                                                                         
                                                                                         
Reestimated Gross Liability
  $ 11,166     $ 13,265     $ 15,013     $ 19,460     $ 19,901     $ 19,450     $ 19,936     $ 20,838     $ 20,720     $ 21,691          
Reestimated Reinsurance Recoverable
    1,630       2,437       2,843       5,466       4,837       3,793       3,410       3,540       2,505       2,248          
                                                                                         
                                                                                         
Reestimated Net Liability
  $ 9,536     $ 10,828     $ 12,170     $ 13,994     $ 15,064     $ 15,657     $ 16,526     $ 17,298     $ 18,215     $ 19,443          
                                                                                         
                                                                                         
                                                                                         
Cumulative Gross Deficiency
(Redundancy)
  $ 809     $ 1,830     $ 3,109     $ 3,945     $ 3,188     $ 1,502     $ (356 )   $ (1,644 )   $ (1,573 )   $ (932 )        
                                                                                         
                                                                                         
 
The amounts for the year 1998 do not include the unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses of Executive Risk, which was acquired in 1999.
 
The cumulative amount of net liability paid amounts in the table for years prior to 2008 have been revised to remove the foreign currency fluctuation offset amounts that had been included in the past. The change did not have an effect on the other amounts in the table.

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The subsequent development of the net liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses as of year-ends 1998 through 2003 was adversely affected by substantial unfavorable development related to asbestos and toxic waste claims. The cumulative net deficiencies experienced related to asbestos and toxic waste claims were the result of: (1) an increase in the actual number of claims filed; (2) an increase in the estimated number of potential claims; (3) an increase in the severity of actual and potential claims; (4) an increasingly adverse litigation environment; and (5) an increase in litigation costs associated with such claims. For the years 1998 and 1999, the unfavorable development related to asbestos and toxic waste claims was offset in varying degrees by favorable loss experience in the professional liability classes, particularly directors and officers liability and fiduciary liability. For 2000, in addition to the unfavorable development related to asbestos and toxic waste claims, there was significant unfavorable development in the commercial casualty and workers’ compensation classes. For the years 2001 through 2003, in addition to the unfavorable development related to asbestos and toxic waste claims, there was significant unfavorable development in the professional liability classes — principally directors and officers liability and errors and omissions liability, due in large part to adverse loss trends related to corporate failures and allegations of management misconduct and accounting irregularities — and the commercial casualty classes and, to a lesser extent, workers’ compensation. For the years 2004 through 2007, there was significant favorable development, primarily in the professional liability classes due to favorable loss trends in recent years and in the homeowners and commercial property classes due to lower than expected emergence of losses.
 
Conditions and trends that have affected development of the liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses in the past will not necessarily recur in the future. Accordingly, it is not appropriate to extrapolate future redundancies or deficiencies based on the data in this table.
 
The middle section of the table on page 7 shows the cumulative amount paid with respect to the reestimated net liability as of the end of each succeeding year. For example, in the 1998 column, as of December 31, 2008 the P&C Group had paid $7,562 million of the currently estimated $9,536 million of net losses and loss adjustment expenses that were unpaid at the end of 1998; thus, an estimated $1,974 million of net losses incurred on or before December 31, 1998 remain unpaid as of December 31, 2008, approximately 47% of which relates to asbestos and toxic waste claims.
 
The lower section of the table on page 7 shows the gross liability, reinsurance recoverable and net liability recorded at the balance sheet date for each of the indicated years and the reestimation of these amounts as of December 31, 2008.
 
The liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance recoverable, reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) comprises the liabilities of U.S. and foreign members of the P&C Group as follows:
 
                 
    December 31  
   
2008
   
2007
 
    (in millions)  
 
U.S. subsidiaries
  $ 16,871     $ 16,597  
Foreign subsidiaries
    3,284       3,719  
                 
    $ 20,155     $ 20,316  
                 
 
Members of the P&C Group are required to file annual statements with insurance regulatory authorities prepared on an accounting basis prescribed or permitted by such authorities (statutory basis). The difference between the liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses, net of reinsurance recoverable, reported in the statutory basis financial statements of the U.S. members of the P&C Group and such liability reported on a GAAP basis in the consolidated financial statements is not significant.

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  Investments
 
Investment decisions are centrally managed by investment professionals based on guidelines established by management and approved by the respective boards of directors for each company in the P&C Group.
 
Additional information about the Corporation’s investment portfolio as well as its approach to managing risks is presented in the Invested Assets section of MD&A, the Investment Portfolio section of Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk and Note (4) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
The investment results of the P&C Group for each of the past three years are shown in the following table.
                                 
    Average
                   
    Invested
    Investment
    Percent Earned  
Year
 
Assets(a)
   
Income(b)
   
Before Tax
   
After Tax
 
    (in millions)              
 
2006
  $ 33,492     $ 1,454       4.34 %     3.48 %
2007
    36,406       1,590       4.37       3.50  
2008
    37,190       1,622       4.36       3.49  
  (a)  Average of amounts with fixed maturity securities at amortized cost, equity securities at fair value and other invested assets, which include private equity limited partnerships, at the P&C Group’s equity in the net assets of the partnerships.
  (b)  Investment income after deduction of investment expenses, but before applicable income tax.
 
Competition
 
The property and casualty insurance industry is highly competitive both as to price and service. Members of the P&C Group compete not only with other stock companies but also with mutual companies, other underwriting organizations and alternative risk sharing mechanisms. Some competitors produce their business at a lower cost through the use of salaried personnel rather than independent agents and brokers. Rates are not uniform among insurers and vary according to the types of insurers, product coverage and methods of operation. The P&C Group competes for business not only on the basis of price, but also on the basis of financial strength, availability of coverage desired by customers and quality of service, including claim adjustment service. The P&C Group’s products and services are generally designed to serve specific customer groups or needs and to offer a degree of customization that is of value to the insured. The P&C Group continues to work closely with its customers and to reinforce with them the stability, expertise and added value the P&C Group’s products provide.
 
There are approximately 3,200 property and casualty insurance companies in the United States operating independently or in groups and no single company or group is dominant across all lines of business or jurisdictions. However, the relatively large size and underwriting capacity of the P&C Group provide it opportunities not available to smaller companies.
 
Regulation and Premium Rates
 
Chubb is a holding company with subsidiaries primarily engaged in the property and casualty insurance business and is therefore subject to regulation by certain states as an insurance holding company. All states have enacted legislation that regulates insurance holding company systems such as the Corporation. This legislation generally provides that each insurance company in the system is required to register with the department of insurance of its state of domicile and furnish information concerning the operations of companies within the holding company system that may materially affect the operations, management or financial condition of the insurers within the system. All transactions within a holding company system affecting insurers must be fair and equitable. Notice to the insurance commissioners is required prior to the consummation of transactions affecting the ownership or control of an insurer and of certain material transactions between an insurer and any person in its holding

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company system and, in addition, certain of such transactions cannot be consummated without the commissioners’ prior approval.
 
Companies within the P&C Group are subject to regulation and supervision in the respective states in which they do business. In general, such regulation is designed to protect the interests of policyholders, and not necessarily the interests of insurers, their shareholders and other investors. The extent of such regulation varies but generally has its source in statutes that delegate regulatory, supervisory and administrative powers to a department of insurance. The regulation, supervision and administration relate, among other things, to: the standards of solvency that must be met and maintained; the licensing of insurers and their agents; restrictions on insurance policy terminations; unfair trade practices; the nature of and limitations on investments; premium rates; restrictions on the size of risks that may be insured under a single policy; deposits of securities for the benefit of policyholders; approval of policy forms; periodic examinations of the affairs of insurance companies; annual and other reports required to be filed on the financial condition of companies or for other purposes; limitations on dividends to policyholders and shareholders; and the adequacy of provisions for unearned premiums, unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, both reported and unreported, and other liabilities.
 
The extent of insurance regulation on business outside the United States varies significantly among the countries in which the P&C Group operates. Some countries have minimal regulatory requirements, while others regulate insurers extensively. Foreign insurers in many countries are subject to greater restrictions than domestic competitors. In certain countries, the P&C Group has incorporated insurance subsidiaries locally to improve its competitive position.
 
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has a risk-based capital requirement for property and casualty insurance companies. The risk-based capital formula is used by state regulatory authorities to identify insurance companies that may be undercapitalized and that merit further regulatory attention. The formula prescribes a series of risk measurements to determine a minimum capital amount for an insurance company, based on the profile of the individual company. The ratio of a company’s actual policyholders’ surplus to its minimum capital requirement will determine whether any state regulatory action is required. At December 31, 2008, each member of the P&C Group had more than sufficient capital to meet the risk-based capital requirement. The NAIC periodically reviews the risk-based capital formula and changes to the formula could be considered in the future.
 
Regulatory requirements applying to premium rates vary from state to state, but generally provide that rates cannot be excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory. In many states, these regulatory requirements can impact the P&C Group’s ability to change rates, particularly with respect to personal lines products such as automobile and homeowners insurance, without prior regulatory approval. For example, in certain states there are measures that limit the use of catastrophe models or credit scoring as well as premium rate freezes or limitations on the ability to cancel or nonrenew certain policies, which can affect the P&C Group’s ability to charge adequate rates.
 
Subject to legislative and regulatory requirements, the P&C Group’s management determines the prices charged for its policies based on a variety of factors including loss and loss adjustment expense experience, inflation, anticipated changes in the legal environment, both judicial and legislative, and tax law and rate changes. Methods for arriving at prices vary by type of business, exposure assumed and size of risk. Underwriting profitability is affected by the accuracy of these assumptions, by the willingness of insurance regulators to approve changes in those rates that they control and by certain other matters, such as underwriting selectivity and expense control.
 
In all states, insurers authorized to transact certain classes of property and casualty insurance are required to become members of an insolvency fund. In the event of the insolvency of a licensed insurer writing a class of insurance covered by the fund in the state, companies in the P&C Group, together with the other fund members, are assessed in order to provide the funds necessary to pay certain claims against the insolvent insurer. Generally, fund assessments are proportionately based on the members’ written premiums for the classes of insurance written by the insolvent insurer. In certain states, the P&C Group can recover a portion of these assessments through premium tax offsets and policyholder

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surcharges. In 2008, assessments of the members of the P&C Group were insignificant. The amount of future assessments cannot be reasonably estimated.
 
Insurance regulation in certain states requires the companies in the P&C Group, together with other insurers operating in the state, to participate in assigned risk plans, reinsurance facilities and joint underwriting associations, which are mechanisms that generally provide applicants with various basic insurance coverages when they are not available in voluntary markets. Such mechanisms are most prevalent for automobile and workers’ compensation insurance, but a majority of states also mandate that insurers, such as the P&C Group, participate in Fair Plans or Windstorm Plans, which offer basic property coverages to insureds where not otherwise available. Some states also require insurers to participate in facilities that provide homeowners, crime and other classes of insurance where periodic market constrictions may occur. Participation is based upon the amount of a company’s voluntary written premiums in a particular state for the classes of insurance involved. These involuntary market plans generally are underpriced and produce unprofitable underwriting results.
 
In several states, insurers, including members of the P&C Group, participate in market assistance plans. Typically, a market assistance plan is voluntary, of limited duration and operates under the supervision of the insurance commissioner to provide assistance to applicants unable to obtain commercial and personal liability and property insurance. The assistance may range from identifying sources where coverage may be obtained to pooling of risks among the participating insurers. A few states require insurers, including members of the P&C Group, to purchase reinsurance from a mandatory reinsurance fund.
 
Although the federal government and its regulatory agencies generally do not directly regulate the business of insurance, federal initiatives often have an impact on the business in a variety of ways. Current and proposed federal measures that may significantly affect the P&C Group’s business and the market as a whole include federal terrorism insurance, asbestos liability reform measures, tort reform, natural catastrophes, corporate governance, ergonomics, health care reform including the containment of medical costs, medical malpractice reform and patients’ rights, privacy, e-commerce, international trade, federal regulation of insurance companies and the taxation of insurance companies.
 
Companies in the P&C Group are also affected by a variety of state and federal legislative and regulatory measures as well as by decisions of their courts that define and extend the risks and benefits for which insurance is provided. These include: redefinitions of risk exposure in areas such as water damage, including mold, flood and storm surge; products liability and commercial general liability; credit scoring; and extension and protection of employee benefits, including workers’ compensation and disability benefits.
 
Legislative and judicial developments pertaining to asbestos and toxic waste exposures are discussed in the Property and Casualty Insurance — Loss Reserves section of MD&A.
 
Real Estate
 
The Corporation’s wholly owned subsidiary, Bellemead Development Corporation (Bellemead), and its subsidiaries were involved in commercial development activities primarily in New Jersey and residential development activities primarily in central Florida. The real estate operations are in run-off.
 
Chubb Financial Solutions
 
Chubb Financial Solutions (CFS) provided customized financial products to corporate clients. The business of CFS was primarily structured credit derivatives, principally as a counterparty in portfolio credit default swaps. CFS has been in run-off since 2003. Since that date, CFS has terminated early or run-off nearly all of its contractual obligations within its financial products portfolio. Additional information related to CFS’s operations is included in the Corporate and Other — Chubb Financial Solutions section of MD&A.

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Item 1A.   Risk Factors
 
The Corporation’s business is subject to a number of risks, including those described below, that could have a material effect on the Corporation’s results of operations, financial condition or liquidity and that could cause our operating results to vary significantly from period to period. References to “we,” “us” and “our” appearing in this Form 10-K should be read to refer to the Corporation.
 
If our property and casualty loss reserves are insufficient, our results could be adversely affected.
 
The process of establishing loss reserves is complex and imprecise as it must take into consideration many variables that are subject to the outcome of future events. As a result, informed subjective estimates and judgments as to our ultimate exposure to losses are an integral component of our loss reserving process. Variations between our loss reserve estimates and the actual emergence of losses could be material and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.
 
A further discussion of the risk factors related to our property and casualty loss reserves is presented in the Property and Casualty Insurance — Loss Reserves section of MD&A.
 
The effects of emerging claim and coverage issues on our business are uncertain.
 
As industry practices and legal, judicial, social, environmental and other conditions change, unexpected or unintended issues related to claims and coverage may emerge. These issues may adversely affect our business by either extending coverage beyond our underwriting intent or by increasing the number or size of claims. In some instances, these issues may not become apparent for some time after we have written the insurance policies that are affected by such issues. As a result, the full extent of liability under our insurance policies may not be known for many years after the policies are issued. Emerging claim and coverage issues could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.
 
Catastrophe losses could materially and adversely affect our business.
 
As a property and casualty insurance holding company, our insurance operations expose us to claims arising out of catastrophes. Catastrophes can be caused by various natural perils, including hurricanes and other windstorms, earthquakes, severe winter weather and brush fires. Catastrophes can also be man-made, such as a terrorist attack. The frequency and severity of catastrophes are inherently unpredictable. It is possible that both the frequency and severity of natural and man-made catastrophic events will increase.
 
The extent of losses from a catastrophe is a function of both the total amount of exposure under our insurance policies in the area affected by the event and the severity of the event. Most catastrophes are restricted to relatively small geographic areas; however, hurricanes and earthquakes may produce significant damage over larger areas, especially those that are heavily populated. Natural or man-made catastrophic events could cause claims under our insurance policies to be higher than we anticipated and could cause substantial volatility in our financial results for any fiscal quarter or year. Our ability to write new business could also be affected. We believe that increases in the value and geographic concentration of insured property and the effects of inflation could increase the severity of claims from catastrophic events in the future. In addition, states have from time to time passed legislation that has the effect of limiting the ability of insurers to manage catastrophe risk, such as legislation limiting insurers ability to increase rates and prohibiting insurers from withdrawing from catastrophe-exposed areas.
 
As a result of the foregoing, it is possible that the occurrence of any natural or man-made catastrophic event could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. A further discussion of the risk factors related to catastrophes is presented in the Property and Casualty Insurance — Catastrophe Risk Management section of MD&A.

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The occurrence of certain catastrophic events could have a materially adverse effect on our systems and could impact our ability to conduct business effectively.
 
Our computer, information technology and telecommunications systems, which we use to conduct our business, interface with and rely upon third-party systems. Systems failures or outages could compromise our ability to perform business functions in a timely manner, which could harm our ability to conduct business and hurt our relationships with our business partners and customers. In the event of a disaster such as a natural catastrophe, an industrial accident, a blackout, a computer virus, a terrorist attack or war, our systems may be inaccessible to our employees, customers or business partners for an extended period of time. Even if our employees or third party providers are able to report to work, they may be unable to perform their duties for an extended period of time if our computer, information technology or telecommunication systems are disabled or destroyed. Our systems could also be subject to physical and electronic break-ins, and subject to similar disruptions from unauthorized tampering. This may impede or interrupt our business operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.
 
We may experience reduced returns or losses on our investments especially during periods of heightened volatility, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.
 
The returns on our investment portfolio may be reduced or we may incur losses as a result of changes in general economic conditions, interest rates, real estate markets, fixed income markets, equity markets, alternative investment markets, credit markets, exchange rates, global capital market conditions and numerous other factors that are beyond our control.
 
The worldwide financial markets experience high levels of volatility during certain periods, as was the case during 2008, which could have an increasingly adverse impact on the U.S. and foreign economies. The financial market volatility and the resulting negative economic impact could continue and it is possible that it may be prolonged, which could adversely affect our current investment portfolio, make it difficult to determine the value of certain assets in our portfolio and/or make it difficult for us to purchase suitable investments that meet our risk and return criteria. These factors could cause us to realize less than expected returns on invested assets, sell investments for a loss or write off or write down investments, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.
 
A significant portion of our investment portfolio consists of tax exempt securities and we receive certain tax benefits relating to such securities based on current laws and regulations. Our portfolio has also benefited from certain other laws and regulations, including without limitation, tax credits (such as foreign tax credits). Federal and/or state tax legislation could be enacted that would lessen or eliminate some or all of the tax advantages currently benefiting us and could negatively impact the value of our investment portfolio.
 
If we experience difficulties with outsourcing relationships, our ability to conduct our business might be negatively impacted.
 
We outsource certain business and administrative functions to third parties and may do so increasingly in the future. If we fail to develop and implement our outsourcing strategies or our third party providers fail to perform as anticipated, we may experience operational difficulties, increased costs and a loss of business that may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition. By outsourcing certain business and administrative functions to third parties, we may be exposed to enhanced risk of data security breaches. Any breach of data security could damage our reputation and/or result in monetary damages, which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

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The failure of the risk mitigation strategies we utilize could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
 
We utilize a number of strategies to mitigate our risk exposure, such as:
 
  •  engaging in vigorous underwriting;
 
  •  carefully evaluating terms and conditions of our policies;
 
  •  focusing on our risk aggregations by geographic zones, industry type, credit exposure and other bases; and
 
  •  ceding reinsurance.
 
However, there are inherent limitations in all of these tactics and no assurance can be given that an event or series of unanticipated events will not result in loss levels in excess of our probable maximum loss models, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
 
These risks may be heightened during difficult economic conditions such as those currently being experienced in the United States and elsewhere.
 
We are exposed to credit risk in our business operations and in our investment portfolio.
 
We are exposed to credit risk in several areas of our business operations, including, without limitation, credit risk relating to reinsurance, co-sureties on surety bonds, policyholders of certain of our insurance products, independent agents and brokers, issuers of securities, insurers of certain securities and certain other counterparties relating to our investment portfolio.
 
With respect to reinsurance coverages that we have purchased, our ability to recover amounts due from reinsurers may be affected by the creditworthiness and willingness to pay of the reinsurers. Although certain reinsurance we have purchased is collateralized, the collateral is exposed to credit risk of the counterparty that has guaranteed a fixed investment return on such collateral.
 
It is customary practice in the surety business for multiple insurers to participate as co-sureties on large surety bonds, meaning that each insurer (each referred to as a co-surety) assumes its proportionate share of the risk and receives a corresponding percentage of the bond premium. Under these arrangements, the co-sureties’ obligations are joint and several. Consequently, if a co-surety defaults on its obligations, the remaining co-surety or co-sureties are obligated to make up the shortfall to the beneficiary of the surety bond even though the non-defaulting co-sureties did not receive the premium for that portion of the risk. Therefore, we are subject to credit risk with respect to the insurers with whom we are co-sureties on surety bonds.
 
In accordance with industry practice, when insureds purchase our insurance products through independent agents and brokers, they generally pay the premiums to the agent or broker, which in turn is required to remit the collected premium to us. In many jurisdictions, we are deemed to have received payment upon the receipt of the payment by the agent or broker, regardless of whether the agent or broker actually remits payment to us. As a result, we assume credit risk associated with amounts due from independent agents and brokers.
 
The value of our investment portfolio is subject to credit risk from the issuers and/or guarantors of the securities in the portfolio, other counterparties in certain transactions and, for certain securities, insurers that guarantee specific issuer’s obligations. Defaults by the issuer and, where applicable, an issuer’s guarantor, insurer or other counterparties with regard to any of such investments could reduce our net investment income and net realized investment gains or result in investment losses.
 
Our exposure to any of the above credit risks could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

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Reinsurance coverage may not be available to us in the future at commercially reasonable rates or at all.
 
The availability and cost of reinsurance are subject to prevailing market conditions that are beyond our control. No assurances can be made that reinsurance will remain continuously available to us in amounts that we consider sufficient and at prices that we consider acceptable, which would cause us to increase the amount of risk we retain, reduce the amount of business we underwrite or look for alternatives to reinsurance. This, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
 
Payment of obligations under surety bonds could adversely affect our future operating results.
 
The surety business tends to be characterized by infrequent but potentially high severity losses. The majority of our surety obligations are intended to be performance-based guarantees. When losses occur, they may be mitigated, at times, by recovery rights to the customer’s assets, contract payments, collateral and bankruptcy recoveries. We have substantial commercial and construction surety exposure for current and prior customers. In that regard, we have exposures related to surety bonds issued on behalf of companies that have experienced or may experience deterioration in creditworthiness. If the financial condition of these companies were adversely affected by the economy or otherwise, we may experience an increase in filed claims and may incur high severity losses, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
 
A downgrade in our credit ratings and financial strength ratings could adversely impact the competitive positions of our operating businesses.
 
Credit ratings and financial strength ratings can be important factors in establishing our competitive position in the insurance markets. There can be no assurance that our ratings will continue for any given period of time or that they will not be changed. If our credit ratings were downgraded in the future, we could incur higher borrowing costs and may have more limited means to access capital. In addition, a downgrade in our financial strength ratings could adversely affect the competitive position of our insurance operations, including a possible reduction in demand for our products in certain markets.
 
Cyclicality of the property and casualty insurance industry may cause fluctuations in our results.
 
The property and casualty insurance business historically has been cyclical, experiencing periods characterized by intense price competition, relatively low premium rates and less restrictive underwriting standards followed by periods of relatively low levels of competition, high premium rates and more selective underwriting standards. We expect this cyclicality to continue. The periods of intense price competition in the cycle could adversely affect our financial condition, profitability or cash flows.
 
A number of factors, including many that are volatile and unpredictable, can have a significant impact on cyclical trends in the property and casualty insurance industry and the industry’s profitability. These factors include:
 
  •  an apparent trend of courts to grant increasingly larger awards for certain damages;
 
  •  catastrophic hurricanes, windstorms, earthquakes and other natural disasters, as well as the occurrence of man-made disasters (e.g., a terrorist attack);
 
  •  availability, price and terms of reinsurance;
 
  •  fluctuations in interest rates;
 
  •  changes in the investment environment that affect market prices of and income and returns on investments; and
 
  •  inflationary pressures that may tend to affect the size of losses experienced by insurance companies.

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We cannot predict whether or when market conditions will improve, remain constant or deteriorate. Negative market conditions may impair our ability to write insurance at rates that we consider appropriate relative to the risk assumed. If we cannot write insurance at appropriate rates, our ability to transact business would be materially and adversely affected.
 
Intense competition for our products could harm our ability to maintain or increase our profitability and premium volume.
 
The property and casualty insurance industry is highly competitive. We compete not only with other stock companies but also with mutual companies, other underwriting organizations and alternative risk sharing mechanisms. We compete for business not only on the basis of price, but also on the basis of financial strength, availability of coverage desired by customers and quality of service, including claim adjustment service. We may have difficulty in continuing to compete successfully on any of these bases in the future.
 
If competition limits our ability to write new business at adequate rates, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
 
We are dependent on a distribution network comprised of independent insurance brokers and agents to distribute our products.
 
We generally do not use salaried employees to promote or distribute our insurance products. Instead, we rely on a large number of independent insurance brokers and agents. Accordingly, our business is dependent on the willingness of these brokers and agents to recommend our products to their customers. Deterioration in relationships with our broker and agent distribution network could materially and adversely affect our ability to sell our products, which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.
 
The inability of our insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends in sufficient amounts would harm our ability to meet our obligations and to pay future dividends.
 
As a holding company, Chubb relies primarily on dividends from its insurance subsidiaries to meet its obligations for payment of interest and principal on outstanding debt obligations and to pay dividends to shareholders. The ability of our insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends in the future will depend on their statutory surplus, on earnings and on regulatory restrictions. We are subject to regulation by some states as an insurance holding company system. Such regulation generally provides that transactions between companies within the holding company system must be fair and equitable. Transfers of assets among affiliated companies, certain dividend payments from insurance subsidiaries and certain material transactions between companies within the system may be subject to prior notice to, or prior approval by, state regulatory authorities. The ability of our insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends is also restricted by regulations that set standards of solvency that must be met and maintained, that limit investments and that limit dividends to shareholders. These regulations may affect Chubb’s insurance subsidiaries’ ability to provide Chubb with dividends.
 
Our businesses are heavily regulated, and changes in regulation may reduce our profitability and limit our growth.
 
Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to extensive regulation and supervision in the jurisdictions in which they conduct business. This regulation is generally designed to protect the interests of policyholders, and not necessarily the interests of insurers, their shareholders or other investors. The regulation relates to authorization for lines of business, capital and surplus requirements, investment limitations, underwriting limitations, transactions with affiliates, dividend limitations, changes in control, premium rates and a variety of other financial and nonfinancial components of an insurance company’s business.

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Virtually all states in which we operate require us, together with other insurers licensed to do business in that state, to bear a portion of the loss suffered by some insureds as the result of impaired or insolvent insurance companies. In addition, in various states, our insurance subsidiaries must participate in mandatory arrangements to provide various types of insurance coverage to individuals or other entities that otherwise are unable to purchase that coverage from private insurers. A few states require us to purchase reinsurance from a mandatory reinsurance fund. Such reinsurance funds can create a credit risk for insurers if not adequately funded by the state and, in some cases, the existence of a reinsurance fund could affect the prices charged for our policies. The effect of these and similar arrangements could reduce our profitability in any given period or limit our ability to grow our business.
 
In recent years, the state insurance regulatory framework has come under increased scrutiny, including scrutiny by federal officials, and some state legislatures have considered or enacted laws that may alter or increase state authority to regulate insurance companies and insurance holding companies. Further, the NAIC and state insurance regulators are continually reexamining existing laws and regulations, specifically focusing on modifications to statutory accounting principles, interpretations of existing laws and the development of new laws and regulations. Any proposed or future legislation or NAIC initiatives, if adopted, may be more restrictive on our ability to conduct business than current regulatory requirements or may result in higher costs.
 
We are subject to a number of risks associated with our business outside the United States.
 
A significant portion of our business is conducted outside the United States, including in Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe and Latin America. By doing business outside the United States, we are subject to a number of risks, including without limitation, dealing with jurisdictions, especially in emerging markets, that may lack political, financial or social stability and/or a strong legal and regulatory framework, which may make it difficult to do business and comply with local laws and regulations in such jurisdictions. Failure to comply with local laws in a particular jurisdiction or doing business in a country that becomes increasingly unstable could have a significant negative effect on our business and operations in that market as well as on our reputation generally.
 
As part of our international operations, we engage in transactions denominated in a currency other than the United States dollar. To reduce our exposure to currency fluctuation, we attempt to match the currency of the liabilities we incur under insurance policies with assets denominated in the same local currency. However, in the event that we underestimate our exposure, negative movements in the United States dollar versus the local currency will exacerbate the impact of the exposure on our results of operations and financial condition.
 
We report the results of our international operations on a consolidated basis with our domestic business. These results are reported in United States dollars. A significant portion of the business we write outside the United States, however, is transacted in local currencies. Consequently, fluctuations in the relative value of local currencies in which the policies are written versus the United States dollar can mask the underlying trends in our international business.
 
Item 1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments
 
None.
 
Item 2.  Properties
 
The executive offices of the Corporation are in Warren, New Jersey. The administrative offices of the P&C Group are located in Warren and Whitehouse Station, New Jersey. The P&C Group maintains territory, branch and service offices in major cities throughout the United States and also has offices in Canada, Europe, Australia, Latin America and Asia. Office facilities are leased with the exception of buildings in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey and Simsbury, Connecticut. Management considers its office facilities suitable and adequate for the current level of operations.

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Item 3.  Legal Proceedings
 
As previously disclosed, beginning in December 2002, Chubb Indemnity was named in a series of actions commenced by various plaintiffs against Chubb Indemnity and other non-affiliated insurers in the District Courts in Nueces, Travis and Bexar Counties in Texas. The plaintiffs generally allege that Chubb Indemnity and the other defendants breached duties to asbestos product end-users and conspired to conceal risks associated with asbestos exposure. The plaintiffs seek to impose liability on insurers directly. The plaintiffs seek unspecified monetary damages and punitive damages. Pursuant to the asbestos reform bill passed by the Texas legislature in May 2005, these actions were transferred to the Texas state asbestos Multidistrict Litigation on December 1, 2005. Chubb Indemnity is vigorously defending all of these actions and has been successful in getting a number of them dismissed through summary judgment, special exceptions, or voluntary withdrawal by the plaintiff.
 
Beginning in June 2003, Chubb Indemnity was also named in a number of similar cases in Cuyahoga, Mahoning, and Trumbull Counties in Ohio. The allegations and the damages sought in the Ohio actions are substantially similar to those in the Texas actions. In May 2005, the Ohio Court of Appeals sustained the trial court’s dismissal of a group of nine cases for failure to state a claim. Following the appellate court’s decision, Chubb Indemnity and other non-affiliated insurers were dismissed from the remaining cases filed in Ohio, except for a single case which had been removed to federal court and transferred to the federal asbestos Multidistrict Litigation. There has been no activity in that case since its removal.
 
In December 2007, certain of Chubb’s subsidiaries were named in an action filed in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, California that contains allegations similar to those made in the Texas and Ohio actions. In August 2008, Chubb’s motion to dismiss the complaint was granted, but permitted plaintiffs to amend their complaint. Chubb’s motion to dismiss the amended complaint was granted, with prejudice, in January 2009.
 
As previously disclosed, Chubb and certain of its subsidiaries have been involved in the investigations by various Attorneys General and other regulatory authorities of several states, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and certain non-U.S. regulatory authorities with respect to certain business practices in the property and casualty insurance industry including (1) potential conflicts of interest and anti-competitive behavior arising from the payment of contingent commissions to brokers and agents and (2) loss mitigation and finite reinsurance arrangements. In connection with these investigations, Chubb and certain of its subsidiaries received subpoenas and other requests for information from various regulators. The Corporation has cooperated fully with these investigations. The Corporation has settled with several state Attorneys General and insurance departments all issues arising out of their investigations. As described in more detail below, the Attorney General of Ohio in August 2007 filed an action against Chubb and certain of its subsidiaries, as well as several other insurers and one broker, as a result of the Ohio Attorney General’s business practices investigation. Although no other Attorney General or regulator has initiated an action against the Corporation, it is possible that such an action may be brought against the Corporation with respect to some or all of the issues that are the focus of these ongoing investigations.
 
As previously disclosed, individual actions and purported class actions arising out of the investigations into the payment of contingent commissions to brokers and agents have been filed in a number of federal and state courts. On August 1, 2005, Chubb and certain of its subsidiaries were named in a putative class action entitled In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. This action, brought against several brokers and insurers on behalf of a class of persons who purchased insurance through the broker defendants, asserts claims under the Sherman Act and state law and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) arising from the alleged unlawful use of contingent commission agreements.
 
As previously disclosed, Chubb and certain of its subsidiaries have also been named as defendants in two purported class actions relating to allegations of unlawful use of contingent commission arrangements that were originally filed in state court. The first was filed on February 16, 2005 in Seminole County, Florida. The second was filed on May 17, 2005 in Essex County, Massachusetts. Both cases were

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removed to federal court and then transferred by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey for consolidation with the In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation. Since being transferred to the District of New Jersey, the plaintiff in the former action has been inactive, and that action currently is stayed. The latter action has been voluntarily dismissed. On September 28, 2007, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey dismissed the second amended complaint filed by the plaintiffs in In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation in its entirety. In so doing, the court dismissed the plaintiffs’ Sherman Act and RICO claims with prejudice for failure to state a claim, and it dismissed the plaintiffs’ state law claims without prejudice because it declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over them. The plaintiffs have appealed the dismissal of their second amended complaint to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and that appeal is currently pending.
 
In December 2005, Chubb and certain of its subsidiaries were named in a putative class action similar to the In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation. The action is pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and has been assigned to the judge who is presiding over the In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation. The complaint has never been served in this matter. Separately, in April 2006, Chubb and one of its subsidiaries were named in an action similar to the In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation. This action was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and subsequently was transferred by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to the U.S. District for the District of New Jersey for consolidation with the In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation. This action currently is stayed. On May 21, 2007, Chubb and one of its subsidiaries were named as defendants in another action similar to In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation. This action was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and consolidated with In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation. This action currently is stayed.
 
As previously disclosed, on October 12, 2007, certain of Chubb’s subsidiaries were named as defendants in an action similar to In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation. This action was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. This action has been identified to the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation as a potential “tag-along action” to In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation. The Corporation currently anticipates that this action will be transferred by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and consolidated with In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation.
 
On August 24, 2007, Chubb and certain of its subsidiaries were named as defendants in an action filed by the Ohio Attorney General against several insurers and one broker. This action alleges violations of Ohio’s antitrust laws. In July 2008, the court denied the Corporation’s and the other defendants’ motions to dismiss the Attorney General’s complaint. In August 2008, the Corporation and the other defendants filed answers to the complaint and discovery is proceeding.
 
In these actions, the plaintiffs generally allege that the defendants unlawfully used contingent commission agreements and conspired to reduce competition in the insurance markets. The actions seek treble damages, injunctive and declaratory relief, and attorneys’ fees. The Corporation believes it has substantial defenses to all of the aforementioned legal proceedings and intends to defend the actions vigorously.
 
Information regarding certain litigation to which the P&C Group is a party is included in the Property and Casualty Insurance — Loss Reserves section of MD&A.
 
Chubb and its subsidiaries are also defendants in various lawsuits arising out of their businesses. It is the opinion of management that the final outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s results of operations or financial condition.

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Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
 
No matters were submitted to a vote of the shareholders during the quarter ended December 31, 2008.
 
Executive Officers of the Registrant
 
                 
          Year of
 
   
Age(a)
   
Election(b)
 
 
John D. Finnegan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
    60       2002  
W. Brian Barnes, Senior Vice President and Chief Actuary of Chubb & Son, a division of Federal
    46       2008  
Maureen A. Brundage, Executive Vice President and General Counsel
    52       2005  
Robert C. Cox, Executive Vice President of Chubb & Son, a division of Federal
    51       2003  
John J. Degnan, Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer
    64       1994  
John J. Kennedy, Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
    53       2008  
Paul J. Krump, Executive Vice President and Chief Underwriting Officer of Chubb & Son, a division of Federal
    49       2001  
Andrew A. McElwee, Jr., Executive Vice President of Chubb & Son, a division of Federal
    54       1997  
Harold L. Morrison, Jr., Executive Vice President and Chief Global Field Officer of Chubb & Son, a division of Federal
    51       2008  
Steven R. Pozzi, Executive Vice President of Chubb & Son, a division of Federal
    52       2009  
Dino E. Robusto, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Chubb & Son, a division of Federal
    50       2006  
Richard G. Spiro, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
    44       2008  
(a) Ages listed above are as of April 28, 2009.
 
(b) Date indicates year first elected or designated as an executive officer.
 
All of the foregoing officers serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors of the Corporation and have been employees of the Corporation for more than five years except for Ms. Brundage and Mr. Spiro.
 
Before joining the Corporation in 2005, Ms. Brundage was a partner in the law firm of White & Case LLP, where she headed the securities practice in New York and co-chaired its global securities practice.
 
Before joining the Corporation in 2008, Mr. Spiro was an investment banker at Citigroup Global Markets Inc., where he served as a Managing Director in Citigroup’s financial institutions investment banking group.

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PART II.
 
Item 5.   Market for the Registrant’s Common Stock and Related Stockholder Matters
 
The common stock of Chubb is listed and principally traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the trading symbol “CB”. The following are the high and low closing sale prices as reported on the NYSE Composite Tape and the quarterly dividends declared per share for each quarter of 2008 and 2007.
 
                                 
    2008  
    First
    Second
    Third
    Fourth
 
    Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter  
Common stock prices
                               
High
  $ 54.38     $ 54.65     $ 64.50     $ 53.06  
Low
    48.02       49.01       45.61       38.75  
Dividends declared
    .33       .33       .33       .33  
 
                                 
    2007  
    First
    Second
    Third
    Fourth
 
    Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter  
Common stock prices
                               
High
  $ 53.34     $ 55.91     $ 54.63     $ 55.52  
Low
    48.82       51.68       47.36       49.80  
Dividends declared
    .29       .29       .29       .29  
 
At February 13, 2009, there were approximately 8,900 common shareholders of record.
 
The declaration and payment of future dividends to Chubb’s shareholders will be at the discretion of Chubb’s Board of Directors and will depend upon many factors, including the Corporation’s operating results, financial condition and capital requirements, and the impact of regulatory constraints discussed in Note (18)(f) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
The following table summarizes the stock repurchased by Chubb during each month in the quarter ended December 31, 2008.
 
                                 
                Total Number of
    Maximum Number of
 
    Total
          Shares Purchased as
    Shares that May Yet Be
 
    Number of
          Part of Publicly
    Purchased Under
 
    Shares
    Average Price
    Announced Plans or
    the Plans or
 
Period
  Purchased(a)     Paid Per Share     Programs     Programs(b)  
 
October 2008
    1,921,900     $ 43.61       1,921,900       1,478,982  
November 2008
    860,200       45.66       860,200       618,782  
December 2008
    834,882       48.37       834,882       19,783,900  
                                 
Total
    3,616,982       45.20       3,616,982          
                                 
 
 
(a)  The stated amounts exclude 6,971 shares and 8,493 shares delivered to Chubb during the months of November 2008 and December 2008, respectively, by employees of the Corporation to cover option exercise prices and withholding taxes in connection with the Corporation’s stock-based compensation plans.
 
(b)  On December 13, 2007, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 28,000,000 shares of common stock. No shares remain under this share repurchase authorization. On December 4, 2008, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 20,000,000 additional shares of common stock. The authorization has no expiration date.

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Stock Performance Graph
 
The following performance graph compares the performance of Chubb’s common stock during the five-year period from December 31, 2003 through December 31, 2008 with the performance of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and the Standard & Poor’s Property & Casualty Insurance Index. The graph plots the changes in value of an initial $100 investment over the indicated time periods, assuming all dividends are reinvested.
 
Cumulative Total Return
Based upon an initial investment of $100 on December 31, 2003
with dividends reinvested
 
(PERFORMANCE GRAPH)
 
                                                 
    December 31
    2003   2004   2005   2006   2007   2008
 
Chubb
  $ 100     $ 115     $ 150     $ 165     $ 174     $ 167  
S&P 500
    100       111       116       135       142       90  
S&P 500 Property & Casualty Insurance
    100       110       127       143       123       87  
 
Our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may incorporate information by reference, including this Form 10-K. Unless we specifically state otherwise, the information under this heading “Stock Performance Graph” shall not be deemed to be “soliciting materials” and shall not be deemed to be “filed” with the SEC or incorporated by reference into any of our filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

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Item 6.  Selected Financial Data
 
                                         
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
   
2005
   
2004
 
    (in millions except for per share amounts)
 
FOR THE YEAR
                                       
Revenues
                                       
Property and Casualty Insurance
                                       
Premiums Earned
  $ 11,828     $ 11,946     $ 11,958     $ 12,176     $ 11,636  
Investment Income
    1,652       1,622       1,485       1,342       1,207  
Other Revenues
    4       11                    
Corporate and Other
    108       154       315       181       116  
Realized Investment Gains
(Losses), Net
    (371 )     374       245       384       218  
                                         
Total Revenues
  $ 13,221     $ 14,107     $ 14,003     $ 14,083     $ 13,177  
                                         
Income
                                       
Property and Casualty Insurance
                                       
Underwriting Income
  $ 1,361     $ 2,116     $ 1,905     $ 921 (a)   $ 846  
Investment Income
    1,622       1,590       1,454       1,315       1,184  
Other Income (Charges)
    9       6       10       (1 )     (4 )
                                         
Property and Casualty
Insurance Income
    2,992       3,712       3,369       2,235       2,026  
Corporate and Other
    (214 )     (149 )     (89 )     (172 )     (176 )
Realized Investment Gains
(Losses), Net
    (371 )     374       245       384       218  
                                         
Income Before Income Tax
    2,407       3,937       3,525       2,447       2,068  
Federal and Foreign Income Tax
    603       1,130       997       621       520  
                                         
Net Income
  $ 1,804     $ 2,807     $ 2,528     $ 1,826     $ 1,548  
                                         
                                         
Per Share
                                       
Net Income
  $ 4.92     $ 7.01     $ 5.98     $ 4.47     $ 4.01  
Dividends Declared on
Common Stock
    1.32       1.16       1.00       .86       .78  
                                         
AT DECEMBER 31
                                       
Total Assets
  $ 48,429     $ 50,574     $ 50,277     $ 48,061     $ 44,260  
Long Term Debt
    3,975       3,460       2,466       2,467       2,814  
Total Shareholders’ Equity
    13,432       14,445       13,863       12,407       10,126  
Book Value Per Share
    38.13       38.56       33.71       29.68       26.28  
 
(a)  Underwriting income in 2005 reflected net costs of $462 million ($300 million after-tax or $0.74 per share) related to Hurricane Katrina.

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Item 7.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations addresses the financial condition of the Corporation as of December 31, 2008 compared with December 31, 2007 and the results of operations for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes and the other information contained in this report.
 
INDEX
 
         
    PAGE
 
    25  
    27  
    27  
    28  
    29  
    29  
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    30  
    31  
    33  
    33  
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    36  
    37  
    37  
    38  
    38  
    39  
    41  
    41  
    45  
    45  
    48  
    49  
    50  
    53  
    54  
    54  
    54  
    55  
    56  
    56  
    58  
    58  
    59  
    60  
    61  
    61  

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
 
Certain statements in this document are “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA). These forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the PSLRA and include statements regarding our loss reserve and reinsurance recoverable estimates; the impact of future catastrophes (including acts of terrorism); asbestos and toxic waste liability developments; the number and severity of surety-related claims as well as surety market conditions; the impact of changes to our reinsurance program in 2007 and 2008 and the cost and availability of reinsurance in 2009; the adequacy of the rates at which we renewed and wrote new business; premium volume and competition in 2009; property and casualty investment income during 2009; changes in the value of our limited partnership investments during the first quarter of 2009; securities in our investment portfolio that may become other-than-temporarily impaired; cash flows generated by our fixed income investments; the impact of dislocations in the property and casualty insurance market, the ongoing economic downturn and currency rate fluctuations; estimates with respect to our credit derivatives exposure; the repurchase of common stock under our share repurchase program; our capital adequacy and funding of liquidity needs; and the impact of the amortization of net losses relating to our pension and other postretirement benefit plans. Forward-looking statements are made based upon management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning trends and future developments and their potential effects on us. These statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those suggested by forward-looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties, which include, among others, those discussed or identified from time to time in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and those associated with:
 
  •  global political conditions and the occurrence of terrorist attacks, including any nuclear, biological, chemical or radiological events;
 
  •  the effects of the outbreak or escalation of war or hostilities;
 
  •  premium pricing and profitability or growth estimates overall or by lines of business or geographic area, and related expectations with respect to the timing and terms of any required regulatory approvals;
 
  •  adverse changes in loss cost trends;
 
  •  our ability to retain existing business and attract new business;
 
  •  our expectations with respect to cash flow and investment income and with respect to other income;
 
  •  the adequacy of loss reserves, including:
 
  •  our expectations relating to reinsurance recoverables;
 
  •  the willingness of parties, including us, to settle disputes;
 
  •  developments in judicial decisions or regulatory or legislative actions relating to coverage and liability, in particular, for asbestos, toxic waste and other mass tort claims;
 
  •  development of new theories of liability;
 
  •  our estimates relating to ultimate asbestos liabilities;
 
  •  the impact from the bankruptcy protection sought by various asbestos producers and other related businesses; and
 
  •  the effects of proposed asbestos liability legislation, including the impact of claims patterns arising from the possibility of legislation and those that may arise if legislation is not passed;
 
  •  the availability and cost of reinsurance coverage;

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  •  the occurrence of significant weather-related or other natural or human-made disasters, particularly in locations where we have concentrations of risk;
 
  •  the impact of economic factors on companies on whose behalf we have issued surety bonds, and in particular, on those companies that file for bankruptcy or otherwise experience deterioration in creditworthiness;
 
  •  the effects of disclosures by, and investigations of, companies relating to possible accounting irregularities, practices in the financial services industry, investment losses or other corporate governance issues, including:
 
  •  claims and litigation arising out of stock option “backdating,” spring loading” and other equity grant practices by public companies;
 
  •  the effects on the capital markets and the markets for directors and officers and errors and omissions insurance;
 
  •  claims and litigation arising out of actual or alleged accounting or other corporate malfeasance by other companies;
 
  •  claims and litigation arising out of practices in the financial services industry;
 
  •  claims and litigation relating to uncertainty in the credit and broader financial markets; and
 
  •  legislative or regulatory proposals or changes;
 
  •  the effects of changes in market practices in the U.S. property and casualty insurance industry, in particular contingent commissions and loss mitigation and finite reinsurance arrangements, arising from any legal or regulatory proceedings, related settlements and industry reform, including changes that have been announced and changes that may occur in the future;
 
  •  the impact of legislative and regulatory developments on our business, including those relating to terrorism, catastrophes and the financial markets;
 
  •  any downgrade in our claims-paying, financial strength or other credit ratings;
 
  •  the ability of our subsidiaries to pay us dividends;
 
  •  general economic and market conditions including:
 
  •  changes in interest rates, market credit spreads and the performance of the financial markets;
 
  •  currency fluctuations;
 
  •  the effects of inflation;
 
  •  changes in domestic and foreign laws, regulations and taxes;
 
  •  changes in competition and pricing environments;
 
  •  regional or general changes in asset valuations;
 
  •  the inability to reinsure certain risks economically; and
 
  •  changes in the litigation environment; and
 
  •  our ability to implement management’s strategic plans and initiatives.
 
Chubb assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information set forth in this document, which speak as of the date hereof.

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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGMENTS
 
The consolidated financial statements include amounts based on informed estimates and judgments of management for transactions that are not yet complete. Such estimates and judgments affect the reported amounts in the financial statements. Those estimates and judgments that were most critical to the preparation of the financial statements involved the determination of loss reserves and the recoverability of related reinsurance recoverables and the evaluation of whether a decline in value of any investment is temporary or other-than-temporary. These estimates and judgments, which are discussed within the following analysis of our results of operations, require the use of assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain and therefore are subject to change as facts and circumstances develop. If different estimates and judgments had been applied, materially different amounts might have been reported in the financial statements.
 
OVERVIEW
 
The following highlights do not address all of the matters covered in the other sections of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations or contain all of the information that may be important to Chubb’s shareholders or the investing public. This overview should be read in conjunction with the other sections of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
 
  •  Net income was $1.8 billion in 2008 compared with $2.8 billion in 2007 and $2.5 billion in 2006. The lower net income in 2008 was due primarily to two factors. First, underwriting income in our property and casualty insurance business was substantially lower in 2008 than in 2007 and 2006. Second, we had realized investment losses in 2008 compared with realized investment gains in 2007 and 2006.
 
  •  Underwriting results were highly profitable in 2008, 2007 and 2006, but more so in 2007 and 2006. Our combined loss and expense ratio was 88.7% in 2008 compared with 82.9% in 2007 and 84.2% in 2006. The less profitable results in 2008 were due in large part to higher catastrophe losses and the cumulative impact of rate reductions experienced in our commercial and professional liability classes over the past several years. The impact of catastrophes accounted for 5.1 percentage points of the combined ratio in 2008 compared with 3.0 percentage points in 2007 and 1.4 percentage points in 2006.
 
  •  During 2008, we experienced overall favorable development of $873 million on loss reserves established as of the previous year end, due primarily to favorable loss experience in certain professional liability and commercial liability classes as well as lower than expected emergence of losses in the homeowners and commercial property classes. During 2007, we experienced overall favorable development of $697 million due primarily to favorable loss trends in the professional liability classes, lower than expected emergence of losses in the homeowners and commercial property classes and better than expected reported loss activity in the run-off of our reinsurance assumed business. During 2006, we experienced overall favorable development of $296 million due primarily to lower than expected emergence of losses in the homeowners and commercial property classes.
 
  •  Total net premiums written decreased by 1% in both 2008 and 2007. The lack of growth in both years reflected our continued emphasis on underwriting discipline in a highly competitive market environment. Net premiums written in the United States decreased by 2% in 2008 and 1% in 2007. Net premiums written outside the United States increased by 6% in 2008 and 10% in 2007; such growth was largely attributable to the impact of currency fluctuation.
 
  •  Property and casualty investment income after tax increased by 2% in 2008 and 9% in 2007. The growth in 2008 was limited as average invested assets increased only modestly during the year. For more information on this non-GAAP financial measure, see “Property and Casualty Insurance — Investment Results.”

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  •  Net realized investment losses before taxes were $371 million in 2008 compared with net realized gains before taxes of $374 million in 2007 and $245 million in 2006. The net realized losses in 2008 were primarily attributable to other-than-temporary impairment losses on equity securities. The net realized gains in 2007 and 2006 were primarily attributable to gains from investments in limited partnerships.
 
A summary of our consolidated net income is as follows:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31  
    2008     2007     2006  
    (in millions)  
 
Property and casualty insurance
  $ 2,992     $ 3,712     $ 3,369  
Corporate and other
    (214 )     (149 )     (89 )
Realized investment gains (losses)
    (371 )     374       245  
                         
Consolidated income before income tax
    2,407       3,937       3,525  
Federal and foreign income tax
    603       1,130       997  
                         
Consolidated net income
  $ 1,804     $ 2,807     $ 2,528  
                         
 
PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE
 
A summary of the results of operations of our property and casualty insurance business is as follows:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31  
    2008     2007     2006  
    (in millions)  
 
Underwriting
                       
Net premiums written
  $ 11,782     $ 11,872     $ 11,974  
Decrease (increase) in unearned premiums
    46       74       (16 )
                         
Premiums earned
    11,828       11,946       11,958  
                         
Losses and loss expenses
    6,898       6,299       6,574  
Operating costs and expenses
    3,546       3,564       3,467  
Increase in deferred policy acquisition costs
    (17 )     (52 )     (19 )
Dividends to policyholders
    40       19       31  
                         
Underwriting income
    1,361       2,116       1,905  
                         
Investments
                       
Investment income before expenses
    1,652       1,622       1,485  
Investment expenses
    30       32       31  
                         
Investment income
    1,622       1,590       1,454  
                         
Other income
    9       6       10  
                         
Property and casualty income before tax
  $ 2,992     $ 3,712     $ 3,369  
                         
Property and casualty investment income after tax
  $ 1,297     $ 1,273     $ 1,166  
                         
 
Property and casualty income before tax in 2008 was lower than in 2007 due to substantially lower underwriting income. The decrease in underwriting income in 2008 was due in large part to higher catastrophe losses and the cumulative impact of rate reductions experienced over the past several years in our commercial and specialty insurance businesses. Property and casualty income before tax in 2007 was higher than in 2006 due to higher underwriting income, particularly in our specialty insurance business, as well as a substantial increase in investment income due to an increase in invested assets.

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The profitability of our property and casualty insurance business depends on the results of both our underwriting and investment operations. We view these as two distinct operations since the underwriting functions are managed separately from the investment function. Accordingly, in assessing our performance, we evaluate underwriting results separately from investment results.
 
Underwriting Operations
 
Underwriting Results
 
We evaluate the underwriting results of our property and casualty insurance business in the aggregate and also for each of our separate business units.
 
Net Premiums Written
 
Net premiums written amounted to $11.8 billion in 2008, a decrease of 1% compared with 2007. Net premiums written in 2007 decreased 1% compared with 2006.
 
Net premiums written by business unit were as follows:
 
                                         
    Years Ended December 31  
          % Increase
          % Increase
       
          (Decrease)
          (Decrease)
       
    2008     2008 vs. 2007     2007     2007 vs. 2006     2006  
    (dollars in millions)  
 
Personal insurance
  $ 3,826       3 %   $ 3,709       5 %   $ 3,518  
Commercial insurance
    4,993       (2 )     5,083       (1 )     5,125  
Specialty insurance
    2,899       (2 )     2,944             2,941  
                                         
Total insurance
    11,718             11,736       1       11,584  
Reinsurance assumed
    64       (53 )     136       (65 )     390  
                                         
Total
  $ 11,782       (1 )   $ 11,872       (1 )   $ 11,974  
                                         
 
Net premiums written from our insurance business were flat in 2008 compared with 2007 and grew 1% in 2007 compared with 2006. Premiums in the United States, which represent about 75% of our insurance premiums, decreased 2% in 2008 and 1% in 2007. Insurance premiums outside the U.S. grew 6% in 2008 and 10% in 2007. The growth outside the U.S. in 2008 and 2007 was largely attributable to the impact of currency fluctuation due to the weakness of the U.S. dollar. In both years, such growth was 3% when measured in local currencies.
 
The overall lack of premium growth in both 2008 and 2007 reflected our continued emphasis on underwriting discipline in a highly competitive market environment. Rates were under competitive pressure that varied by class of business and geographic area. In both years, we retained a high percentage of our existing customers and renewed these accounts at what we believe are acceptable rates relative to the risks. While we continued to be disciplined, we found opportunities to write new business at acceptable rates; however, the number of such opportunities declined throughout 2007 and most of 2008.
 
During the second half of 2008, the property and casualty insurance market experienced disruption as a result of broader issues in the financial markets and the economies of the United States and other countries. The crisis in the financial markets had an adverse impact on some of our competitors. This has resulted in an increase in opportunities for us to write new business and we expect further opportunities in 2009. There are some factors that indicate that rates should increase during 2009, but the timing and magnitude of those changes are difficult to predict. Although these developments should have a positive effect on our business in 2009, we expect that the continued economic downturn will negatively impact our business in 2009. We expect net written premiums, excluding the impact of currency fluctuation, will be flat to modestly higher in 2009 compared with 2008. Assuming the foreign currency to U.S. dollar

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exchange rates remain at current levels, premium growth expressed in U.S. dollars would be adversely affected, resulting in a modest decrease in premiums in 2009 compared to 2008.
 
Net reinsurance assumed premiums written decreased by 53% in 2008 and 65% in 2007. The significant premium decline reflects the sale of our ongoing reinsurance assumed business to Harbor Point Limited in December 2005, which is discussed below.
 
Reinsurance Ceded
 
Our premiums written are net of amounts ceded to reinsurers, who assume a portion of the risk under certain insurance policies we write that are subject to the reinsurance.
 
Reinsurance rates generally remained steady in 2007 due in part to a relatively low level of catastrophes in 2006. Capacity restrictions continued in some segments of the marketplace in both years. Our overall reinsurance costs were similar in 2007 and 2006.
 
We did not renew our casualty clash treaty in 2007 as we believed the cost was not justified given the limited capacity and terms available. The treaty had provided coverage of approximately 55% of losses between $75 million and $150 million per insured event.
 
On our commercial property per risk treaty, in 2007 we increased the reinsurance coverage at the top of the program by $100 million.
 
The structure of our property catastrophe program for events in the United States was modified in 2007 but the overall coverage was similar to the previous program. In place of traditional reinsurance, we purchased fully collateralized four-year reinsurance coverage for homeowners-related losses sustained from qualifying hurricane loss events in the northeastern part of the United States. This reinsurance was purchased from East Lane Re Ltd., a Cayman Islands reinsurance company, which financed the provision of reinsurance through the issuance of $250 million in catastrophe bonds to investors under two separate bond tranches.
 
Reinsurance rates for property risks declined somewhat in 2008. Capacity restrictions for certain coverages continued in the marketplace. The overall cost of our property reinsurance program was modestly lower in 2008 than that in 2007.
 
On our commercial property per risk treaty, in 2008 we increased the reinsurance coverage in the top layer of the treaty by $60 million. This treaty now provides approximately $560 million of coverage per risk in excess of our $25 million retention.
 
The structure of our property catastrophe program for events in the United States was again modified in 2008, but the overall coverage remains similar to the previous program. We purchased $200 million of fully collateralized three-year reinsurance coverage in place of traditional reinsurance. This reinsurance was purchased from East Lane Re II Ltd., a Cayman Islands reinsurance company, which financed the provision of reinsurance through the issuance of $200 million in catastrophe bonds to investors under three separate bond tranches. The current traditional catastrophe reinsurance treaty, in combination with the collateralized coverage purchased in 2008, provides coverage of approximately 70% of losses (net of recoveries from other available reinsurance) between $350 million and $1.3 billion, with additional coverage of about 60% of losses between $1.3 billion and $2.05 billion in the northeastern part of the United States, where we have our greatest concentration of catastrophe exposure.
 
The fully collateralized four-year reinsurance coverage purchased in 2007 for homeowners-related losses sustained from qualifying hurricane loss events in the northeastern part of the United States remains in effect and now provides coverage of approximately 30% of covered losses between $1.35 billion and $2.2 billion.
 
We have additional reinsurance from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, which is a state-mandated fund designed to reimburse insurers for a portion of their residential catastrophic hurricane

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losses. Our participation in this program limits our initial retention in Florida for homeowners-related losses to approximately $185 million.
 
On our property catastrophe treaty for events outside the United States, in 2008, we increased the reinsurance coverage in the top layer of the treaty by $50 million and modestly increased our participation in the program. The treaty now provides coverage of approximately 85% of losses (net of recoveries from other available reinsurance) between $75 million and $325 million.
 
Our property reinsurance treaties generally contain terrorism exclusions for acts perpetrated by foreign terrorists, and for nuclear, biological, chemical and radiological loss causes whether such acts are perpetrated by foreign or domestic terrorists.
 
We do not expect the changes we made to our reinsurance program during 2007 and 2008 to have a material effect on the Corporation’s results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.
 
Most of our ceded reinsurance arrangements consist of excess of loss and catastrophe contracts that protect against a specified part or all of certain types of losses over stipulated amounts arising from any one occurrence or event. Therefore, unless we incur losses that exceed our initial retention under these contracts, we do not receive any loss recoveries. As a result, in certain years, we cede premiums to other insurance companies and receive few, if any, loss recoveries. However, in a year in which there is a significant catastrophic event or a series of large individual losses, we may receive substantial loss recoveries. The impact of ceded reinsurance on net premiums written and earned and on net losses and loss expenses incurred for the three years ended December 31, 2008 is presented in Note (10) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
Our property reinsurance treaties represent the most significant component of our reinsurance program. Our major property reinsurance treaties expire on April 1, 2009. While we expect that reinsurance rates for property risks will increase in 2009, the final structure of our program and amount of coverage purchased will be determinants of our total reinsurance costs in 2009.
 
Profitability
 
The combined loss and expense ratio, expressed as a percentage, is the key measure of underwriting profitability traditionally used in the property and casualty insurance business. Management evaluates the performance of our underwriting operations and of each of our business units using, among other measures, the combined loss and expense ratio calculated in accordance with statutory accounting principles. It is the sum of the ratio of losses and loss expenses to premiums earned (loss ratio) plus the ratio of statutory underwriting expenses to premiums written (expense ratio) after reducing both premium amounts by dividends to policyholders. When the combined ratio is under 100%, underwriting results are generally considered profitable; when the combined ratio is over 100%, underwriting results are generally considered unprofitable.
 
Statutory accounting principles applicable to property and casualty insurance companies differ in certain respects from generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Under statutory accounting principles, policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses are recognized immediately, not at the time premiums are earned. Management uses underwriting results determined in accordance with GAAP, among other measures, to assess the overall performance of our underwriting operations. To convert statutory underwriting results to a GAAP basis, policy acquisition expenses are deferred and amortized over the period in which the related premiums are earned. Underwriting income determined in accordance with GAAP is defined as premiums earned less losses and loss expenses incurred and GAAP underwriting expenses incurred.

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Underwriting results were highly profitable in each of the last three years, but somewhat less so in 2008. The combined loss and expense ratio for our overall property and casualty business was as follows:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31  
    2008     2007     2006  
 
Loss ratio
    58.5 %     52.8 %     55.2 %
Expense ratio
    30.2       30.1       29.0  
                         
Combined loss and expense ratio
    88.7 %     82.9 %     84.2 %
                         
 
The relatively low loss ratio in each of the last three years reflected the favorable loss experience which we believe resulted from our disciplined underwriting in recent years. Results in all three years, particularly 2008 and 2007, benefited from favorable prior year loss development. For more information on prior year loss development, see “Property and Casualty Insurance-Loss Reserves, Prior Year Loss Development.” The loss ratio was higher in 2008 compared to 2007 due to higher catastrophe losses as well as declining earned premium rates and several large non-catastrophe losses. The loss ratio improved in 2007 compared to 2006 due to mild loss trends in certain classes of business.
 
In 2008, net catastrophe losses incurred were $607 million, which represented 5.1 percentage points of the loss ratio. About $310 million of the catastrophe losses in 2008 related to Hurricane Ike, including our estimated share of an assessment from the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, a windstorm insurance entity created by the State of Texas. Net catastrophe losses incurred were $363 million in 2007, which represented 3.0 percentage points of the loss ratio. Net catastrophe losses incurred in 2006 were $173 million, which were offset in part by a $20 million reduction in previously accrued reinsurance reinstatement premium costs related to Hurricane Katrina. The net impact of catastrophes in 2006 accounted for 1.4 percentage points of the loss ratio.
 
We did not have any recoveries from our catastrophe reinsurance treaties during the three year period ended December 31, 2008 because there was no individual catastrophe for which our losses exceeded our retention under the treaties.
 
Our expense ratio was similar in 2008 and 2007, as an increase in commissions was substantially offset by lower operating costs related to the run-off of our reinsurance business. The increase in commissions was largely the result of premium growth outside the United States in countries where commission rates are higher than in the United States as well as modestly higher commission rates in the United States in certain classes of business. The compensation and other operating cost component of our expense ratio related to our ongoing businesses was identical in both years. The expense ratio increased in 2007 compared to 2006 due primarily to higher commissions, largely the result of premium growth outside the United States in certain classes of business with relatively higher commission rates.
 
In lieu of paying contingent commissions, beginning in 2007, we implemented a new guaranteed supplemental compensation program for agents and brokers in the United States with whom we previously had contingent commission agreements. Under this arrangement, agents and brokers are paid a percentage of written premiums on eligible lines of business in a calendar year based upon their prior performance. The change in our commission arrangements created a difference in the timing of expense recognition, which resulted in a one-time benefit to income during the 2007 transition year. The impact of the change in 2007 was to increase deferred policy acquisition costs by approximately $70 million. The change had no effect on the expense ratio.

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Review of Underwriting Results by Business Unit
 
Personal Insurance
 
Net premiums written from personal insurance, which represented 33% of our premiums written in 2008, increased by 3% in 2008 and 5% in 2007. Net premiums written for the classes of business within the personal insurance segment were as follows:
 
                                         
    Years Ended December 31  
          % Increase
          % Increase
       
    2008     2008 vs. 2007     2007     2007 vs. 2006     2006  
    (dollars in millions)  
 
Automobile
  $ 602       (3 )%   $ 621       (7 )%   $ 670  
Homeowners
    2,449       1       2,423       7       2,268  
Other
    775       17       665       15       580  
                                         
Total personal
  $ 3,826       3     $ 3,709       5     $ 3,518  
                                         
 
Personal automobile premiums decreased in 2008 and 2007 due to a highly competitive U.S. marketplace. The termination of a collector vehicle program also contributed to the decrease in 2007. Premium growth in our homeowners business was constrained in 2008 due to an increasingly competitive market as well as the slowdown in new housing construction as a result of the downturn in the U.S. economy in the last half of the year. The premium growth in 2007 was due primarily to increases in coverage relative to increases in the replacement cost of insured properties. The in-force policy count for this class of business decreased slightly in 2008 and was relatively flat in 2007 compared to 2006. Our other personal business includes insurance for excess liability, yacht and accident and health coverages. The substantial growth in this business in 2008 and 2007 was due primarily to a significant increase in accident and health premiums. Growth in accident and health business was particularly strong outside the United States in both years; growth was also strong in 2008 in the United States due in large part to a select initiative. Excess liability premiums also grew in both years, although more so in 2007, due in part to a modest increase in rates.
 
Our personal insurance business produced highly profitable underwriting results in each of the last three years, but less so in each succeeding year. The combined loss and expense ratios for the classes of business within the personal insurance segment were as follows:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31  
    2008     2007     2006  
 
Automobile
    87.6 %     89.8 %     90.4 %
Homeowners
    83.7       80.2       74.6  
Other
    97.5       96.4       98.6  
Total personal
    87.1       84.8       81.7  
 
Our personal automobile results were profitable in each of the past three years. Results in all three years benefited from lower claim frequency and modest favorable prior year loss development.
 
Homeowners results were highly profitable in each of the last three years. Results in 2008 were adversely impacted by the higher severity of large non-catastrophe losses. Results in 2006 benefited from relatively low catastrophe losses. The impact of catastrophes accounted for 7.8 percentage points of the combined loss and expense ratio for this class in 2008 compared with 9.6 percentage points in 2007 and 5.7 percentage points in 2006.
 
Other personal business produced modestly profitable results in each of the past three years. Our accident and health business was profitable in 2008 compared with highly profitable results in 2007 and 2006. Our yacht business was unprofitable in 2008 compared with profitable results in 2007 and 2006. Yacht results in 2008 were adversely affected by several large non-catastrophe losses as well as several losses related to Hurricane Ike. Our excess liability business showed significant improvement in 2008,

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producing near breakeven results. Results for this business were unprofitable in 2007 and more so in 2006 due to inadequate pricing and unfavorable prior year loss development.
 
Commercial Insurance
 
Net premiums written from commercial insurance, which represented 42% of our premiums written in 2008, decreased by 2% in 2008 and 1% in 2007. Net premiums written for the classes of business within the commercial insurance segment were as follows:
 
                                         
    Years Ended December 31  
          % Increase
          % Increase
       
          (Decrease)
          (Decrease)
       
    2008     2008 vs. 2007     2007     2007 vs. 2006     2006  
    (dollars in millions)  
 
Multiple peril
  $ 1,210       (3 )%   $ 1,252       (3 )%   $ 1,290  
Casualty
    1,654       (4 )     1,726             1,731  
Workers’ compensation
    851       (4 )     890       (1 )     901  
Property and marine
    1,278       5       1,215       1       1,203  
                                         
Total commercial
  $ 4,993       (2 )   $ 5,083       (1 )   $ 5,125  
                                         
 
The decline in premiums in most of our commercial classes in 2008 and 2007 reflected the highly competitive marketplace, particularly for new business. Growth in the property and marine classes in 2008 was primarily from a syndicated large risks program in both the U.S. and outside the U.S. and a marine initiative. The competitive rate pressures in 2006 in some of the commercial classes continued in 2007. These pressures affected all classes of business in the second half of 2007 and throughout 2008, particularly for new business. This resulted in modest decreases in renewal rates in most classes in both years. Rate declines were more pronounced in certain classes, such as workers’ compensation and large property risks, and also varied by geographic area.
 
Retention levels of our existing customers remained steady over the last three years. New business volume was slightly higher in 2007 but down in 2008 compared with the respective prior years. The increase in 2007 was due to a few large accounts written in the first half of the year. New business volume in the second half of 2007 and throughout 2008 was down as it became more difficult to find new opportunities at acceptable rates.
 
We have continued to maintain our underwriting discipline in the highly competitive market, renewing business and writing new business only where we believe we are securing acceptable rates and appropriate terms and conditions for the exposures.
 
Our commercial insurance business produced less profitable underwriting results in 2008 than in 2007 and 2006. The less profitable results in 2008 were largely due to substantially higher catastrophe losses in the multiple peril and property and marine classes, primarily from Hurricane Ike. The impact of catastrophes accounted for 8.1 percentage points of the combined loss and expense ratio for our commercial insurance business in 2008, whereas such impact was 2.6 percentage points in 2007 and negligible in 2006. Results in all three years benefited from favorable loss experience, disciplined risk selection and appropriate terms and conditions in recent years.

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The combined loss and expense ratios for the classes of business within commercial insurance were as follows:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31  
    2008     2007     2006  
 
Multiple peril
    85.3 %     80.8 %     75.8 %
Casualty
    95.0       94.6       96.8  
Workers’ compensation
    82.1       77.6       80.4  
Property and marine
    108.8       84.3       72.5  
Total commercial
    93.9       85.8       83.1  
 
Multiple peril results were highly profitable in each of the past three years. The less profitable results in 2008 were in the property component of this business largely due to higher catastrophe losses. The impact of catastrophes accounted for 8.5 percentage points of the combined loss and expense ratio for this class in 2008 compared with 1.7 percentage points in 2007 and 2.9 percentage points in 2006. The property component benefited from low non-catastrophe losses in all three years, particularly outside the United States in 2008. Results in the liability component were highly profitable in all three years.
 
Results for our casualty business were similarly profitable in each of the past three years. The automobile component of our casualty business was highly profitable in each of the past three years, but more so in 2006. Results in the primary liability component were profitable in each of the past three years. Results in the excess liability component were profitable in 2008 and, to a lesser extent, in 2007, compared with unprofitable results in 2006. Excess liability results in 2008 and 2007 benefited from favorable prior year loss development, whereas results in 2006 were adversely affected by unfavorable loss development. Casualty results in 2008 and 2007 were adversely affected by incurred losses related to asbestos and toxic waste claims. Our analysis of these exposures resulted in increases in the estimate of our ultimate liabilities. Such losses represented 5.9 percentage points of the combined loss and expense ratio for this class in 2008 and 5.3 percentage points in 2007. The impact of such losses was not significant in 2006.
 
Workers’ compensation results were highly profitable in each of the past three years. Results in all three years benefited from our disciplined risk selection during the past several years as well as favorable claim cost trends, resulting in part from the positive effect of reforms in California. The modestly less profitable results in 2008 were primarily due to lower earned premiums, which were due to rate reductions associated with state reforms and increased competition.
 
Property and marine results were unprofitable in 2008 compared with highly profitable results in 2007 and 2006. The deterioration in 2008 results was due primarily to higher catastrophe losses, and to a lesser extent, an increase in the frequency and severity of large non-catastrophe losses. Catastrophe losses accounted for 22.1 percentage points of the combined loss and expense ratio in 2008 and 8.2 percentage points in 2007. The impact of catastrophes was negligible in 2006. Excluding the impact of catastrophes, the combined ratio was 86.7%, 76.1% and 73.4% in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

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Specialty Insurance
 
Net premiums written from specialty insurance, which represented 25% of our premiums written in 2008, decreased by 2% in 2008 and were flat in 2007 compared with the respective prior years. Net premiums written for the classes of business within the specialty insurance segment were as follows:
 
                                         
    Years Ended December 31  
          % Increase
          % Increase
       
          (Decrease)
          (Decrease)
       
    2008     2008 vs. 2007     2007     2007 vs. 2006     2006  
          (dollars in millions)        
 
Professional liability
  $ 2,546       (2 )%   $ 2,605       (1 )%   $ 2,641  
Surety
    353       4       339       13       300  
                                         
Total specialty
  $ 2,899       (2 )   $ 2,944           $ 2,941  
                                         
 
The decline in premiums in 2008 and 2007 for the professional liability classes of business was due to the highly competitive rate environment, particularly in the directors and officers liability component, and our commitment to maintain underwriting discipline in this environment.
 
Renewal rates for the professional liability classes declined in 2007 compared to 2006. This downward trend continued in 2008 in most classes of business although it slowed as the year progressed, with overall rates for the professional liability classes being flat in the fourth quarter of 2008. Rates for directors and officers liability and errors and omissions liability insurance for financial institutions, however, increased throughout 2008, particularly for those companies implicated in the crisis in the financial markets. Retention levels in the professional liability classes remained strong over the last three years. New business volume declined modestly in each of the past two years due to the aggressive competition in the marketplace. Consistent with our strategy in recent years, we continued to direct our focus on small and middle market publicly traded and privately held companies. We continued to get what we believe are acceptable rates and appropriate terms and conditions on both new business and renewals.
 
The substantial growth in net premiums written for our surety business in 2007 was due primarily to strong public sector construction. Growth slowed in 2008 due to a more competitive environment and the impact of the weaker economy on the construction business. We expect these conditions will persist into 2009.
 
Our specialty insurance business produced profitable underwriting results in each of the last three years. The combined loss and expense ratios for the classes of business within specialty insurance were as follows:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31  
    2008     2007     2006  
 
Professional liability
    85.0 %     82.4 %     91.8 %
Surety
    69.9       35.4       44.2  
Total specialty
    83.3       77.4       87.5  
 
Our professional liability business produced highly profitable results in 2008 and 2007 compared with profitable results in 2006. The profitability of our professional liability business was particularly strong outside the United States in 2008 and 2007. The employment practices liability and fiduciary liability classes each produced highly profitable results in 2008 and 2007, compared to profitable results in 2006. The directors and officers liability class was profitable in all three years, particularly in 2007. Our errors and omissions liability business produced near breakeven results in 2008 and 2007 compared with highly unprofitable results in 2006. The fidelity class was highly profitable in each of the past three years.

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Collectively, the results for the professional liability classes benefited from favorable prior year loss development in 2008 and in 2007 and, to a much lesser extent, in 2006, due to the recognition of the positive loss trends we have been experiencing related to accident years 2005 and prior. These trends were largely the result of a favorable business climate, lower policy limits and better terms and conditions. The expected loss ratio for the 2008 accident year in our professional liability business is above breakeven, and higher than the prior two years, due in part to the uncertainty surrounding the ongoing crisis in the financial markets.
 
Our surety business produced highly profitable results in each of the past three years due to favorable loss experience. Results in 2008 were less profitable than results in 2007 and 2006 due to the adverse impact of one large loss. Our surety business tends to be characterized by infrequent but potentially high severity losses. When losses occur, they are mitigated, at times, by recovery rights to the customer’s assets, contract payments, collateral and bankruptcy recoveries.
 
The majority of our surety obligations are intended to be performance-based guarantees. We manage our exposure on an absolute basis and by specific bond type. We have substantial commercial and construction surety exposure for current and prior customers, including exposures related to surety bonds issued on behalf of companies that have experienced deterioration in creditworthiness since we issued bonds to them. We therefore may experience an increase in filed claims and may incur high severity losses, especially in light of the ongoing economic downturn. Such losses would be recognized if and when claims are filed and determined to be valid, and could have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s results of operations.
 
Reinsurance Assumed
 
In December 2005, we completed a transaction involving a new Bermuda-based reinsurance company, Harbor Point Limited. As part of the transaction, we transferred our ongoing reinsurance assumed business and certain related assets, including renewal rights, to Harbor Point. Harbor Point generally did not assume our reinsurance liabilities relating to reinsurance contracts incepting prior to December 31, 2005. We retained those liabilities and the related assets.
 
For a transition period of about two years, Harbor Point underwrote specific reinsurance business on our behalf. We retained a portion of this business and ceded the balance to Harbor Point in return for a fronting commission. We received additional payments based on the amount of business renewed by Harbor Point. These amounts were recognized in income as earned.
 
Net premiums written from our reinsurance assumed business, which is in run-off, decreased by 53% in 2008 and 65% in 2007. The significant decrease in premiums in both years was expected in light of the sale of our ongoing reinsurance assumed business to Harbor Point.
 
Reinsurance assumed results were profitable in each of the past three years. While the volume of business declined substantially in each of the past three years, results in all three years, particularly in 2007, benefited from significant favorable prior year loss development.
 
Catastrophe Risk Management
 
Our property and casualty subsidiaries have exposure to losses caused by natural perils such as hurricanes and other windstorms, earthquakes, severe winter weather and brush fires and from man-made catastrophic events such as terrorism. The frequency and severity of catastrophes are inherently unpredictable.

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Natural Catastrophes
 
The extent of losses from a natural catastrophe is a function of both the total amount of insured exposure in an area affected by the event and the severity of the event. We regularly assess our concentration of risk exposures in catastrophe exposed areas globally and have strategies and underwriting standards to manage this exposure through individual risk selection, subject to regulatory constraints, and through the purchase of catastrophe reinsurance. We have invested in modeling technologies and a risk concentration management tool that allow us to monitor and control our accumulations of potential losses in catastrophe exposed areas in the United States, such as California and the gulf and east coasts, as well as in such areas in other countries. Actual results may differ materially from those suggested by the model. We also continue to actively explore and analyze credible scientific evidence, including the impact of global climate change, that may affect our ability to manage exposure under the insurance policies we issue.
 
Despite these efforts, the occurrence of one or more severe natural catastrophic events in heavily populated areas could have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.
 
Terrorism Risk and Legislation
 
The September 11, 2001 attack changed the way the property and casualty insurance industry views catastrophic risk. That tragic event demonstrated that numerous classes of business we write are subject to terrorism related catastrophic risks in addition to the catastrophic risks related to natural occurrences. This, together with the limited availability of terrorism reinsurance, has required us to change how we identify and evaluate risk accumulations. We have licensed a terrorism model that provides loss estimates under numerous event scenarios. Also, the above noted risk concentration management tool enables us to identify locations and geographic areas that are exposed to risk accumulations. The information provided by the model and the tracking tool has resulted in our non-renewing some accounts and has restricted us from writing others. Actual results may differ materially from those suggested by the model.
 
The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (TRIA) established a temporary program under which the federal government will share the risk of loss arising from certain acts of foreign terrorism with the insurance industry. The program, which was applicable to most lines of commercial business, was scheduled to terminate on December 31, 2005. In December 2005, TRIA was extended through December 31, 2007. Certain lines of business previously subject to the provisions of TRIA, including commercial automobile, surety and professional liability insurance, other than directors and officers liability, were excluded from the program. In December 2007, TRIA was extended through December 31, 2014. The amended law eliminated the distinction between foreign and domestic acts of terrorism, now providing protection from all acts of terrorism. Otherwise, there were no significant changes to the key features of the program.
 
As a precondition to recovery under TRIA, insurance companies with direct commercial insurance exposure in the United States for TRIA lines of business are required to make insurance for covered acts of terrorism available under their policies. Each insurer has a separate deductible that it must meet in the event of an act of terrorism before federal assistance becomes available. The deductible is based on a percentage of direct U.S. earned premiums for the covered lines of business in the previous calendar year. For 2009, that deductible is 20% of direct premiums earned in 2008 for these lines of business. For losses above the deductible, the federal government will pay for 85% of covered losses, while the insurer retains 15%. There is a combined annual aggregate limit for the federal government and all insurers of $100 billion. If acts of terrorism result in covered losses exceeding the $100 billion annual limit, insurers are not liable for additional losses. While the provisions of TRIA will serve to mitigate our exposure in the event of a large-scale terrorist attack, our deductible is substantial, approximating $1 billion in 2009.

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For certain classes of business, such as workers’ compensation, terrorism insurance is mandatory. For those classes of business where it is not mandatory, policyholders may choose not to accept terrorism insurance, which would, subject to other statutory or regulatory restrictions, reduce our exposure.
 
We will continue to manage this type of catastrophic risk by monitoring terrorism risk aggregations. Nevertheless, given the unpredictability of the targets, frequency and severity of potential terrorist events as well as the very limited terrorism reinsurance coverage available in the market, the occurrence of any such events could have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.
 
We also have exposure outside the United States to risk of loss from acts of terrorism. In some jurisdictions, we have access to government mechanisms that would mitigate our exposure.
 
Loss Reserves
 
Unpaid losses and loss expenses, also referred to as loss reserves, are the largest liability of our property and casualty subsidiaries.
 
Our loss reserves include case estimates for claims that have been reported and estimates for claims that have been incurred but not reported at the balance sheet date as well as estimates of the expenses associated with processing and settling all reported and unreported claims, less estimates of anticipated salvage and subrogation recoveries. Estimates are based upon past loss experience modified for current trends as well as prevailing economic, legal and social conditions. Our loss reserves are not discounted to present value.
 
We regularly review our loss reserves using a variety of actuarial techniques. We update the reserve estimates as historical loss experience develops, additional claims are reported and/or settled and new information becomes available. Any changes in estimates are reflected in operating results in the period in which the estimates are changed.
 
Incurred but not reported (IBNR) reserve estimates are generally calculated by first projecting the ultimate cost of all claims that have occurred and then subtracting reported losses and loss expenses. Reported losses include cumulative paid losses and loss expenses plus case reserves. The IBNR reserve includes a provision for claims that have occurred but have not yet been reported to us, some of which are not yet known to the insured, as well as a provision for future development on reported claims. A relatively large proportion of our net loss reserves, particularly for long tail liability classes, are reserves for IBNR losses. In fact, more than 70% of our aggregate net loss reserves at December 31, 2008 were for IBNR losses.

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Our gross case and IBNR loss reserves and related reinsurance recoverable by class of business were as follows:
 
                                         
                            Net
 
    Gross Loss Reserves     Reinsurance
    Loss
 
December 31, 2008
  Case     IBNR     Total     Recoverable     Reserves  
                (in millions)        
 
Personal insurance
                                       
Automobile
  $ 210     $ 195     $ 405     $ 14     $ 391  
Homeowners
    434       310       744       29       715  
Other
    382       608       990       175       815  
                                         
Total personal
    1,026       1,113       2,139       218       1,921  
                                         
Commercial insurance
                                       
Multiple peril
    589       1,034       1,623       37       1,586  
Casualty
    1,431       4,621       6,052       392       5,660  
Workers’ compensation
    832       1,377       2,209       227       1,982  
Property and marine
    889       449       1,338       499       839  
                                         
Total commercial
    3,741       7,481       11,222       1,155       10,067  
                                         
Specialty insurance
                                       
Professional liability
    1,690       5,959       7,649       474       7,175  
Surety
    28       51       79       11       68  
                                         
Total specialty
    1,718       6,010       7,728       485       7,243  
                                         
Total insurance
    6,485       14,604       21,089       1,858       19,231  
Reinsurance assumed
    370       908       1,278       354       924  
                                         
Total
  $ 6,855     $ 15,512     $ 22,367     $ 2,212     $ 20,155  
                                         
 
                                         
                            Net
 
    Gross Loss Reserves     Reinsurance
    Loss
 
December 31, 2007
  Case     IBNR     Total     Recoverable     Reserves  
                (in millions)        
 
Personal insurance
                                       
Automobile
  $ 226     $ 200     $ 426     $ 15     $ 411  
Homeowners
    432       305       737       32       705  
Other
    452       526       978       230       748  
                                         
Total personal
    1,110       1,031       2,141       277       1,864  
                                         
Commercial insurance
                                       
Multiple peril
    646       1,010       1,656       37       1,619  
Casualty
    1,640       4,302       5,942       402       5,540  
Workers’ compensation
    842       1,323       2,165       255       1,910  
Property and marine
    814       395       1,209       532       677  
                                         
Total commercial
    3,942       7,030       10,972       1,226       9,746  
                                         
Specialty insurance
                                       
Professional liability
    2,079       5,999       8,078       552       7,526  
Surety
    33       52       85       14       71  
                                         
Total specialty
    2,112       6,051       8,163       566       7,597  
                                         
Total insurance
    7,164       14,112       21,276       2,069       19,207  
Reinsurance assumed
    400       947       1,347       238       1,109  
                                         
Total
  $ 7,564     $ 15,059     $ 22,623     $ 2,307     $ 20,316  
                                         

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Loss reserves, net of reinsurance recoverable, decreased by $161 million or 1% in 2008. Loss reserves related to our insurance business increased by $24 million, which reflects a decrease of approximately $550 million related to currency fluctuation due to the strength of the U.S. dollar at December 31, 2008 compared with December 31, 2007. Loss reserves related to our reinsurance assumed business, which is in run-off, decreased by $185 million.
 
Gross case reserves for our professional liability classes decreased by $389 million in 2008 due primarily to generally low reported loss activity as well as settlements related to previously established case reserves and, to a lesser extent, the impact of currency fluctuation. The significant increase in gross loss reserves for the commercial property and marine business was due to losses related to Hurricane Ike as well as several large non-catastrophe losses incurred during the year that remained unpaid as of December 31, 2008.
 
In establishing the loss reserves of our property and casualty subsidiaries, we consider facts currently known and the present state of the law and coverage litigation. Based on all information currently available, we believe that the aggregate loss reserves at December 31, 2008 were adequate to cover claims for losses that had occurred as of that date, including both those known to us and those yet to be reported. However, as described below, there are significant uncertainties inherent in the loss reserving process. It is therefore possible that management’s estimate of the ultimate liability for losses that had occurred as of December 31, 2008 may change, which could have a material effect on the Corporation’s results of operations and financial condition.
 
Estimates and Uncertainties
 
The process of establishing loss reserves is complex and imprecise as it must take into consideration many variables that are subject to the outcome of future events. As a result, informed subjective estimates and judgments as to our ultimate exposure to losses are an integral component of our loss reserving process.
 
Given the inherent complexity of the loss reserving process and the potential variability of the assumptions used, the actual emergence of losses could vary, perhaps substantially, from the estimate of losses included in our financial statements, particularly in those instances where settlements do not occur until well into the future. Our net loss reserves at December 31, 2008 were $20.2 billion. Therefore, a relatively small percentage change in the estimate of net loss reserves would have a material effect on the Corporation’s results of operations.
 
Reserves Other than Those Relating to Asbestos and Toxic Waste Claims.  Our loss reserves include amounts related to short tail and long tail classes of business. “Tail” refers to the time period between the occurrence of a loss and the settlement of the claim. The longer the time span between the incidence of a loss and the settlement of the claim, the more the ultimate settlement amount can vary.
 
Short tail classes consist principally of homeowners, commercial property and marine business. For these classes, claims are generally reported and settled shortly after the loss occurs and the claims relate to tangible property. Consequently, the estimation of loss reserves for these classes is less complex.
 
Most of our loss reserves relate to long tail liability classes of business. Long tail classes include directors and officers liability, errors and omissions liability and other professional liability coverages, commercial primary and excess liability, workers’ compensation and other liability coverages. For many liability claims significant periods of time, ranging up to several years or more, may elapse between the occurrence of the loss, the reporting of the loss to us and the settlement of the claim. As a result, loss experience in the more recent accident years for the long tail liability classes has limited statistical credibility because a relatively small proportion of losses in these accident years are reported claims and an even smaller proportion are paid losses. An accident year is the calendar year in which a loss is incurred or, in the case of claims-made policies, the calendar year in which a loss is reported. Liability claims are also more susceptible to litigation and can be significantly affected by changing contract interpretations and the legal environment. Consequently, the estimation of loss reserves for these classes

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is more complex and typically subject to a higher degree of variability than for short tail classes. As a result, the role of judgment is much greater for these reserve estimates.
 
Most of our reinsurance assumed business is long tail casualty reinsurance. Reserve estimates for this business are therefore subject to the variability caused by extended loss emergence periods. The estimation of loss reserves for this business is further complicated by delays between the time the claim is reported to the ceding insurer and when it is reported by the ceding insurer to us and by our dependence on the quality and consistency of the loss reporting by the ceding company.
 
Our actuaries perform a comprehensive review of loss reserves for each of the numerous classes of business we write at least once a year. The timing of such review varies by class of business and by jurisdiction. The review process takes into consideration the variety of trends that impact the ultimate settlement of claims in each particular class of business. Additionally, each quarter our actuaries review the emergence of paid and reported losses relative to expectations and, as necessary, conduct reserve reviews for particular classes of business.
 
The loss reserve estimation process relies on the basic assumption that past experience, adjusted for the effects of current developments and likely trends, is an appropriate basis for predicting future outcomes. As part of that process, our actuaries use a variety of actuarial methods that analyze experience, trends and other relevant factors. The principal standard actuarial methods used by our actuaries in the loss reserve reviews include loss development factor methods, expected loss ratio methods, Bornheutter-Ferguson methods and frequency/severity methods.
 
Loss development factor methods generally assume that the losses yet to emerge for an accident year are proportional to the paid or reported loss amount observed so far. Historical patterns of the development of paid and reported losses by accident year can be predictive of the expected future patterns that are applied to current paid and reported losses to generate estimated ultimate losses by accident year.
 
Expected loss ratio methods use loss ratios for prior accident years, adjusted to reflect our evaluation of recent loss trends, the current risk environment, changes in our book of business and changes in our pricing and underwriting, to determine the appropriate expected loss ratio for a given accident year. The expected loss ratio for each accident year is multiplied by the earned premiums for that year to calculate estimated ultimate losses.
 
Bornheutter-Ferguson methods are combinations of an expected loss ratio method and a loss development factor method, where the loss development factor method is given more weight as an accident year matures.
 
Frequency/severity methods first project ultimate claim counts (using one or more of the other methods described above) and then multiply those counts by an estimated average claim cost to calculate estimated ultimate losses. The average claim costs are often estimated by fitting historical severity data to an observed trend. Generally, these methods work best for high frequency, low severity classes of business.
 
In completing their loss reserve analysis, our actuaries are required to determine the most appropriate actuarial methods to employ for each class of business. Within each class, the business is further segregated by accident year and where appropriate by jurisdiction. Each estimation method has its own pattern, parameter and/or judgmental dependencies, with no estimation method being better than the others in all situations. The relative strengths and weaknesses of the various estimation methods when applied to a particular class of business can also change over time, depending on the underlying circumstances. In many cases, multiple estimation methods will be valid for the particular facts and circumstances of the relevant class of business. The manner of application and the degree of reliance on a given method will vary by class of business, by accident year and by jurisdiction based on our actuaries’ evaluation of the above dependencies and the potential volatility of the loss frequency and severity patterns. The estimation methods selected or given weight by our actuaries at a particular valuation date are those that are believed to produce the most reliable indication for the loss reserves being evaluated.

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These selections incorporate input from claims personnel, pricing actuaries and underwriting management on loss cost trends and other factors that could affect the reserve estimates.
 
For short tail classes, the emergence of paid and incurred losses generally exhibits a reasonably stable pattern of loss development from one accident year to the next. Thus, for these classes, the loss development factor method is generally relatively straightforward to apply and usually requires only modest extrapolation. For long tail classes, applying the loss development factor method often requires more judgment in selecting development factors as well as more significant extrapolation. For those long tail classes with high frequency and relatively low per-loss severity (e.g., workers’ compensation), volatility will often be sufficiently modest for the loss development factor method to be given significant weight, except in the most recent accident years.
 
For certain long tail classes of business, however, anticipated loss experience is less predictable because of the small number of claims and erratic claim severity patterns. These classes include directors and officers liability, errors and omissions liability and commercial excess liability, among others. For these classes, the loss development factor methods may not produce a reliable estimate of ultimate losses in the most recent accident years since many claims either have not yet been reported to us or are only in the early stages of the settlement process. Therefore, the actuarial estimates for these accident years are based on less extrapolatory methods, such as expected loss ratio and Bornheutter-Ferguson methods. Over time, as a greater number of claims are reported and the statistical credibility of loss experience increases, loss development factor methods are given increasingly more weight.
 
Using all the available data, our actuaries select an indicated loss reserve amount for each class of business based on the various assumptions, projections and methods. The total indicated reserve amount determined by our actuaries is an aggregate of the indicated reserve amounts for the individual classes of business. The ultimate outcome is likely to fall within a range of potential outcomes around this indicated amount, but the indicated amount is not expected to be precisely the ultimate liability.
 
Senior management meets with our actuaries at the end of each quarter to review the results of the latest loss reserve analysis. Based on this review, management determines the carried reserve for each class of business. In making the determination, management considers numerous factors, such as changes in actuarial indications in the period, the maturity of the accident year, trends observed over the recent past and the level of volatility within a particular class of business. In doing so, management must evaluate whether a change in the data represents credible actionable information or an anomaly. Such an assessment requires considerable judgment. Even if a change is determined to be permanent, it is not always possible to determine the extent of the change until sometime later. As a result, there can be a time lag between the emergence of a change and a determination that the change should be reflected in the carried loss reserves. In general, changes are made more quickly to more mature accident years and less volatile classes of business.
 
Among the numerous factors that contribute to the inherent uncertainty in the process of establishing loss reserves are the following:
 
  •  changes in the inflation rate for goods and services related to covered damages such as medical care and home repair costs,
 
  •  changes in the judicial interpretation of policy provisions relating to the determination of coverage,
 
  •  changes in the general attitude of juries in the determination of liability and damages,
 
  •  legislative actions,
 
  •  changes in the medical condition of claimants,
 
  •  changes in our estimates of the number and/or severity of claims that have been incurred but not reported as of the date of the financial statements,
 
  •  changes in our book of business,

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  •  changes in our underwriting standards, and
 
  •  changes in our claim handling procedures.
 
In addition, we must consider the uncertain effects of emerging or potential claims and coverage issues that arise as legal, judicial and social conditions change. These issues have had, and may continue to have, a negative effect on our loss reserves by either extending coverage beyond the original underwriting intent or by increasing the number or size of claims. Recent examples of such issues include the number of directors and officers liability and errors and omissions liability claims arising out of the ongoing crisis in the financial markets, the number of directors and officers liability claims arising out of stock option “backdating” practices by certain public companies, the number and size of directors and officers liability and errors and omissions liability claims arising out of investment banking practices and accounting and other corporate malfeasance, and exposure to claims asserted for bodily injury as a result of long-term exposure to harmful products or substances. As a result of issues such as these, the uncertainties inherent in estimating ultimate claim costs on the basis of past experience have grown, further complicating the already complex loss reserving process.
 
As part of our loss reserving analysis, we take into consideration the various factors that contribute to the uncertainty in the loss reserving process. Those factors that could materially affect our loss reserve estimates include loss development patterns and loss cost trends, rate and exposure level changes, the effects of changes in coverage and policy limits, business mix shifts, the effects of regulatory and legislative developments, the effects of changes in judicial interpretations, the effects of emerging claims and coverage issues and the effects of changes in claim handling practices. In making estimates of reserves, however, we do not necessarily make an explicit assumption for each of these factors. Moreover, all estimation methods do not utilize the same assumptions and typically no single method is determinative in the reserve analysis for a class of business. Consequently, changes in our loss reserve estimates generally are not the result of changes in any one assumption. Instead, the variability will be affected by the interplay of changes in numerous assumptions, many of which are implicit to the approaches used.
 
For each class of business, we regularly adjust the assumptions and actuarial methods used in the estimation of loss reserves in response to our actual loss experience as well as our judgments regarding changes in trends and/or emerging patterns. In those instances where we primarily utilize analyses of historical patterns of the development of paid and reported losses, this may be reflected, for example, in the selection of revised loss development factors. In those long tail classes of business that comprise a majority of our loss reserves and for which loss experience is less predictable due to potential changes in judicial interpretations, potential legislative actions and potential claims issues, this may be reflected in a judgmental change in our estimate of ultimate losses for particular accident years.
 
The future impact of the various factors that contribute to the uncertainty in the loss reserving process is extremely difficult to predict. There is potential for significant variation in the development of loss reserves, particularly for long tail classes of business. We do not derive statistical loss distributions or outcome confidence levels around our loss reserve estimate. Actuarial ranges of reasonable estimates are not a true reflection of the potential volatility between carried loss reserves and the ultimate settlement amount of losses incurred prior to the balance sheet date. This is due, among other reasons, to the fact that actuarial ranges are developed based on known events as of the valuation date whereas the ultimate disposition of losses is subject to the outcome of events and circumstances that were unknown as of the valuation date.
 
The following discussion includes disclosure of possible variation from current estimates of loss reserves due to a change in certain key assumptions for particular classes of business. These impacts are estimated individually, without consideration for any correlation among such assumptions or among lines of business. Therefore, it would be inappropriate to take the amounts and add them together in an attempt to estimate volatility for our loss reserves in total. We believe that the estimated variation in reserves detailed below is a reasonable estimate of the possible variation that may occur in the future. However, if such variation did occur, it would likely occur over a period of several years and therefore its

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impact on the Corporation’s results of operations would be spread over the same period. It is important to note, however, that there is the potential for future variation greater than the amounts discussed below.
 
Two of the larger components of our loss reserves relate to the professional liability classes other than fidelity and to commercial excess liability. The respective reported loss development patterns are key assumptions in estimating loss reserves for these classes of business, both as applied directly to more mature accident years and as applied indirectly (e.g., via Bornheutter-Ferguson methods) to less mature accident years.
 
Reserves for the professional liability classes other than fidelity were $6.8 billion, net of reinsurance, at December 31, 2008. Based on a review of our loss experience, if the loss development factor for each accident year changed such that the cumulative loss development factor for the most recent accident year changed by 10%, we estimate that the net reserves for professional liability classes other than fidelity would change by approximately $675 million, in either direction. This degree of change in the reported loss development pattern is within the historical variation around the averages in our data.
 
Reserves for commercial excess liability (excluding asbestos and toxic waste claims) were $2.9 billion, net of reinsurance, at December 31, 2008. These reserves are included within commercial casualty. Based on a review of our loss experience, if the loss development factor for each accident year changed such that the cumulative loss development factor for the most recent accident year changed by 15%, we estimate that the net reserves for commercial excess liability would change by approximately $275 million, in either direction. This degree of change in the reported loss development pattern is within the historical variation around the averages in our data.
 
Reserves Relating to Asbestos and Toxic Waste Claims.  The estimation of loss reserves relating to asbestos and toxic waste claims on insurance policies written many years ago is subject to greater uncertainty than other types of claims due to inconsistent court decisions as well as judicial interpretations and legislative actions that in some cases have tended to broaden coverage beyond the original intent of such policies and in others have expanded theories of liability. The insurance industry as a whole is engaged in extensive litigation over coverage and liability issues and is thus confronted with a continuing uncertainty in its efforts to quantify these exposures.
 
Reserves for asbestos and toxic waste claims cannot be estimated with traditional actuarial loss reserving techniques that rely on historical accident year loss development factors. Instead, we rely on an exposure-based analysis that involves a detailed review of individual policy terms and exposures. Because each policyholder presents different liability and coverage issues, we generally evaluate our exposure on a policyholder-by-policyholder basis, considering a variety of factors that are unique to each policyholder. Quantitative techniques have to be supplemented by subjective considerations including management’s judgment.
 
We establish case reserves and expense reserves for costs of related litigation where sufficient information has been developed to indicate the involvement of a specific insurance policy. In addition, IBNR reserves are established to cover additional exposures on both known and unasserted claims.
 
We believe that the loss reserves carried at December 31, 2008 for asbestos and toxic waste claims were adequate. However, given the judicial decisions and legislative actions that have broadened the scope of coverage and expanded theories of liability in the past and the possibilities of similar interpretations in the future, it is possible that our estimate of loss reserves relating to these exposures may increase in future periods as new information becomes available and as claims develop.
 
Asbestos Reserves.  Asbestos remains the most significant and difficult mass tort for the insurance industry in terms of claims volume and dollar exposure. Asbestos claims relate primarily to bodily injuries asserted by those who came in contact with asbestos or products containing asbestos. Tort theory affecting asbestos litigation has evolved over the years. Early court cases established the “continuous trigger” theory with respect to insurance coverage. Under this theory, insurance coverage is deemed to be triggered from the time a claimant is first exposed to asbestos until the manifestation of any disease. This interpretation of a policy trigger can involve insurance policies over many years and increases

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insurance companies’ exposure to liability. Until recently, judicial interpretations and legislative actions attempted to maximize insurance availability from both a coverage and liability standpoint.
 
New asbestos claims and new exposures on existing claims have continued despite the fact that usage of asbestos has declined since the mid-1970’s. Many claimants were exposed to multiple asbestos products over an extended period of time. As a result, claim filings typically name dozens of defendants. The plaintiffs’ bar has solicited new claimants through extensive advertising and through asbestos medical screenings. A vast majority of asbestos bodily injury claims have been filed by claimants who do not show any signs of asbestos related disease. New asbestos cases are often filed in those jurisdictions with a reputation for judges and juries that are extremely sympathetic to plaintiffs.
 
Approximately 80 manufacturers and distributors of asbestos products have filed for bankruptcy protection as a result of asbestos related liabilities. A bankruptcy sometimes involves an agreement to a plan between the debtor and its creditors, including current and future asbestos claimants. Although the debtor is negotiating in part with its insurers’ money, insurers are generally given only limited opportunity to be heard. In addition to contributing to the overall number of claims, bankruptcy proceedings have also caused increased settlement demands against remaining solvent defendants.
 
There have been some positive legislative and judicial developments in the asbestos environment over the past several years:
 
  •  Various challenges to mass screening claimants have been mounted, including a June 2005 U.S. District Court decision in Texas. Many believe that this decision is leading to higher medical evidentiary standards. For example, several asbestos injury settlement trusts suspended their acceptance of claims that were based on the diagnosis of physicians or screening companies named in the case, citing concerns about their reliability. Further investigations of the medical screening process for asbestos claims are underway.
 
  •  A number of states have implemented legislative and judicial reforms that focus the courts’ resources on the claims of the most seriously injured. Those who allege serious injury and can present credible evidence of their injuries are receiving priority trial settings in the courts, while those who have not shown any credible disease manifestation are having their hearing dates delayed or are placed on an inactive docket, which preserves the right to pursue litigation in the future.
 
  •  A number of key jurisdictions have adopted venue reform that requires plaintiffs to have a connection to the jurisdiction in order to file a complaint.
 
  •  In recognition that many aspects of bankruptcy plans are unfair to certain classes of claimants and to the insurance industry, these plans are beginning to be closely scrutinized by the courts and rejected when appropriate.
 
Our most significant individual asbestos exposures involve products liability on the part of “traditional” defendants who were engaged in the manufacture, distribution or installation of asbestos products. We wrote excess liability and/or general liability coverages for these insureds. While these insureds are relatively few in number, their exposure has become substantial due to the increased volume of claims, the erosion of the underlying limits and the bankruptcies of target defendants.
 
Our other asbestos exposures involve products and non-products liability on the part of “peripheral” defendants, including a mix of manufacturers, distributors and installers of certain products that contain asbestos in small quantities and owners or operators of properties where asbestos was present. Generally, these insureds are named defendants on a regional rather than a nationwide basis. As the financial resources of traditional asbestos defendants have been depleted, plaintiffs are targeting these viable peripheral parties with greater frequency and, in many cases, for large awards.

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Asbestos claims against the major manufacturers, distributors or installers of asbestos products were typically presented under the products liability section of primary general liability policies as well as under excess liability policies, both of which typically had aggregate limits that capped an insurer’s exposure. In recent years, a number of asbestos claims by insureds are being presented as “non-products” claims, such as those by installers of asbestos products and by property owners or operators who allegedly had asbestos on their property, under the premises or operations section of primary general liability policies. Unlike products exposures, these non-products exposures typically had no aggregate limits on coverage, creating potentially greater exposure. Further, in an effort to seek additional insurance coverage, some insureds with installation activities who have substantially eroded their products coverage are presenting new asbestos claims as non-products operations claims or attempting to reclassify previously settled products claims as non-products claims to restore a portion of previously exhausted products aggregate limits. It is difficult to predict whether insureds will be successful in asserting claims under non-products coverage or whether insurers will be successful in asserting additional defenses. Accordingly, the ultimate cost to insurers of the claims for coverage not subject to aggregate limits is uncertain.
 
In establishing our asbestos reserves, we evaluate the exposure presented by each insured. As part of this evaluation, we consider a variety of factors including: the available insurance coverage; limits and deductibles; the jurisdictions involved; past settlement values of similar claims; the potential role of other insurance, particularly underlying coverage below our excess liability policies; potential bankruptcy impact; relevant judicial interpretations; and applicable coverage defenses, including asbestos exclusions.
 
We have assumed a continuation of the current legal environment with no benefit from any federal asbestos reform legislation. Various federal proposals to solve the ongoing asbestos litigation crisis have been considered by the U.S. Congress over the past few years, but none have yet been enacted. Thus, the prospect of federal asbestos reform legislation remains uncertain.
 
Our actuaries and claim personnel perform periodic analyses of our asbestos related exposures. The analyses during 2006 noted positive developments, including several settlements, related to certain of our traditional asbestos defendants. At the same time, the analyses indicated that our exposure to loss from claims against our peripheral defendants was somewhat higher than previously expected. The analyses during 2007 noted an increase in our estimate of the ultimate liabilities related to certain of our traditional asbestos defendants. Based on these analyses, we increased our net asbestos loss reserves by $18 million in 2006 and $75 million in 2007. The analyses during 2008 noted no developments that would indicate the need to change our estimate of ultimate liabilities related to asbestos claims.
 
The following table presents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending loss reserves related to asbestos claims.
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31  
    2008     2007     2006  
    (in millions)  
 
Gross loss reserves, beginning of year
  $ 838     $ 841     $ 930  
Reinsurance recoverable, beginning of year
    45       52       50  
                         
Net loss reserves, beginning of year
    793       789       880  
Net incurred losses
          75       18  
Net losses paid
    46       71       109  
                         
Net loss reserves, end of year
    747       793       789  
Reinsurance recoverable, end of year
    47       45       52  
                         
Gross loss reserves, end of year
  $ 794     $ 838     $ 841  
                         

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The following table presents the number of policyholders for whom we have open asbestos case reserves and the related net loss reserves at December 31, 2008 as well as the net losses paid during 2008 by component.
 
                         
    Number of
    Net Loss
    Net Losses
 
    Policyholders     Reserves     Paid  
          (in millions)  
 
Traditional defendants
    23     $ 201     $ 9  
Peripheral defendants
    372       393       37  
Future claims from unknown policyholders
            153          
                         
            $ 747     $ 46  
                         
 
Significant uncertainty remains as to our ultimate liability related to asbestos related claims. This uncertainty is due to several factors including:
 
  •  the long latency period between asbestos exposure and disease manifestation and the resulting potential for involvement of multiple policy periods for individual claims;
 
  •  plaintiffs’ expanding theories of liability and increased focus on peripheral defendants;
 
  •  the volume of claims by unimpaired plaintiffs and the extent to which they can be precluded from making claims;
 
  •  the efforts by insureds to claim the right to non-products coverage not subject to aggregate limits;
 
  •  the number of insureds seeking bankruptcy protection as a result of asbestos related liabilities;
 
  •  the ability of claimants to bring a claim in a state in which they have no residency or exposure;
 
  •  the impact of the exhaustion of primary limits and the resulting increase in claims on excess liability policies we have issued;
 
  •  inconsistent court decisions and diverging legal interpretations; and
 
  •  the possibility, however remote, of federal legislation that would address the asbestos problem.
 
These significant uncertainties are not likely to be resolved in the near future.
 
Toxic Waste Reserves.  Toxic waste claims relate primarily to pollution and related cleanup costs. Our insureds have two potential areas of exposure - hazardous waste dump sites and pollution at the insured site primarily from underground storage tanks and manufacturing processes.
 
The federal Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (Superfund) has been interpreted to impose strict, retroactive and joint and several liability on potentially responsible parties (PRPs) for the cost of remediating hazardous waste sites. Most sites have multiple PRPs.
 
Most PRPs named to date are parties who have been generators, transporters, past or present landowners or past or present site operators. These PRPs had proper government authorization in many instances. However, relative fault has not been a factor in establishing liability. Insurance policies issued to PRPs were not intended to cover claims arising from gradual pollution. Since 1986, most policies have specifically excluded such exposures.
 
Environmental remediation claims tendered by PRPs and others to insurers have frequently resulted in disputes over insurers’ contractual obligations with respect to pollution claims. The resulting litigation against insurers extends to issues of liability, coverage and other policy provisions.

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There is substantial uncertainty involved in estimating our liabilities related to these claims. First, the liabilities of the claimants are extremely difficult to estimate. At any given waste site, the allocation of remediation costs among governmental authorities and the PRPs varies greatly depending on a variety of factors. Second, different courts have addressed liability and coverage issues regarding pollution claims and have reached inconsistent conclusions in their interpretation of several issues. These significant uncertainties are not likely to be resolved definitively in the near future.
 
Uncertainties also remain as to the Superfund law itself. Superfund’s taxing authority expired on December 31, 1995 and has not been re-enacted. Federal legislation appears to be at a standstill. At this time, it is not possible to predict the direction that any reforms may take, when they may occur or the effect that any changes may have on the insurance industry.
 
Without federal movement on Superfund reform, the enforcement of Superfund liability has occasionally shifted to the states. States are being forced to reconsider state-level cleanup statutes and regulations. As individual states move forward, the potential for conflicting state regulation becomes greater. In a few states, we have seen cases brought against insureds or directly against insurance companies for environmental pollution and natural resources damages. To date, only a few natural resource claims have been filed and they are being vigorously defended. Significant uncertainty remains as to the cost of remediating the state sites. Because of the large number of state sites, such sites could prove even more costly in the aggregate than Superfund sites.
 
In establishing our toxic waste reserves, we evaluate the exposure presented by each insured. As part of this evaluation, we consider a variety of factors including: the probable liability, available insurance coverage, past settlement values of similar claims, relevant judicial interpretations, applicable coverage defenses as well as facts that are unique to each insured.
 
During 2008, the analysis of our toxic waste exposures indicated that some of our insureds had become responsible for the remediation of additional polluted sites and that, as clean up standards continue to evolve as a result of technology advances, the estimated cost of remediation of certain sites had increased. In addition, two claims were settled at substantially higher amounts than expected. Based on these developments, we increased our net toxic waste loss reserves by $85 million in 2008.
 
The following table presents a reconciliation of our beginning and ending loss reserves, net of reinsurance recoverable, related to toxic waste claims. The reinsurance recoverable related to these claims is minimal.
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31  
    2008     2007     2006  
    (in millions)  
 
Reserves, beginning of year
  $ 154     $ 169     $ 191  
Incurred losses
    85       13       6  
Losses paid
    58       28       28  
                         
Reserves, end of year
  $ 181     $ 154     $ 169  
                         
 
Of the net toxic waste loss reserves at December 31, 2008, $85 million was IBNR reserves.
 
Reinsurance Recoverable.  Reinsurance recoverable is the estimated amount recoverable from reinsurers related to the losses we have incurred. At December 31, 2008, reinsurance recoverable included $215 million recoverable with respect to paid losses and loss expenses, which is included in other assets, and $2.2 billion recoverable on unpaid losses and loss expenses.
 
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses and loss expenses represents an estimate of the portion of our gross loss reserves that will be recovered from reinsurers. Such reinsurance recoverable is estimated as part of our loss reserving process using assumptions that are consistent with the assumptions used in estimating the gross loss reserves. Consequently, the estimation of reinsurance recoverable is subject to similar judgments and uncertainties as the estimation of gross loss reserves.

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Ceded reinsurance contracts do not relieve our primary obligation to our policyholders. Consequently, an exposure exists with respect to reinsurance recoverable to the extent that any reinsurer is unable to meet its obligations or disputes the liabilities assumed under the reinsurance contracts. We are selective in regard to our reinsurers, placing reinsurance with only those reinsurers who we believe have strong balance sheets and superior underwriting ability, and we monitor the financial strength of our reinsurers on an ongoing basis. Nevertheless, in recent years, certain of our reinsurers have experienced financial difficulties or exited the reinsurance business. In addition, we may become involved in coverage disputes with our reinsurers. A provision for estimated uncollectible reinsurance is recorded based on periodic evaluations of balances due from reinsurers, the financial condition of the reinsurers, coverage disputes and other relevant factors.
 
Prior Year Loss Development
 
Because loss reserve estimates are subject to the outcome of future events, changes in estimates are unavoidable given that loss trends vary and time is required for changes in trends to be recognized and confirmed. Reserve changes that increase previous estimates of ultimate cost are referred to as unfavorable or adverse development or reserve strengthening. Reserve changes that decrease previous estimates of ultimate cost are referred to as favorable development or reserve releases.
 
A reconciliation of our beginning and ending loss reserves, net of reinsurance, for the three years ended December 31, 2008 is as follows:
 
                         
    2008     2007     2006  
    (in millions)  
 
Net loss reserves, beginning of year
  $ 20,316     $ 19,699     $ 18,713  
                         
Net incurred losses and loss expenses related to
                       
Current year
    7,771       6,996       6,870  
Prior years
    (873 )     (697 )     (296 )
                         
      6,898       6,299       6,574  
                         
Net payments for losses and loss expenses related to
                       
Current year
    2,401       1,883       1,703  
Prior years
    4,108       4,066       4,118  
                         
      6,509       5,949       5,821  
                         
Foreign currency translation effect
    (550 )     267       233  
                         
Net loss reserves, end of year
  $ 20,155     $ 20,316     $ 19,699  
                         
 
During 2008, we experienced overall favorable prior year development of $873 million, which represented 4.3% of the net loss reserves as of December 31, 2007. This compares with favorable prior year development of $697 million during 2007, which represented 3.5% of the net loss reserves at December 31, 2006, and favorable prior year development of $296 million during 2006, which represented 1.6% of the net loss reserves at December 31, 2005. Such favorable development was reflected in operating results in these respective years.

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The following table presents the overall prior year loss development for the three years ended December 31, 2008 by accident year.
 
                         
    Calendar Year
 
    (Favorable) Unfavorable Development  
Accident Year
  2008     2007     2006  
    (in millions)  
 
2007
  $ (86 )                
2006
    (224 )   $ (141 )        
2005
    (364 )     (233 )   $ (372 )
2004
    (272 )     (240 )     (276 )
2003
    (84 )     (148 )     (83 )
2002
    (25 )     (71 )     5  
2001
    31       53       99  
2000
    25       (17 )     102  
1999
    24       (10 )     24  
1998 and prior
    102       110       205  
                         
    $ (873 )   $ (697 )   $ (296 )
                         
 
The net favorable development of $873 million in 2008 was due to various factors. The most significant factors were:
 
  •  We experienced favorable development of about $390 million in the professional liability classes other than fidelity, including about $150 million outside the U.S. Favorable development occurred in each of the primary professional liability classes, including directors and officers liability, errors and omissions liability, fiduciary liability and employment practices liability. A majority of this favorable development was in the 2004 and 2005 accident years. Reported loss activity related to these accident years has been less than expected due to a favorable business climate, lower policy limits and better terms and conditions. As these years have become increasingly mature, and as the reported loss experience has emerged better than we expected, we have gradually decreased the expected loss ratios for these accident years. This favorable development was recognized as one among many factors in the determination of loss reserves for more current accident years. Our estimates of expected loss ratios for more recent accident years, particularly 2007 and 2008, were more influenced by the uncertainty surrounding the ongoing crisis in the financial markets as well as the downward trend in prices in recent years.
 
  •  We experienced favorable development of about $170 million in the homeowners and commercial property classes, primarily related to the 2006 and 2007 accident years. The severity of late reported property claims that emerged during 2008 was lower than expected. Because the incidence of such property losses is subject to a considerable element of fortuity, reserve estimates for these classes are based on an analysis of past loss experience on average over a period of years. As a result, the favorable development in 2008 was recognized but had a relatively modest effect on our determination of carried property loss reserves at December 31, 2008.
 
  •  We experienced favorable development of about $120 million in the commercial liability classes. Favorable development, particularly in excess liability and multiple peril liability classes in accident years 2002 through 2006, more than offset adverse development in accident years prior to 1998, which was mostly due to $85 million of incurred losses related to toxic waste claims. The severity of excess liability and multiple peril liability claims has been generally lower than expected and the effects of underwriting changes that affected these years have been more positive than expected. These factors were reflected in the determination of the carried loss reserves for these classes at December 31, 2008.

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  •  We experienced favorable development of about $75 million in the fidelity class due to lower than expected reported loss emergence, particularly outside the U.S., mainly related to recent accident years. Loss reserve estimates at the end of 2007 included an expectation of more late reported losses than actually occurred in 2008, and this factor was reflected in the determination of carried fidelity loss reserves at December 31, 2008.
 
  •  We experienced favorable development of about $60 million in the run-off of our reinsurance assumed business due primarily to better than expected reported loss activity from cedants.
 
  •  We experienced favorable development of about $30 million in the workers’ compensation class due in part to the positive effects of reforms in California. This factor was reflected in the determination of carried loss reserves for this class at December 31, 2008.
 
  •  We experienced favorable development of about $30 million in the personal automobile business due primarily to lower than expected severity. This factor was given only modest weight in our determination of carried personal automobile loss reserves at December 31, 2008.
 
The net favorable development of $697 million in 2007 was also due to various factors. The most significant factors were:
 
  •  We experienced favorable development of about $300 million in the professional liability classes other than fidelity, including about $100 million outside the U.S. A majority of this favorable development was in the 2003 through 2005 accident years. Reported loss activity related to these accident years was less than expected due to a favorable business climate, lower policy limits and better terms and conditions. While these accident years were still somewhat immature, we concluded that there was sufficient evidence to modestly decrease the expected loss ratios for these accident years.
 
  •  We experienced favorable development of about $180 million in the homeowners and commercial property classes, primarily related to the 2006 and 2005 accident years. This favorable development arose from the lower than expected emergence of actual losses during 2007 relative to expectations used to establish our loss reserves at the end of 2006. The severity of late reported property claims that emerged during 2007 was lower than expected and case development, including salvage recoveries, on previously reported claims was better than expected.
 
  •  We experienced favorable development of about $135 million in the run-off of our reinsurance assumed business due primarily to better than expected reported loss activity from cedants.
 
  •  We experienced favorable development of about $40 million in the fidelity class and $30 million in the surety class due to lower than expected reported loss emergence, mainly related to more recent accident years.
 
  •  We experienced favorable development of about $30 million in the personal automobile class. Case development during 2007 on previously reported claims was better than expected, reflecting improved case management. Also, the number of late reported claims was less than expected, reflecting a continuation of recent generally favorable frequency trends.
 
  •  We experienced adverse development of about $20 million in the commercial liability classes. Adverse development in accident years prior to 1997, mostly the $88 million related to asbestos and toxic waste claims, was largely offset by favorable development in these classes in the more recent accident years.
 
The net favorable development of $296 million in 2006 was also due to various factors. The most significant factors were:
 
  •  We experienced favorable development of about $190 million in the homeowners and commercial property classes, primarily related to the 2005 accident year. This favorable development arose from the lower than expected emergence of actual losses during 2006 relative to expectations used to establish our loss reserves at the end of 2005. The severity of late reported property claims that

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  emerged during 2006 was lower than expected and case development, including salvage recoveries, on previously reported claims was better than expected.
 
  •  We experienced favorable loss development of about $70 million in the fidelity class due to lower than expected reported loss emergence, mainly related to more recent accident years.
 
  •  We experienced favorable development of about $65 million in the run-off of our reinsurance assumed business due primarily to better than expected reported loss activity from cedants.
 
  •  We experienced favorable development of about $45 million in the professional liability classes other than fidelity. Favorable development in the 2004 and 2005 accident years more than offset continued unfavorable development in accident years 2000 through 2002. Reported loss activity related to accident years 2004 and 2005 was less than expected due to a favorable business climate, lower policy limits and better terms and conditions. While these accident years were somewhat immature, we concluded that there was sufficient evidence to modestly decrease the expected loss ratios for these accident years. On the other hand, we continued to experience higher than expected reported loss activity related to the 2000 through 2002 accident years, largely from claims related to corporate failures and allegations of management misconduct and accounting irregularities. As a result, we increased the expected loss ratios for these accident years.
 
  •  We experienced favorable development of about $25 million in the personal automobile class. Case development during 2006 on previously reported claims was better than expected, reflecting improved case management. The number of late reported claims was also less than expected.
 
  •  We experienced adverse development of about $100 million in the commercial liability classes, including $24 million related to asbestos and toxic waste claims. The adverse development was primarily due to reported loss activity in accident years prior to 1997 that was worse than expected, primarily related to specific individual excess liability and other liability claims.
 
In Item 1 of this report, we present an analysis of our consolidated loss reserve development on a calendar year basis for each of the ten years prior to 2008. The variability in reserve development over the ten year period illustrates the uncertainty of the loss reserving process. Conditions and trends that have affected reserve development in the past will not necessarily recur in the future. It is not appropriate to extrapolate future favorable or unfavorable reserve development based on amounts experienced in prior years.
 
Our U.S. property and casualty subsidiaries are required to file annual statements with insurance regulatory authorities prepared on an accounting basis prescribed or permitted by such authorities. These annual statements include an analysis of loss reserves, referred to as Schedule P, that presents accident year loss development information by line of business for the nine years prior to 2008. It is our intention to post the Schedule P for our combined U.S. property and casualty subsidiaries on our website as soon as it becomes available.
 
Investment Results
 
Property and casualty investment income before taxes increased by 2% in 2008 compared with 2007 and by 9% in 2007 compared with 2006. Growth in investment income in 2008 was due to an increase in average invested assets compared with 2007. The growth in investment income in 2008 was limited as average invested assets increased only modestly during the year as a result of substantial dividend distributions made by the property and casualty subsidiaries to Chubb during 2008 and 2007. Growth in 2007 compared with 2006 was due to an increase in invested assets, which reflected substantial cash flow from operations over the period.
 
The effective tax rate on our investment income was 20.0% in 2008 compared with 19.9% in 2007 and 19.8% in 2006. While similar in these years, the effective tax rate does fluctuate as a result of our holding a different proportion of our investment portfolio in tax exempt securities during different periods.

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On an after-tax basis, property and casualty investment income increased by 2% in 2008 and 9% in 2007. The after-tax annualized yield on the investment portfolio that supports our property and casualty insurance business was 3.49% in 2008 compared with 3.50% in 2007 and 3.48% in 2006. Management uses property and casualty investment income after-tax, a non-GAAP financial measure, to evaluate its investment performance because it reflects the impact of any change in the proportion of the investment portfolio invested in tax exempt securities and is therefore more meaningful for analysis purposes than investment income before income tax.
 
During the latter part of 2008, the U.S. dollar strengthened compared to several of the foreign currencies in which we hold invested assets and the yields on short term investments in the U.S. were historically low. Assuming investment yields and foreign exchange rates remain at current levels, property and casualty investment income is expected to decrease modestly in 2009 compared with 2008.
 
Other Income
 
Other income, which includes miscellaneous income and expenses of the property and casualty subsidiaries, was not significant in the last three years.
 
CORPORATE AND OTHER
 
Corporate and other comprises investment income earned on corporate invested assets, interest expense and other expenses not allocated to our operating subsidiaries and the results of our non-insurance subsidiaries, including Chubb Financial Solutions, which is in run-off.
 
Corporate and other produced a loss before taxes of $214 million in 2008 compared with losses of $149 million and $89 million in 2007 and 2006, respectively. The higher loss in 2008 compared to 2007 was due to higher interest expense and lower investment income. The higher interest expense was due to higher average debt outstanding in 2008 as a result of the issuance of additional debt during 2007 and 2008. The lower investment income was primarily the result of a decrease in the average yield on short term investments. The higher loss in 2007 compared with 2006 was due primarily to higher interest expense as a result of the issuance of additional debt during the first half of 2007. The higher interest expense in 2008 and 2007 was not offset by an increase in investment income as the proceeds from the issuance of the debt were used to repurchase Chubb’s common stock.
 
Chubb Financial Solutions
 
The business of Chubb Financial Solutions (CFS) was primarily structured credit derivatives, principally as a counterparty in portfolio credit default swap contracts. In 2003, the Corporation announced its intention to exit CFS’s business. Since that date, CFS has terminated early or run-off nearly all of its contractual obligations within its financial products portfolio. As of December 31, 2008, no credit default swap contracts remained outstanding.
 
CFS’s aggregate exposure, or retained risk, from each of its remaining in-force financial products contracts is referred to as notional amount. Notional amounts are used to calculate the exchange of contractual cash flows and are not necessarily representative of the potential for gain or loss. The notional amounts are not recorded on the balance sheet.
 
CFS’s remaining financial products contracts at December 31, 2008 included a derivative contract linked to an equity market index that terminates in 2012 and a few other insignificant transactions. We estimate that the notional amount under the remaining contracts was about $340 million and the fair value of our future obligations was $5 million at December 31, 2008.

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REALIZED INVESTMENT GAINS AND LOSSES
 
Net realized investment gains and losses were as follows:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31  
    2008     2007     2006  
    (in millions)  
 
Net realized gains (losses)
                       
Equity securities
  $ 32     $ 135     $ 51  
Fixed maturities
    66       4       (2 )
Other invested assets
    (56 )     344       209  
Harbor Point
    33              
                         
      75       483       258  
                         
Other-than-temporary impairment losses
                       
Equity securities
    (335 )     (79 )     (10 )
Fixed maturities
    (111 )     (30 )     (3 )
                         
      (446 )     (109 )     (13 )
                         
Realized investment gains (losses) before tax
  $ (371 )   $ 374     $ 245  
                         
Realized investment gains (losses) after tax
  $ (241 )   $ 243     $ 161  
                         
 
Decisions to sell equity securities and fixed maturities are governed principally by considerations of investment opportunities and tax consequences. As a result, realized gains and losses on the sale of these investments may vary significantly from period to period. However, such gains and losses generally have little, if any, impact on shareholders’ equity as all of these investments are carried at fair value, with the unrealized appreciation or depreciation reflected in comprehensive income.
 
A primary reason for the sale of fixed maturities in each of the last three years has been to improve our after-tax portfolio return without sacrificing quality where market opportunities have existed to do so.
 
The net realized gains and losses on other invested assets represent the aggregate of distributions to us from the limited partnerships in which we have an interest and changes in our equity in the net assets of the partnerships based on valuations provided to us by the manager of each partnership. Due to the timing of our receipt of valuation data from the investment managers, these investments are reported on a one quarter lag. We have not yet received fourth quarter 2008 valuations from many of the limited partnerships. Based on limited preliminary information about the performance of the limited partnerships during the fourth quarter, we expect to report a decline in our equity in the net assets of these partnerships in our first quarter 2009 results. We cannot precisely quantify the amount of the loss that we will report; however, we currently expect that the loss before tax will be about $300 million, but it is possible the loss could exceed that amount.
 
In 2005, we transferred our ongoing reinsurance business and certain related assets to Harbor Point Limited. In exchange, we received from Harbor Point $200 million of 6% convertible notes and warrants to purchase common stock of Harbor Point. The transaction resulted in a pre-tax gain of $204 million, of which $171 million was recognized in 2005. In 2008, the notes were converted to 2,000,000 shares of common stock of Harbor Point and we recognized the remaining $33 million gain.
 
We regularly review those invested assets that have a fair value that is less than cost to determine if an other-than-temporary decline in value has occurred. We have a monitoring process overseen by a committee of investment and accounting professionals that is responsible for identifying those securities to be specifically evaluated for a potential other-than-temporary impairment.
 
The determination of whether a decline in value of any investment is temporary or other-than- temporary requires the judgment of management. In making the determination, we consider various quantitative criteria and qualitative factors including the length of time and the extent to which the fair

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value has been less than the cost, the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer, whether the issuer is current on contractually obligated interest and principal payments, our intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow us to recover our cost, general market conditions and industry or sector specific factors. A fixed maturity security is other-than-temporarily impaired if it becomes likely that we will not be able to collect all amounts due under the security’s contractual terms or if we cannot assert that we will hold the security until we recover our cost. An equity security is other-than-temporarily impaired if it becomes likely that we will not recover our cost in the near term. If a decline in the fair value of an individual security is deemed to be other-than-temporary, the difference between cost and fair value is charged to income as a realized investment loss. The fair value of the investment becomes its new cost basis. The decision to recognize a decline in the value of a security carried at fair value as other-than-temporary rather than temporary has no impact on shareholders’ equity.
 
As a result of significant financial market disruption during 2008, the fair value of many of our investments declined to a level below our cost. The issuers of the equity securities deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired during 2008 were among a range of industries and not concentrated within any individual sector. About 75% of the fixed maturities deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired were corporate securities within the financial services sector. Through December 31, 2008, we continued to receive contractual principal and interest payments on nearly all of our other-than-temporarily impaired fixed maturity securities.
 
If current conditions in the equity and fixed maturity markets continue in 2009 or if conditions deteriorate, additional securities may be deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired.
 
Information related to investment securities in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2008 and 2007 is included in Note (4)(b) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY
 
Capital resources and liquidity represent a company’s overall financial strength and its ability to generate cash flows, borrow funds at competitive rates and raise new capital to meet operating and growth needs.
 
Capital Resources
 
Capital resources provide protection for policyholders, furnish the financial strength to support the business of underwriting insurance risks and facilitate continued business growth. At December 31, 2008, the Corporation had shareholders’ equity of $13.4 billion and total debt of $4.0 billion.
 
In April 2008, Chubb repaid $225 million of outstanding 3.95% notes when due.
 
In May 2008, Chubb issued $600 million of unsecured 5.75% senior notes due in 2018 and $600 million of 6.5% senior notes due in 2038.
 
In March 2007, Chubb issued $1.0 billion of unsecured junior subordinated capital securities. The capital securities will become due on April 15, 2037, the scheduled maturity date, but only to the extent that Chubb has received sufficient net proceeds from the sale of certain qualifying capital securities. Chubb must use its commercially reasonable efforts, subject to certain market disruption events, to sell enough qualifying capital securities to permit repayment of the capital securities on the scheduled maturity date or as soon thereafter as possible. Any remaining outstanding principal amount will be due on March 29, 2067, the final maturity date. The capital securities bear interest at a fixed rate of 6.375% through April 14, 2017. Thereafter, the capital securities will bear interest at a rate equal to the three-month LIBOR rate plus 2.25%. Subject to certain conditions, Chubb has the right to defer the payment of interest on the capital securities for a period not exceeding ten consecutive years. During any such period, interest will continue to accrue and Chubb generally may not declare or pay any dividends on or purchase any shares of its capital stock.

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In connection with the issuance of the capital securities, Chubb entered into a replacement capital covenant in which it agreed that it will not repay, redeem or purchase the capital securities before March 29, 2047, unless, subject to certain limitations, it has received proceeds from the sale of replacement capital securities, as defined. Subject to the replacement capital covenant, the capital securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time on or after April 15, 2017 at a redemption price equal to the principal amount plus any accrued interest or prior to April 15, 2017 at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) the principal amount or (ii) a make-whole amount, in each case plus any accrued interest.
 
In 2003, Chubb issued $460 million of unsecured 2.25% senior notes due in 2008 and 18.4 million purchase contracts to purchase its common stock. The notes and purchase contracts were issued together in the form of 7% equity units, each of which initially represented $25 principal amount of notes and one purchase contract. In May 2006, the notes were successfully remarketed as required by their terms. The interest rate on the notes was reset to 5.472% from 2.25%, effective May 16, 2006. Each purchase contract obligated the holder to purchase, on or before August 16, 2006, for a settlement price of $25, a variable number of shares of Chubb’s common stock. The number of shares purchased was determined based on a formula that considered the market price of Chubb’s common stock immediately prior to the time of settlement in relation to the $29.75 per share sale price of the common stock at the time the equity units were offered. Upon settlement of the purchase contracts in August 2006, Chubb issued 12,883,527 shares of common stock and received proceeds of $460 million. In August 2008, the $460 million of notes were paid when due.
 
Chubb also has outstanding $400 million of 6% notes due in 2011, $275 million of 5.2% notes due in 2013, $100 million of 6.6% debentures due in 2018, $200 million of 6.8% debentures due in 2031 and $800 million of 6% notes due in 2037, all of which are unsecured.
 
Management regularly monitors the Corporation’s capital resources. In connection with our long-term capital strategy, Chubb from time to time contributes capital to its property and casualty subsidiaries. In addition, in order to satisfy capital needs as a result of any rating agency capital adequacy or other future rating issues, or in the event we were to need additional capital to make strategic investments in light of market opportunities, we may take a variety of actions, which could include the issuance of additional debt and/or equity securities. We believe that our strong financial position and conservative debt level provide us with the flexibility and capacity to obtain funds externally through debt or equity financings on both a short term and long term basis.
 
In December 2005, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 28,000,000 shares of Chubb’s common stock. In December 2006, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional 20,000,000 shares of common stock. In March 2007, the Board of Directors authorized an increase of 20,000,000 shares to the December 2006 authorization. In December 2007, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional 28,000,000 shares of common stock. In December 2008, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional 20,000,000 shares of common stock.
 
In 2006, we repurchased 25,366,262 shares of Chubb’s common stock through a combination of an accelerated stock buyback program and open market transactions, at an aggregate cost of $1,257 million. In 2007, we repurchased 41,733,268 shares of Chubb’s common stock in open market transactions at a cost of $2,184 million. In 2008, we repurchased 26,328,770 shares of Chubb’s common stock in open market transactions at a cost of $1,311 million. As of December 31, 2008, 19,783,900 shares remained under the December 2008 share repurchase authorization, which has no expiration date. The number of shares we will repurchase in 2009 will depend on the state of the global capital markets and the potential for profitable growth in the property and casualty insurance market.

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Ratings
 
Chubb and its insurance subsidiaries are rated by major rating agencies. These ratings reflect the rating agency’s opinion of our financial strength, operating performance, strategic position and ability to meet our obligations to policyholders.
 
Credit ratings assess a company’s ability to make timely payments of interest and principal on its debt. The following table summarizes the Corporation’s credit ratings from the major independent rating organizations as of February 26, 2009.
 
                                 
    A.M. Best     Standard & Poor’s     Moody’s     Fitch  
 
Senior unsecured debt
    aa−       A+       A2       A+  
Junior subordinated capital securities
    a       A−       A3       A  
Commercial paper
    AMB-1+       A-1       P-1       F1+  
 
Financial strength ratings assess an insurer’s ability to meet its financial obligations to policyholders. The following table summarizes our property and casualty subsidiaries’ financial strength ratings from the major independent rating organizations as of February 26, 2009.
 
                                 
    A.M. Best     Standard & Poor’s     Moody’s     Fitch  
 
Financial strength
    A++       AA       Aa2       AA  
 
Ratings are an important factor in establishing our competitive position in the insurance markets. There can be no assurance that our ratings will continue for any given period of time or that they will not be changed.
 
It is possible that one or more of the rating agencies may raise or lower our existing ratings in the future. If our credit ratings were downgraded, we might incur higher borrowing costs and might have more limited means to access capital. A downgrade in our financial strength ratings could adversely affect the competitive position of our insurance operations, including a possible reduction in demand for our products in certain markets.
 
Liquidity
 
Liquidity is a measure of a company’s ability to generate sufficient cash flows to meet the short and long term cash requirements of its business operations.
 
The Corporation’s liquidity requirements in the past have generally been met by funds from operations and we expect that in the future funds from operations will continue to be sufficient to meet such requirements. Liquidity requirements could also be met by funds from the maturity or sale of marketable securities in our investment portfolio. The Corporation also has the ability to borrow under its credit facility and we believe we could issue debt or equity securities.
 
Our property and casualty operations provide liquidity in that premiums are generally received months or even years before losses are paid under the policies purchased by such premiums. Historically, cash receipts from operations, consisting of insurance premiums and investment income, have provided more than sufficient funds to pay losses, operating expenses and dividends to Chubb. After satisfying our cash requirements, excess cash flows are used to build the investment portfolio and thereby increase future investment income.
 
Our strong underwriting results continued to generate substantial new cash in 2008. New cash from operations available for investment by the property and casualty subsidiaries was approximately $775 million in 2008 compared with $1.6 billion in 2007 and $2.7 billion in 2006. New cash available in 2008 was lower than in 2007 due to a $450 million increase in dividends paid by the property and casualty subsidiaries to Chubb and higher loss payments, partially offset by lower income tax payments. New cash available was lower in 2007 than in 2006 due to a $900 million increase in dividends paid by the property and casualty subsidiaries to Chubb and, to a lesser extent, higher income tax payments.

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Our property and casualty subsidiaries maintain substantial investments in highly liquid, short term marketable securities. Accordingly, we do not anticipate selling long term fixed maturity investments to meet any liquidity needs.
 
Chubb’s liquidity requirements primarily include the payment of dividends to shareholders and interest and principal on debt obligations. The declaration and payment of future dividends to Chubb’s shareholders will be at the discretion of Chubb’s Board of Directors and will depend upon many factors, including our operating results, financial condition, capital requirements and any regulatory constraints.
 
As a holding company, Chubb’s ability to continue to pay dividends to shareholders and to satisfy its debt obligations relies on the availability of liquid assets, which is dependent in large part on the dividend paying ability of its property and casualty subsidiaries. Our property and casualty subsidiaries are subject to laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which they operate that restrict the amount of dividends they may pay without the prior approval of regulatory authorities. The restrictions are generally based on net income and on certain levels of policyholders’ surplus as determined in accordance with statutory accounting practices. Dividends in excess of such thresholds are considered “extraordinary” and require prior regulatory approval. During 2008, 2007 and 2006, these subsidiaries paid dividends to Chubb of $2,000 million, $1,550 million and $650 million, respectively. The maximum dividend distribution that may be made by the property and casualty subsidiaries to Chubb during 2009 without prior approval is approximately $1.2 billion.
 
Chubb has a revolving credit agreement with a group of banks that provides for up to $500 million of unsecured borrowings. There have been no borrowings under this agreement. Various interest rate options are available to Chubb, all of which are based on market interest rates. The agreement contains customary restrictive covenants including a covenant to maintain a minimum consolidated shareholders’ equity, as adjusted. At December 31, 2008, Chubb was in compliance with all such covenants. The revolving credit facility is available for general corporate purposes and to support our commercial paper borrowing arrangement. This agreement has a termination date of October 19, 2012. In August 2008, the agreement was amended to allow Chubb to request on two occasions at any time during the remaining term of the agreement an extension of the maturity date for an additional one year period. On the termination date of the agreement, any borrowings then outstanding become payable.
 
Contractual Obligations and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
The following table provides our future payments due by period under contractual obligations as of December 31, 2008, aggregated by type of obligation.
 
                                         
          2010
    2012
             
          and
    and
    There-
       
    2009     2011     2013     after     Total  
    (in millions)  
 
Principal due under long term debt
  $     $ 400     $ 275     $ 3,300     $ 3,975  
Interest payments on long term debt(a)
    244       487       432       3,475       4,638  
Future minimum rental payments under operating leases
    78       122       99       133       432  
                                         
      322       1,009       806       6,908       9,045  
Loss and loss expense reserves(b)
    4,921       6,486       3,802       7,158       22,367  
                                         
Total
  $ 5,243     $ 7,495     $ 4,608     $ 14,066     $ 31,412  
                                         
 
 
(a) Junior subordinated capital securities of $1 billion bear interest at a fixed rate of 6.375% through April 14, 2017 and at a rate equal to the three-month LIBOR rate plus 2.25% thereafter. For purposes of the above table, interest after April 14, 2017 was calculated using the three-month LIBOR rate as of December 31, 2008. The table includes future interest payments through the scheduled maturity date, April 15, 2037. Interest payments for the period from the scheduled maturity date through the final maturity date, March 29, 2067, would increase the contractual obligation by $1.1 billion. It is

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our expectation that the capital securities will be redeemed at the end of the fixed interest rate period.
 
(b) There is typically no stated contractual commitment associated with property and casualty insurance loss reserves. The obligation to pay a claim arises only when a covered loss event occurs and a settlement is reached. The vast majority of our loss reserves relate to claims for which settlements have not yet been reached. Our loss reserves therefore represent estimates of future payments. These estimates are dependent on the outcome of claim settlements that will occur over many years. Accordingly, the payment of the loss reserves is not fixed as to either amount or timing. The estimate of the timing of future payments is based on our historical loss payment patterns. The ultimate amount and timing of loss payments will likely differ from our estimate and the differences could be material. We expect that these loss payments will be funded, in large part, by future cash receipts from operations.
 
The above table excludes certain commitments totaling $1.1 billion at December 31, 2008 to fund limited partnership investments. These commitments can be called by the partnerships (generally over a period of five years or less), if and when needed by the partnerships to fund certain partnership expenses or the purchase of investments. It is uncertain whether and, if so, when we will be required to fund these commitments. There is no predetermined payment schedule.
 
The Corporation does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on the Corporation’s financial condition, results of operations, liquidity or capital resources, other than as disclosed in Note (14) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
INVESTED ASSETS
 
The main objectives in managing our investment portfolios are to maximize after-tax investment income and total investment returns while minimizing credit risks in order to ensure that funds will be available to meet our insurance obligations. Investment strategies are developed based on many factors including underwriting results and our resulting tax position, regulatory requirements, fluctuations in interest rates and consideration of other market risks. Investment decisions are centrally managed by investment professionals based on guidelines established by management and approved by the boards of directors of Chubb and its respective operating companies.
 
Our investment portfolio is primarily comprised of high quality bonds, principally tax exempt securities, mortgage-backed securities, corporate issues and U.S. Treasury securities, as well as foreign government and corporate bonds that support our operations outside the United States. The portfolio also includes equity securities, primarily publicly traded common stocks, and other invested assets, primarily private equity limited partnerships, all of which are held with the primary objective of capital appreciation.
 
Limited partnership investments by their nature are less liquid and involve more risk than other investments. We actively manage our risk through type of asset class and domestic and international diversification. At December 31, 2008, we had investments in about 95 separate partnerships. We review the performance of these investments on a quarterly basis and we obtain audited financial statements annually.
 
In our U.S. operations, during 2008, we invested new cash in tax exempt bonds and taxable bonds. The taxable bonds we invested in were corporate bonds while we reduced our holdings of mortgage-backed securities. In 2007, we invested new cash in tax exempt bonds and, to a lesser extent, taxable bonds, equity securities and limited partnerships. The taxable bonds we invested in were corporate bonds and mortgage-backed securities while we reduced our holdings of U.S. Treasury securities. In 2006, we invested new cash in tax exempt bonds and, to a lesser extent, equity securities and limited partnerships, whereas we decreased our holdings of taxable bonds, principally U.S. Treasury securities. Our objective is to achieve the appropriate mix of taxable and tax exempt securities in our portfolio to balance both investment and tax strategies. At December 31, 2008, 69% of our U.S. fixed

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maturity portfolio was invested in tax exempt bonds compared with 67% at December 31, 2007 and 66% at December 31, 2006.
 
We classify our fixed maturity securities, which may be sold prior to maturity to support our investment strategies, such as in response to changes in interest rates and the yield curve or to maximize after-tax returns, as available-for-sale. Fixed maturities classified as available-for-sale are carried at fair value.
 
Changes in the general interest rate environment affect the returns available on new fixed maturity investments. While a rising interest rate environment enhances the returns available on new investments, it reduces the fair value of existing fixed maturity investments and thus the availability of gains on disposition. A decline in interest rates reduces the returns available on new investments but increases the fair value of existing investments, creating the opportunity for realized investment gains on disposition.
 
The net unrealized depreciation before tax of our fixed maturities and equity securities carried at fair value was $220 million at December 31, 2008 compared with net unrealized appreciation of $810 million at December 31, 2007 and net unrealized appreciation of $603 million at December 31, 2006. Such unrealized appreciation and depreciation is reflected in comprehensive income, net of applicable deferred income tax.
 
Credit spreads, which refer to the difference between a risk-free yield (the yield on U.S. Treasury securities) and the actual yields on all other fixed maturity investments, increased significantly during 2008 due to the declines in the financial markets. This resulted in a decline in the fair value of many of our fixed maturity investments.
 
PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS
 
As a result of the turmoil in the financial markets during 2008, the fair value of the assets in our pension and other postretirement benefit plans decreased significantly. As a result, the funded status of these plans deteriorated. Due primarily to this decline, postretirement benefit costs not yet recognized in net income increased by $437 million, which was reflected in comprehensive income, net of applicable deferred income taxes.
 
The increase in the amortization of net losses resulting from the decrease in value of these assets will not have a material adverse effect on results of operations in 2009.
 
Employee benefits are discussed further in Note (13) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
CONTINGENCIES
 
For a discussion regarding contingencies related to regulatory developments and legal proceedings, see Note (14) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
Item 7A.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
Market risk represents the potential for loss due to adverse changes in the fair value of financial instruments. Our primary exposure to market risks relates to our investment portfolio, which is sensitive to changes in interest rates and, to a lesser extent, credit quality, prepayment, foreign currency exchange rates and equity prices. We also have exposure to market risks through our debt obligations. Analytical tools and monitoring systems are in place to assess each of these elements of market risk.
 
Investment Portfolio
 
Interest rate risk is the price sensitivity of a security that promises a fixed return to changes in interest rates. When market interest rates rise, the fair value of our fixed income securities decreases. We view the potential changes in price of our fixed income investments within the overall context of asset and liability management. Our actuaries estimate the payout pattern of our liabilities, primarily our

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property and casualty loss reserves, to determine their duration. Expressed in years, duration is the weighted average payment period of cash flows, where the weighting is based on the present value of the cash flows. We set duration targets for our fixed income investment portfolios after consideration of the estimated duration of these liabilities and other factors, which allows us to prudently manage the overall effect of interest rate risk for the Corporation.
 
The following table provides information about our fixed maturity investments, which are sensitive to changes in interest rates. The table presents cash flows of principal amounts and related weighted average interest rates by expected maturity dates at December 31, 2008 and 2007. The cash flows are based on the earlier of the call date or the maturity date or, for mortgage-backed securities, expected payment patterns. Actual cash flows could differ from the expected amounts.
 
                                                                 
    At December 31, 2008  
                                        Total  
                                  There-
    Amortized
    Fair
 
    2009     2010     2011     2012     2013     after     Cost     Value  
    (in millions)  
 
Tax exempt
  $ 1,102     $ 874     $ 1,385     $ 1,641     $ 2,717     $ 10,580     $ 18,299     $ 18,345  
Average interest rate
    5.1 %     4.7 %     4.3 %     4.1 %     4.1 %     4.3 %                
Taxable — other than mortgage-backed securities
    768       1,101       1,225       1,429       1,560       4,329       10,412       10,645  
Average interest rate
    5.2 %     4.9 %     4.9 %     5.1 %     4.5 %     5.0 %                
Mortgage-backed securities
    580       551       669       702       738       940       4,180       3,765  
Average interest rate
    4.7 %     4.6 %     4.9 %     5.0 %     5.4 %     5.1 %                
                                                                 
Total
  $ 2,450     $ 2,526     $ 3,279     $ 3,772     $ 5,015     $ 15,849     $ 32,891     $ 32,755  
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
    At December 31, 2007  
                                        Total  
                                  There-
    Amortized
    Fair
 
    2008     2009     2010     2011     2012     after     Cost     Value  
    (in millions)  
 
Tax exempt
  $ 1,179     $ 891     $ 1,047     $ 1,421     $ 1,766     $ 11,904     $ 18,208     $ 18,559  
Average interest rate
    5.2 %     5.1 %     4.7 %     4.3 %     4.1 %     4.1 %                
Taxable — other than mortgage-backed securities
    808       1,125       1,388       1,196       1,494       4,494       10,505       10,562  
Average interest rate
    5.6 %     4.8 %     4.8 %     5.0 %     5.2 %     5.1 %                
Mortgage-backed securities
    623       580       556       529       694       1,779       4,761       4,750  
Average interest rate
    5.0 %     4.7 %     4.7 %     4.8 %     5.0 %     5.3 %                
                                                                 
Total
  $ 2,610     $ 2,596     $ 2,991     $ 3,146     $ 3,954     $ 18,177     $ 33,474     $ 33,871  
                                                                 
 
Credit risk is the potential loss resulting from adverse changes in the issuer’s ability to repay the debt obligation. We have consistently invested in high quality marketable securities. Only about 1% of our bond portfolio is below investment grade. Our investment portfolio does not have any direct exposure to either sub-prime mortgages or collateralized debt obligations. Our tax exempt bonds mature on average in nine years, while our taxable bonds have an average maturity of five years.
 
About 80% of our tax exempt bonds are rated AA or better by Moody’s or Standard and Poor’s with about 25% rated AAA. The average rating of our tax exempt bonds is AA. While about 40% of our tax exempt bonds are insured, the effect of insurance on the average credit rating of these bonds is insignificant. The insured tax exempt bonds in our portfolio have been selected based on the quality of the underlying credit and not the value of the credit insurance enhancement.
 
About 75% of the taxable bonds, other than mortgage-backed securities, in our portfolio are issued by the U.S. Treasury or U.S. government agencies or by foreign governments or are rated AA or better.

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Mortgage-backed securities comprised 26% of our taxable bond portfolio at year-end 2008. About 98% of the mortgage-backed securities are rated AAA and the remaining 2% are all investment grade. Of the AAA rated securities, about 65% are residential mortgage-backed securities, consisting of government agency pass-through securities guaranteed by a government agency or a government sponsored enterprise (GSE), GSE collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) and other CMOs, all backed by single family home mortgages. The majority of the CMOs are actively traded in liquid markets. The other 35% of the AAA rated securities are call protected, commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS). About 85% of our CMBS are senior securities with the highest level of subordination. The remainder of our CMBS are seasoned securities that were issued in 2004 or earlier.
 
Prepayment risk refers to the changes in prepayment patterns related to decreases and increases in interest rates that can either shorten or lengthen the expected timing of the principal repayments and thus the average life of a security, potentially reducing or increasing its effective yield. Such risk exists primarily within our portfolio of residential mortgage-backed securities. We monitor such risk regularly.
 
Foreign currency risk is the sensitivity to foreign exchange rate fluctuations of the fair value and investment income related to foreign currency denominated financial instruments. The functional currency of our foreign operations is generally the currency of the local operating environment since business is primarily transacted in such local currency. We seek to mitigate the risks relating to currency fluctuations by generally maintaining investments in those foreign currencies in which our property and casualty subsidiaries have loss reserves and other liabilities, thereby limiting exchange rate risk to the net assets denominated in foreign currencies.
 
At December 31, 2008, the property and casualty subsidiaries held foreign currency denominated investments of $6.5 billion supporting their international operations. The principal currencies creating foreign exchange rate risk for the property and casualty subsidiaries are the euro, the Canadian dollar and the British pound sterling. The following table provides information about those fixed maturity investments that are denominated in these currencies. The table presents cash flows of principal amounts in U.S. dollar equivalents by expected maturity dates at December 31, 2008. Actual cash flows could differ from the expected amounts.
 
                                                                 
    At December 31, 2008  
                                        Total  
                                  There-
    Amortized
    Fair
 
    2009     2010     2011     2012     2013     after     Cost     Value  
                      (in millions)                    
 
Euro
  $ 36     $ 125     $ 142     $ 173     $ 301     $ 776     $ 1,553     $ 1,634  
Canadian dollar
    83       162       283       205       146       644       1,523       1,641  
British pound sterling
    33       106       162       143       189       670       1,303       1,397  
 
Equity price risk is the potential loss in fair value of our equity securities resulting from adverse changes in stock prices. In general, equities have more year-to-year price variability than intermediate term high grade bonds. However, returns over longer time frames have been consistently higher. Our publicly traded equity securities are high quality, diversified across industries and readily marketable. A hypothetical decrease of 10% in the market price of each of the equity securities held at December 31, 2008 and 2007 would have resulted in a decrease of $148 million and $232 million, respectively, in the fair value of the equity securities portfolio.
 
All of the above risks are monitored on an ongoing basis. A combination of in-house systems and proprietary models and externally licensed software are used to analyze individual securities as well as each portfolio. These tools provide the portfolio managers with information to assist them in the evaluation of the market risks of the portfolio.

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Debt
 
We also have interest rate risk on our debt obligations. The following table presents expected cash flow of principal amounts and related weighted average interest rates by maturity date of our long term debt obligations at December 31, 2008.
 
                                                                 
    At December 31, 2008  
                                  There-
          Fair
 
    2009     2010     2011     2012     2013     after     Total     Value  
    (in millions)  
 
Expected cash flows of principal amounts
  $     $     $ 400     $     $ 275     $ 3,300     $ 3,975     $ 3,493  
Average interest rate
                6.0 %           5.2 %     6.2 %                
 
Item 8.   Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
 
Consolidated financial statements of the Corporation at December 31, 2008 and 2007 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008 and the report thereon of our independent registered public accounting firm, and the Corporation’s unaudited quarterly financial data for the two-year period ended December 31, 2008 are listed in Item 15(a) of this report.
 
Item 9.   Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
 
None.
 
Item 9A.   Controls and Procedures
 
As of December 31, 2008, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Corporation’s management, including Chubb’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer. Based on that evaluation, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2008.
 
During the three month period ended December 31, 2008, there were no changes in internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting.

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Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
Management of the Corporation is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting was designed under the supervision of and with the participation of the Corporation’s management, including Chubb’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the Corporation’s financial reporting and the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
 
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect all misstatements. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.
 
Management conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008. In making this assessment, management used the framework set forth in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, management has determined that, as of December 31, 2008, the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting is effective.
 
The Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm who also audited the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements. Their attestation report on the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting is shown on page 66.
 
Item 9B.  Other Information
 
None.

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
Ernst & Young LLP
5 Times Square
New York, New York 10036
 
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
The Chubb Corporation
 
We have audited The Chubb Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). The Chubb Corporation’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
 
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
 
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
 
In our opinion, The Chubb Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on the COSO criteria.
 
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of The Chubb Corporation as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity, cash flows and comprehensive income for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008, and our report dated February 26, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
 
/s/  Ernst & Young LLP
February 26, 2009

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PART III.
 
Item 10.  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
 
Information regarding Chubb’s directors is incorporated by reference from Chubb’s definitive Proxy Statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders under the caption “Our Board of Directors.” Information regarding Chubb’s executive officers is included in Part I of this report under the caption “Executive Officers of the Registrant.” Information regarding Section 16 reporting compliance of Chubb’s directors, executive officers and 10% beneficial owners is incorporated by reference from Chubb’s definitive Proxy Statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders under the caption “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance.” Information regarding Chubb’s Code of Ethics for CEO and Senior Financial Officers is included in Item 1 of this report under the caption “Business — General.” Information regarding the Audit Committee of Chubb’s Board of Directors and its Audit Committee financial experts is incorporated by reference from Chubb’s definitive Proxy Statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders under the captions “Corporate Governance — Audit Committee” and “Committee Assignments.”
 
Item 11.  Executive Compensation
 
Incorporated by reference from Chubb’s definitive Proxy Statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, under the captions “Corporate Governance — Directors’ Compensation,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Executive Compensation.”
 
Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
 
Incorporated by reference from Chubb’s definitive Proxy Statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, under the captions “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Equity Compensation Plan Information.”
 
Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
 
Incorporated by reference from Chubb’s definitive Proxy Statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, under the caption “Certain Transactions and Other Matters.”
 
Item 14.  Principal Accountant Fees and Services
 
Incorporated by reference from Chubb’s definitive Proxy Statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, under the caption “Proposal 3: Ratification of Appointment of Independent Auditor.”
 
PART IV.
 
Item 15.  Exhibits, Financial Statements and Schedules
 
The financial statements and schedules listed in the accompanying index to financial statements and financial statement schedules are filed as part of this report.
 
 
The exhibits listed in the accompanying index to exhibits are filed as part of this report.

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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
The Chubb Corporation
            (Registrant)
February 26, 2009
 
       By 
/s/  John D. Finnegan
(John D. Finnegan Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer)
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
 
         
Signature
 
Title
 
Date
 
         
         
         
/s/  John D. Finnegan

(John D. Finnegan)
 
Chairman, President, Chief
Executive Officer and
Director
  February 26, 2009
         
         
         
/s/  Zoë Baird

(Zoë Baird)
 
Director
  February 26, 2009
         
         
         
/s/  Sheila P. Burke

(Sheila P. Burke)
 
Director
  February 26, 2009
         
         
         
/s/  James I. Cash, Jr.

(James I. Cash, Jr.)
 
Director
  February 26, 2009
         
         
         
/s/  Joel J. Cohen

(Joel J. Cohen)
 
Director
  February 26, 2009
         
         
         
/s/  Klaus J. Mangold

(Klaus J. Mangold)
 
Director
  February 26, 2009
         
         
         
/s/  Martin G. McGuinn

(Martin G. McGuinn)
 
Director
  February 26, 2009

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Signature
 
Title
 
Date
 
/s/  Lawrence M. Small

(Lawrence M. Small)
 
Director
  February 26, 2009
         
/s/  Jess Søderberg

(Jess Søderberg)
 
Director
  February 26, 2009
         
/s/  Daniel E. Somers

(Daniel E. Somers)
 
Director
  February 26, 2009
         
/s/  Karen Hastie Williams

(Karen Hastie Williams)
 
Director
  February 26, 2009
         
/s/  James M. Zimmerman

(James M. Zimmerman)
 
Director
  February 26, 2009
         
/s/  Alfred W. Zollar

(Alfred W. Zollar)
 
Director
  February 26, 2009
         
/s/  Richard G. Spiro

(Richard G. Spiro)
 
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
  February 26, 2009
         
/s/  John J. Kennedy

(John J. Kennedy)
 
Senior Vice President and
Chief Accounting Officer
  February 26, 2009

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THE CHUBB CORPORATION
 
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
(Item 15(a))
 
             
        Form 10-K
       
Page
 
         
    F-2  
         
    F-3  
         
    F-4  
         
    F-5  
         
    F-6  
         
    F-7  
         
    F-8  
         
       
         
    F-31  
         
       
             
      S-1  
             
      S-2  
             
      S-5  
 
All other schedules are omitted since the required information is not present or is not present in amounts sufficient to require submission of the schedule, or because the information required is included in the financial statements and notes thereto.
              

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Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
5 Times Square
New York, New York 10036
 
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
The Chubb Corporation
 
 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of The Chubb Corporation as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity, cash flows and comprehensive income for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008. Our audits also included the financial statement schedules listed in the Index at Item 15(a). These financial statements and schedules are the responsibility of the Corporation’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedules based on our audits.
 
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
 
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of The Chubb Corporation at December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
 
 
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), The Chubb Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated February 26, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
 
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
 
February 26, 2009

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Table of Contents

THE CHUBB CORPORATION
Consolidated Statements of Income
 
                             
    In Millions,
 
    Except For Per Share Amounts
 
    Years Ended December 31  
    2008       2007       2006  
Revenues
                           
Premiums Earned
  $ 11,828       $ 11,946       $ 11,958  
Investment Income
    1,732         1,738         1,580  
Other Revenues
    32         49         220  
Realized Investment Gains (Losses), Net
    (371 )       374         245  
                             
TOTAL REVENUES
    13,221         14,107         14,003  
                             
                             
Losses and Expenses
                           
Losses and Loss Expenses
    6,898         6,299         6,574  
Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
    3,123         3,092         2,919  
Other Insurance Operating Costs and Expenses
    441         444         550  
Investment Expenses
    32         35         34  
Other Expenses
    36         48         207  
Corporate Expenses
    284         252         194  
                             
TOTAL LOSSES AND EXPENSES
    10,814         10,170         10,478  
                             
INCOME BEFORE FEDERAL AND FOREIGN INCOME TAX
    2,407         3,937         3,525  
                             
Federal and Foreign Income Tax
    603         1,130         997  
                             
NET INCOME
  $ 1,804       $ 2,807       $ 2,528  
                             
                             
Net Income Per Share
                           
Basic
  $ 5.00       $ 7.13       $ 6.13  
Diluted
    4.92         7.01         5.98  
 
See accompanying notes.

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Table of Contents

THE CHUBB CORPORATION
Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
                   
    In Millions
 
    December 31  
    2008       2007  
Assets
                 
Invested Assets
                 
Short Term Investments
  $ 2,478       $ 1,839  
Fixed Maturities
                 
Tax Exempt (cost $18,299 and $18,208)
    18,345         18,559  
Taxable (cost $14,592 and $15,266)
    14,410         15,312  
Equity Securities (cost $1,563 and $1,907)
    1,479         2,320  
Other Invested Assets
    2,026         2,051  
                   
TOTAL INVESTED ASSETS
    38,738         40,081  
                   
Cash
    56         49  
Securities Lending Collateral
            1,247  
Accrued Investment Income
    435         440  
Premiums Receivable
    2,201         2,227  
Reinsurance Recoverable on Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses
    2,212         2,307  
Prepaid Reinsurance Premiums
    373         392  
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
    1,532         1,556  
Deferred Income Tax
    1,144         442  
Goodwill
    467         467  
Other Assets
    1,271         1,366  
                   
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 48,429       $ 50,574  
                   
                   
Liabilities
                 
Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses
  $ 22,367       $ 22,623  
Unearned Premiums
    6,367         6,599  
Securities Lending Payable
            1,247  
Long Term Debt
    3,975         3,460  
Dividend Payable to Shareholders
    118         110  
Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities
    2,170         2,090  
                   
TOTAL LIABILITIES
    34,997         36,129  
                   
                   
Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Note 6 and 14)
                 
                   
Shareholders’ Equity
                 
Preferred Stock — Authorized 8,000,000 Shares;
$1 Par Value; Issued — None
             
Common Stock — Authorized 1,200,000,000 Shares;
$1 Par Value; Issued 371,980,710 and 374,649,923 Shares
    372         375  
Paid-In Surplus
    253         346  
Retained Earnings
    14,509         13,280  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
    (735 )       444  
Treasury Stock, at Cost — 19,726,097 Shares in 2008
    (967 )        
                   
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
    13,432         14,445  
                   
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
  $ 48,429       $ 50,574  
                   
 
See accompanying notes.

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THE CHUBB CORPORATION
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
                             
    In Millions
 
    Years Ended December 31  
    2008       2007       2006  
Preferred Stock
                           
Balance, Beginning and End of Year
  $       $       $  
                             
Common Stock
                           
Balance, Beginning of Year
    375         411         210  
Two-for-One Stock Split
                    210  
Treasury Shares Cancelled
                    (7 )
Repurchase of Shares
    (4 )       (42 )       (21 )
Shares Issued Upon Settlement of Equity Unit
Purchase Contracts
                    13  
Shares Issued Under Stock-Based Employee Compensation Plans
    1         6         6  
                             
Balance, End of Year
    372         375         411  
                             
Paid-In Surplus
                           
Balance, Beginning of Year
    346         1,539         2,364  
Two-for-One Stock Split
                    (210 )
Treasury Shares Cancelled
                    (377 )
Repurchase of Shares
    (114 )       (1,361 )       (987 )
Shares Issued Upon Settlement of Equity Unit
Purchase Contracts
                    447  
Changes Related to Stock-Based Employee Compensation (includes tax benefit of $32, $16, and $46)
    21         168         302  
                             
Balance, End of Year
    253         346         1,539  
                             
Retained Earnings
                           
Balance, Beginning of Year
    13,280         11,711         9,600  
Net Income
    1,804         2,807         2,528  
Dividends Declared (per share $1.32, $1.16 and $1.00)
    (479 )       (457 )       (417 )
Repurchase of Shares
    (96 )       (781 )        
                             
Balance, End of Year
    14,509         13,280         11,711  
                             
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
                           
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of Investments
                           
Balance, Beginning of Year
    526         392         311  
Change During Year, Net of Tax
    (669 )       134         81  
                             
Balance, End of Year
    (143 )       526         392  
                             
Foreign Currency Translation Gains (Losses)
                           
Balance, Beginning of Year
    216         91         57  
Change During Year, Net of Tax
    (226 )       125         34  
                             
Balance, End of Year
    (10 )       216         91  
                             
Postretirement Benefit Costs Not Yet Recognized
in Net Income
                           
Balance, Beginning of Year
    (298 )       (281 )        
Change During Year, Net of Tax
    (284 )       (17 )        
Adjustment to Recognize Funded Status at December 31, 2006, Net of Tax
                    (281 )
                             
Balance, End of Year
    (582 )       (298 )       (281 )
                             
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss),
End of Year
    (735 )       444         202  
                             
Treasury Stock, at Cost
                           
Balance, Beginning of Year
                    (135 )
Repurchase of Shares
    (1,097 )               (249 )
Cancellation of Shares
                    384  
Shares Issued Under Stock-Based Employee Compensation Plans
    130                  
                             
Balance, End of Year
    (967 )                
                             
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
  $ 13,432       $ 14,445       $ 13,863  
                             
 
See accompanying notes.

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Table of Contents

     THE CHUBB CORPORATION
      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 
                             
    In Millions
 
    Years Ended December 31  
    2008       2007       2006  
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
                           
Net Income
  $ 1,804       $ 2,807       $ 2,528  
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash
Provided by Operating Activities
                           
 Increase in Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses, Net
    389         350         753  
 Increase (Decrease) in Unearned Premiums, Net
    (46 )       (74 )       16  
 Decrease (Increase) in Reinsurance Recoverable on
Paid Losses
    148         258         (225 )
 Amortization of Premiums and Discounts on
Fixed Maturities
    206         233         233  
 Depreciation
    64         69         81  
 Realized Investment Losses (Gains), Net
    371         (374 )       (245 )
 Other, Net
    (392 )       (78 )       201  
                             
  NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING
  ACTIVITIES
    2,544         3,191         3,342  
                             
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
                           
Proceeds from Fixed Maturities
                           
 Sales
    4,145         4,616         3,623  
 Maturities, Calls and Redemptions
    2,173         1,790         1,579  
Proceeds from Sales of Equity Securities
    432         360         186  
Purchases of Fixed Maturities
    (7,125 )       (7,909 )       (6,758 )
Purchases of Equity Securities
    (191 )       (650 )       (377 )
Investments in Other Invested Assets, Net
    (45 )       (164 )       (264 )
Decrease (Increase) in Short Term Investments, Net
    (654 )       455         (355 )
Increase (Decrease) in Net Payable from Security Transactions not Settled
    (18 )       (106 )       50  
Purchases of Property and Equipment, Net
    (46 )       (53 )       (53 )
Other, Net
    3         12          
                             
  NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
    (1,326 )       (1,649 )       (2,369 )
                             
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
                           
Proceeds from Issuance of Long Term Debt
    1,200         1,800          
Repayment of Long Term Debt
    (685 )       (800 )        
Proceeds from Common Stock Issued Upon Settlement of Equity Unit Purchase Contracts
                    460  
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock Under
Stock-Based Employee Compensation Plans
    109         130         229  
Repurchase of Shares
    (1,336 )       (2,185 )       (1,228 )
Dividends Paid to Shareholders
    (471 )       (451 )       (403 )
Other, Net
    (28 )       (25 )       (29 )
                             
  NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES
    (1,211 )       (1,531 )       (971 )
                             
                             
Net Increase in Cash
    7         11         2  
Cash at Beginning of Year
    49         38         36  
                             
  CASH AT END OF YEAR
  $ 56       $ 49       $ 38  
                             
 
 
       See accompanying notes.

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     THE CHUBB CORPORATION
      Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
 
                             
    In Millions
 
    Years Ended December 31  
    2008       2007       2006  
                             
Net Income
  $ 1,804       $ 2,807       $ 2,528  
                             
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax
                           
Change in Unrealized Appreciation or Depreciation of Investments
    (669 )       134         81  
Foreign Currency Translation Gains (Losses)
    (226 )       125         34  
Change in Postretirement Benefit Costs Not Yet Recognized in Net Income
    (284 )       (17 )        
                             
      (1,179 )       242         115  
                             
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
  $ 625       $ 3,049       $ 2,643  
                             
 
       
 
See accompanying notes.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(1)  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
(a) Basis of Presentation
 
The Chubb Corporation (Chubb) is a holding company with subsidiaries principally engaged in the property and casualty insurance business. The property and casualty insurance subsidiaries (the P&C Group) underwrite most lines of property and casualty insurance in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and parts of Latin America and Asia. The geographic distribution of property and casualty business in the United States is broad with a particularly strong market presence in the Northeast.
 
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and include the accounts of Chubb and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Corporation). Significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
 
The consolidated financial statements include amounts based on informed estimates and judgments of management for transactions that are not yet complete. Such estimates and judgments affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Certain amounts in the consolidated financial statements for prior years have been reclassified to conform with the 2008 presentation.
 
(b) Invested Assets
 
Short term investments, which have an original maturity of one year or less, are carried at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.
 
Fixed maturities, which include bonds and redeemable preferred stocks, are purchased to support the investment strategies of the Corporation. These strategies are developed based on many factors including rate of return, maturity, credit risk, tax considerations and regulatory requirements. Fixed maturities are classified as available-for-sale and carried at fair value as of the balance sheet date. Fixed maturities may be sold prior to maturity to support the investment strategies of the Corporation.
 
Premiums and discounts arising from the purchase of fixed maturities are amortized using the interest method over the estimated remaining term of the securities. For mortgage-backed securities, prepayment assumptions are reviewed periodically and revised as necessary.
 
Equity securities, which include common stocks and non-redeemable preferred stocks, are carried at fair value as of the balance sheet date.
 
Unrealized appreciation or depreciation of equity securities and fixed maturities carried at fair value is excluded from net income and credited or charged, net of applicable deferred income tax, directly to comprehensive income.
 
Other invested assets, which include private equity limited partnerships, are carried at the Corporation’s equity in the net assets of the partnerships based on valuations provided by the manager of each partnership. As a result of the timing of the receipt of valuation data from the investment managers, these investments are reported on a three month lag. Changes in the Corporation’s equity in the net assets of the partnerships are included in income as realized investment gains or losses.
 
Realized gains and losses on the sale of investments are determined on the basis of the cost of the specific investments sold and are credited or charged to income. When the fair value of any investment is lower than its cost, an assessment is made to determine whether the decline is temporary or other-than-temporary. If the decline is deemed to be other-than-temporary, the investment is written down to fair value and the amount of the writedown is charged to income as a realized investment loss. The fair value of the investment becomes its new cost basis.
 
The Corporation has engaged in securities lending from which it generates investment income from the lending of certain of its invested assets to other institutions for short periods of time. The Corporation maintains effective control over securities loaned and therefore continues to report such securities as invested assets. The fair value of the loaned securities was $1,510 million at December 31, 2007. Of this amount, $1,274 million comprised fixed maturities and the balance comprised equity securities. There were no securities on loan at December 31, 2008.
 
The Corporation’s policy is to require initial collateral equal to at least 102% of the fair value of the loaned securities. In those instances where cash collateral is obtained from the borrower, the collateral is invested by a lending agent in accordance with the Corporation’s guidelines. The cash collateral is recognized as an asset with a corresponding liability for the obligation to return the collateral. In instances where noncash collateral is obtained from the borrower, the Corporation does not recognize the receipt of the collateral held by the lending agent or the obligation to return the collateral as there exists no right to sell or repledge the collateral. The fair value of the noncash collateral held was $325 million at December 31, 2007. The Corporation retains a portion of the income earned from the cash collateral or receives a fee from the borrower. Under the terms of the securities lending arrangement, the lending agent indemnifies the Corporation against borrower defaults.
 
(c) Premium Revenues and Related Expenses
 
Insurance premiums are earned on a monthly pro rata basis over the terms of the policies and include estimates of audit premiums and premiums on retrospectively rated policies. Assumed reinsurance premiums are earned over the terms of the reinsurance contracts. Unearned premiums represent the portion of direct and assumed premiums written applicable to the unexpired terms of the insurance policies and reinsurance contracts in force.

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Ceded reinsurance premiums are charged to income over the terms of the reinsurance contracts. Prepaid reinsurance premiums represent the portion of premiums ceded to reinsurers applicable to the unexpired terms of the reinsurance contracts in force.
 
Reinsurance reinstatement premiums are recognized in the same period as the loss event that gave rise to the reinstatement premiums.
 
Acquisition costs that vary with and are primarily related to the production of business are deferred and amortized over the period in which the related premiums are earned. Such costs include commissions, premium taxes and certain other underwriting and policy issuance costs. Commissions received related to reinsurance premiums ceded are considered in determining net acquisition costs eligible for deferral. Deferred policy acquisition costs are reviewed to determine whether they are recoverable from future income. If such costs are deemed to be unrecoverable, they are expensed. Anticipated investment income is considered in the determination of the recoverability of deferred policy acquisition costs.
 
(d) Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses
 
Unpaid losses and loss expenses (also referred to as loss reserves) include the accumulation of individual case estimates for claims that have been reported and estimates of claims that have been incurred but not reported as well as estimates of the expenses associated with processing and settling all reported and unreported claims, less estimates of anticipated salvage and subrogation recoveries. Estimates are based upon past loss experience modified for current trends as well as prevailing economic, legal and social conditions. Loss reserves are not discounted to present value.
 
Loss reserves are regularly reviewed using a variety of actuarial techniques. Reserve estimates are updated as historical loss experience develops, additional claims are reported and/or settled and new information becomes available. Any changes in estimates are reflected in operating results in the period in which the estimates are changed.
 
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses and loss expenses represents an estimate of the portion of gross loss reserves that will be recovered from reinsurers. Amounts recoverable from reinsurers are estimated using assumptions that are consistent with those used in estimating the gross losses associated with the reinsured policies. A provision for estimated uncollectible reinsurance is recorded based on periodic evaluations of balances due from reinsurers, the financial condition of the reinsurers, coverage disputes and other relevant factors.
 
(e) Financial Products
 
Derivatives are carried at fair value as of the balance sheet date. Changes in fair value are recognized in income in the period of the change and are included in other revenues.
 
Assets and liabilities related to the derivatives are included in other assets and other liabilities.
 
(f) Goodwill
 
Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquired entity over the fair value of net assets acquired. Goodwill is tested for impairment at least annually.
 
(g) Property and Equipment
 
Property and equipment used in operations, including certain costs incurred to develop or obtain computer software for internal use, are capitalized and carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets.
 
(h) Real Estate
 
Real estate properties are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and any writedowns for impairment. Real estate properties are reviewed for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such properties may not be recoverable. Measurement of such impairment is based on the fair value of the property.
 
(i) Income Taxes
 
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax effects attributable to temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, based on enacted tax rates and other provisions of tax law. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax laws or rates is recognized in income in the period in which such change is enacted. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that all or some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
 
The Corporation does not consider the earnings of its foreign subsidiaries to be permanently reinvested. Accordingly, provision has been made for the expected U.S. federal income tax liabilities applicable to undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries.
 
(j) Stock-Based Employee Compensation
 
The fair value method of accounting is used for stock-based employee compensation plans. Under the fair value method, compensation cost is measured based on the fair value of the award at the grant date and recognized over the requisite service period.
 
(k) Foreign Exchange
 
Assets and liabilities relating to foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars using current exchange rates as of the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars using the average exchange rates during the year.
 
The functional currency of foreign operations is generally the currency of the local operating environment since business is primarily transacted in such local currency. Translation gains and losses, net of applicable income tax, are excluded from net income and are credited or charged directly to comprehensive income.

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(l)  Cash Flow Information
 
In the statement of cash flows, short term investments are not considered to be cash equivalents. The effect of changes in foreign exchange rates on cash balances was immaterial.
 
In 2008, the Corporation received 2,000,000 shares of common stock of Harbor Point Limited upon conversion of $200 million of 6% convertible notes (see Note (3)). This noncash transaction has been excluded from the statement of cash flows.
 
(m)  Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
 
In May 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 163, Accounting for Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts, an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 60. SFAS No. 163 clarifies how Statement No. 60 applies to financial guarantee insurance contracts. SFAS No. 163 is effective for the Corporation for the year beginning January 1, 2009. The adoption of SFAS No. 163 is not expected to have a significant effect on the Corporation’s financial position or results of operations.
 
In June 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) EITF 03-06-1, Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities. This FSP addresses whether instruments granted in share-based payment transactions are participating securities prior to vesting and, therefore, need to be included in the earnings allocation in computing earnings per share. The FSP is effective for the Corporation for the year beginning January 1, 2009. The adoption of the FSP is not expected to have a significant effect on the Corporation’s earnings per share.
 
(2)  Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements
 
(a) Effective January 1, 2008, the Corporation adopted SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 applies whenever other accounting pronouncements require or permit assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value. The Statement does not expand the use of fair value to any new circumstances. The adoption of SFAS No. 157 did not have a significant effect on the Corporation’s financial position or results of operations.
 
(b) Effective December 31, 2006, the Corporation adopted SFAS No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R). SFAS No. 158 requires an employer to recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan as an asset or liability in its balance sheet and to recognize changes in the funded status as a component of other comprehensive income in the years in which the changes occur. Retrospective application was not permitted.
 
SFAS No. 158 requires that any gains or losses and prior service cost that had not yet been included in net benefit costs as of the end of the year in which the Statement was adopted be recognized as an adjustment of the ending balance of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax. The effect on the Corporation’s balance sheet at December 31, 2006 was an increase in other liabilities of $432 million, an increase in deferred income tax assets of $151 million and a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income, a component of shareholders’ equity, of $281 million. Adoption of the Statement did not have any effect on the Corporation’s results of operations and will not in future years.
 
(3)  Transfer of Ongoing Reinsurance Assumed Business
 
In 2005, the Corporation completed a transaction involving a new Bermuda-based reinsurance company, Harbor Point Limited.
 
As part of the transaction, the Corporation transferred its ongoing reinsurance assumed business and certain related assets, including renewal rights, to Harbor Point. In exchange, the Corporation received from Harbor Point $200 million of 6% convertible notes and warrants to purchase common stock of Harbor Point. In 2008, the notes were converted to 2,000,000 shares of common stock of Harbor Point. The shares and warrants represent in the aggregate on a fully diluted basis approximately 18% of Harbor Point as of December 31, 2008.
 
The transaction resulted in a pre-tax gain of $204 million, of which $171 million was recognized in 2005 and $33 million was recognized in 2008.
 

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(4) Invested Assets and Related Income
 
(a) The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturities were as follows:
 
                                                                 
    December 31  
    2008     2007  
          Gross
    Gross
                Gross
    Gross
       
    Amortized
    Unrealized
    Unrealized
    Fair
    Amortized
    Unrealized
    Unrealized
    Fair
 
   
Cost
   
Appreciation
   
Depreciation
   
Value
   
Cost
   
Appreciation
   
Depreciation
   
Value
 
    (in millions)
 
Tax exempt
  $ 18,299     $ 451     $ 405     $ 18,345     $ 18,208     $ 385     $ 34     $ 18,559  
                                                                 
Taxable
                                                               
U.S. Government and government
agency and authority obligations
    587       43       4       626       671       36       2       705  
Corporate bonds
    3,161       39       143       3,057       2,888       42       22       2,908  
Foreign bonds
    6,664       340       42       6,962       6,946       66       63       6,949  
Mortgage-backed securities
    4,180       52       467       3,765       4,761       31       42       4,750  
                                                                 
      14,592       474       656       14,410       15,266       175       129       15,312  
                                                                 
Total fixed maturities
  $ 32,891     $ 925     $ 1,061     $ 32,755     $ 33,474     $ 560     $ 163     $ 33,871  
                                                                 
 
The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturities at December 31, 2008 by contractual maturity were as follows:
 
                 
    Amortized
       
    Cost     Fair Value  
    (in millions)  
 
Due in one year or less
  $ 1,064     $ 1,073  
Due after one year through five years
    8,658       8,828  
Due after five years through ten years
    12,108       12,480  
Due after ten years
    6,881       6,609  
                 
      28,711       28,990  
Mortgage-backed securities
    4,180       3,765  
                 
    $ 32,891     $ 32,755  
                 
 
Actual maturities could differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations.
 
(b) The components of unrealized appreciation or depreciation of investments carried at fair value were as follows:
 
                 
    December 31  
    2008     2007  
    (in millions)  
Equity securities
               
Gross unrealized appreciation
  $ 131     $ 490  
Gross unrealized depreciation
    215       77  
                 
      (84 )     413  
                 
Fixed maturities
               
Gross unrealized appreciation
    925       560  
Gross unrealized depreciation
    1,061       163  
                 
      (136 )     397  
                 
      (220 )     810  
Deferred income tax liability (asset)
    (77 )     284  
                 
    $ (143 )   $ 526  
                 
 
When the fair value of any investment is lower than its cost, an assessment is made to determine whether the decline is temporary or other-than-temporary. The assessment is based on both quantitative criteria and qualitative information and considers a number of factors including, but not limited to, the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than the cost, the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer, whether the issuer is current on contractually obligated interest and principal payments, the intent and ability of the Corporation to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for the recovery of cost, general market conditions and industry or sector specific factors. Based on a review of the securities in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2008 and 2007, management believes that none of the declines in fair value at those dates were other-than-temporary.

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The following table summarizes, for all investment securities in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2008, the aggregate fair value and gross unrealized depreciation by investment category and length of time that individual securities have continuously been in an unrealized loss position.
 
                                                 
    Less Than 12 Months     12 Months or More     Total  
          Gross
          Gross
          Gross
 
    Fair
    Unrealized
    Fair
    Unrealized
    Fair
    Unrealized
 
    Value     Depreciation     Value     Depreciation     Value     Depreciation  
                (in millions)              
 
Fixed maturities
                                               
Tax exempt
  $ 3,796     $ 181     $ 1,525     $ 224     $ 5,321     $ 405  
                                                 
Taxable
                                               
U.S. Government and government agency and authority obligations
    28       1       46       3       74       4  
Corporate bonds
    1,213       90       496       53       1,709       143  
Foreign bonds
    381       26       322       16       703       42  
Mortgage-backed securities
    576       160       958       307       1,534       467  
                                                 
      2,198       277       1,822       379       4,020       656  
                                                 
Total fixed maturities
    5,994       458       3,347       603       9,341       1,061  
                                                 
Equity securities
    629       161       126       54       755       215  
                                                 
    $ 6,623     $ 619     $ 3,473     $ 657     $ 10,096     $ 1,276  
                                                 
 
At December 31, 2008, approximately 1,530 individual securities were in an unrealized loss position, of which 1,450 were fixed maturities. Of the fixed maturities in an unrealized loss position, substantially all were investment grade securities and less than 1% were securities with a fair value to amortized cost ratio less than 80% for six or more continuous months. Fixed maturity securities in an unrealized loss position for less than twelve months comprised approximately 940 securities, of which 87% were securities with a fair value to amortized cost ratio at or greater than 80%. Fixed maturity securities in an unrealized loss position for twelve months or more comprised approximately 510 securities, of which 76% were securities with a fair value to amortized cost ratio at or greater than 80%.
 
The following table summarizes, for all investment securities in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2007, the aggregate fair value and gross unrealized depreciation by investment category and length of time that individual securities have continuously been in an unrealized loss position.
 
                                                 
    Less Than 12 Months     12 Months or More     Total  
          Gross
          Gross
          Gross
 
    Fair
    Unrealized
    Fair
    Unrealized
    Fair
    Unrealized
 
    Value     Depreciation     Value     Depreciation     Value     Depreciation  
    (in millions)
 
Fixed maturities
                                               
Tax exempt
  $ 1,109     $ 19     $ 1,556     $ 15     $ 2,665     $ 34  
                                                 
Taxable
                                               
U.S. Government and government agency
and authority obligations
                66       2       66       2  
Corporate bonds
    262       8       610       14       872       22  
Foreign bonds
    1,302       20       2,052       43       3,354       63  
Mortgage-backed securities
    813       8       2,263       34       3,076       42  
                                                 
      2,377       36       4,991       93       7,368       129  
                                                 
Total fixed maturities 
    3,486       55       6,547       108       10,033       163  
                                                 
Equity securities
    373       52       81       25       454       77  
                                                 
    $ 3,859     $ 107     $ 6,628     $ 133     $ 10,487     $ 240  
                                                 
 
The change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation of investments carried at fair value was as follows:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31  
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
    (in millions)  
 
Change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation of equity securities
  $ (497 )   $ 17     $ 272  
Change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation of fixed maturities
    (533 )     190       (147 )
                         
      (1,030 )     207       125  
Deferred income tax (credit)
    (361 )     73       44  
                         
    $ (669 )   $ 134     $ 81  
                         

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  (c) The sources of net investment income were as follows:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31  
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
    (in millions)  
 
Fixed maturities
  $ 1,559     $ 1,516     $ 1,433  
Equity securities
    49       46       33  
Short term investments
    72       119       74  
Other
    52       57       40  
                         
Gross investment income
    1,732       1,738       1,580  
Investment expenses
    32       35       34  
                         
    $ 1,700     $ 1,703     $ 1,546  
                         
 
  (d) Realized investment gains and losses were as follows:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31  
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
    (in millions)  
 
Fixed maturities
                       
Gross realized gains
  $ 109     $ 57     $ 29  
Gross realized losses
    (43 )     (53 )     (31 )
Other-than-temporary impairments
    (111 )     (30 )     (3 )
                         
      (45 )     (26 )     (5 )
                         
Equity securities
                       
Gross realized gains
    125       136       60  
Gross realized losses
    (93 )     (1 )     (9 )
Other-than-temporary impairments
    (335 )     (79 )     (10 )
                         
      (303 )     56       41  
                         
Other invested assets
    (56 )     344       209  
Harbor Point
    33              
                         
                         
    $ (371 )   $ 374     $ 245  
                         
 
In 2005, the Corporation transferred its ongoing reinsurance business and certain related assets to Harbor Point. The transaction resulted in a pre-tax gain of $204 million of which $33 million was recognized in 2008 (see Note (3)).
 
  (e) At December 31, 2008, other than U.S. government and government sponsored enterprise obligations, the Corporation’s exposure to investments issued by a single issuer that equals or exceeds 10% of total shareholders’ equity is its holdings in government and government sponsored enterprise obligations of Canada, which had a fair value of $1.3 billion or 3% of total invested assets.
 
(5) Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
 
Policy acquisition costs deferred and the related amortization charged against income were as follows:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31  
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
    (in millions)  
 
Balance, beginning of year
  $ 1,556     $ 1,480     $ 1,445  
                         
Costs deferred during year
                       
Commissions and brokerage
    1,736       1,713       1,534  
Premium taxes and assessments
    256       253       265  
Salaries and operating costs
    1,148       1,178       1,139  
                         
      3,140       3,144       2,938  
Increase (decrease) due to
foreign exchange
    (41 )     24       16  
Amortization during year
    (3,123 )     (3,092 )     (2,919 )
                         
Balance, end of year
  $ 1,532     $ 1,556     $ 1,480  
                         
 
(6) Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses
 
 
(a) The process of establishing loss reserves is complex and imprecise as it must take into consideration many variables that are subject to the outcome of future events. As a result, informed subjective estimates and judgments as to the P&C Group’s ultimate exposure to losses are an integral component of the loss reserving process. The loss reserve estimation process relies on the basic assumption that past experience, adjusted for the effects of current developments and likely trends, is an appropriate basis for predicting future outcomes.
 
 
Most of the P&C Group’s loss reserves relate to long tail liability classes of business. For many liability claims, significant periods of time, ranging up to several years or more, may elapse between the occurrence of the loss, the reporting of the loss and the settlement of the claim. The longer the time span between the incidence of a loss and the settlement of the claim, the more the ultimate settlement amount can vary.
 
 
There are numerous factors that contribute to the inherent uncertainty in the process of establishing loss reserves. Among these factors are changes in the inflation rate for goods and services related to covered damages such as medical care and home repair costs; changes in the judicial interpretation of policy provisions relating to the determination of coverage; changes in the general attitude of juries in the determination of liability and damages; legislative actions; changes in the medical condition of claimants; changes in the estimates of the number and/or severity of claims that have been incurred but not reported as of the date of the financial statements; and changes in the P&C Group’s book of business, underwriting standards and/or claim handling procedures.
 
 
In addition, the uncertain effects of emerging or potential claims and coverage issues that arise as legal, judicial and social conditions change must be taken into consideration. These issues have had, and may continue to have, a negative effect on loss reserves by either extending coverage beyond the original underwriting intent or by increasing the number or size of claims. As a result of such issues, the uncertainties inherent in estimating ultimate claim costs on the basis of past experience have grown, further complicating the already complex loss reserving process.
 
 
Management believes that the aggregate loss reserves of the P&C Group at December 31, 2008 were adequate to cover claims for losses that had occurred as of that date, including both those known and those yet to be reported. In establishing such reserves, management considers facts currently known and the present state of the law and coverage litigation. However, given the significant uncertainties inherent in the loss reserving process, it is possible that management’s estimate of the ultimate liability for losses that had occurred as of December 31, 2008 may change, which could have a material effect on the Corporation’s results of operations and financial condition.

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(b) A reconciliation of the beginning and ending liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses, net of reinsurance recoverable, and a reconciliation of the net liability to the corresponding liability on a gross basis is as follows:
 
                         
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
    (in millions)  
 
Gross liability, beginning of year
  $ 22,623     $ 22,293     $ 22,482  
Reinsurance recoverable,
beginning of year
    2,307       2,594       3,769  
                         
Net liability, beginning of year
    20,316       19,699       18,713  
                         
Net incurred losses and loss
expenses related to
                       
Current year
    7,771       6,996       6,870  
Prior years
    (873 )     (697 )     (296 )
                         
      6,898       6,299       6,574  
                         
Net payments for losses and loss expenses related to
                       
Current year
    2,401       1,883       1,703  
Prior years
    4,108       4,066       4,118  
                         
      6,509       5,949       5,821  
                         
                         
                         
Foreign currency translation effect
    (550 )     267       233  
                         
                         
                         
Net liability, end of year
    20,155       20,316       19,699  
Reinsurance recoverable,
end of year
    2,212       2,307       2,594  
                         
                         
Gross liability, end of year
  $ 22,367     $ 22,623     $ 22,293  
                         
 
Because loss reserve estimates are subject to the outcome of future events, changes in estimates are unavoidable given that loss trends vary and time is required for changes in trends to be recognized and confirmed. During 2008, the P&C Group experienced overall favorable development of $873 million on net unpaid losses and loss expenses established as of the previous year end. This compares with favorable prior year development of $697 million in 2007 and $296 million in 2006. Such favorable development was reflected in operating results in these respective years.
 
The net favorable development of $873 million in 2008 was due to various factors. Favorable development of about $390 million was experienced in the professional liability classes other than fidelity, including about $150 million outside the United States. Favorable development occurred in each of the primary professional liability classes, including directors and officers liability, errors and omissions liability, fiduciary liability and employment practices liability. A majority of this favorable development was in the 2004 and 2005 accident years. Reported loss activity related to these accident years has been less than expected due to a favorable business climate, lower policy limits and better terms and conditions. Favorable development of about $170 million was experienced in the homeowners and commercial property classes, primarily related to the 2006 and 2007 accident years. Favorable development of about $120 million was experienced in the commercial liability classes. Favorable development in these classes, particularly excess liability and multiple peril liability in accident years 2002 through 2006, more than offset adverse development in accident years prior to 1998, which was mostly due to the $85 million related to toxic waste claims. Favorable development of about $75 million was experienced in the fidelity class due to lower than expected reported loss emergence, particularly outside the United States, mainly related to recent accident years. Favorable development of about $60 million was experienced in the run-off of the reinsurance assumed business due primarily to better than expected reported loss activity from cedants. Favorable development of about $30 million was experienced in the workers’ compensation class due in part to further recognition of the positive effects of reforms in California. Favorable development of about $30 million was experienced in the personal automobile business due primarily to lower than expected severity.
 
The net favorable development of $697 million in 2007 was due to various factors. Favorable development of about $300 million was experienced in the professional liability classes other than fidelity, including about $100 million outside the United States. A majority of this favorable development was in the 2003 through 2005 accident years. Reported loss activity related to these accident years was less than expected due to a favorable business climate, lower policy limits and better terms and conditions. Favorable development of about $180 million was experienced in the short tail homeowners and commercial property classes, primarily related to the 2006 and 2005 accident years. This favorable development arose from the lower than expected emergence of actual losses during 2007 relative to expectations used to establish the loss reserves at the end of 2006. Favorable development of about $135 million was experienced in the run-off of the reinsurance assumed business due primarily to better than expected reported loss activity from cedants. Favorable development of about $40 million and $30 million was experienced in the fidelity class and the surety class, respectively, due to lower than expected reported loss emergence, mainly related to more recent accident years. Favorable development of about $30 million was experienced in the personal automobile class. Case develop- ment during 2007 on previously reported claims was better than expected and the number of late reported claims was less than expected. Unfavorable development of about $20 million was experienced in the commercial liability classes. Unfavorable development in accident years prior to 1997, mostly the $88 million related to asbestos and toxic waste claims, was largely offset by favorable development in these classes in the more recent accident years.
 
The net favorable development of $296 million in 2006 was also due to various factors. Favorable development of about $190 million was experienced in the short tail homeowners and commercial property classes, primarily related to the 2005 accident year. This favorable development arose from the lower than expected emergence of losses during 2006 relative to expectations used to establish loss reserves at the end of 2005. Favorable development of about $70 million was experienced in the fidelity class due to lower than expected reported loss emergence, mainly related to more recent accident years. Favorable development of about $65 million was experienced in the run-off of the reinsurance assumed business due primarily to better than expected reported loss activity from cedants. Favorable development of about $45 million was experienced in the professional liability classes other than fidelity. Favorable development in the 2004 and 2005 accident years more than offset continued unfavorable

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development in the 2000 through 2002 accident years. Reported loss activity related to accident years 2004 and 2005 was less than expected due to a favorable business climate, lower policy limits and better terms and conditions. On the other hand, the P&C Group continued to experience higher than expected reported loss activity related to the 2000 through 2002 accident years, largely from claims related to corporate failures and allegations of management misconduct and accounting irregularities. Favorable development of about $25 million was experienced in the personal automobile class. Case development during 2006 on previously reported claims was better than expected and the number of late reported claims was also less than expected. Unfavorable development of about $100 million was experienced in the commercial liability classes, including $24 million related to asbestos and toxic waste claims. Reported loss activity in accident years prior to 1997 was worse than expected, primarily related to specific individual excess liability and other liability claims.
 
(c) The estimation of loss reserves relating to asbestos and toxic waste claims on insurance policies written many years ago is subject to greater uncertainty than other types of claims due to inconsistent court decisions as well as judicial interpretations and legislative actions that in some cases have tended to broaden coverage beyond the original intent of such policies and in others have expanded theories of liability. The insurance industry as a whole is engaged in extensive litigation over these coverage and liability issues and is thus confronted with a continuing uncertainty in its efforts to quantify these exposures.
 
Asbestos remains the most significant and difficult mass tort for the insurance industry in terms of claims volume and dollar exposure. Asbestos claims relate primarily to bodily injuries asserted by those who came in contact with asbestos or products containing asbestos. Tort theory affecting asbestos litigation has evolved over the years. Early court cases established the “continuous trigger” theory with respect to insurance coverage. Under this theory, insurance coverage is deemed to be triggered from the time a claimant is first exposed to asbestos until the manifestation of any disease. This interpretation of a policy trigger can involve insurance policies over many years and increases insurance companies’ exposure to liability.
 
New asbestos claims and new exposures on existing claims have continued despite the fact that usage of asbestos has declined since the mid-1970’s. Many claimants were exposed to multiple asbestos products over an extended period of time. As a result, claim filings typically name dozens of defendants. The plaintiffs’ bar has solicited new claimants through extensive advertising and through asbestos medical screenings. A vast majority of asbestos bodily injury claims are filed by claimants who do not show any signs of asbestos related disease. New asbestos cases are often filed in those jurisdictions with a reputation for judges and juries that are extremely sympathetic to plaintiffs.
 
Approximately 80 manufacturers and distributors of asbestos products have filed for bankruptcy protection as a result of asbestos related liabilities. A bankruptcy sometimes involves an agreement to a plan between the debtor and its creditors, including current and future asbestos claimants. Although the debtor is negotiating in part with its insurers’ money, insurers are generally given only limited opportunity to be heard. In addition to contributing to the overall number of claims, bankruptcy proceedings have also caused increased settlement demands against remaining solvent defendants.
 
There have been some positive legislative and judicial developments in the asbestos environment over the past several years. Various challenges to mass screening claimants have been mounted. Also, a number of states have implemented legislative and judicial reforms that focus the courts’ resources on the claims of the most seriously injured. Those who allege serious injury and can present credible evidence of their injuries are receiving priority trial settings in the courts, while those who have not shown any credible disease manifestation are having their hearing dates delayed or are placed on an inactive docket, which preserves the right to pursue litigation in the future. Further, a number of key jurisdictions have adopted venue reform that requires plaintiffs to have a connection to the jurisdiction in order to file a complaint. Finally, in recognition that many aspects of bankruptcy plans are unfair to certain classes of claimants and to the insurance industry, these plans are beginning to be closely scrutinized by the courts and rejected when appropriate.
 
The P&C Group’s most significant individual asbestos exposures involve products liability on the part of “traditional” defendants who were engaged in the manufacture, distribution or installation of products containing asbestos. The P&C Group wrote excess liability and/or general liability coverages for these insureds. While these insureds are relatively few in number, their exposure has become substantial due to the increased volume of claims, the erosion of the underlying limits and the bankruptcies of target defendants.
 
The P&C Group’s other asbestos exposures involve products and non-products liability on the part of “peripheral” defendants, including a mix of manufacturers, distributors and installers of certain products that contain asbestos in small quantities and owners or operators of properties where asbestos was present. Generally, these insureds are named defendants on a regional rather than a nationwide basis. As the financial resources of traditional asbestos defendants have been depleted, plaintiffs are targeting these viable peripheral parties with greater frequency and, in many cases, for large awards.
 
Asbestos claims against the major manufacturers, distributors or installers of asbestos products were typically presented under the products liability section of primary general liability policies as well as under excess liability policies, both of which typically had aggregate limits that capped an insurer’s exposure. In recent years, a number of asbestos claims by insureds are being presented as “non-products” claims, such as those by installers of asbestos products and by property owners or operators who allegedly had asbestos on their property, under the premises or operations section of primary general liability policies. Unlike products exposures, these non-products

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exposures typically had no aggregate limits on coverage, creating potentially greater exposure. Further, in an effort to seek additional insurance coverage, some insureds with installation activities who have substantially eroded their products coverage are presenting new asbestos claims as non-products operations claims or attempting to reclassify previously settled products claims as non-products claims to restore a portion of previously exhausted products aggregate limits. It is difficult to predict whether insureds will be successful in asserting claims under non-products coverage or whether insurers will be successful in asserting additional defenses. Accordingly, the ultimate cost to insurers of the claims for coverage not subject to aggregate limits is uncertain.
 
Various federal proposals to solve the ongoing asbestos litigation crisis have been considered by the U.S. Congress over the past few years, but none have yet been enacted. Thus, the prospect of federal asbestos reform legislation remains uncertain.
 
In establishing asbestos reserves, the exposure presented by each insured is evaluated. As part of this evaluation, consideration is given to a variety of factors including the available insurance coverage; limits and deductibles; the jurisdictions involved; past settlement values of similar claims; the potential role of other insurance, particularly underlying coverage below excess liability policies; potential bankruptcy impact; relevant judicial interpretations; and applicable coverage defenses, including asbestos exclusions.
 
Significant uncertainty remains as to the ultimate liability of the P&C Group related to asbestos related claims. This uncertainty is due to several factors including the long latency period between asbestos exposure and disease manifestation and the resulting potential for involvement of multiple policy periods for individual claims; plaintiffs’ expanding theories of liability and increased focus on peripheral defendants; the volume of claims by unimpaired plaintiffs and the extent to which they can be precluded from making claims; the efforts by insureds to claim the right to non-products coverage not subject to aggregate limits; the number of insureds seeking bankruptcy protection as a result of asbestos related liabilities; the ability of claimants to bring a claim in a state in which they have no residency or exposure; the impact of the exhaustion of primary limits and the resulting increase in claims on excess liability policies that the P&C Group has issued; inconsistent court decisions and diverging legal interpretations; and the possibility, however remote, of federal legislation that would address the asbestos problem. These significant uncertainties are not likely to be resolved in the near future.
 
Toxic waste claims relate primarily to pollution and related cleanup costs. The P&C Group’s insureds have two potential areas of exposure: hazardous waste dump sites and pollution at the insured site primarily from underground storage tanks and manufacturing processes.
 
The federal Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (Superfund) has been interpreted to impose strict, retroactive and joint and several liability on potentially responsible par-ties (PRPs) for the cost of remediating hazardous waste sites. Most sites have multiple PRPs.
 
Most PRPs named to date are parties who have been generators, transporters, past or present landowners or past or present site operators. Insurance policies issued to PRPs were not intended to cover claims arising from gradual pollution. Environmental remediation claims tendered by PRPs and others to insurers have frequently resulted in disputes over insurers’ contractual obligation with respect to pollution claims. The resulting litigation against insurers extends to issues of liability, coverage and other policy provisions.
 
There is substantial uncertainty involved in estimating the P&C Group’s liabilities related to these claims. First, the liabilities of the claimants are extremely difficult to estimate. At any given waste site, the allocation of remediation costs among governmental authorities and the PRPs varies greatly depending on a variety of factors. Second, different courts have addressed liability and coverage issues regarding pollution claims and have reached inconsistent conclusions in their interpretation of several issues. These significant uncertainties are not likely to be resolved definitively in the near future.
 
Uncertainties also remain as to the Superfund law itself. Superfund’s taxing authority expired on December 31, 1995 and has not been re-enacted. Federal legislation appears to be at a standstill. At this time, it is not possible to predict the direction that any reforms may take, when they may occur or the effect that any changes may have on the insurance industry.
 
Without federal movement on Superfund reform, the enforcement of Superfund liability has occasionally shifted to the states. States are being forced to reconsider state-level cleanup statutes and regulations. As individual states move forward, the potential for conflicting state regulation becomes greater. In a few states, cases have been brought against insureds or directly against insurance companies for environmental pollution and natural resources damages. To date, only a few natural resources claims have been filed and they are being vigorously defended. Significant uncertainty remains as to the cost of remediating the state sites. Because of the large number of state sites, such sites could prove even more costly in the aggregate than Superfund sites.
 
In establishing toxic waste reserves, the exposure presented by each insured is evaluated. As part of this evaluation, consideration is given to the probable liability, available insurance coverage, past settlement values of similar claims, relevant judicial interpretations, applicable coverage defenses as well as facts that are unique to each insured.
 
Management believes that the loss reserves carried at December 31, 2008 for asbestos and toxic waste claims were adequate. However, given the judicial decisions and legislative actions that have broadened the scope of coverage and expanded theories of liability in the past and the possibilities of similar interpretations in the future, it is possible that the estimate of loss reserves relating to these exposures may increase in future periods as new information becomes available and as claims develop.

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(7) Debt and Credit Arrangements
 
(a) Long term debt consisted of the following:
 
                 
    December 31  
    2008     2007  
    (in millions)  
 
3.95% notes due April 1, 2008
  $     $ 225  
5.472% notes due August 16, 2008
          460  
6% notes due November 15, 2011
    400       400  
5.2% notes due April 1, 2013
    275       275  
5.75% notes due May 15, 2018
    600        
6.6% debentures due August 15, 2018
    100       100  
6.8% debentures due November 15, 2031
    200       200  
6% notes due May 11, 2037
    800       800  
6.5% notes due May 15, 2038
    600        
6.375% capital securities due March 29, 2067
    1,000       1,000  
                 
    $ 3,975     $ 3,460  
                 
 
In May 2008, Chubb issued $600 million of 5.75% senior notes due May 15, 2018 and $600 million of 6.5% senior notes due May 15, 2038.
 
Chubb has outstanding $1.0 billion of unsecured junior subordinated capital securities. The capital securities will become due on April 15, 2037, the scheduled maturity date, but only to the extent that Chubb has received sufficient net proceeds from the sale of certain qualifying capital securities. Chubb must use its commercially reasonable efforts, subject to certain market disruption events, to sell enough qualifying capital securities to permit repayment of the capital securities on the scheduled maturity date or as soon thereafter as possible. Any remaining outstanding principal amount will be due on March 29, 2067, the final maturity date. The capital securities bear interest at a fixed rate of 6.375% through April 14, 2017. Thereafter, the capital securities will bear interest at a rate equal to the three-month LIBOR rate plus 2.25%. Subject to certain conditions, Chubb has the right to defer the payment of interest on the capital securities for a period not exceeding ten consecutive years. During any such period, interest will continue to accrue and Chubb generally may not declare or pay any dividends on or purchase any shares of its capital stock.
 
In connection with the issuance of the capital securities, Chubb entered into a replacement capital covenant in which it agreed that it will not repay, redeem, or purchase the capital securities before March 29, 2047, unless, subject to certain limitations, it has received proceeds from the sale of replacement capital securities, as defined. The replacement capital covenant is not intended for the benefit of holders of the capital securities and may not be enforced by them. The replacement capital covenant is for the benefit of holders of one or more designated series of Chubb’s indebtedness, which will initially be its 6.8% debentures due November 15, 2031.
 
Subject to the replacement capital covenant, the capital securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time on or after April 15, 2017 at a redemption price equal to the principal amount plus any accrued interest or prior to April 15, 2017 at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) the principal amount or (ii) a make-whole amount, in each case plus any accrued interest.
 
The 6% notes due in 2011, the 5.2% notes, the 5.75% notes, the 6.6% debentures, the 6.8% debentures, the 6% notes due in 2037 and the 6.5% notes are all unsecured obligations of Chubb. Chubb generally may redeem some or all of the notes and debentures prior to maturity in accordance with the terms of each debt instrument.
 
The amounts of long term debt due annually during the five years subsequent to December 31, 2008 are as follows:
 
         
Years Ending
     
December 31
     
    (in millions)  
 
2009
  $  
2010
     
2011
    400  
2012
     
2013
    275  
 
(b) Interest costs of $240 million, $206 million and $134 million were incurred in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Interest paid was $232 million, $191 million and $129 million in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 
(c) Chubb has a revolving credit agreement with a group of banks that provides for up to $500 million of unsecured borrowings. There have been no borrowings under this agreement. Various interest rate options are available to Chubb, all of which are based on market interest rates. Chubb pays a fee to have this revolving credit facility available. The agreement contains customary restrictive covenants including a covenant to maintain a minimum consolidated shareholders’ equity, as adjusted. At December 31, 2008, Chubb was in compliance with all such covenants. The revolving credit facility is available for general corporate purposes and to support Chubb’s commercial paper borrowing arrangement. The agreement has a termination date of October 19, 2012. In August 2008, the agreement was amended to allow Chubb to request on two occasions, at any time during the remaining term of the agreement, an extension of the maturity date for an additional one year period. On the termination date of the agreement, any borrowings then outstanding become payable.
 
(8) Property and Equipment
 
Property and equipment included in other assets were as follows:
 
                 
    December 31  
   
2008
   
2007
 
    (in millions)  
 
Cost
  $ 813     $ 839  
Accumulated depreciation
    489       490  
                 
    $ 324     $ 349  
                 
 
Depreciation expense related to property and equipment was $64 million, $69 million and $77 million for 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 

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(9) Federal and Foreign Income Tax
 
(a) Income tax expense consisted of the following components:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31  
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
    (in millions)  
 
Current tax
                       
United States
  $ 457     $ 952     $ 735  
Foreign
    202       168       154  
Deferred tax (credit), principally United States
    (56 )     10       108  
                         
    $ 603     $ 1,130     $ 997  
                         
 
Federal and foreign income taxes paid were $739 million, $1,140 million and $847 million in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 
(b) The effective income tax rate is different than the statutory federal corporate tax rate. The reasons for the different effective tax rate were as follows:
 
                                                 
    Years Ended December 31  
    2008     2007     2006  
          % of
          % of
          % of
 
          Pre-Tax
          Pre-Tax
          Pre-Tax
 
   
Amount
   
Income
   
Amount
   
Income
   
Amount
   
Income
 
    (in millions)  
Income before federal and foreign income tax
  $ 2,407             $ 3,937             $ 3,525          
                                                 
Tax at statutory federal income tax rate
  $ 842       35.0 %   $ 1,378       35.0 %   $ 1,234       35.0 %
Tax exempt interest income
    (235 )     (9.7 )     (232 )     (5.9 )     (215 )     (6.1 )
Other, net
    (4 )     (.2 )     (16 )     (.4 )     (22 )     (.6 )
                                                 
Actual tax
  $ 603       25.1 %   $ 1,130       28.7 %   $ 997       28.3 %
                                                 
 
(c) The tax effects of temporary differences that gave rise to deferred income tax assets and liabilities were as follows:
 
                 
    December 31  
   
2008
   
2007
 
    (in millions)  
Deferred income tax assets
               
Unpaid losses and loss expenses
  $ 680     $ 729  
Unearned premiums
    351       357  
Foreign tax credits
    788       631  
Employee compensation
    134       175  
Postretirement benefits
    285       138  
Unrealized depreciation of investments
    77        
Other, net
    90        
                 
Total
    2,405       2,030  
                 
Deferred income tax liabilities
               
Deferred policy acquisition costs
    451       447  
Unremitted earnings of foreign subsidiaries
    810       630  
Unrealized appreciation of investments
          284  
Other, net
          227  
                 
Total
    1,261       1,588  
                 
Net deferred income tax asset
  $ 1,144     $ 442  
                 
 
Although realization of deferred income tax assets is not assured, management believes that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized. Accordingly, no valuation allowance was recorded at December 31, 2008 or 2007.
 
(d) Chubb and its domestic subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Corporation also files income tax returns with various state and foreign tax authorities. The U.S. income tax returns for years prior to 2004 are no longer subject to examination by the IRS. The examination of the U.S. income tax returns for 2004, 2005 and 2006 is expected to be completed in 2010. Management does not anticipate any assessments for tax years that remain subject to examination that would have a material effect on the Corporation’s financial position or results of operations.

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(10) Reinsurance
 
In the ordinary course of business, the P&C Group assumes and cedes reinsurance with other insurance companies. Reinsurance is ceded to provide greater diversification of risk and to limit the P&C Group’s maximum net loss arising from large risks or catastrophic events.
 
A large portion of the P&C Group’s ceded reinsurance is effected under contracts known as treaties under which all risks meeting prescribed criteria are automatically covered. Most of these arrangements consist of excess of loss and catastrophe contracts that protect against a specified part or all of certain types of losses over stipulated amounts arising from any one occurrence or event. In certain circumstances, reinsurance is also effected by negotiation on individual risks.
 
Ceded reinsurance contracts do not relieve the P&C Group of the primary obligation to its policyholders. Thus, an exposure exists with respect to reinsurance ceded to the extent that any reinsurer is unable or unwilling to meet its obligations assumed under the reinsurance contracts. The P&C Group monitors the financial strength of its reinsurers on an ongoing basis.
 
Premiums earned and insurance losses and loss expenses are reported net of reinsurance in the consolidated statements of income.
 
The effect of reinsurance on the premiums written and earned of the P&C Group was as follows:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31  
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
    (in millions)  
 
Direct premiums written
  $ 12,443     $ 12,432     $ 12,224  
Reinsurance assumed
    549       775       954  
Reinsurance ceded
    (1,210 )     (1,335 )     (1,204 )
                         
Net premiums written
  $ 11,782     $ 11,872     $ 11,974  
                         
                         
Direct premiums earned
  $ 12,441     $ 12,457     $ 12,084  
Reinsurance assumed
    607       789       971  
Reinsurance ceded
    (1,220 )     (1,300 )     (1,097 )
                         
Net premiums earned
  $ 11,828     $ 11,946     $ 11,958  
                         
 
The ceded reinsurance premiums written and earned included $195 million and $243 million, respectively, in 2008 and $386 million and $344 million, respectively, in 2007 and $283 million and $190 million, respectively, in 2006 that were ceded to Harbor Point.
 
Ceded losses and loss expenses, which reduce losses and loss expenses incurred, were $417 million, $460 million and $86 million in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The ceded losses and loss expenses in 2008 and 2007 included $163 million and $183 million, respectively, that were ceded to Harbor Point. The 2006 ceded amount reflects $175 million reduction of ceded losses and loss expenses related to Hurricane Katrina.
 
(11) Segments Information
 
The principal business of the Corporation is the sale of property and casualty insurance. The profitability of the property and casualty insurance business depends on the results of both underwriting operations and investments, which are viewed as two distinct operations. The underwriting operations are managed and evaluated separately from the investment function.
 
The P&C Group underwrites most lines of property and casualty insurance. Underwriting operations consist of four separate business units: personal insurance, commercial insurance, specialty insurance and reinsurance assumed. The personal segment targets the personal insurance market. The personal classes include automobile, homeowners and other personal coverages. The commercial segment includes those classes of business that are generally available in broad markets and are of a more commodity nature. Commercial classes include multiple peril, casualty, workers’ compensation and property and marine. The specialty segment includes those classes of business that are available in more limited markets since they require specialized underwriting and claim settlement. Specialty classes include professional liability coverages and surety. The reinsurance assumed business is effectively in run-off following the sale, in 2005, of the ongoing business to Harbor Point (see Note (3)).
 
Corporate and other includes investment income earned on corporate invested assets, corporate expenses and the results of the Corporation’s non-insurance subsidiaries.
 
Performance of the property and casualty underwriting segments is measured based on statutory underwriting results. Statutory underwriting profit is arrived at by reducing premiums earned by losses and loss expenses incurred and statutory underwriting expenses incurred. Under statutory accounting principles applicable to property and casualty insurance companies, policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses are recognized immediately, not at the time premiums are earned.
 
Management uses underwriting results determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to assess the overall performance of the underwriting operations. Underwriting income determined in accordance with GAAP is defined as premiums earned less losses and loss expenses incurred and GAAP underwriting expenses incurred. To convert statutory underwriting results to a GAAP basis, policy acquisition expenses are deferred and amortized over the period in which the related premiums are earned.
 
Investment income performance is measured based on investment income net of investment expenses, excluding realized investment gains and losses.
 
 

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Distinct investment portfolios are not maintained for each underwriting segment. Property and casualty invested assets are available for payment of losses and expenses for all classes of business. Therefore, such assets and the related investment income are not allocated to underwriting segments.
 
Revenues, income before income tax and assets of each operating segment were as follows:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31  
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
    (in millions)   
 
Revenues
                       
Property and casualty insurance
                       
Premiums earned
                       
Personal insurance
  $ 3,787     $ 3,642     $ 3,409  
Commercial insurance
    5,015       5,120       5,079  
Specialty insurance
    2,935       2,971       2,953  
                         
Total insurance
    11,737       11,733       11,441  
Reinsurance assumed
    91       213       517  
                         
      11,828       11,946       11,958  
Investment income
    1,652       1,622       1,485  
Other revenues
    4       11        
                         
Total property and casualty insurance
    13,484       13,579       13,443  
Corporate and other
    108       154       315  
Realized investment gains (losses)
    (371 )     374       245  
                         
Total revenues
  $ 13,221     $ 14,107     $ 14,003  
                         
Income (loss) before income tax
                       
Property and casualty insurance
                       
Underwriting
                       
Personal insurance
  $ 478     $ 532     $ 590  
Commercial insurance
    309       738       840  
Specialty insurance
    499       678       371  
                         
Total insurance
    1,286       1,948       1,801  
Reinsurance assumed
    58       116       85  
                         
      1,344       2,064       1,886  
Increase in deferred policy acquisition costs
    17       52       19  
                         
Underwriting income
    1,361       2,116       1,905  
Investment income
    1,622       1,590       1,454  
Other income
    9       6       10  
                         
Total property and casualty insurance
    2,992       3,712       3,369  
Corporate and other loss
    (214 )     (149 )     (89 )
Realized investment gains (losses)
    (371 )     374       245  
                         
Total income before income tax
  $ 2,407     $ 3,937     $ 3,525  
                         
 
                         
    December 31  
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
    (in millions)   
 
Assets
                       
Property and casualty insurance
  $ 45,354     $ 47,931     $ 47,671  
Corporate and other
    3,297       2,785       2,811  
Adjustments and eliminations
    (222 )     (142 )     (205 )
                         
Total assets
  $ 48,429     $ 50,574     $ 50,277  
                         
 
The international business of the property and casualty insurance segment is conducted primarily through subsidiaries that operate solely outside of the United States. Their assets and liabilities are located principally in the countries where the insurance risks are written. International business is also written by branch offices of certain domestic subsidiaries.
 
Revenues of the P&C Group by geographic area were as follows:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31  
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
    (in millions)   
 
Revenues
                       
United States
  $ 10,329     $ 10,624     $ 10,807  
International
    3,155       2,955       2,636  
                         
Total
  $ 13,484     $ 13,579     $ 13,443  
                         

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(12) Stock-Based Employee Compensation Plans
 
The Corporation has two stock-based employee compensation plans, the Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan and the Stock Purchase Plan. The compensation cost charged against income with respect to these plans was $81 million, $87 million and $88 million in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The total income tax benefit included in income with respect to these stock-based compensation arrangements was $28 million in 2008 and $31 million in 2007 and 2006.
 
As of December 31, 2008, there was $83 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested awards. That cost is expected to be charged against income over a weighted average period of 1.7 years.
 
(a) The Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan provides for the granting of restricted stock units, restricted stock, performance shares, stock options and other stock-based awards to key employees. The maximum number of shares of Chubb’s common stock in respect to which stock-based awards may be granted under the Plan is 15,834,000 shares. At December 31, 2008, 8,388,870 shares were available for grant under the Plan.
 
Restricted Stock Units, Restricted Stock and Performance Shares
 
Restricted stock unit awards are payable in cash, in shares of Chubb’s common stock, or in a combination of both. Restricted stock units are not considered to be outstanding shares of common stock, have no voting rights and are subject to forfeiture during the restriction period. Holders of restricted stock units may receive dividend equivalents. Restricted stock awards consist of shares of Chubb’s common stock granted at no cost to the employees. Shares of restricted stock become outstanding when granted, receive dividends and have voting rights. The shares are subject to forfeiture and to restrictions that prevent their sale or transfer during the restriction period. Performance share awards are based on the achievement of performance goals over three year performance periods. Performance share awards are payable in cash, in shares of Chubb’s common stock or in a combination of both.
 
An amount equal to the fair value at the date of grant of restricted stock unit awards, restricted stock awards and performance share awards is expensed over the vesting period. The weighted average fair value per share of the restricted stock units granted was $50.44, $50.10 and $47.54 in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The weighted average fair value per share of the performance shares granted was $51.46, $52.99 and $44.73 in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 
Additional information with respect to restricted stock units and restricted stock and performance shares is as follows:
 
                                 
    Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock     Performance Shares*  
          Weighted Average
          Weighted Average
 
    Number
    Grant Date
    Number
    Grant Date
 
   
of Shares
   
Fair Value
   
of Shares
   
Fair Value
 
 
Nonvested, January 1, 2008
    3,306,693     $ 45.23       1,309,029     $ 48.73  
Granted
    1,152,068       50.44       669,336       51.46  
Vested
    (1,286,813 )     39.68       (668,768 )**     44.73  
Forfeited
    (119,387 )     47.17       (78,665 )     51.04  
                                 
Nonvested, December 31, 2008
    3,052,561       49.46       1,230,932       52.24  
                                 
 
*    The number of shares earned may range from 0% to 200% of the performance shares shown in the table above.
 
**   The performance shares earned in 2008 were 168.6% of the vested shares shown in the table, or 1,127,543 shares.
 
The total fair value of restricted stock units and restricted stock that vested during 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $65 million, $77 million and $34 million, respectively. The total fair value of performance shares that vested during 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $57 million, $58 million and $63 million, respectively.
 
Stock Options
 
Stock options are granted at exercise prices not less than the fair value of Chubb’s common stock on the date of grant. The terms and conditions upon which options become exercisable may vary among grants. Options expire no later than ten years from the date of grant.
 
An amount equal to the fair value of stock options at the date of grant is expensed over the period that such options become exercisable. The weighted average fair value per stock option granted during 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $6.04, $8.39 and $7.65, respectively. The fair value of each stock option was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions.
 
                         
    2008   2007   2006
Risk-free interest rate
    2 .5%     4 .4%     4 .8%
Expected volatility
    16 .4%     16 .9%     15 .9%
Dividend yield
    2 .5%     2 .2%     2 .0%
Expected average term (in years)
    3 .9     4 .3     3 .4

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Additional information with respect to stock options is as follows:
 
                                 
                Weighted Average
       
    Number
    Weighted Average
    Remaining
    Aggregate
 
   
of Shares
   
Exercise Price
   
Contractual Term
   
Intrinsic Value
 
                (in years)     (in millions)  
 
Outstanding, January 1, 2008
    8,107,931     $ 33.99                  
Granted
    330,329       52.55                  
Exercised
    (2,543,530 )     33.68                  
Forfeited
    (80,530 )     45.55                  
                                 
Outstanding, December 31, 2008
    5,814,200       35.02       3.0     $ 77  
                                 
Exercisable, December 31, 2008
    5,592,086       34.44       2.8       77  
 
The total intrinsic value of the stock options exercised during 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $52 million, $66 million and $110 million, respectively. The Corporation received cash of $74 million, $115 million and $185 million during 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively, from the exercise of stock options. The tax benefit realized with respect to the exercise of stock options was $19 million in 2008 and 2007 and $40 million in 2006.
 
(b) Under the Stock Purchase Plan, substantially all employees are eligible to receive rights to purchase shares of Chubb’s common stock at a fixed price at the end of the offering period. The price is determined on the date the purchase rights are granted and the offering period cannot exceed 27 months. The number of shares an eligible employee may purchase is based on the employee’s compensation. An amount equal to the fair value of purchase rights at the date of grant is expensed over the offering period. No purchase rights have been granted since 2002.
 
(13)  Employee Benefits
 
(a) The Corporation has several non-contributory defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all employees. Prior to 2001, benefits were generally based on an employee’s years of service and average compensation during the last five years of employment. Effective January 1, 2001, the Corporation changed the formula for providing pension benefits from the final average pay formula to a cash balance formula. Under the cash balance formula, a notional account is established for each employee, which is credited semi-annually with an amount equal to a percentage of eligible compensation based on age and years of service plus interest based on the account balance. Employees hired prior to 2001 will generally be eligible to receive vested benefits based on the higher of the final average pay or cash balance formulas.
 
The Corporation’s funding policy is to contribute amounts that meet regulatory requirements plus additional amounts determined by management based on actuarial valuations, market conditions and other factors. This may result in no contribution being made in a particular year.
 
The Corporation also provides certain other postretirement benefits, principally health care and life insurance, to retired employees and their beneficiaries and covered dependents. Substantially all employees hired before January 1, 1999 may become eligible for these benefits upon retirement if they meet minimum age and years of service requirements. Health care coverage is contributory. Retiree contributions vary based upon a retiree’s age, type of coverage and years of service with the Corporation. Life insurance coverage is non-contributory.
 
The Corporation funds a portion of the health care benefits obligation where such funding can be accomplished on a tax effective basis. Benefits are paid as covered expenses are incurred.
 
The funded status of the pension and other postretirement benefit plans at December 31, 2008 and 2007 was as follows:
 
                                 
          Other
 
    Pension Benefits     Postretirement Benefits  
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
    (in millions)  
 
Benefit obligation
  $ 1,761     $ 1,658     $ 315     $ 289  
Plan assets at fair value
    1,125       1,409       32       37  
                                 
Funded status at end of year, included in other liabilities
  $ 636     $ 249     $ 283     $ 252  
                                 

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Net loss and prior service cost included in accumulated other comprehensive income that were not yet recognized as components of net benefit costs at December 31, 2008 and 2007 were as follows:
 
                                 
          Other
 
          Postretirement
 
    Pension Benefits     Benefits  
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
    (in millions)  
 
Net loss
  $ 808     $ 383     $ 59     $ 33  
Prior service cost (benefit)
    30       44       (2 )     (2 )
                                 
    $ 838     $ 427     $ 57     $ 31  
                                 
 
The accumulated benefit obligation for the pension plans was $1,451 million and $1,328 million at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The accumulated benefit obligation is the present value of pension benefits earned as of the measurement date based on employee service and compensation prior to that date. It differs from the pension benefit obligation in the table on the previous page in that the accumulated benefit obligation includes no assumptions regarding future compensation levels.
 
The weighted average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligations were as follows:
 
                                     
          Other
 
          Postretirement
 
    Pension Benefits     Benefits  
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
 
Discount rate
    6 .0 %     6 .0 %     6.0 %     6.0 %
Rate of compensation increase
    4 .5       4 .5              
 
The Corporation made pension plan contributions of $127 million and $93 million during 2008 and 2007, respectively. The Corporation made other postretirement benefit plan contributions of $10 million and $12 million during 2008 and 2007, respectively.
 
The components of net pension and other postretirement benefit costs reflected in net income and other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 were as follows:
 
                                                 
          Other
 
          Postretirement
 
    Pension Benefits     Benefits  
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
    (in millions)  
 
Costs reflected in net income
                                               
Service cost
  $ 76     $ 79     $ 67     $ 10     $ 10     $ 9  
Interest cost
    99       89       75       17       16       14  
Expected return on plan assets
    (114 )     (100 )     (85 )     (3 )     (2 )     (2 )
Amortization of net loss and prior service cost and other
    51       32       34       1       1       1  
                                                 
    $ 112     $ 100     $ 91     $ 25     $ 25     $ 22  
                                                 
Changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other
                                               
comprehensive income
                                               
Net loss
  $ 462     $ 54             $ 27     $ 4          
Prior service cost
          1                              
Amortization of net loss and prior service cost and other
    (51 )     (32 )             (1 )     (1 )        
                                                 
    $ 411     $ 23             $ 26     $ 3          
                                                 
 
The estimated aggregate net loss and prior service cost that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net benefit costs during 2009 for the pension and other postretirement benefit plans is $44 million.

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The weighted average assumptions used to determine net pension and other postretirement benefit costs were as follows:
 
                                                             
          Other
 
    Pension Benefits     Postretirement Benefits  
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
 
Discount rate
    6 .0 %      5 .75 %      5 .75 %     6 .0 %      5 .75 %      5 .75 %
Rate of compensation increase
    4 .5       4 .5       4 .5                           
Expected long term rate of return on plan assets
    8 .0       8 .0       8 .0       8 .0       8 .0       8 .0  
 
The weighted average health care cost trend rate assumptions used to measure the expected cost of medical benefits were as follows:
 
                 
    December 31  
   
2008
   
2007
 
 
Health care cost trend rate for next year
    8.75 %     8.75 %
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate)
    5.0        5.0   
Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate
    2015       2014  
 
The health care cost trend rate assumption has a significant effect on the amount of the accumulated other postretirement benefit obligation and the net other postretirement benefit cost reported. To illustrate, a one percent increase or decrease in the trend rate for each year would increase or decrease the accumulated other postretirement benefit obligation at December 31, 2008 by approximately $54 million and the aggregate of the service and interest cost components of net other postretirement benefit cost for the year ended December 31, 2008 by approximately $5 million.
 
The long term objective of the pension plan is to provide sufficient funding to cover expected benefit obligations, while assuming a prudent level of portfolio risk. Plan assets are invested in a diversified portfolio of predominately U.S. equity securities and fixed maturities. The Corporation seeks to obtain a rate of return that over time equals or exceeds the returns of the broad markets in which the plan assets are invested. The target allocation of plan assets is 55% to 65% invested in equity securities, with the remainder invested in fixed maturities. The Corporation rebalances its pension assets to the target allocation as market conditions permit. The Corporation determined the expected long term rate of return assumption for each asset class based on an analysis of the historical returns and the expectations for future returns. The expected long-term rate of return for the portfolio is a weighted aggregation of the expected returns for each asset class.
 
The weighted average allocation of the pension plan assets was as follows:
 
                 
    December 31  
   
2008
   
2007
 
 
Equity securities
    46 %     60 %
Fixed maturities
    54       40  
                 
      100 %     100 %
                 
 
The estimated benefits expected to be paid in each of the next five years and in the aggregate for the following five years are as follows:
 
                 
          Other
 
Years Ending
        Postretirement
 
December 31
  Pension Benefits     Benefits  
    (in millions)
 
2009
  $ 96     $ 10  
2010
    66       11  
2011
    70       13  
2012
    78       14  
2013
    83       15  
2014-2018
    576       99  
 
(b) The Corporation has a defined contribution benefit plan, the Capital Accumulation Plan, in which substantially all employees are eligible to participate. Under this plan, the employer makes an annual matching contribution equal to 100% of each eligible employee’s pre-tax elective contributions, up to 4% of the employee’s eligible compensation. Contributions are invested at the election of the employee in Chubb’s common stock or in various other investment funds. Employer contributions charged against income were $28 million in 2008, $27 million in 2007 and $25 million in 2006.

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(14) Commitments and Contingent Liabilities
 
(a) Chubb and certain of its subsidiaries have been involved in the investigations by various Attorneys General and other regulatory authorities of several states, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and certain non-U.S. regulatory authorities with respect to certain business practices in the property and casualty insurance industry including (1) potential conflicts of interest and anti-competitive behavior arising from the payment of contingent commissions to brokers and agents and (2) loss mitigation and finite reinsurance arrangements. In connection with these investigations, Chubb and certain of its subsidiaries received subpoenas and other requests for information from various regulators. The Corporation has cooperated fully with these investigations. The Corporation has settled with several state Attorneys General and insurance departments all issues arising out of their investigations. As described in more detail below, the Attorney General of Ohio in August 2007 filed an action against Chubb and certain of its subsidiaries, as well as several other insurers and one broker, as a result of the Ohio Attorney General’s business practices investigation. Although no other Attorney General or regulator has initiated an action against the Corporation, it is possible that such an action may be brought against the Corporation with respect to some or all of the issues that are the focus of these ongoing investigations.
 
Individual actions and purported class actions arising out of the investigations into the payment of contingent commissions to brokers and agents have been filed in a number of federal and state courts. On August 1, 2005, Chubb and certain of its subsidiaries were named in a putative class action entitled In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. This action, brought against several brokers and insurers on behalf of a class of persons who purchased insurance through the broker defendants, asserts claims under the Sherman Act and state law and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) arising from the alleged unlawful use of contingent commission agreements. Chubb and certain of its subsidiaries have also been named as defendants in two purported class actions relating to allegations of unlawful use of contingent commission arrangements that were originally filed in state court. The first was filed on February 16, 2005 in Seminole County, Florida. The second was filed on May 17, 2005 in Essex County, Massachusetts. Both cases were removed to federal court and then transferred by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey for consolidation with the In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation. Since being transferred to the District of New Jersey, the plaintiff in the former action has been inactive, and that action currently is stayed. The latter action has been voluntarily dismissed. On September 28, 2007, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey dismissed the second amended complaint filed by the plaintiffs in In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation in its entirety. In so doing, the court dismissed the plaintiffs’ Sherman Act and RICO claims with prejudice for failure to state a claim, and it dismissed the plaintiffs’ state law claims without prejudice because it declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over them. The plaintiffs have appealed the dismissal of their second amended complaint to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and that appeal is currently pending.
 
In December 2005, Chubb and certain of its subsidiaries were named in a putative class action similar to the In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation. The action is pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and has been assigned to the judge who is presiding over the In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation. The complaint has never been served in this matter. Separately, in April 2006, Chubb and one of its subsidiaries were named in an action similar to the In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation. This action was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and subsequently was transferred by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey for consolidation with the In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation. This action currently is stayed. On May 21, 2007, Chubb and one of its subsidiaries were named as defendants in another action similar to In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation. This action was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and consolidated with In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation. This action currently is stayed.
 
On October 12, 2007, certain of Chubb’s subsidiaries were named as defendants in an action similar to In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation. This action was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. This action has been identified to the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation as a potential “tag-along action” to In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation. The Corporation currently anticipates that this action will be transferred by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and consolidated with In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation.
 
On August 24, 2007, Chubb and certain of its subsidiaries were named as defendants in an action filed by the Ohio Attorney General against several insurers and one broker. This action alleges violations of Ohio’s antitrust laws. In July 2008, the court denied the Corporation’s and the other defendants’ motions to dismiss the Attorney General’s complaint. In August 2008, the Corporation and the other defendants filed answers to the complaint and discovery is proceeding.
 
In these actions, the plaintiffs generally allege that the defendants unlawfully used contingent commission agreements and conspired to reduce competition in the insurance markets. The actions seek treble damages, injunctive and declaratory relief, and attorneys’ fees. The Corporation believes it has substantial defenses to all of the aforementioned legal proceedings and intends to defend the actions vigorously.

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The Corporation cannot predict at this time the ultimate outcome of the aforementioned ongoing investigations and legal proceedings, including any potential amounts that the Corporation may be required to pay in connection with them. Nevertheless, management believes that it is likely that the outcome will not have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s results of operations or financial condition.
 
(b) Chubb Financial Solutions (CFS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Chubb, participated in derivative financial instruments, principally as a counterparty in portfolio credit default swap contracts. Chubb issued unconditional guarantees with respect to all obligations of CFS arising from these transactions. CFS has been in run-off since 2003.
 
CFS’s aggregate exposure, or retained risk, from its in-force financial products contracts is referred to as notional amount. Notional amounts are used to calculate the exchange of contractual cash flows and are not necessarily representative of the potential for gain or loss. Notional amounts are not recorded on the balance sheet.
 
Future obligations with respect to the financial products contracts are carried at fair value at the balance sheet date and are included in other liabilities. The notional amount and fair value of future obligations under CFS’s financial products contracts were as follows:
 
                                 
    December 31  
    Notional Amount     Fair Value  
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
    (in billions)     (in millions)  
 
Credit default swaps
  $     $ .1     $     $ 1  
Other
    .3       .3       5       6  
                                 
Total
  $ .3     $ .4     $ 5     $ 7  
                                 
 
(c) A property and casualty insurance subsidiary issued a reinsurance contract to an insurer that provides financial guarantees on debt obligations. At December 31, 2008, the aggregate principal commitments related to this contract for which the subsidiary was contingently liable amounted to approximately $400 million. These commitments expire by 2023.
 
(d) The Corporation occupies office facilities under lease agreements that expire at various dates through 2019; such leases are generally renewed or replaced by other leases. Most facility leases contain renewal options for increments ranging from two to ten years. The Corporation also leases data processing, office and transportation equipment. All leases are operating leases.
 
Rent expense was as follows:
 
                         
    Years Ended
 
    December 31  
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
    (in millions)  
 
Office facilities
  $ 79     $ 81     $ 89  
Equipment
    13       12       9  
                         
    $ 92     $ 93     $ 98  
                         
 
At December 31, 2008, future minimum rental payments required under non-cancellable operating leases were as follows:
 
         
Years Ending
     
December 31
  (in millions)  
 
2009
  $ 78  
2010
    64  
2011
    58  
2012
    51  
2013
    48  
After 2013
    133  
         
    $ 432  
         
 
(e) The Corporation had commitments totaling $1.1 billion at December 31, 2008 to fund limited partnership investments. These commitments can be called by the partnerships (generally over a period of 5 years or less) to fund certain partnership expenses or the purchase of investments.

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(15) Earnings Per Share
 
Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. The computation of diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilutive effect, using the treasury stock method, of outstanding awards under stock-based employee compensation plans and of outstanding purchase contracts to purchase Chubb’s common stock.
 
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31  
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
    (in millions except for per share amounts)  
 
Basic earnings per share:
                       
Net income
  $ 1,804     $ 2,807     $ 2,528  
                         
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
    361.1       393.6       412.5  
                         
Basic earnings per share
  $ 5.00     $ 7.13     $ 6.13  
                         
Diluted earnings per share:
                       
Net income
  $ 1,804     $ 2,807     $ 2,528  
                         
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
    361.1       393.6       412.5  
Additional shares from assumed exercise of stock-based compensation awards
    5.7       6.7       7.7  
Additional shares from assumed issuance of common stock upon settlement of purchase contracts
                2.2  
                         
Weighted average number of common shares and potential common shares assumed outstanding for computing diluted earnings per share
    366.8       400.3       422.4  
                         
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 4.92     $ 7.01     $ 5.98  
                         
 
(16) Comprehensive Income
 
Comprehensive income is defined as all changes in shareholders’ equity, except those arising from transactions with shareholders. Comprehensive income includes net income and other comprehensive income, which for the Corporation consists of changes in unrealized appreciation or depreciation of investments carried at fair value, changes in foreign currency translation gains or losses and, beginning in 2007, changes in postretirement benefit costs not yet recognized in net income.
 
The components of other comprehensive income or loss were as follows:
 
                                                                         
    Years Ended December 31  
    2008     2007     2006  
    Before
    Income
          Before
    Income
          Before
    Income
       
   
Tax
   
Tax
   
Net
   
Tax
   
Tax
   
Net
   
Tax
   
Tax
   
Net
 
    (in millions)  
 
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising
during the year
  $ (1,378 )   $ (483 )   $ (895 )   $ 237     $ 83     $ 154     $ 161     $ 55     $ 106  
Reclassification adjustment for
realized gains (losses) included in net income
    (348 )     (122 )     (226 )     30       10       20       36       11       25  
                                                                         
Net unrealized gains (losses) recognized
in other comprehensive income or loss
    (1,030 )     (361 )     (669 )     207       73       134       125       44       81  
Foreign currency translation gains (losses)
    (348 )     (122 )     (226 )     193       68       125       52       18       34  
Change in postretirement benefit costs not yet recognized in net income
    (437 )     (153 )     (284 )     (26 )     (9 )     (17 )                  
                                                                         
Total other comprehensive income (loss)
  $ (1,815 )   $ (636 )   $ (1,179 )   $ 374     $ 132     $ 242     $ 177     $ 62     $ 115  
                                                                         

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(17) Fair Values of Financial Instruments
 
Fair values of financial instruments are determined using valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Fair values are generally measured using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities or other inputs, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, that are observable, either directly or indirectly. In those instances where observable inputs are not available, fair values are measured using unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. Unobservable inputs reflect the Corporation’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and are developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. Fair value estimates derived from unobservable inputs are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rates and the estimated amounts and timing of future cash flows. The derived fair value estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets and are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that would be realized in a current market exchange. Certain financial instruments, particularly insurance contracts, are excluded from fair value disclosure requirements.
 
The methods and assumptions used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments are as follows:
 
 (i) The carrying value of short term investments approximates fair value due to the short maturities of these investments.
 
 (ii) Fair values for fixed maturities are determined by management, utilizing prices obtained from independent, nationally recognized pricing services or, in the case of securities for which prices are not provided by the pricing services, from independent brokers. For fixed maturities that have quoted prices in active markets, market quotations are provided. For fixed maturities that do not trade on a daily basis, the pricing services and brokers provide fair value estimates using a variety of inputs including, but not limited to, benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, bids, offers, reference data, prepayment spreads and measures of volatility. Management reviews on an ongoing basis the reasonableness of the methodologies used by the relevant pricing services and brokers. In addition, management, using the prices received for the securities from the pricing services and brokers, determines the aggregate portfolio price performance and reviews it against applicable indices. If management believes that any discrepancies exist, it will discuss these with the relevant pricing service or broker to resolve the discrepancies.
 
 (iii) Fair values of equity securities are based on quoted market prices.
 
 (iv) Fair values of long term debt are determined by management, utilizing prices obtained from independent, nationally recognized pricing services or from independent brokers.
 
 (v) Fair values of derivatives are determined using internal valuation models that are similar to external valuation models.
 
The carrying values and fair values of financial instruments were as follows:
 
                                 
    December 31  
    2008     2007  
    Carrying
    Fair
    Carrying
    Fair
 
   
Value
   
Value
   
Value
   
Value
 
    (in millions)  
 
Assets
                               
Invested assets
                               
Short term investments
  $ 2,478     $ 2,478     $ 1,839     $ 1,839  
Fixed maturities (Note 4)
    32,755       32,755       33,871       33,871  
Equity securities
    1,479       1,479       2,320       2,320  
Liabilities
                               
Long term debt (Note 7)
    3,975       3,493       3,460       3,427  
Derivatives (Note 14)
    5       5       7       7  
 
The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels as follows:
 
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets.
 
Level 2 — Other inputs that are observable for the asset, either directly or indirectly.
 
Level 3 — Inputs that are unobservable.
 
The fair value of fixed maturities and equity securities at December 31, 2008 categorized based upon the lowest level of input that was significant to the fair value measurement was as follows:
 
                                 
    Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total
    (in millions)
Fixed maturities
  $     $ 32,481     $ 274     $ 32,755  
Equity securities
    1,275             204       1,479  

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(18) Shareholders’ Equity
 
(a) The authorized but unissued preferred shares may be issued in one or more series and the shares of each series shall have such rights as fixed by the Board of Directors.
 
(b) On February 8, 2006, the Board of Directors authorized the cancellation of all treasury shares, which were thereupon restored to the status of authorized but unissued common shares. The change had no effect on total shareholders’ equity.
 
The activity of Chubb’s common stock was as follows:
 
                         
    Years Ended December 31  
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
    (number of shares)  
 
Common stock issued
                       
Balance, beginning of year
    374,649,923       411,276,940       420,864,596  
Treasury shares cancelled
                (7,887,800 )
Repurchase of shares
    (4,017,884 )     (41,733,268 )     (20,266,262 )
Shares issued upon settlement of equity unit purchase contracts
                12,883,527  
Share activity under stock-based employee compensation plans
    1,348,671       5,106,251       5,682,879  
                         
Balance, end of year
    371,980,710       374,649,923       411,276,940  
                         
Treasury stock
                       
Balance, beginning of year
                2,787,800  
Repurchase of shares
    22,310,886             5,100,000  
Cancellation of shares
                (7,887,800 )
Share activity under stock-based employee compensation plans
    (2,584,789 )            
                         
Balance, end of year
    19,726,097              
                         
Common stock outstanding, end of year
    352,254,613       374,649,923       411,276,940  
                         
 
In June 2003, Chubb issued 18.4 million purchase contracts to purchase its common stock and $460 million of senior notes due in 2008. The purchase contracts and notes were issued together in the form of equity units. Each purchase contract obligated the holder to purchase, and obligated Chubb to sell, on or before the settlement date of August 16, 2006, for a settlement price of $25, a variable number of newly issued shares of Chubb’s common stock. The number of shares of Chubb’s common stock purchased was determined based on a formula that considered the market price of the common stock immediately prior to the time of settlement in relation to the $29.75 per share sale price of the common stock at the time the equity units were offered. Upon settlement of the purchase contracts, Chubb issued 12,883,527 shares of common stock and received proceeds of $460 million.
 
(c) As of December 31, 2008, 19,783,900 shares remained under the share repurchase authorization that was approved by the Board of Directors in December 2008. The authorization has no expiration date.
 
(d) Chubb has a shareholders rights plan under which each shareholder has one-half of a right for each share of Chubb’s common stock held. Each right entitles the holder to purchase from Chubb one one-thousandth of a share of Series B Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock at an exercise price of $240. The rights are attached to all outstanding shares of common stock and trade with the common stock until the rights become exercisable. The rights are subject to adjustment to prevent dilution of the interests represented by each right.
 
The rights will become exercisable and will detach from the common stock ten days after a person or group either acquires 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Chubb’s common stock or announces a tender or exchange offer which, if consummated, would result in that person or group owning 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Chubb’s common stock.
 
In the event that any person or group acquires 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Chubb’s common stock, each right will entitle the holder, other than such person or group, to purchase that number of shares of Chubb’s common stock having a market value of two times the exercise price of the right. In the event that, following the acquisition of 20% or more of Chubb’s outstanding common stock by a person or group, the Corporation is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction or 50% or more of the Corporation’s assets or earning power is sold, each right will entitle the holder to purchase common stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the right. At any time after any person or group acquires 20% or more of Chubb’s common stock, but before such person or group acquires 50% or more of such stock, Chubb may exchange all or part of the rights, other than the rights owned by such person or group, for shares of Chubb’s common stock at an exchange ratio of one share of common stock per one-half of a right.
 
The rights do not have the right to vote or to receive dividends. The rights may be redeemed in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.01 per right by Chubb at any time until the tenth day after the acquisition of 20% or more of Chubb’s outstanding common stock by a person or group. The rights will expire at the close of business on March 12, 2009, unless previously exchanged or redeemed by Chubb.

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(e) The property and casualty insurance subsidiaries are required to file annual statements with insurance regulatory authorities prepared on an accounting basis prescribed or permitted by such authorities (statutory basis). For such subsidiaries, statutory accounting practices differ in certain respects from GAAP.
 
A comparison of shareholders’ equity on a GAAP basis and policyholders’ surplus on a statutory basis is as follows:
 
                                 
    December 31  
    2008     2007  
   
GAAP
   
Statutory
   
GAAP
   
Statutory
 
    (in millions)  
 
P&C Group
  $ 14,381     $ 12,342     $ 15,490     $ 12,998  
                                 
Corporate and other
    (949 )             (1,045 )        
                                 
    $ 13,432             $ 14,445          
                                 
 
A comparison of GAAP and statutory net income (loss) is as follows:
 
                                                 
    Years Ended December 31  
    2008     2007     2006  
    GAAP     Statutory     GAAP     Statutory     GAAP     Statutory  
    (in millions)  
 
P&C Group
  $ 1,997     $ 1,963     $ 2,992     $ 2,859     $ 2,637     $ 2,575  
                                                 
Corporate and other
    (193 )             (185 )             (109 )        
                                                 
    $ 1,804             $ 2,807             $ 2,528          
                                                 
 
(f) As a holding company, Chubb’s ability to continue to pay dividends to shareholders and to satisfy its obligations, including the payment of interest and principal on debt obligations, relies on the availability of liquid assets, which is dependent in large part on the dividend paying ability of its property and casualty insurance subsidiaries. The Corporation’s property and casualty insurance subsidiaries are subject to laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which they operate that restrict the amount of dividends they may pay without the prior approval of regulatory authorities. The restrictions are generally based on net income and on certain levels of policyholders’ surplus as determined in accordance with statutory accounting practices. Dividends in excess of such thresholds are considered “extraordinary” and require prior regulatory approval. During 2008, these subsidiaries paid dividends of $2.0 billion to Chubb.
 
The maximum dividend distribution that may be made by the property and casualty insurance subsidiaries to Chubb during 2009 without prior regulatory approval is approximately $1.2 billion.

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QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA
 
Summarized unaudited quarterly financial data for 2008 and 2007 are shown below. In management’s opinion, the interim financial data contain all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring items, necessary to present fairly the results of operations for the interim periods.
 
                                                                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31     June 30     September 30     December 31  
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
    (in millions except for per share amounts)  
 
Revenues
  $ 3,489     $ 3,519     $ 3,354     $ 3,521     $ 3,303     $ 3,549     $ 3,075     $ 3,518  
Losses and expenses
    2,560       2,518       2,725       2,534       2,985       2,502       2,544       2,616  
Federal and foreign income tax
    265       291       160       278       54       309       124       252  
                                                                 
Net income
  $ 664     $ 710     $ 469     $ 709     $ 264     $ 738     $ 407     $ 650  
                                                                 
Basic earnings per share
  $ 1.80     $ 1.74     $ 1.29     $ 1.78     $ .74     $ 1.90     $ 1.15     $ 1.71  
                                                                 
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 1.77     $ 1.71     $ 1.27     $ 1.75     $ .73     $ 1.87     $ 1.13     $ 1.68  
                                                                 
Underwriting ratios
                                                               
Losses to premiums earned
    53.4 %     53.0 %     58.7 %     53.1 %     67.9 %     51.8 %     53.9 %     53.3 %
Expenses to premiums written
    30.5       30.4       29.8       29.6       30.2       29.8       30.4       30.5  
                                                                 
Combined
    83.9 %     83.4 %     88.5 %     82.7 %     98.1 %     81.6 %     84.3 %     83.8 %
                                                                 

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THE CHUBB CORPORATION
 
Schedule I
 
CONSOLIDATED SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS — OTHER THAN INVESTMENTS IN RELATED PARTIES
 
(in millions)
 
December 31, 2008
 
                         
                Amount
 
                at Which
 
    Cost or
          Shown in
 
    Amortized
    Fair
    the
 
Type of Investment
 
Cost
   
Value
   
Balance Sheet
 
 
Short term investments
  $ 2,478     $ 2,478     $ 2,478  
                         
                         
Fixed maturities
                       
                         
United States Government and government agencies
and authorities
    2,799       2,891       2,891  
                         
States, municipalities and political subdivisions
    18,340       18,383       18,383  
                         
Foreign
    6,664       6,962       6,962  
                         
Public utilities
    674       653       653  
                         
All other corporate bonds
    4,414       3,866       3,866  
                         
                         
Total fixed maturities
    32,891       32,755       32,755  
                         
                         
Equity securities
                       
                         
Common stocks
                       
                         
Public utilities
    94       82       82  
                         
Banks, trusts and insurance companies
    486       537       537  
                         
Industrial, miscellaneous and other
    947       824       824  
                         
                         
Total common stocks
    1,527       1,443       1,443  
                         
Non-redeemable preferred stocks
    36       36       36  
                         
                         
Total equity securities
    1,563       1,479       1,479  
                         
Other invested assets
    2,026       2,026       2,026  
                         
                         
Total invested assets
  $ 38,958     $ 38,738     $ 38,738  
                         

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Table of Contents

THE CHUBB CORPORATION
 
Schedule II
 
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
 
BALANCE SHEETS — PARENT COMPANY ONLY
 
(in millions)
 
December 31
 
                 
   
2008
   
2007
 
 
Assets
               
Invested Assets
               
Short Term Investments
  $ 1,553     $ 881  
Taxable Fixed Maturities (cost $754 and $1,027)
    759       1,022  
Equity Securities (cost $451 and $289)
    504       478  
                 
TOTAL INVESTED ASSETS
    2,816       2,381  
Investment in Consolidated Subsidiaries
    14,510       15,633  
Other Assets
    280       183  
                 
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 17,606     $ 18,197  
                 
Liabilities                
Long Term Debt
  $ 3,975     $ 3,460  
Dividend Payable to Shareholders
    118       110  
Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities
    81       182  
                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES
    4,174       3,752  
                 
Shareholders’ Equity                
Preferred Stock — Authorized 8,000,000 Shares;
$1 Par Value; Issued — None
           
Common Stock — Authorized 1,200,000,000 Shares;
$1 Par Value; Issued 371,980,710 and 374,649,923 Shares
    372       375  
Paid-In Surplus
    253       346  
Retained Earnings
    14,509       13,280  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
    (735 )     444  
Treasury Stock, at Cost — 19,726,097 Shares in 2008
    (967 )      
                 
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
    13,432       14,445  
                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
  $ 17,606     $ 18,197  
                 
 
The condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.

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Table of Contents

 
THE CHUBB CORPORATION
 
Schedule II
 
(continued)
 
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
 
STATEMENTS OF INCOME — PARENT COMPANY ONLY
 
(in millions)
 
Years Ended December 31
 
                         
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
 
Revenues
                       
                         
Investment Income
  $ 79     $ 125     $ 111  
                         
Other Revenues
    4       (5 )     17  
                         
Realized Investment Gains (Losses), Net
    49       (31 )      
                         
TOTAL REVENUES
    132       89       128  
                         
                         
Expenses
                       
                         
Corporate Expenses
    282       249       192  
                         
Investment Expenses
    2       3       3  
                         
Other Expenses
    4              
                         
TOTAL EXPENSES
    288       252       195  
                         
                         
Loss before Federal and Foreign Income Tax and Equity in Net Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries
    (156 )     (163 )     (67 )
                         
Federal and Foreign Income Tax
    30       7       16  
                         
                         
Loss before Equity in Net Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries
    (186 )     (170 )     (83 )
                         
Equity in Net Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries
    1,990       2,977       2,611  
                         
NET INCOME
  $ 1,804     $ 2,807     $ 2,528  
                         
 
Chubb and its domestic subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return. The federal income tax provision represents an allocation under the Corporation’s tax allocation agreements.
 
The condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.

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Table of Contents

THE CHUBB CORPORATION
 
Schedule II
 
(continued)
 
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS — PARENT COMPANY ONLY
(in millions)
Years Ended December 31
 
                         
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
                       
Net Income
  $ 1,804     $ 2,807     $ 2,528  
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash
Provided by Operating Activities
                       
Equity in Net Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries
    (1,990 )     (2,977 )     (2,611 )
Realized Investment Losses (Gains), Net
    (49 )     31        
Other, Net
    (94 )     15       (7 )
                         
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES
    (329 )     (124 )     (90 )
                         
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
                       
Proceeds from Fixed Maturities
                       
Sales
          49       121  
Maturities, Calls and Redemptions
    92       86       113  
Proceeds from Sales of Equity Securities
    56              
Purchases of Fixed Maturities
    (21 )     (61 )     (75 )
Decrease (Increase) in Short Term Investments, Net
    (672 )     (133 )     168  
Capital Contributions to Consolidated Subsidiaries
          (20 )     (10 )
Dividends Received from Consolidated Insurance Subsidiaries
    2,000       1,550       650  
Distributions Received from Consolidated Non-Insurance Subsidiaries
    13       40       17  
Other, Net
    53       (65 )     49  
                         
NET CASH PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES
    1,521       1,446       1,033  
                         
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
                       
Proceeds from Issuance of Long Term Debt
    1,200       1,800        
Repayment of Long Term Debt
    (685 )     (600 )      
Proceeds from Common Stock Issued Upon Settlement of Equity Unit Purchase Contracts
                460  
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock Under
Stock-Based Employee Compensation Plans
    109       130       229  
Repurchase of Shares
    (1,336 )     (2,185 )     (1,228 )
Dividends Paid to Shareholders
    (471 )     (451 )     (403 )
Other, Net
    (9 )     (17 )      
                         
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES
    (1,192 )     (1,323 )     (942 )
                         
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash
          (1 )     1  
Cash at Beginning of Year
          1        
                         
CASH AT END OF YEAR
  $     $     $ 1  
                         
The condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.
 
In 2008, Chubb received 2,000,000 shares of common stock of Harbor Point Limited upon conversion of 6% convertible notes. In 2007, Chubb forgave a receivable and related interest in the amount of $216 million in the aggregate due from a consolidated subsidiary. These transactions have been excluded from the statements of cash flows.

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Table of Contents

 
THE CHUBB CORPORATION
 
Schedule III
 
CONSOLIDATED SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION
 
(in millions)
 
                                                                         
    December 31     Year Ended December 31  
                                        Amortization
    Other
       
    Deferred
                                  of Deferred
    Insurance
       
    Policy
                      Net
          Policy
    Operating
       
    Acquisition
    Unpaid
    Unearned
    Premiums
    Investment
    Insurance
    Acquisition
    Costs and
    Premiums
 
Segment
  Costs     Losses     Premiums     Earned     Income*     Losses     Costs     Expenses**     Written  
2008
                                                                       
                                                                         
Property and Casualty Insurance
                                                                       
Personal
  $      523     $      2,139     $      1,935     $      3,787                 $      2,087     $      1,089     $      105     $      3,826  
Commercial
    641       11,222       2,641       5,015               3,131       1,313       240       4,993  
Specialty
    355       7,728       1,666       2,935               1,686       667       93       2,899  
Reinsurance Assumed
    13       1,278       125       91               (6 )     54       8       64  
Investments
                                  $ 1,622                                  
                                                                         
    $ 1,532     $ 22,367     $ 6,367     $ 11,828     $ 1,622     $ 6,898     $ 3,123     $ 446     $ 11,782  
                                                                         
2007
                                                                       
                                                                         
Property and Casualty Insurance
                                                                       
Personal
  $ 509     $ 2,141     $ 1,932     $ 3,642             $ 1,942     $ 1,039     $ 106     $ 3,709  
Commercial
    637       10,972       2,718       5,120               2,822       1,301       224       5,083  
Specialty
    374       8,163       1,748       2,971               1,551       635       90       2,944  
Reinsurance Assumed
    36       1,347       201       213               (16 )     117       19       136  
Investments
                                  $ 1,590                                  
                                                                         
    $ 1,556     $ 22,623     $ 6,599     $ 11,946     $ 1,590     $ 6,299     $ 3,092     $ 439     $ 11,872  
                                                                         
                                                                         
2006
                                                                       
                                                                         
Property and Casualty Insurance
                                                                       
Personal
  $ 478     $ 2,060     $ 1,848     $ 3,409             $ 1,735     $ 911     $ 145     $ 3,518  
Commercial
    591       10,521       2,716       5,079               2,726       1,215       290       5,125  
Specialty
    352       8,218       1,746       2,953               1,865       602       104       2,941  
Reinsurance Assumed
    59       1,494       236       517               248       191       21       390  
Investments
                                  $ 1,454                                  
                                                                         
    $ 1,480     $ 22,293     $ 6,546     $ 11,958     $ 1,454     $ 6,574     $ 2,919     $ 560     $ 11,974  
                                                                         
*   Property and casualty assets are available for payment of losses and expenses for all classes of business; therefore, such assets and the related investment income have not been allocated to the underwriting segments.
 
**  Other insurance operating costs and expenses does not include other income and charges.

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Table of Contents

 
THE CHUBB CORPORATION
 
EXHIBITS INDEX
 
(Item 15(a))
 
               
Exhibit
       
Number
     
Description
           
Articles of incorporation and by-laws
   3 .1        
Restated Certificate of Incorporation incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3) of the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996.
   3 .2        
Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3) of the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.
   3 .3        
Certificate of Correction of Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3) of the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.
   3 .4        
Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3.1) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 18, 2006.
   3 .5        
Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3.1) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 30, 2007.
   3 .6        
By-Laws incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3.1) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 10, 2008.
           
Instruments defining the rights of security holders, including indentures
             
The registrant is not filing any instruments evidencing any indebtedness since the total amount of securities authorized under any single instrument does not exceed 10% of the total assets of the registrant and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. Copies of such instruments will be furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.
   4 .1        
Rights Agreement dated as of March 12, 1999 between The Chubb Corporation and First Chicago Trust Company of New York, as Rights Agent incorporated by reference to Exhibit (99.1) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 30, 1999.
           
Material contracts
  10 .1        
The Chubb Corporation Asset Managers Incentive Compensation Plan (2005) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10) of the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.
  10 .2        
Amendment of The Chubb Corporation Asset Managers Incentive Compensation Plan (2005) filed herewith.
  10 .3        
Corporate Aircraft Policy incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.12) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 9, 2005.
  10 .4        
The Chubb Corporation Annual Incentive Plan (2006) incorporated by reference to Annex A of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on April 25, 2006.
  10 .5        
Amendment to The Chubb Corporation Annual Incentive Compensation Plan (2006) filed herewith.
  10 .6        
The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (2004) incorporated by reference to Annex B of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on April 27, 2004.
  10 .7        
Amendment to The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (2004) 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 Outstanding Restricted Stock Unit Agreements filed herewith.
  10 .8        
Amendment to The Chubb Corporation Long - Term Stock Incentive Plan (2004) filed herewith.

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Table of Contents

               
Exhibit
       
Number
     
Description
  10 .9        
The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (2000) incorporated by reference to Exhibit A of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on April 25, 2000.
  10 .10        
The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (1996), as amended, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10) of the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.
  10 .11        
The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan for Non-Employee Directors (2004) incorporated by reference to Annex C of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on April 27, 2004.
  10 .12        
Amendment to the registrant’s Long-Term Incentive Plan for Non-Employee Directors (2004) filed herewith.
  10 .13        
The Chubb Corporation Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors (2001) incorporated by reference to Exhibit C of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on April 24, 2001.
  10 .14        
The Chubb Corporation Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors (1996), as amended, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10) of the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.
  10 .15        
The Chubb Corporation Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors (1992), as amended, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10) of the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.
  10 .16        
Non-Employee Director Special Stock Option Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2002, between The Chubb Corporation and Joel J. Cohen, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.1) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 9, 2002.
  10 .17        
Non-Employee Director Special Stock Option Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2002, between The Chubb Corporation and Lawrence M. Small, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.3) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 9, 2002.
  10 .18        
The Chubb Corporation Key Employee Deferred Compensation Plan (2005) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.9) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 9, 2005.
  10 .19        
Amendment to the registrant’s Key Employee Deferred Compensation Plan (2005) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.1) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 12, 2005.
  10 .20        
Amendment to the registrant’s Key Employee Deferred Compensation Plan (2005) filed herewith.
  10 .21        
The Chubb Corporation Executive Deferred Compensation Plan incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10) of the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.
  10 .22        
The Chubb Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors, as amended, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.1) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 11, 2006.
  10 .23        
Amendment to the registrant’s Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors, as amended, filed herewith.
  10 .24        
The Chubb Corporation Estate Enhancement Program incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10) of the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.
  10 .25        
The Chubb Corporation Estate Enhancement Program for Non-Employee Directors incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10) of the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.

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Table of Contents

               
Exhibit
       
Number
     
Description
  10 .26        
Change in Control Employment Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2002, between The Chubb Corporation and John D. Finnegan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 21, 2003.
  10 .27        
Amendment, dated as of December 1, 2003, to Change in Control Employment Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2002, between The Chubb Corporation and John D. Finnegan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.2) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 2, 2003.
  10 .28        
Amendment dated as of September 4, 2008 to Change in Control Employment Agreement, dated as of January 21, 2003, between The Chubb Corporation and John D. Finnegan, filed herewith.
  10 .29        
Change in Control Employment Agreement, dated as of October 1, 2008, between The Chubb Corporation and Richard G. Spiro, filed herewith.
  10 .30        
Amendment, dated as of September 4, 2008, to Change in Control Employment Agreement, dated December 6, 1995, between The Chubb Corporation and John J. Degnan, filed herewith.
  10 .31        
Amendment, dated as of September 4, 2008, to Change in Control Employment Agreement, dated June 30, 1997, between The Chubb Corporation and Michael O’Reilly, filed herewith.
  10 .32        
Employment Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2002, between The Chubb Corporation and John D. Finnegan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 21, 2003.
  10 .33        
Amendment, dated as of December 1, 2003, to Employment Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2002, between The Chubb Corporation and John D. Finnegan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.1) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 2, 2003.
  10 .34        
Amendment dated as of September 4, 2008 to Employment Agreement, dated as of January 21, 2003, between The Chubb Corporation and John D. Finnegan, filed herewith.
  10 .35        
Executive Severance Agreement, dated as of December 8, 1995, between The Chubb Corporation and John J. Degnan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10) of the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995.
  10 .36        
Offer Letter to Richard G. Spiro dated September 5, 2008, incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10) of the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.
  10 .37        
Form of 2006 Performance Share Award Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (2004) (for Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairmen) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.2) of the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006.
  10 .38        
Form of 2006 Performance Share Award Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (2004) (for Executive Vice Presidents and certain Senior Vice Presidents) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.3) of the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006.
               
  10 .39        
Form of 2006 Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (2004) (for Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairmen, Executive Vice Presidents and certain Senior Vice Presidents) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.4) of the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006.

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Table of Contents

               
Exhibit
       
Number
     
Description
  10 .40        
Form of 2006 Performance Share Award Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan for Non-Employee Directors (2004) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.5) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 8, 2006.
  10 .41        
Form of 2006 Stock Unit Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan for Non-Employee Directors (2004) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.6) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 8, 2006.
  10 .42        
Form of Performance Share Award Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (2004) (for Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairmen) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.3) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 9, 2005.
  10 .43        
Form of Performance Share Award Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (2004) (for Executive Vice Presidents and certain Senior Vice Presidents) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.4) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 9, 2005.
  10 .44        
Form of Performance Share Award Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (2004) (for recipients other than Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairmen, Executive Vice Presidents and certain Senior Vice Presidents) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.5) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 9, 2005.
  10 .45        
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (2004) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.6) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 9, 2005.
  10 .46        
Amendment to the form of restricted stock unit award agreement for all eligible participants in The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (2004) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.2) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 12, 2005.
  10 .47        
Form of Non-Statutory Stock Option Award Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (2004) (three year vesting schedule) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.7) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 9, 2005.
  10 .48        
Form of Non-Statutory Stock Option Award Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (2004) (four year vesting schedule) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.8) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 9, 2005.
  10 .49        
Form of Performance Share Award Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan for Non-Employee Directors (2004) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.10) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 9, 2005.
  10 .50        
Form of Stock Unit Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan for Non-Employee Directors (2004) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.11) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 9, 2005.
  10 .51        
Schedule of 2007 Base Salaries for Named Executive Officers incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.1) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 7, 2007.
  10 .52        
Form of Performance Share Award Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (2004)(for Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairmen, Executive Vice Presidents and certain Senior Vice Presidents) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.2) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 7, 2007.

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Table of Contents

               
Exhibit
       
Number
     
Description
  10 .53        
Form of Performance Share Award Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (2004)(for recipients of performance share awards other than Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairmen, Executive Vice Presidents and certain Senior Vice Presidents) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.3) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 7, 2007.
  10 .54        
Form of Amendment No. 1 to the form of 2006 Performance Share Award Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (2004)(for Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairmen, Executive Vice Presidents and certain Senior Vice Presidents) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.4) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 7, 2007.
  10 .55        
Form of Amendment No. 1 to the form of 2006 Performance Share Award Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (2004)(for 2006 performance share award recipients other than Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairmen, Executive Vice Presidents and certain Senior Vice Presidents) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.5) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 7, 2007.
  10 .56        
Form of Amendment No. 1 to the form of 2005 Performance Share Award Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (2004)(for Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairmen, Executive Vice Presidents and certain Senior Vice Presidents) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.6) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 7, 2007.
  10 .57        
Form of Amendment No. 1 to the form of 2005 Performance Share Award Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (2004)(for 2005 performance share award recipients other than Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairmen, Executive Vice Presidents and certain Senior Vice Presidents) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.7) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 7, 2007.
  10 .58        
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (2004)(for Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairmen) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.8) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 7, 2007.
  10 .59        
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (2004)(for Executive Vice Presidents and certain Senior Vice Presidents) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.9) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 7, 2007.
  10 .60        
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (2004)(for recipients of restricted stock unit awards other than Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairmen, Executive Vice Presidents and certain Senior Vice Presidents) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.10) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 7, 2007.
  10 .61        
Form of Performance Share Award Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan for Non-Employee Directors (2004) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.11) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 7, 2007.
  10 .62        
Form of Amendment No. 1 to the form of 2006 Performance Share Award Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan for Non-Employee Directors (2004) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.12) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 7, 2007.

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Table of Contents

               
Exhibit
       
Number
     
Description
  10 .63        
Form of Amendment No. 1 to the form of 2005 Performance Share Award Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan for Non-Employee Directors (2004) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.13) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 7, 2007.
  10 .64        
Form of Stock Unit Agreement under The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan for Non-Employee Directors (2004) incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.14) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 7, 2007.
  10 .65        
Schedule of 2008 Base Salaries for Named Executive Officers incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.1) of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 17, 2008.
  11 .1        
Computation of earnings per share included in Note (15) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
  12 .1        
Computation of ratio of consolidated earnings to fixed charges filed herewith.
  21 .1        
Subsidiaries of the registrant filed herewith.
  23 .1        
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm filed herewith.
           
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications.
  31 .1        
  Certification by John D. Finnegan filed herewith.
  31 .2        
  Certification by Richard G. Spiro filed herewith.
           
Section 1350 Certifications.
  32 .1        
  Certification by John D. Finnegan filed herewith.
  32 .2        
  Certification by Richard G. Spiro filed herewith.
           
Other Exhibits
  99 .1        
Statement regarding Securities and Exchange Commission and New York Stock Exchange Certifications filed herewith.

E-6