UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-Q


[ X ] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2006

OR

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _____ to _____

Commission file number 1-10804



XL CAPITAL LTD
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


   
CAYMAN ISLANDS  98-0191089 
(State or other jurisdiction of  (I.R.S. Employer 
incorporation or organization)  Identification No.) 

XL House, One Bermudiana Road, Hamilton, Bermuda HM 11
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
(441) 292-8515
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or 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 [X] No [   ]

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):    Large accelerated filer |X|    Accelerated filer _____    Non-accelerated filer _____

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

     As of August 2, 2006, there were 180,409,046 outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares, $0.01 par value per share, of the registrant.

 
 

 
 

XL CAPITAL LTD

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION    Page No 
 
Item 1.                      
Financial Statements:     
       
Consolidated Balance Sheets as at June 30, 2006 (Unaudited) and
   
   December 31, 2005    3 
       
Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three Months Ended
   
   June 30, 2006 and 2005 (Unaudited) and the Six Months Ended
   
   June 30, 2006 and 2005 (Unaudited)    5 
       
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the     
   Three Months Ended June 30, 2006 and 2005 (Unaudited) and
   
   the Six Months Ended June 30, 2006 and 2005 (Unaudited) 
  6 
       
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the Six Months
   
   Ended June 30, 2006 and 2005 (Unaudited)    7 
       
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Six Months Ended
   
   June 30, 2006 and 2005 (Unaudited)    8 
       
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements    9 
       
Item 2. 
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and     
   Results of Operations    27 
       
Item 3.  
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    65 
       
Item 4. 
Controls and Procedures    71 
       
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION     
       
Item 1.  
Legal Proceedings    72 
       
Item 1A.  
Risk Factors    73 
       
Item 2.  
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    74 
       
Item 4.  
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    74 
       
Item 6. 
Exhibits    75 
       
Signatures    76 

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

2


PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

XL CAPITAL LTD
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(U.S. dollars in thousands, except share amounts)
   
(Unaudited) 
   
June 30, 
December 31, 
   
2006 
2005 


     

ASSETS   
   
 
Investments:   
   
 
   Fixed maturities at fair value (amortized cost: 2006, $33,247,738;   
   
 
         2005, $31,984,076)   
$
32,792,886   
$
32,309,565 
   Equity securities, at fair value (cost: 2006, $707,118; 2005, $696,858)   
838,364   
868,801 
   Short-term investments, at fair value (amortized cost: 2006, $2,776,907;   
   
 
         2005, $2,552,589)   
2,772,074   
2,546,073 




               Total investments available for sale   
36,403,324   
35,724,439 
   Investments in affiliates   
2,021,256   
2,046,721 
   Other investments   
442,797   
399,417 




               Total investments   
38,867,377   
38,170,577 
Cash and cash equivalents   
2,566,768   
3,693,475 
Accrued investment income   
398,552   
391,660 
Deferred acquisition costs.   
972,655   
866,200 
Prepaid reinsurance premiums   
1,260,633   
1,067,556 
Premiums receivable   
4,432,477   
3,799,041 
Reinsurance balances receivable   
1,026,890   
1,043,013 
Unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverable   
6,148,443   
6,441,522 
Goodwill and other intangible assets   
1,817,503   
1,814,544 
Deferred tax asset, net   
344,527   
318,399 
Other assets   
691,528   
848,914 




               Total assets   
$
58,527,353   
$
58,454,901 




 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY   
   
 
Liabilities:   
   
 
   Unpaid losses and loss expenses   
$
23,733,500   
$
23,767,672 
   Deposit liabilities   
7,559,896   
8,240,987 
   Future policy benefit reserves   
6,069,691   
5,606,461 
   Unearned premiums   
6,372,442   
5,388,996 
   Notes payable and debt  
3,367,887   
3,412,698 
   Reinsurance balances payable   
1,038,022   
1,414,752 
   Net payable for investments purchased   
450,548   
639,034 
   Other liabilities  
1,331,236   
1,438,234 
   Minority interest   
56,847   
74,256 




               Total liabilities   
$
49,980,069   
$
49,983,090 





See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

3


XL CAPITAL LTD
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(U.S. dollars in thousands, except share amounts)

   
(Unaudited)
 
   
June 30,
December 31,
 
   
2006
2005
 


       

 
Commitments and Contingencies             
Shareholders’ Equity:             
   Series A preference ordinary shares, 9,200,000 authorized,             
          par value $0.01 Issued and outstanding: 2006 and 2005, 9,200,000 
  $  92     $  92  
   Series B preference ordinary shares, 11,500,000 authorized,             
          par value $0.01 Issued and outstanding: 2006 and 2005, 11,500,000 
    115       115  
   Series C preference ordinary shares, 20,000,000 authorized,             
          par value $0.01 Issued and outstanding 2006 and 2005, nil 
           
   Class A ordinary shares, 999,990,000 authorized, par value $0.01             
          Issued and outstanding: 2006, 180,394,236; 2005, 179,528,593 
    1,804       1,795  
   Additional paid in capital      6,426,468       6,472,839  
   Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income      (403,842 )      268,243  
   Deferred compensation            (95,464 ) 
   Retained earnings      2,522,647       1,824,191  


 

 
               Total shareholders’ equity    $  8,547,284     $  8,471,811  


 

 
               Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity    $  58,527,353     $  58,454,901  


 

 

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

4


XL CAPITAL LTD
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(U.S. dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

   
(Unaudited)
(Unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
June 30,
 




 
   
2006
2005
2006
2005
 


       

       

       

 
Revenues:   
   
   
   
 
   Net premiums earned   
$ 
1,984,590    
$
3,712,768    
$ 
3,803,139    
$
5,612,203  
   Net investment income   
473,622    
367,401    
937,364    
675,606  
   Net realized (losses) gains on investments   
(23,604 )   
90,055    
(839 )   
150,726  
   Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on   
   
   
   
 
         derivative instruments   
29,238    
(47,941 )   
78,089    
(2,763 ) 
   Net income (loss) from investment affiliates   
28,849    
(10,774 )   
135,242    
59,738  
   Fee income and other   
6,630    
(3,048 )   
19,592    
14,112  


 

 

 

 
         Total revenues   
$ 
2,499,325    
$
4,108,461    
$ 
4,972,587    
$
6,509,622  


 

 

 

 
 
Expenses:   
   
   
   
 
   Net losses and loss expenses incurred   
$ 
1,119,561    
$
1,261,707    
$ 
2,216,685    
$
2,404,768  
   Claims and policy benefits   
232,453    
2,020,664    
375,333    
2,146,291  
   Acquisition costs   
295,512    
310,988    
562,599    
605,382  
   Operating expenses   
279,464    
248,950    
541,025    
496,106  
   Exchange losses (gains)   
22,693    
(10,693 )   
53,442    
229  
   Interest expense   
134,632    
97,766    
262,501    
186,052  
   Amortization of intangible assets   
420    
3,043    
1,515    
5,836  


 

 

 

 
         Total expenses   
$ 
2,084,735    
$
3,932,425    
$ 
4,013,100    
$
5,844,664  


 

 

 

 
Income before minority interest, income tax and 
 
   
   
   
 
   equity in net (income) of insurance and   
   
   
   
 
   financial affiliates   
$ 
414,590    
$ 
176,036    
$ 
959,487    
$ 
664,958  
   Minority interest in net income of subsidiary   
   
2,079    
2,258    
4,354  
   Income tax   
66,437    
41,776    
133,073    
94,650  
   Net (income) from operating affiliates   
(39,016 )   
(13,794 )   
(31,596 )   
(33,046 ) 


 

 

 

 
Net income   
387,169    
145,975    
855,752    
599,000  
Preference share dividends   
(10,080 )   
(10,080 )   
(20,160 )   
(20,160 ) 


 

 

 

 
Net income available to ordinary shareholders 
 
$ 
377,089    
$ 
135,895    
$ 
835,592    
$ 
578,840  


 

 

 

 
Weighted average ordinary shares and ordinary 
 
   
   
   
 
   share equivalents outstanding — basic   
178,728    
138,948    
179,631    
138,488  


 

 

 

 
Weighted average ordinary shares and ordinary 
 
   
   
   
 
   share equivalents outstanding — diluted   
179,198    
140,404    
180,069    
139,841  


 

 

 

 
Earnings per ordinary share and ordinary share 
 
   
   
   
 
   equivalent — basic   
$ 
2.11    
$ 
0.98    
$ 
4.65    
$ 
4.18  


 

 

 

 
Earnings per ordinary share and ordinary share 
 
   
   
   
 
   equivalent — diluted   
$ 
2.10    
$ 
0.97    
$ 
4.64    
$ 
4.14  


 

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

5


XL CAPITAL LTD
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
   
   
 
   
(Unaudited) 
(Unaudited) 
   
Three Months Ended 
Six Months Ended 
   
June 30, 
June 30, 




   
2006
2005 
2006
2005 


       

     

       

Net income   
$ 
387,169    
$
145,975   
$ 
855,752    
$
599,000 
Change in net unrealized (depreciation)   
   
   
   
 
   appreciation of investments, net of tax   
(357,247 )   
388,243   
(756,485 )   
44,103 
Amortization of derivative loss on cash flow hedge   
157    
157   
312    
313 
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net   
85,762    
61,252   
96,998    
79,322 
Net unrealized (loss) gain on future policy   
   
   
   
 
   benefit reserves   
(10,401 )   
2,508   
(12,910 )   
5,590 


 



 

     
Comprehensive income   
$ 
105,440    
$
598,135   
$ 
183,667    
$
728,328 


 



 


See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

6


XL CAPITAL LTD
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(U.S. dollars in thousands)

   
(Unaudited) 
 
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30, 
 



 
   
2006
2005
 


       

 
Series A and B Preference Ordinary Shares:         
 
   Balance — beginning of year    $  207    
$ 
207  
   Issue of shares         
 


 

 
         Balance — end of period    $  207    
$ 
207  


 

 
Class A Ordinary Shares:         
 
   Balance — beginning of year    $  1,795    
$ 
1,389  
   Issue of shares      8    
8  
   Exercise of stock options      2    
8  
   Repurchase of shares      (1 )   
(1 ) 


 

 
         Balance — end of period    $  1,804    
$ 
1,404  


 

 
Additional Paid in Capital:         
 
   Balance — beginning of year    $  6,472,839    
$
3,950,175  
   Issue of shares      51,122    
60,306  
   Repurchase of ordinary shares      (2,199 )   
(1,630 ) 
   Stock option expense      11,856    
9,685  
   Exercise of stock options      8,422    
34,515  
   Equity reclassification impact of adopting FAS 123(r)      (95,464 )   
 
   Net change in deferred compensation      (20,108 )   
 


 

 
         Balance — end of period    $  6,426,468    
$
4,053,051  


 

 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income:         
 
   Balance — beginning of year    $  268,243    
$ 
460,273  
   Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investment portfolio, net of tax      (774,908 )   
41,125  
   Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investment portfolio         
 
         of affiliates      18,423    
2,978  
   Amortization of derivative loss on cash flow hedge      312    
313  
   Net unrealized gains (losses) on future policy benefit reserves      (12,910 )   
5,590  
   Currency translation adjustments      96,998    
79,322  


 

 
         Balance — end of period    $  (403,842 )   
$ 
589,601  


 

 
Deferred Compensation:         
 
   Balance — beginning of year    $  (95,464 )   
$ 
(69,988 ) 
   Issue of restricted shares         
(57,604 ) 
   Amortization         
20,477  
   Equity reclassification impact of adopting FAS 123(r)      95,464    
 


 

 
         Balance — end of period    $     
$ 
(107,115 ) 


 

 
Retained Earnings:         
 
   Balance — beginning of year    $  1,824,191    
$
3,396,639  
   Net income      855,752    
599,000  
   Dividends on Series A and B preference ordinary shares      (20,160 )   
(20,160 ) 
   Dividends on Class A ordinary shares      (134,885 )   
(138,186 ) 
   Repurchase of ordinary shares      (2,251 )   
(2,765 ) 


 

 
         Balance — end of period    $  2,522,647    
$
3,834,528  


 

 
Total Shareholders’ Equity    $  8,547,284    
$
8,371,676  


 

 

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

7


XL CAPITAL LTD
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(U.S. dollars in thousands)

     
(Unaudited)
 
     
Six Months Ended
 
     
June 30,
 


 
     
2006
2005
 


       

 
Cash flows provided by operating activities:     
   
 
   Net income     
$ 
855,752    
$ 
599,000  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in)     
   
 
   operating activities:     
   
 
   Net realized losses (gains) on investments     
839    
(150,726 ) 
   Net realized and unrealized (gains) losses on derivative instruments     
(78,089 )   
2,763  
   Amortization of (discounts) premiums on fixed maturities     
(1,206 )   
30,380  
   Net income from investment, insurance and financial affiliates     
(166,838 )   
(92,784 ) 
   Amortization of deferred compensation     
30,004    
20,477  
   Accretion of convertible debt     
481    
485  
   Accretion of deposit liabilities     
160,203    
105,219  
   Unpaid losses and loss expenses     
(34,172 )   
(62,259 ) 
   Future policy benefit reserves     
463,230    
1,414,229  
   Unearned premiums     
983,446    
872,918  
   Premiums receivable.     
(633,345 )   
(604,522 ) 
   Unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverable     
293,079    
507,337  
   Prepaid reinsurance premiums     
(193,077 )   
(110,969 ) 
   Reinsurance balances receivable     
16,123    
137,835  
   Deferred acquisition costs     
(106,455 )   
(102,483 ) 
   Reinsurance balances payable     
(376,730 )   
(104,847 ) 
   Deferred tax asset     
(26,128 )   
86,899  
   Other assets     
109,188    
(90,027 ) 
   Other     
(14,824 )   
172,125  


 

 
         Total adjustments     
$ 
425,729    
$ 
2,032,050  


 

 
   Net cash provided by operating activities     
$ 
1,281,481    
$ 
2,631,050  


 

 
Cash flows used in investing activities:     
   
 
   Proceeds from sale of fixed maturities and short-term investments     
$ 
10,714,847    
$ 
11,209,810  
   Proceeds from redemption of fixed maturities and short-term investments     
650,275    
646,697  
   Proceeds from sale of equity securities     
615,546    
555,622  
   Purchases of fixed maturities and short-term investments     
(12,740,595 )   
(15,407,239 ) 
   Purchases of equity securities     
(723,646 )   
(555,142 ) 
   Investments in affiliates, net of dividends received     
186,884    
2,291  
   Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired     
(12,600 )   
 
   Other investments     
(39,319 )   
24,443  
   Other assets     
4,097    
 


 

 
   Net cash used in investing activities     
$ 
(1,344,511 )   
$ 
(3,523,518 ) 


 

 
Cash flows provided by financing activities:     
   
 
   Proceeds from exercise of stock options and issuance of common shares     
7,941    
40,446  
   Repurchase of shares     
(4,451 )   
(4,396 ) 
   Dividends paid     
(155,045 )   
(158,348 ) 
   Repayment of loans     
(45,291 )   
 
   Deposit liabilities     
(784,742 )   
1,259,848  
   Net cash flow on securities lending     
(81,112 )   
(71,834 ) 


 

 
   Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities     
(1,062,700 )   
1,065,716  
Effects of exchange rate changes on foreign currency cash     
(977 )   
(1,634 ) 


 

 
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents     
(1,126,707 )   
171,614  
Cash and cash equivalents — beginning of period     
3,693,475    
2,203,726  


 

 
Cash and cash equivalents — end of period     
$ 
2,566,768    
$ 
2,375,340  


 

 

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

8


XL CAPITAL LTD
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.   Basis of Preparation and Consolidation

     These unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its subsidiaries and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these unaudited financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of financial position and results of operations as at the end of and for the periods presented. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results for a full year. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that 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 materially from these estimates.

     To facilitate period-to-period comparisons, certain reclassifications have been made to prior period consolidated financial statement amounts to conform to current period presentation. There was no effect on net income from this change in presentation.

     Unless the context otherwise indicates, references herein to the Company include XL Capital Ltd and its consolidated subsidiaries.

2.   Significant Accounting Policies

(a) Stock-Based compensation

     Effective January 1, 2003, the Company adopted the fair value recognition provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“FAS”) No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (“FAS 123”), as amended by FAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclosure (“FAS 148”), under the prospective method for options granted subsequent to January 1, 2003. Prior to 2003, the Company accounted for options under the disclosure-only provisions of FAS 123 and no stock-based employee compensation cost was included in net income as all options granted had an exercise price equal to the market value of the Company’s ordinary shares on the date of the grant. At June 30, 2006, the Company had several stock based Performance Incentive Programs, which are described more fully in Note 19 to the consolidated financial statements filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. Stock-based compensation issued under these plans generally have a life of not longer than ten years and vest as set forth at the time of grant. Options currently vest annually over three or four years from the date of grant.

     In 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No.123 (revised 2004) (“FAS 123(r)”), “Share-Based Payment,” which is a revision of SFAS 123. SFAS 123(r) superseded FAS 123, APB 25 and amended SFAS 95, “Statement of Cash Flows.” Generally, the approach to accounting for share-based payments in FAS 123(r) is similar to the approach described in FAS 123, which the Company adopted on a prospective basis in 2003. However, FAS 123(r) requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options (for all grant years), to be recognized in the financial statements over the vesting period based on their grant date fair values.

     The Company adopted FAS 123(r) effective January 1, 2006 using the modified-prospective method to account for share-based payments made to employees. The modified-prospective method is similar to the modified-prospective method described in SFAS 148. Under this method, compensation cost is recognized beginning with the effective date (a) based on the requirements of FAS 123(r) for all share-based payments granted after the effective date and (b) based on the requirements of FAS 123(r) for all awards granted to employees prior to the effective date of FAS 123(r) that remain unvested on the effective date.

9


XL CAPITAL LTD
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

     The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions:

2.   Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

   
Three and Six
Three and Six
   
Months Ended
Months Ended
   
June 30, 2006
June 30, 2005




Dividend yield    2.1%     2.6%  
Risk free interest rate    4.7%     4.0%  
Expected volatility    25.0%     25.0%  
Expected lives    5.5 years     5.5 years  

     In the first six months of 2006 and 2005, the Company granted 182,800 and 1,877,500 options, respectively, to purchase its ordinary shares to directors and employees related to incentive compensation plans, with a weighted average grant-date fair value of $17.33 and $17.04, respectively. During the three-month periods ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, the Company recognized $5.7 million and $5.5 million, respectively, of compensation expense, net of tax, related to its stock option plans. During the six-month periods ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, the Company recognized $10.4 million and $9.7 million, respectively, of compensation expense, net of tax, related to its stock option plan. Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the six-month periods ended June 30, 2006 and 2005 was $2.7 million and $14.8 million, respectively.

     The following is a summary of stock options as of June 30, 2006, and related activity for the six months ended June 30, 2006:

            Weighted   
   
Weighted 
Average 
Aggregate
   
Average 
Remaining 
Intrinsic
   
Number of 
Exercise 
Contractual 
Value
   
Shares 
Price 
Term 
(000s)




Outstanding — beginning of period    12,745,290   75.35    6.0 years   
Granted    182,800   67.58       
Exercised    (163,657 ) 49.92       
Cancelled    (380,892 ) 78.32       
 


Outstanding — end of period    12,383,541   75.48    5.4 years   
$19,480





Options exercisable    9,888,823       4.8 years   
$19,480



Options available for grant*    12,850,862          



* Available for grant includes shares that may be granted as either stock options or restricted stock.

     The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value (the difference between XL’s closing stock price on the last trading day of the second quarter of fiscal 2006 and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money-options) that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options on June 30, 2006. Total unrecognized stock based compensation expense related to non-vested stock options was approximately $39.1 million as of the end of June 30, 2006, related to approximately 12.4 million options, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.6 years.

     In the first six-months of 2006, the Company incurred no additional stock based compensation due to the adoption of FAS 123(r) related to the vesting in 2006 of options granted prior to January 1, 2003, as all options granted prior to that date had been fully vested by June 30, 2006.

     For all periods presented prior to 2006, and for all options granted prior to January 1, 2003, the Company accounted for stock option grants under the recognition and measurement principles of APB 25 and related interpretations and accordingly, recognized no compensation expense for these stock options granted to employees. The following table

10


XL CAPITAL LTD
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

2.    Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

illustrates the effect on earnings per share for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2005, if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123 to all of its stock-based employee compensation:

   
(Unaudited)
(Unaudited)
 
   
Three Months
Six Months
 
   
Ended
Ended
 
(U.S. dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)   
June 30, 2005
June 30, 2005
 


       

 
Net income available to ordinary shareholders — as reported   
$
135,895    
$
578,840  
Add: Stock based employee compensation expense included in reported net   
   
 
   income, net of related tax   
5,508    
9,685  
Deduct: Total stock based employee compensation expense determined   
   
 
   under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects 
 
(6,189 )   
(14,318 ) 


 

 
Pro forma net income available to ordinary shareholders   
$
135,214    
574,207  


 

 
 
Earnings per share:   
   
 
   Basic — as reported   
$0.98    
$4.18  
   Basic — pro forma   
$0.97    
$4.15  
   Diluted — as reported   
$0.97    
$4.14  
   Diluted — pro forma   
$0.96    
$4.11  

     Restricted stock awards issued under the 1991 Performance Incentive Program vest as set forth in the applicable award agreements. These shares contained certain restrictions prior to vesting, relating to, among other things, forfeiture in the event of termination of employment and transferability.

     In first six months of 2006 and 2005, the Company granted 758,362 and 864,686 shares, respectively, of its restricted common stock to its directors and employees related to incentive compensation plans, with a weighted average grant date fair value per share of $66.59 and $75.47, respectively. During the three-month periods ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, $11.0 million and $11.3 million, respectively, was charged to compensation expense related to restricted stock awards. During the six-month periods ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, $30.0 million and $20.5 million, respectively, was charged to compensation expense related to restricted stock awards. Total unrecognized stock based compensation expense related to non-vested restricted stock awards was approximately $115.6 million as of the end of June 30, 2006, related to approximately 1.9 million restricted stock awards, which is expected to be recognized over 2.8 years. Non-vested restricted stock awards as of June 30, 2006 and for the six months then ended were as follows:

   
Number of
   
Weighted- 
   
shares
   
Average Grant 
   
(thousands)
   
Date Fair Value 

 
Unvested at December 31, 2005    1,529     $62.43 
Granted    758     $66.59 
Vested    (333 )    $74.91 
Forfeited    (89 )    $73.97 

 
Unvested at June 30, 2006    1,865     $72.06 

 

     FAS 123(r) requires that compensation costs be recognized for unvested stock-based compensation awards over the period through the date that the employee is no longer required to provide future services to earn the award, rather than over the explicit service period. Accordingly, the Company has adopted this policy of recognizing compensation cost to coincide with the date that the employee is eligible to retire, rather than the actual retirement date, for all options granted. In the first six months of 2006, the Company incurred $6.4 million of additional stock based compensation expense due to the adoption of FAS 123(r) related to this treatment of retirement eligible employees as compared to the previous attribution methodology.

11


XL CAPITAL LTD
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

3.   Recent Accounting Pronouncements

     In February 2006, the FASB issued FAS 155, Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments — an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140. This standard permits fair value re-measurement of an entire hybrid financial instrument that contains an embedded derivative that otherwise would require bifurcation; narrows the scope exemption applicable to interest-only strips and principal-only strips from FAS 133, clarifies that only the simplest separations of interest payments and principal payments qualify as not being subject to the requirements of FAS 133; establishes a requirement to evaluate interests in securitized financial assets to identify interests that are freestanding derivatives or that are hybrid financial instruments that contain an embedded derivative requiring bifurcation; clarifies that concentrations of credit risk in the form of subordination are not embedded derivatives; and amends FAS140 to eliminate the prohibition on a qualifying special-purpose entity from holding a derivative financial instrument that pertains to a beneficial interest other than another derivative financial instrument. This statement is intended to require more consistent accounting that eliminates exemptions and provides a means to simplify the accounting for hybrid financial instruments. This statement is effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued after January 1, 2007 and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. As at June 30, 2006 the Company has not elected to apply the fair value option for any hybrid financial instruments.

     In April 2006, the FASB issued FSP FIN 46(R)-6, Determining the Variability to be Considered in Applying FIN 46(R), which states that the variability to be considered when applying FIN 46(R) should be based on an analysis of the design of an entity, which entails analyzing the nature of the risks in the entity, determining the purpose for which the entity was created and determining the variability the entity is designed to create and pass along to its interest holders. Typically, assets and operations of the entity create the variability (and thus are not variable interests), while liabilities and equity interests absorb that variability (and thus, are variable interests). The role of a contract or arrangement in the design of the entity, regardless of its legal form or accounting classification, shall dictate whether that interest should be treated as creating or absorbing variability for the entity. The guidance in this FSP must be applied as of July 1, 2006, and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations but will form an important part of the Company’s evaluation of any relevant structures going forward.

     In June 2006, the FASB issued proposed FSP FAS 123(R)-e, Amendment of FASB Staff Position FAS 123(R)-1, which addresses whether the modification of an instrument in connection with an equity restructuring or a business combination should be considered a modification for purposes of applying FSP FAS 123(R)-1, Classification and Measurement of Freestanding Financial Instruments Originally Issued in Exchange for Employee Services under FASB Statement No. 123(R). The FASB staff has taken the position that for instruments that were originally issued as employee compensation and then exchanged or changed, where the only change is a change to the terms of an award to reflect an equity restructuring or a business combination that occurs when the holders are no longer employees, then no change in the recognition and measurement (due to a change in classification) of these instruments will result if, there is (i) no increase in value to the holders of the instrument or (ii) the exchange or change in the terms of the award is not made in contemplation of an equity restructuring or a business combination and (iii) all holders of the same class of equity instruments (for example, stock options) are treated in a similar manner. These provisions must be applied in the first reporting period beginning after the date the final FSP is posted to the FASB’s website. This guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

     In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (“FIN 48”), which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. The evaluation of a tax position in accordance with this guidance is a two-step process. The first step is recognition where the Company determines whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation

12


XL CAPITAL LTD
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

3.   Recent Accounting Pronouncements (continued)

processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The second step is measurement where a tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements. The tax position is measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Tax positions that previously failed to meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold should be recognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is met. Previously recognized tax positions that no longer meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold should be derecognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is no longer met. FIN 48 requires qualitative and quantitative disclosures, including discussion of reasonably possible changes that might occur in the recognized tax benefits over the next 12 months; a description of open tax years by major jurisdictions; and a roll-forward of all unrecognized tax benefits, presented as a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the unrecognized tax benefits on a worldwide aggregated basis. The provisions of FIN 48 must be applied beginning January 1, 2007. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

4.   Segment Information

     The Company is organized into four operating segments — Insurance, General Reinsurance, Life and Annuity Reinsurance and Financial Products and Services — in addition to a Corporate segment that includes the general investment and financing operations of the Company. Following changes in executive management responsibilities in 2006, the Company now considers the Life and Annuity Reinsurance business as a separate operating segment. General operations include property and casualty lines of business.

     The Company evaluates the performance of each segment based on underwriting results for general operations, net income from life and annuity operations and contribution from financial operations. Other items of revenue and expenditure of the Company are not evaluated at the segment level. In addition, the Company does not allocate assets by segment for its general operations. Investment assets related to the Company’s life and annuity and financial operations are held in separately identified portfolios. Net investment income from these assets is included in net income from life and annuity operations and contribution from financial operations, respectively.

     Following changes in certain executive management responsibilities in January 2005, the Company changed the reporting segments under which certain business units are reported in order to reflect these changes in responsibilities.

  • Results of business structured by XL Financial Solutions Ltd (“XLFS”) are now included entirely within the Financial Products and Services segment whereas previously this unit was reported in all three segments, depending on the nature of individual contracts.

  • Certain blocks of U.S.-based term life mortality reinsurance business previously included in the Financial Products and Services segment are now included in the Reinsurance segment as management of these contracts was transferred to the life reinsurance business units in order to centralize the Company’s management of traditional mortality-based reinsurance business.

  • Political risk insurance business units now report to executive management of the Financial Products and Services segment and, as such, earnings from this business are no longer reported in the Insurance segment but included with financial operations.

  • All operations of business units within the Financial Products and Services segment, including municipal reinvestment contracts and funding agreements, are now reported under financial operations in order to consolidate businesses with similar operating characteristics and risks.

  • Net investment income and net income from affiliates generated by assets and interest expense incurred on liabilities of the business units within the Financial Products and Services segment is reported under financial operations. This income and expense is included in financial operations as it relates to interest on portfolios of separately identified and managed assets and deposit liabilities.

13


XL CAPITAL LTD
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

4.   Segment Information (continued)

Three months ended June 30, 2006:
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
   
Financial 
 
   
Products 
 
   
Insurance 
Reinsurance
and Services 
Total
 


     

       

     

 
General Operations:         
   
   
 
   Net premiums earned    $  1,029,135   
$
671,871    
$ 
   
$ 
1,701,006  
   Fee income and other      7,099   
(2,109 )   
   
4,990  
   Net losses and loss expenses      681,728   
372,613    
   
1,054,341  
   Acquisition costs      113,555   
159,485    
   
273,040  
   Operating expenses (1)      157,604   
45,077    
   
202,681  
   Exchange (gains) losses      46,324   
(21,083 )   
   
25,241  




 



 
   Underwriting profit    $  37,023   
$
113,670    
$ 
   
$ 
150,693  




 



 
Life and Annuity Operations:         
   
   
 
   Life premiums earned    $     
$
179,894    
$ 
   
$ 
179,894  
   Fee income and other         
128    
   
128  
   Claims and policy benefits         
232,453    
   
232,453  
   Acquisition costs         
12,279    
   
12,279  
   Operating expenses (1)         
5,446    
   
5,446  
   Exchange losses (gains)         
(2,864 )   
   
(2,864 ) 
   Net investment income         
85,371    
   
85,371  
   Interest expense         
   
   
 




 



 
Net income from life and annuity operations 
  $     
$
18,079    
$ 
   
$ 
18,079  




 



 
Financial Operations:         
   
   
 
   Net premiums earned         
   
$ 
103,690   
$ 
103,690  
   Fee income and other         
   
1,512   
1,512  
   Net losses and loss expenses         
   
65,220   
65,220  
   Acquisition costs         
   
10,193   
10,193  
   Operating expenses (1)         
   
20,399   
20,399  
   Exchange losses         
   
316   
316  




 
   Underwriting profit         
   
$ 
9,074   
$ 
9,074  




 
   Net investment income — financial guarantee         
   
$ 
18,323   
$ 
18,323  
   Net investment income — structured products         
   
108,487   
108,487  
   Interest expense — structured products         
   
80,521   
80,521  
   Operating expenses — structured products (1)         
   
11,625   
11,625  
   Net income from financial and         
   
   
 
         investment affiliates         
   
12,255   
12,255  
   Minority interest         
   
   
 
   Net results from derivatives (2)         
   
3,887   
3,887  




 
   Contribution from financial operations         
   
$ 
59,880   
$ 
59,880  




 

See footnotes on following page.

14


XL CAPITAL LTD
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

4.   Segment Information (continued)

Three months ended June 30, 2006 (continued):
(U.S. dollars in thousands, except ratios)
(Unaudited)
            Financial   
 
            Products   
 
   
Insurance
 
Reinsurance
  and Services   
Total
 







 
   Net investment income — general operations               
$
261,441  
   Net realized and unrealized gains on investments               
 
         and derivative instruments (3)               
1,747  
   Net income from investment and operating               
 
         affiliates               
55,610  
   Interest expense (4)               
54,111  
   Amortization of intangible assets               
420  
   Corporate operating expenses               
39,313  
   Income tax               
66,437  


 
Net Income               
$
387,169  


 
General Operations:               
 
   Loss and loss expense ratio (5)    66.2 %    55.5 %       
62.0 % 
   Underwriting expense ratio (5)    26.4 %    30.4 %       
28.0 % 

 
 

 
   Combined ratio (5)    92.6 %    85.9 %       
90.0 % 

 
 

 


(1)      Operating expenses exclude corporate operating expenses, shown separately.
 
(2) Includes net realized and unrealized gains on credit derivatives of $2.7 million, and weather and energy derivatives of $1.9 million and losses on structured financial derivatives of $0.7 million.
 
(3) This includes net realized losses on investments of $23.6 million and net realized and unrealized gains on investment derivatives of $25.4 million, but does not include unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments, which are included in “accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)”.
   
(4) Interest expense excludes interest expense related to life and annuity operations, shown separately.
 
(5) Ratios are based on net premiums earned from general operations. The underwriting expense ratio excludes exchange gains and losses.
 

15


XL CAPITAL LTD
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

4.   Segment Information (continued)

Three months ended June 30, 2005:
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
   
Financial
 
   
Products
 
   
Insurance
Reinsurance
and Services
Total
 


       

       

       

 
General Operations:         
             
   Net premiums earned    $  1,054,360    
$
673,201     $      $  1,727,561  
   Fee (loss) income and other      (2,916 )   
(463 )            (3,379 ) 
   Net losses and loss expenses      676,374    
568,154             1,244,528  
   Acquisition costs      119,032    
149,049             268,081  
   Operating expenses (1)      140,261    
38,153             178,414  
   Exchange (gains) losses      (34,104 )   
21,895             (12,209 ) 


 

 

 

 
   Underwriting profit (loss)    $  149,881    
$
(104,513 )    $      $ 45,368  


 

 

 

 
Life and Annuity Operations:         
             
   Life premiums earned    $     
$
1,933,215     $      $  1,933,215  
   Fee income and other         
114             114  
   Claims and policy benefits         
2,020,664             2,020,664  
   Acquisition costs         
35,058             35,058  
   Operating expenses (1)         
5,068             5,068  
   Exchange losses         
403             403  
   Net investment income         
71,963             71,963  
   Interest expense         
             


 

 

 

 
   Net loss from life and annuity operations    $     
$
(55,901 )    $     $  (55,901 ) 


 

 

 

 
Financial Operations:         
             
   Net premiums earned         
    $  51,992     $  51,992  
   Fee income and other         
      217       217  
   Net losses and loss expenses         
      17,179       17,179  
   Acquisition costs         
      7,849       7,849  
   Operating expenses (1)         
      17,338       17,338  
   Exchange losses         
      1,113       1,113  


 

 
   Underwriting profit         
    $  8,730     $  8,730  


 

 
   Net investment income — financial guarantee         
    $  14,986     $  14,986  
   Net investment income — structured products         
      70,725       70,725  
   Interest expense — structured products         
      54,134       54,134  
   Operating expenses — structured products (1)         
      13,439       13,439  
   Net loss from financial and investment affiliates         
      (7,437 )      (7,437 ) 
   Minority interest         
      2,300       2,300  
   Net results from derivatives (2)         
      17,487       17,487  


 

 
   Contribution from financial operations         
    $  34,618     $  34,618  


 

 

See footnotes on following page.

16


XL CAPITAL LTD
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

4.   Segment Information (continued)

Three months ended June 30, 2005 (continued):
(U.S. dollars in thousands, except ratios)
(Unaudited)
   
Financial 
 
   
Products 
 
   
Insurance
Reinsurance
and Services 
Total
 


     

     
     

 
   Net investment income — general operations               
$
209,727  
   Net realized and unrealized gains on investments                 
         and derivative instruments (3)                24,627  
   Net income from investment and operating                 
         affiliates                10,457  
   Interest expense (4)                43,632  
   Amortization of intangible assets                3,043  
   Corporate operating expenses                34,691  
   Minority interest                (221 ) 
   Income tax                41,776  


 
Net Income               
$
145,975  


 
General Operations:                 
   Loss and loss expense ratio (5)    64.2 %    84.4 %        72.0 % 
   Underwriting expense ratio (5)    24.5 %    27.8 %        25.9 % 

 
 

 
   Combined ratio (5)    88.7 %    112.2 %        97.9 % 

 
 

 


(1)      Operating expenses exclude corporate operating expenses, shown separately.
 
(2) Includes net realized and unrealized losses on credit derivatives of $4.0 million, and gains on weather and energy derivatives of $4.1 million and structured financial derivatives of $17.4 million.
 
(3) This includes net realized gains on investments of $90.1 million and net realized and unrealized losses on investment derivatives of $65.4 million, but does not include unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments, which are included in “accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)”.
   
(4) Interest expense excludes interest expense related to life and annuity operations, shown separately.
 
(5) Ratios are based on net premiums earned from general operations. The underwriting expense ratio excludes exchange gains and losses.
 

17


XL CAPITAL LTD
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

4.   Segment Information (continued)

Six months ended June 30, 2006:
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
   
Financial 
 
   
Products 
 
   
Insurance 
Reinsurance
and Services 
Total
 


     

       

     

 
General Operations:                         
   Net premiums earned    $  2,060,432    $  1,306,998     $      $  3,367,430  
   Fee income and other      14,494      817             15,311  
   Net losses and loss expenses      1,359,235      759,701             2,118,936  
   Acquisition costs      241,249      282,524             523,773  
   Operating expenses (1)      295,682      84,653             380,335  
   Exchange losses (gains)      77,035      (17,669 )            59,366  




 



 
   Underwriting profit    $  101,725    $  198,606     $      $  300,331  




 



 
Life and Annuity Operations:                         
   Life premiums earned    $      $  270,559     $      $  270,559  
   Fee income and other            194             194  
   Claims and policy benefits            375,333             375,333  
   Acquisition costs            21,554             21,554  
   Operating expenses (1)            11,924             11,924  
   Exchange losses (gains)            (6,238 )            (6,238 ) 
   Net investment income            163,994             163,994  




 



 
   Net income from life and annuity operations    $      $  32,174     $      $  32,174  




 



 
Financial Operations:                         
   Net premiums earned                $  165,150    $  165,150  
   Fee income and other                  4,087      4,087  
   Net losses and loss expenses                  97,749      97,749  
   Acquisition costs                  17,272      17,272  
   Operating expenses (1)                  38,682      38,682  
   Exchange losses                  314      314  




 
Underwriting profit                $  15,220    $  15,220  




 
   Net investment income — financial guarantee                $  35,400    $  35,400  
   Net investment income — structured products                  214,162      214,162  
   Interest expense — structured products                  158,040      158,040  
   Operating expenses — structured products (1)                  21,629      21,629  
   Net income from financial and investment affiliates                  18,704      18,704  
   Minority interest                  2,258      2,258  
   Net results from structured derivatives (2)                  22,815      22,815  




 
   Contribution from financial operations                $  124,374    $  124,374  




 

See footnotes on following page.

18


XL CAPITAL LTD
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

4.   Segment Information (continued)

Six months ended June 30, 2006 (continued):
(U.S. dollars in thousands, except ratios)
(Unaudited)
   
Financial 
 
   
Products 
 
   
Insurance
Reinsurance
and Services 
Total
 


     

     
     

 
   Net investment income — general operations               
$
523,808  
   Net realized and unrealized gains on investments                 
         and derivative instruments (3)                54,435  
   Net income from investment and operating                 
         affiliates                148,134  
   Interest expense (4)                104,461  
   Amortization of intangible assets                1,515  
   Corporate operating expenses                88,455  
   Income tax                133,073  


 
Net Income               
$
855,752  


 
General Operations:                 
   Loss and loss expense ratio (5)    66.0 %    58.1 %        62.9 % 
   Underwriting expense ratio (5)    26.0 %    28.1 %        26.9 % 

 
 

 
   Combined ratio (5)    92.0 %    86.2 %        89.8 % 

 
 

 


(1)      Operating expenses exclude corporate operating expenses, shown separately.
 
(2) Includes net realized and unrealized gains on credit derivatives of $1.4 million, weather and energy derivatives of $22.9 million and losses on structured financial derivatives of $1.5 million.
 
(3) This includes net realized losses on investments of $0.8 million, net realized and unrealized gains on investment derivatives of $55.2 million, but does not include unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments, which are included in “accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)”.
 
(4) Interest expense excludes interest expense related to life and annuity operations, shown separately.
 
(5) Ratios are based on net premiums earned from general operations. The underwriting expense ratio excludes exchange gains and losses.
 

19


XL CAPITAL LTD
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

4.   Segment Information (continued)

Six months ended June 30, 2005:
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
   
Financial
 
   
Products
 
   
Insurance
Reinsurance
and Services
Total
 


       

       

       

 
General Operations:         
             
   Net premiums earned    $  2,136,878    
$
1,356,952     $      $  3,493,830  
   Fee income (loss) and other      1,011    
(446 )            565  
   Net losses and loss expenses      1,401,889    
978,504             2,380,393  
   Acquisition costs      257,775    
291,239             549,014  
   Operating expenses (1)      266,129    
79,559             345,688  
   Exchange (gains) losses      (19,789 )   
18,281             (1,508 ) 


 

 

 

 
   Underwriting profit (loss)    $  231,885    
$
(11,077 )    $      $  220,808  


 

 

 

 
Life and Annuity Operations:         
             
   Life premiums earned    $     
$
2,014,686     $      $  2,014,686  
   Fee income and other         
179             179  
   Claims and policy benefits         
2,146,291             2,146,291  
   Acquisition costs         
41,409             41,409  
   Operating expenses (1)         
9,251             9,251  
   Exchange losses         
673             673  
   Net investment income         
131,866             131,866  


 

 

 

 
   Net loss from life and annuity operations    $     
$
(50,893 )    $      $  (50,893 ) 


 

 

 

 
Financial Operations:         
             
   Net premiums earned         
    $  103,687     $  103,687  
   Fee income and other         
      13,368       13,368  
   Net losses and loss expenses         
      24,375       24,375  
   Acquisition costs         
      14,959       14,959  
   Operating expenses (1)         
      34,894       34,894  
   Exchange losses         
      1,064       1,064  


 

 
   Underwriting profit         
    $  41,763     $  41,763  


 

 
   Net investment income — financial guarantee         
    $  29,504     $  29,504  
   Net investment income — structured products         
      132,579       132,579  
   Interest expense — structured products         
      96,544       96,544  
   Operating expenses — structured products (1)         
      23,197       23,197  
   Net loss from financial and investment affiliates         
      (809 )      (809 ) 
   Minority interest         
      4,575       4,575  
   Net results from derivatives (2)         
      33,565       33,565  


 

 
   Contribution from financial operations         
    $  112,286     $  112,286  


 

 

See footnotes on following page.

20


XL CAPITAL LTD
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

4.   Segment Information (continued)

Six months ended June 30, 2005 (continued):
(U.S. dollars in thousands, except ratios)
(Unaudited)
   
Financial 
 
   
Products 
 
   
Insurance
Reinsurance
and Services 
Total
 


     

     
     

 
   Net investment income — general operations               
$
381,657  
   Net realized and unrealized gains on investments                 
         and derivative instruments (3)                114,398  
   Net income from investment and operating                 
         affiliates                93,593  
   Interest expense (4)                89,508  
   Amortization of intangible assets                5,836  
   Corporate operating expenses                83,076  
   Minority interest                (221 ) 
   Income tax                94,650  


 
Net Income               
$
599,000  


 
General Operations:                 
   Loss and loss expense ratio (5)    65.6 %    72.1 %        68.1 % 
   Underwriting expense ratio (5)    24.5 %    27.3 %        25.6 % 

 
 

 
   Combined ratio (5)    90.1 %    99.4 %        93.7 % 

 
 

 


(1)      Operating expenses exclude corporate operating expenses, shown separately.
 
(2) Includes net realized and unrealized gains on credit derivatives of $6.2 million, weather and energy derivatives of $10.2 million and structured financial derivatives of $17.2 million.
 
(3) This includes net realized gains on investments of $150.7 million and net realized and unrealized losses on investment derivatives of $36.3 million, but does not include unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments, which are included in “accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)”.
 
(4) Interest expense excludes interest expense related to life and annuity operations, shown separately.
 
(5) Ratios are based on net premiums earned from general operations. The underwriting expense ratio excludes exchange gains and losses.
 

21


XL CAPITAL LTD
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

4.   Segment Information (continued)

     The following tables summarize the Company’s net premiums earned by line of business:

Three months ended June 30, 2006:
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
   
Financial 
   
Products 
   
Insurance 
Reinsurance 
and Services 


     

     

General Operations:   
             
   Professional liability   
$
435,284    $  96,088    $   
   Casualty   
242,748      199,212       
   Property catastrophe   
28,748      68,758       
   Other property   
160,707      167,699       
   Marine, energy, aviation and satellite   
130,395      38,601       
   Other (1)   
31,253      101,513       






Total general operations   
$
1,029,135    $  671,871    $   
Life and annuity operations   
      179,894       
Financial operations   
            103,690 






Total   
$
1,029,135    $  851,765    $  103,690 
 






 (1) Other, includes bonding, warranty, accident and health and other lines of business.   
             
 
Three months ended June 30, 2005:   
             
(U.S. dollars in thousands)   
             
(Unaudited)   
             
 
   
Financial 
   
Products 
   
Insurance 
Reinsurance 
and Services 






General Operations:   
             
   Professional liability   
$
348,743    $  90,755    $   
   Casualty   
275,811      226,405       
   Property catastrophe   
23,300      70,273       
   Other property   
149,308      149,588       
   Marine, energy, aviation and satellite   
184,747      43,997       
   Other (1)   
72,451      92,183       






Total general operations   
$
1,054,360    $  673,201    $   
Life and annuity operations   
      1,933,215       
Financial operations   
            51,992 






Total   
$
1,054,360    $  2,606,416    $  51,992 








(1) Other, includes bonding, warranty, accident and health and other lines of business.

22


XL CAPITAL LTD
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

4.   Segment Information (continued)

Six months ended June 30, 2006:
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
   
Financial 
   
Products 
   
Insurance 
Reinsurance 
and Services 


     

     

General Operations:   
   
       
   Professional liability   
$
802,578   
$
178,456    $   
   Casualty   
484,002   
377,546       
   Property catastrophe   
48,211   
122,802       
   Other property   
336,055   
352,155       
   Marine, energy, aviation and satellite   
303,037   
74,031       
   Other (1)   
86,549   
202,008       






Total general operations   
$
2,060,432   
$
1,306,998    $   
Life and Annuity Operations   
   
270,559       
Financial Operations   
   
      165,150 






Total   
$
2,060,432   
$
1,577,557    $  165,150 








(1) Other, includes bonding, warranty, accident and health and other lines of business.

Six months ended June 30, 2005:
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

   
Financial 
   
Products 
   
Insurance 
Reinsurance 
and Services 


     

     

General Operations:   
   
       
   Professional liability   
$
714,011   
$
181,348    $   
   Casualty   
561,466   
452,388       
   Property catastrophe   
43,180   
136,236       
   Other property   
310,916   
332,698       
   Marine, energy, aviation and satellite   
391,612   
85,272       
   Other (1)   
115,693   
169,010       






Total general operations   
$
2,136,878   
$
1,356,952    $   
Life and annuity operations   
   
2,014,686       
Financial operations   
   
      103,687 






Total   
$
2,136,878   
$
3,371,638    $  103,687 








(1) Other, includes bonding, warranty, accident and health and other lines of business.

23


XL CAPITAL LTD
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

5.   Derivative Instruments

     The Company enters into investment, structured financial and weather and energy derivative instruments for both risk management and trading purposes. The Company also enters into credit derivatives in connection with its Financial Products and Services business. The Company is exposed to potential loss from various market risks and manages its market risks based on guidelines established by senior management. All these derivative instruments are carried at fair value.

     The following table summarizes the net realized and unrealized gains on derivative instruments included in net income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005:

   
(Unaudited)
(Unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
June 30,
 






     


 
(U.S. dollars in thousands)   
2006
2005
2006
2005
 


       

 

       

 
Credit derivatives   
$ 
2,644     $ (4,011 )   
$
1,382    
$
6,238  
Weather and energy risk management derivatives   
1,938     4,112    
22,926    
10,166  
Other non-investment derivatives   
(695 )    17,386    
(1,493 )   
17,161  


 

 

 

 
     Net results from derivatives financial operations 
 
$ 
3,887     $ 17,487    
$
22,815    
$
33,565  
Investment derivatives  
25,351     (65,428 )   
55,274    
(36,328 ) 


 

 

 

 
     Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives 
 
$ 
29,238    
$
(47,941
)   
$
78,089    
$
(2,763 ) 


 

 

 

 

     The Company records premiums received from sales of investment grade credit derivatives in gross written premiums and establishes loss reserves for this derivative business. These loss reserves represent the Company’s best estimate of the probable losses expected under these contracts. Net realized and unrealized gains and losses on credit derivative instruments are computed as the difference between fair value and the net of unpaid losses and loss expenses and unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverable. Changes in unrealized gains and losses on credit derivative instruments are reflected in the consolidated statements of income. Cumulative unrealized gains and losses are reflected as assets and liabilities, respectively, in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. Net realized and unrealized gains and losses resulting from changes in the fair value of derivatives occur because of changes in interest rates, credit spreads, recovery rates, the credit ratings of the referenced entities and other market factors.

     The following table summarizes insurance activities related to credit default swap derivative instruments excluding gains and losses on credit default swaps within the investment portfolio.

   
(Unaudited)
(Unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30, 
June 30, 
 





     





 
(U.S. dollars in thousands)   
2006 
2005
2006 
2005
 


     

 

     

 
Statement of Income:   
   
         
 
Net earned premiums   
$
5,951 
 
$
6,269     $  11,749   
$
14,446  
Net losses and loss expenses   
$
503 
 
$
(10,154 )    $  615   
$
(8,028 ) 
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)   
 
         
 
   on credit derivatives   
$
2,644 
 
$
(4,011 )    $  1,382   
$
6,238  

   
(Unaudited) 
   
As at 
As at 
(U.S. dollars in thousands)   
June 30, 2006 
December 31, 2005 



     


Balance Sheet:             
Unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverable    $
865 
    $
471 
 
Other assets    $
13,994 
    $
15,768 
 
Unpaid losses and loss expenses    $
16,397 
    $
27,562 
 
Other liabilities    $
17,482 
    $
20,142 
 

24


XL CAPITAL LTD
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

6.   Notes Payable and Debt and Financing Arrangements

     The Company closed a new $500 million syndicated credit facility on May 9, 2006. The new facility has a tenor of 364-days and is available for letters of credit only.

7.   Exposures under Guaranties

     The Company provides financial guaranty insurance and reinsurance to support public and private borrowing arrangements. Financial guaranty insurance guarantees the timely payment of principal and interest on insured obligations to third party holders of such obligations in the event of default by an issuer. The Company’s potential liability in the event of non-payment by the issuer of an insured or reinsured obligation represents the aggregate outstanding principal insured or reinsured under its policies and contracts and related interest payable at the date of default. In addition, the Company provides credit protection on specific referenced credits or on pools of specific referenced credits through the issuance of credit default swaps. Under the terms of credit default swaps, the seller of credit protection makes a specified payment to the buyer of credit protection upon the occurrence of one or more specified credit events with respect to a reference obligation or entity. The Company’s potential liability under credit default swaps represents the notional amount of such swaps.

     At June 30, 2006, the Company’s net outstanding par exposure under its in-force financial guaranty insurance and reinsurance policies and contracts aggregated to $104.5 billion and net reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses relating to such exposures was $167.3 million at such date. In addition, at June 30, 2006, the Company’s notional exposure under credit default swaps aggregated to $17.7 billion and the net liability for these credit default swaps reflected in the Company’s balance sheet at June 30, 2006 was $19.0 million.

8.   XL Capital Finance (Europe) plc

     XL Capital Finance (Europe) plc (“XLFE”) is a wholly owned finance subsidiary of the XL Capital Ltd. In January 2002, XLFE issued $600.0 million par value 6.5% Guaranteed Senior Notes due January 2012. These Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the XL Capital Ltd. XL Capital Ltd’s ability to obtain funds from its subsidiaries is subject to certain contractual restrictions, applicable laws and statutory requirements of the various countries in which the Company operates including Bermuda, the U.S. and the U.K., among others. Required statutory capital and surplus for the principal operating subsidiaries of the Company was $4.1 billion as of December 31, 2005.

25


XL CAPITAL LTD
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

9.   Computation of Earnings Per Ordinary Share and Ordinary Share Equivalent

   
(Unaudited) 
(Unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
June 30,
 








 
   
2006
2005
2006
2005
 


       

       

       

 
Basic earnings per ordinary share:         
         
 
   Net income    $  387,169    
$
145,975     $  855,752    
$
599,000  
   Less: preference share dividends      (10,080 )   
(10,080 )      (20,160 )   
(20,160 ) 


 

 

 

 
   Net income available to ordinary shareholders    $  377,089    
$
135,895     $  835,592    
$
578,840  


 

 

 

 
   Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding      178,728    
138,948       179,631    
138,488  
   Basic earnings per ordinary share    $  2.11    
$
0.98     $  4.65    
$
4.18  


 

 

 

 
Diluted earnings per ordinary share:         
         
 
   Net income    $  387,169    
$
145,975     $  855,752    
$
599,000  
   Less: preference share dividends     (10,080 )   
(10,080 )      (20,160 )   
(20,160 ) 


 

 

 

 
   Net income available to ordinary shareholders    $  377,089    
$
135,895     $  835,592    
$
578,840  


 

 

 

 
   Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding — basic      178,728    
138,948       179,631    
138,488  
   Average stock options outstanding (1)      470    
1,456       438    
1,353  


 

 

 

 
   Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding — diluted      179,198    
140,404       180,069    
139,841  


 

 

 

 
   Diluted earnings per ordinary share    $  2.10    
$ 
0.97     $  4.64    
$ 
4.14  


 

 

 

 
   Dividends per ordinary share    $  0.38    
$ 
0.50     $  0.76    
$ 
1.00  


 

 

 

 


(1) Net of shares repurchased under the treasury stock method.

10.  Subsequent event — sale of financial guaranty business

     On August 1, 2006, the Company completed the sale of approximately 35 percent of its financial guaranty insurance and reinsurance businesses (the “transferred business”) through the initial public offering (“IPO”) of 22.4 million common shares of Security Capital Assurance Company Ltd. (“SCA”) at $20.50 per share. SCA was incorporated in Bermuda during March 2006 for the purpose of becoming a holding company for the transferred business. Subsequent to the IPO, the Company owns 42.2 million common shares, or approximately 65 percent of SCA’s outstanding common shares. If the underwriters of the IPO fully exercise their option to purchase an additional 2.2 million common shares at the IPO price of $20.50 per share less the underwriting discount, the Company will ultimately retain 39.4 million common shares, or approximately 61% of SCA. Such option is exercisable through September 1, 2006.

     In addition, as part of the overall structuring of the IPO transaction, certain formation transactions occurred in order to move all units included in the IPO under SCA. In addition, in connection with the IPO, the Company has entered into reinsurance agreements with SCA to retain certain insurance risks along with the related liabilities. At their inception, these contracts had no effect on the Company’s income. In addition, the Company has entered into arrangements to provide adverse development protection to SCA related to certain limited risks where the Company would pay up to the limits of the underlying coverages. The Company has also entered into a number of agreements with SCA that will govern certain aspects of the relationship after the IPO, including service agreements under which the Company will provide certain services to SCA for a limited period of time.

     Upon completion of the IPO, the Company received proceeds, of approximately $85.5 million. The Company expects the transaction to result in an estimated after tax loss in the range of $40.0 million to $60.0 million, representing the difference between the carrying value of 100% of SCA immediately prior to the IPO and the sum of the proceeds and remaining carrying value of XL Capital’s ownership interest in SCA subsequent to the IPO. The ultimate loss within this range is dependent upon the equity of SCA as of the date of the IPO and will be reflected in the Company’s operating results for the third quarter of 2006.

26


ITEM 2.      MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

General

     The following is a discussion of the Company’s financial condition and liquidity and results of operations. Certain aspects of the Company’s business have loss experience characterized as low frequency and high severity. This may result in volatility in both the Company’s and an individual segment’s results of operations and financial condition.

     This “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contains forward-looking statements that involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based upon current plans, estimates and projections. Actual results may differ materially from those included in such forward-looking statements, and therefore undue reliance should not be placed on them. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” below for a list of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

     This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, and the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto, presented under Item 7 and Item 8, respectively, of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.

Executive Overview

     See “Executive Overview” in Item 7 of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.

Results of Operations

     The following table presents an analysis of the Company’s net income available to ordinary shareholders and other financial measures (described below) for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005:

(U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)   
(Unaudited) 
   
Three Months Ended 
   
June 30, 





   
2006 
2005 


     

Net income available to ordinary shareholders    $  377,089   
$
135,895 




Earnings per ordinary share — basic    $  2.11    $ 0.98 
Earnings per ordinary share — diluted    $  2.10    $ 0.97 
Weighted average number of ordinary shares and ordinary share           
   equivalents — basic      178,728    138,948 
Weighted average number of ordinary shares and ordinary share           
   equivalents — diluted      179,198    140,404 

27


     The following table presents an analysis of the Company’s net income available to ordinary shareholders and other financial measures (described below) for the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005.

(U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)   
(Unaudited) 
   
Six Months Ended 
   
June 30, 





   
2006 
2005 


     

Net income available to ordinary shareholders    $  835,592   
$
578,840 




Earnings per ordinary share — basic    $  4.65   
$
4.18 
Earnings per ordinary share — diluted    $  4.64   
$
4.14 
Weighted average number of ordinary shares and ordinary share           
   equivalents — basic      179,631    138,488 
Weighted average number of ordinary shares and ordinary share           
   equivalents — diluted      180,069    139,841 

     The Company’s net income and other financial measures as shown below for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006 have been affected, among other things, by the following significant items:

    1)      Continuing competitive underwriting environment.
 
     Overall market conditions remain attractive across most property and casualty lines.
 
     In the insurance segment competitive forces have varied in different markets. Primary Casualty is competitive in all geographies, while the Excess Casualty market is generally flat on retained business, with certain lines of business, including healthcare, showing some price increases.
 
     In Property insurance lines, the Company has significantly reduced overall catastrophe exposure while maintaining portfolio premium on a gross basis. However, increased reinsurance costs during the July 1, 2006 renewals will impact the Company’s net results as they earn through the remainder of the year.
 
     D&O rates are down approximately 6% across the year to date renewed book, with the market less competitive in the U.S. than in Europe. Other Professional Liability pricing has been relatively stable with certain specialty lines showing improved pricing fundamentals following an overall industry capacity reduction.
 
     Pricing on the Company’s program business increased by over 50% on renewed business, heavily impacted by catastrophe covers. The Company expects that the impact of these increases will diminish going forward, as risk management efforts will continue to reduce certain catastrophe exposures.
 
     In the reinsurance segment, July 1, 2006 property lines renewals have had premium rate increases in excess of 100% on programs impacted by the 2005 natural catastrophes and other U.S. property lines had rate increases of between 20% and 100% depending on whether or not they are hurricane exposed. A few large European property programs renew mid year and these programs have had 15% to 25% rate increases.
 
     U.S. Casualty reinsurance rates remain attractive, with treaty rates flat to slightly down but facultative rates still rising approximately 5%.
 

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               The Company’s results have also been impacted during the first six months of 2006 by the overall risk management initiatives put in place to reduce catastrophe exposure to property and marine and offshore energy lines of business. The Company has reduced its aggregate catastrophe exposure in the six months ended June 30, 2006 through selective underwriting in areas such as the Gulf of Mexico and the exclusion of certain risks where possible. The Company has also generally made higher reinsurance cessions on most short tail lines, in particular to Cyrus Reinsurance Limited, which covers property catastrophe reinsurance and retrocessional business. The impact of these initiatives was most notable in net premiums written in the first half of 2006 and these initiatives are expected to negatively impact net premiums earned over the balance of the year.
 
        2)      Growing asset base and positive contribution from investment affiliates.
 
      Net investment income was $937.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to $675.6 million for the same period in 2005. This increase resulted from a larger investment base combined with higher investment yields primarily due to increases in U.S. interest rates. The increase in the size of the investment portfolio resulted from equity raised in the fourth quarter of 2005, growth in structured and spread balances and positive cash flows from operations.
     
      Net income from investment affiliates was $135.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006, compared to $59.7 million for the same period in 2005. These results reflect strong returns from the Company’s alternative fund investments during the first half of 2006, as well as strong results from certain private equity investments.

Financial Measures

     The following are some of the financial measures management considers important in evaluating the Company’s operating performance:

(U.S. dollars in thousands, except ratios and per share amounts)   
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
Three Months Ended
   
June 30,





   
2006
2005




Underwriting profit — general operations   
$
150,693  
$
45,368
Combined ratio — general operations   
90.0%  
97.9%
Investment income — general operations   
$
261,441  
$
209,727
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
Six Months Ended
   
June 30,





   
2006
2005


     

Underwriting profit — general operations  
$
300,331  
$
220,808
Combined ratio — general operations   
89.8%  
93.7%
Investment income — general operations   
$
523,808  
$
381,657
Annualized return on average ordinary shareholders’ equity   
20.9%  
15.4%
 
   
(Unaudited)  
   
June 30,  
December 31,
   
2006
 
2005




Book value per ordinary share   
$
44.51  
$
44.31

29


Underwriting profit — general operations

     One way the Company evaluates the performance of its property and casualty insurance and reinsurance general operations is the underwriting profit or loss. The Company does not measure performance based on the amount of gross premiums written. Underwriting profit or loss is calculated from premiums earned and fee income, less net losses incurred and expenses related to the underwriting activities. Underwriting profits in the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2006 are primarily reflective of the combined ratio discussed below.

Combined ratio — general operations

     The combined ratio for general operations is used by the Company, and many other property and casualty insurance and reinsurance companies, as another measure of underwriting profitability. The combined ratio is calculated from the net losses incurred and underwriting expenses as a ratio of the net premiums earned for the Company’s general insurance and reinsurance operations. A combined ratio of less than 100% indicates an underwriting profit and greater than 100% reflects an underwriting loss. Decreases in the Company’s combined ratio for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, compared to the same periods in the previous year, were primarily a result of a lower loss and loss expense ratio partially offset by an increasing underwriting expense ratio. The decrease in the loss and loss expense ratio was primarily due to the absence of the U.S. casualty reinsurance charge which took place in the second quarter of 2005, partially offset by continued pricing pressures across most lines of business. The increased underwriting expanse ratio has been driven largely by the reduced earned premium levels.

Net investment income — general operations

     Net investment income from the Company’s general operations is an important measure that affects the Company’s overall profitability. The largest liability of the Company relates to its unpaid loss reserves, and the Company’s investment portfolio provides liquidity for claims settlements of these reserves as they become due and thus a significant part of the portfolio is in fixed income securities. Net investment income is affected by the size of the portfolio and also overall market interest rates. The average size of the investment portfolio outstanding during the three and six months ended June 30, 2006 increased as compared to the same periods in 2005 due to the Company’s issuance of ordinary shares and equity units in the fourth quarter of 2005 and its positive operating cash flow. Total investments as at June 30, 2006 were $38.9 billion as compared to $33.9 billion as at June 30, 2005. Interest rates in the United States have risen since the second quarter of 2005, which also contributed to the increase in investment income.

Book value per ordinary share

     Management also views the Company’s book value per ordinary share as an additional measure of the Company’s performance. Book value per ordinary share is calculated by dividing ordinary shareholders’ equity by the number of outstanding ordinary shares at any period end. Book value per ordinary share is affected primarily by the Company’s net income (loss) and also by any changes in the net unrealized gains and losses on its investment portfolio. Book value per ordinary share has increased by $0.20 in the first half of 2006 as compared to an increase of $3.97 in the first half of 2005. The factors noted above have created $835.6 million in net income for the six months ended June 30, 2006, which increases book value. However, the net unrealized gains associated with the Company’s investment portfolio as at December 31, 2005 have decreased by $756.5 million net of tax for the first six months of 2006 resulting in a net unrealized loss position. This decline was driven primarily by increasing interest rates in the U.S., U.K. and the Euro zone. Book value declined as at June 30, 2006, compared with that as at June 30, 2005, due to the net positive impact of the above items being more than offset by the increased average number of shares outstanding following the Company’s issuance of common shares in the fourth quarter of 2005.

Other Key Focuses of Management

     See the discussion of the Other Key Focuses of Management in Item 7 of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. That discussion is updated with the disclosures set forth below.

30


Initial Public Offering of Financial Guarantee Business

     On August 1, 2006, the Company completed the sale of approximately 35 percent of its financial guaranty insurance and reinsurance businesses (the “transferred business”) through the initial public offering (“IPO”) of 22.4 million common shares of Security Capital Assurance Company Ltd (“SCA”) at $20.50 per share. SCA was incorporated in Bermuda during March 2006 for the purpose of becoming a holding company for the transferred business. Subsequent to the IPO, the Company owns 42.2 million common shares, or approximately 65 percent of SCA’s outstanding common shares. If the underwriters of the IPO fully exercise their option to purchase an additional 2.2 million common shares at the IPO price of $20.50 per share less the underwriting discount, the Company will ultimately retain 39.4 million common shares, or approximately 61% of SCA. Such option is exercisable through September 1, 2006.

     In addition, as part of the overall structuring of the IPO transaction, certain formation transactions occurred in order to move all units included in the IPO under SCA. In addition, in connection with the IPO, the Company has entered into reinsurance agreements with SCA to retain certain insurance risks along with the related liabilities. At their inception, these contracts had no effect on the Company’s income. In addition, the Company has entered into arrangements to provide adverse development protection to SCA related to certain limited risks where the Company would pay up to the limits of the underlying coverages. The Company has also entered into a number of agreements with SCA that will govern certain aspects of the relationship after the IPO, including service agreements under which the Company will provide certain services to SCA for a limited period of time.

     Upon completion of the IPO the Company received proceeds, of approximately $85.5 million. The Company expects the transaction to result in an estimated after tax loss in the range of $40.0 million to $60.0 million, representing the difference between the carrying value of 100% of SCA immediately prior to the IPO and the sum of the proceeds and remaining carrying value of XL Capital’s ownership interest in SCA subsequent to the IPO. The ultimate loss within this range is dependent upon the equity of SCA as of the date of the IPO and will be reflected in the Company’s operating results for the third quarter of 2006.

Ratings and Capital Management

     The Company’s ability to underwrite business is dependent upon the quality of its claim paying and financial strength ratings as evaluated by independent rating agencies. As a result, in the event that the Company’s financial strength rating was downgraded, its ability to write business may be adversely affected.

     In the normal course of business, the Company evaluates its capital needs to support the volume of business written in order to maintain its claim paying and financial strength ratings. The Company is actively working to address these needs with several key business initiatives.

     To address these needs, management entered into certain catastrophe risk reduction measures and strategic initiatives intended to reduce volatility while, at the same time, improving the quality of the Company’s risk adjusted returns. These measures include the Company’s cessions to Cyrus Reinsurance Limited and reducing the Company’s catastrophe exposures in the Company’s Global Risk Property Insurance book, the International Catastrophe Insurance Managers, LLC portfolio (“iCAT”), the Reinsurance Property Risk book and our Offshore Marine & Energy books in both Insurance and Reinsurance.

Management Structure

     A new Office of the Chief Executive Officer (“OCEO”) has been formed effective July 1, 2006. It is comprised of five senior executive functions including the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, Chief Investment Officer (designate), Chief Executive - Global Business Services and two newly-created roles, Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff. This new structure is designed to provide a focused, enterprise-wide framework to allow the Company’s business leaders to leverage strategic opportunities and execute on business priorities.

31


     Henry C.V. Keeling, formerly Global Head of Business Services and Chief Executive of Reinsurance Life Operations, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Keeling assumes broad strategic responsibility for the Company’s underwriting risk assumption businesses, including insurance, general reinsurance, life reinsurance and financial products. Clive Tobin, Chief Executive Officer Insurance, and Jamie Veghte, Chief Executive Officer Reinsurance General Operations, continue in those roles, as members of the Company’s Executive Management Board and as the key leaders of the Company’s property and casualty segments, reporting to Mr. Keeling.

     Fiona E. Luck, formerly Global Head of Corporate Services, has been appointed Chief of Staff. In her new position, Ms. Luck is responsible for management of the Company’s Legal and Corporate Actuarial functions in addition to her existing role managing a wide range of other holding company functions including Corporate Strategy, Human Resources, Corporate Communications, Marketing and Corporate Social Responsibility.

     Jerry de St. Paer and Sarah E. Street continue in their roles as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Investment Officer (designate), respectively, and will become part of the OCEO.

     Mr. Michael C. Lobdell, a former Managing Director of New York-based JPMorganChase, will join the Company in September to serve as Chief Executive - Global Business Services. Mr. Lobdell will be responsible for overall execution and service delivery across the entire company and will oversee infrastructure and project management, including IT systems and technology, procurement, real estate, facilities, outsourcing and offshoring.

Winterthur International

     Under the terms of the Sale and Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”), as amended, between XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd (“XLI”) and Winterthur Swiss Insurance Company (“WSIC”), WSIC provided the Company with post-closing protection determined as of June 30, 2004 with respect to, among other things, adverse development of reserves and premium on certain Winterthur International Insurance business. This protection was based upon net loss experience and development over a three-year, post-closing seasoning period based on actual loss development experience, collectible reinsurance and certain other factors set forth in the SPA. The SPA included a process for determining the amount due from WSIC by an independent actuarial process whereby the Independent Actuary developed a value of the seasoned net reserves. The actual final seasoned net reserves amount was the submission that was closest to the number developed by the Independent Actuary.

     As the Company and WSIC were unable to come to an agreement, the Company submitted to WSIC notice to trigger the independent actuarial process as contemplated by the SPA. On February 3, 2005, both the Company and WSIC made submissions for the independent actuarial process. There were two separate numbers submitted - that for the Seasoned Net Reserves Amount (“SNRA”) and that for the Net Premium Receivable Amount (“NPRA”). Subsequent to this date neither party had the opportunity to submit revised figures to the Independent Actuary.

     On November 23, 2005 the Company received the draft report from the Independent Actuary in connection with the Company’s post-closing protection. The final report was received on December 6, 2005. The Independent Actuary’s report concluded that WSIC submitted SNRA and NPRA were closest to the Independent Actuary’s determinations of SNRA and NPRA. These determinations resulted in the Company receiving a net lump sum payment in the amount of approximately $575.0 million (including interest receivable) from WSIC. As the Company had recorded $1.4 billion in unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverable related to this protection, a loss of approximately $834.2 million was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2005.

     Under the terms of the SPA, WSIC provided the Company with protection with respect to third party reinsurance receivables and recoverables related to the acquisition of certain Winterthur International insurance operations (the “Winterthur Business”), which were approximately $1.6 billion, in the aggregate, as of June 30, 2006. Such protections were in the form of Sellers Retrocession Agreements and a Liquidity Facility.

     On June 7, 2006, subsidiaries of the Company entered into an agreement (the “Agreement”) with WSIC. The purpose of this Agreement is to release all actual or potential disputes, claims or issues arising out of or related in

32


any way to: (i) the Liquidity Facility and the Sellers Retrocession Agreements, as well as (ii) subject to certain exceptions, the SPA. The Agreement further provides for a four-year term, collateralized escrow arrangement (the “Fund”) of up to $185 million (plus interest) to protect subsidiaries of the Company from future nonperforming third party reinsurance related to the Winterthur Business. The Fund has been structured to align the parties’ interests by providing for any sums remaining in the Fund at the end of its term to be shared in agreed percentages.

     The Agreement replaces the protections provided to the Company from WSIC for reinsurance receivables and recoverables under the Liquidity Facility and Sellers Retrocession Agreements noted above, and described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006.

Foreign Exchange Exposure

     In the normal course of business, the Company is exposed to foreign exchange fluctuations on various items on its financial statements, in particular investments and unpaid losses and loss expenses. This exposure also exists on certain inter-company balances which are eliminated for consolidation purposes. The Company attempts to manage this economic exposure through matching foreign currency denominated liabilities with foreign currency denominated assets. While unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses on underwriting balances are reported in earnings, the offsetting unrealized gains and losses on invested assets are recorded as separate component of shareholders’ equity. This results in an accounting mismatch, which will result in foreign exchange gains or loss depending on the movement in certain currencies. In order improve administrative efficiencies as well as to address this accounting imbalance, the Company formed several branches with Euro and U.K. Sterling functional currencies during the first half of 2006. Management will continue to focus on attempting to limit this type of exposure in the future.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

     See the discussion of the Company’s Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates in Item 7 of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. That discussion is updated for disclosures set forth below.

Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses and Unpaid Loss and Loss Expenses Recoverable

     As the Company earns premiums for the underwriting risks it assumes, it also establishes an estimate of the expected ultimate losses related to the premium. Loss reserves or unpaid losses and loss expenses are established due to the significant periods of time that may lapse between the occurrence, reporting and settlement of a loss. The process of establishing reserves for unpaid property and casualty claims can be complex and is subject to considerable variability as it requires the use of informed estimates and judgments. These estimates and judgments are based on numerous factors, and may be revised as additional experience and other data become available and are reviewed, as new or improved methodologies are developed or as current laws change. Loss reserves include:

      a)           Case reserves — reserves for reported losses and loss expenses that have not yet been settled and,
     
  b) Losses incurred but not reported (“IBNR”).

     Case reserves for the Company’s general operations are established by management based on amounts reported from insureds or ceding companies and consultation with legal counsel, and represent the estimated ultimate cost of events or conditions that have been reported to or specifically identified by the Company. The method of establishing case reserves for reported claims differs among the Company’s operations.

     With respect to the Company’s insurance operations, the Company is notified of insured losses and records a case reserve for the estimated amount of the settlement, if any. The estimate reflects the judgment of claims personnel based on general reserving practices, the experience and knowledge of such personnel regarding the nature of the specific claim and, where appropriate, advice of legal counsel. Reserves are also established to provide for the estimated

33


expense of settling claims, including legal and other fees and the general expenses of administering the claims adjustment process. With respect to the Company’s reinsurance general operations, case reserves for reported claims are generally established based on reports received from ceding companies. Additional case reserves may be established by the Company to reflect the estimated ultimate cost of a loss. The uncertainty in the reserving process for reinsurers is due, in part, to the time lags inherent in reporting from the original claimant to the primary insurer to the reinsurer. As a predominantly broker market reinsurer for both excess-of-loss and proportional contracts, the Company is subject to a potential additional time lag in the receipt of information as the primary insurer reports to the broker who in turn reports to the Company. As of December 31, 2005, the Company did not have any significant back-log related to our processing of assumed reinsurance information.

     Since the Company relies on information regarding paid losses, case reserves and IBNR provided by ceding companies in order to assist it in estimating its liability for unpaid losses and LAE, the Company maintains certain procedures in order to help determine the completeness and accuracy of such information. Periodically, management assesses the reporting activities of these companies on the basis of qualitative and quantitative criteria. In addition to conferring with ceding companies or brokers on claims matters, the Company’s claims personnel conduct periodic audits of specific claims and the overall claims procedures of our ceding companies at their offices. The Company relies on its ability to effectively monitor the claims handling and claims reserving practices of ceding companies in order to help establish the proper reinsurance premium for reinsurance agreements and to establish proper loss reserves. Disputes with ceding companies have been rare and generally have been resolved through negotiation.

     With respect to the Company’s financial products and services operations, financial guaranty claims incurred on policies written on an insurance basis are established consistent with the Company’s insurance operations and financial guaranty claims incurred on policies written on a reinsurance basis are established consistent with the Company’s reinsurance operations.

     IBNR reserves represent management’s best estimate, at a given point in time, of the amount in excess of case reserves that is needed for the future settlement and loss adjustment costs associated with claims incurred. It is possible that the ultimate liability may differ materially from these estimates. Because the ultimate amount of unpaid losses and LAE is uncertain, the Company believes that quantitative techniques to estimate these amounts are enhanced by professional and managerial judgment. Management reviews the IBNR estimates produced by the Company’s actuaries and determines its best estimate of the liabilities to record in the Company’s financial statements. The Company considers this single point estimate to be one that has an equal likelihood of developing a redundancy or deficiency as the loss experience matures.

     IBNR reserves are estimated by the Company’s actuaries using several standard actuarial methodologies including the loss ratio method, the loss development method, the Bornhuetter-Ferguson (“BF”) method and frequency and severity approaches. IBNR related to a specific event may be based on the Company’s estimated exposure to an industry loss and may include the use of catastrophe modeling software. On a quarterly basis, IBNR reserves are reviewed by the Company’s actuaries, and are adjusted as new information becomes available. Any such adjustments are accounted for as changes in estimates and are reflected in the results of operations in the period in which they are made.

     The Company’s actuaries utilize one set of assumptions in determining its single point estimate, which includes actual loss data, loss development factors, loss ratios, reported claim frequency and severity. The actuarial reviews and documentation are completed in accordance with professional actuarial standards appropriate to the jurisdictions where the business is written. The selected assumptions reflect the actuary’s judgment based on historical data and experience combined with information concerning current underwriting, economic, judicial, regulatory and other influences on ultimate claim settlements.

     When estimating IBNR reserves, each of the Company’s insurance and reinsurance business units segregate business into exposure classes (over 200 classes are reviewed in total). Within each class, the business is further segregated by either the year in which the contract incepted (“underwriting year”), the year in which the claim occurred (“accident year”), or the year in which the claim is reported (“report year”). The majority of the insurance segment is reviewed on an accident year basis. The majority of the reinsurance segment is reviewed on an underwriting year basis.

34


     Generally, initial actuarial estimates of IBNR reserves not related to a specific event are based on the loss ratio method applied to each class of business. Actual paid losses and case reserves (“reported losses”) are subtracted from expected ultimate losses to determine IBNR reserves. The initial expected ultimate losses involve management judgment and are based on historical information for that class of business; which includes loss ratios, market conditions, underwriting changes, changes in claims emergence, and other factors that may influence expected ultimate losses.

     Over time, as a greater number of claims are reported, actuarial estimates of IBNR are based on the BF and loss development techniques. The BF method utilizes actual loss data and the expected patterns of loss emergence, combined with an initial expectation of ultimate losses to determine an estimate of ultimate losses. This method may be appropriate when there is limited actual loss data and a relatively less stable pattern of loss emergence. The chain ladder method utilizes actual loss and expected patterns of loss emergence to determine an estimate of ultimate losses that is independent of the initial expectation of ultimate losses. This method may be appropriate when there is a relatively stable pattern of loss emergence and a relatively larger number of reported claims. Multiple estimates of ultimate losses using a variety of actuarial methods are calculated for many, but not all, of the Company’s (200+) classes of business for each year of loss experience. The Company’s actuaries look at each class and determine the most appropriate point estimate based on the characteristics of the particular class and other relevant factors, such as historical ultimate loss ratios, the presence of individual large losses, and known occurrences that have not yet resulted in reported losses. Once the Company’s actuaries make their determination of the most appropriate point estimate for each class, this information is aggregated and presented to management for review and approval.

     The pattern of loss emergence is determined using actuarial analysis, including judgment, and is based on the historical patterns of the recording of paid and reported losses by the Company, as well as industry information. Information that may cause historical patterns to differ from future patterns is considered and reflected in expected patterns as appropriate. For Property, Marine and Aviation insurance, losses are general reported within 2 to 3 years from the beginning of the accident year. For Casualty insurance, loss emergence patterns can vary from 3 years to over 20 years depending on the type of business. For Other insurance, loss emergence patterns fall between the Property and Casualty insurance. For reinsurance business, loss reporting lags the corresponding insurance classes by at least one quarter due to the need for loss information to flow from the ceding companies to the Company generally via reinsurance intermediaries. Such lags in loss reporting are reflected in the actuary’s selections of loss reporting patterns used in establishing the Company’s reserves

     Such estimates are not precise because, among other things, they are based on predictions of future developments and estimates of future trends in claim severity, claim frequency, and other issues. In the process of estimating IBNR reserves, provisions for economic inflation and changes in the social and legal environment are considered, but involve considerable judgment.

     Due to the low frequency and high severity nature of some of the business underwritten by the Company, the Company’s reserve estimates are highly dependent on actuarial and management judgment and are therefore uncertain. In property classes, there can be additional uncertainty in loss estimation related to large catastrophe events. With wind events, such as hurricanes, the damage assessment process may take more than a year. The cost of claims is subject to volatility due to supply shortages for construction materials and labor. In the case of earthquakes, the damage assessment process may take several years as buildings are discovered to have structural weaknesses not initially detected. The uncertainty inherent in IBNR reserve estimates is particularly pronounced for casualty coverages, such as excess liability, professional liability coverages, and workers compensation, where information emerges relatively slowly over time.

     Loss and loss expenses are charged to income as they are incurred. These charges include loss and loss expense payments and any changes in case and IBNR reserves. During the loss settlement period, additional facts regarding claims are reported. As these additional facts are reported, it may be necessary to increase or decrease the unpaid losses and loss expense reserves. The actual final liability may be significantly different than prior estimates.

     As noted above, management reviews the IBNR estimates produced by the Company’s actuaries and determines its best estimate of the liabilities to record in the Company’s financial statements. The Company considers this single point estimate to be one that has an equal likelihood of developing a redundancy or deficiency as the loss experience

35


matures. Management believes that the actuarial methods utilized adequately provide for loss development. Management does not build in a provision for uncertainty outside of the estimates prepared by the Company’s actuaries.

     The Company’s net unpaid loss and loss expense general and financial reserves broken down by operating segment and line of business at December 31, 2005 were as follows:

(U.S. dollars in millions) 
December 31, 2005 




Insurance   
$
9,860   
Reinsurance   
7,212   
Financial products and services   
283   


 
Net unpaid loss and loss expense reserves   
$
17,355   


 

(U.S. dollars in millions)   
Net Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses as at December 31, 2005 


   
Case Reserves 
IBNR Reserves 
Total Reserves 


     

     

Insurance   
   
   
 
Casualty   
$
3,629   
$
4,022   
$
7,651 
Property Catastrophe   
427   
631   
1,058 
Other Property   
563   
287   
850 
Marine & Aviation   
167   
134   
301 






Total   
$
4,786   
$
5,074   
$
9,860 






 
Reinsurance General   
   
   
 
Casualty   
$
1,780   
$
2,452   
$
4,232 
Property Catastrophe   
577   
120   
697 
Other Property   
313   
510   
823 
Marine & Aviation   
558   
109   
667 
Other   
317   
476   
793 






Total   
$
3,545   
$
3,667   
$
7,212 






Financial Operations   
$
83   
$
200   
$
283 






Total   
$
8,414   
$
8,941   
$
17,355 







     While the proportion of unpaid loss and loss expenses represented by IBNR is sensitive to a number of factors, the most significant ones have historically been accelerating business growth and changes in business mix. Other factors that have affected the ratio in the past include; additions to prior period reserves, catastrophic occurrences, settlement of large claims and changes in claims settlement patterns.

     The ratio of IBNR to total reserves has increased in recent years due to the growth of casualty business written over that period. The ratio of IBNR to total reserves is higher for more recent years’ business because these immature years have relatively fewer claims reported and, as a result, a higher proportion of claims reserves are based on experience in respect of incurred but not reported losses. As each prior year of business matures and claims become known, the ratio of IBNR to total reserves will typically decline, all other factors remaining constant. Since the Company has experienced rapid premium volume growth in recent years, the ratio of IBNR to total reserves has increased because the Company’s aggregate exposure has become relatively less mature. Conversely, in a situation of declining premium volume, this ratio will typically decline, all other factors remaining constant. The Company writes insurance and reinsurance business in many different lines. Typically, the ratio of IBNR to total reserves is greater for casualty lines (which are longer-tail in nature) than for property lines due to the policy forms utilized and timing of loss reporting. In recent years, casualty lines have increased as a proportion of the Company’s business when compared to property lines (which are shorter-tail in nature).

     IBNR reserves are calculated by the Company’s actuaries using standard actuarial methodologies as discussed above. Prior to the year ended December 31, 2003, the outcomes of the Company’s actuarial reviews, consistent with historical practice, provided either (i) a single point reserve estimate or (ii) a range of reserve estimates from which the Company selected a best estimate. Since the year ended December 31, 2003, the Company adopted a methodology

36


that provided a single point reserve estimate separately for each line of business and also a range of possible outcomes across each single point reserve estimate. This is discussed further below. As a result, reserve ranges disclosed previously are not comparable to the reserve ranges disclosed herein.

     The following table shows the recorded estimate and the high and low ends of the range of reserves for each of the lines of business noted above at December 31, 2005:

(U.S. dollars in millions)   
Recorded 
High 
Low 


     
     
Casualty Insurance    $  7,388    $8,059    $6,739 
Casualty Reinsurance      4,141    4,705    3,606 
Property Catastrophe      914    1,080    758 
Other Property      1,724    1,947    1,513 
Marine and Aviation Reinsurance and Insurance      1,628    1,852    1,416 
Other (1)      1,043    1,141    950 


Total    $  16,838         
Financial Operations      283         
Provision for potential non recoveries      234         


Total    $  17,355         




(1) Other consists of several products, including accident and health, political risk, surety and bonding.

     With the exception of the adverse development associated with the unfavorable conclusion of the independent actuarial process, actual development of recorded reserves as of December 31, 2004 during 2005 was within the estimated reserve range.

     There are factors that would cause reserves to increase or decrease within the context of the range provided. The magnitude of any change in ultimate losses would be determined by the magnitude of any changes to our assumptions or combined impact of changes in assumptions. Factors that would increase reserves include, but are not limited to, increases in claim severity, increases in expected level of reported claims, changes to the regulatory environment which expand the exposure insured by the Company, changes in the litigation environment that increase claim awards, filings or verdicts, unexpected increases in loss inflation, and/or new types of claims being pursued against the Company. Factors that would decrease reserves include, but are not limited to, decreases in claim severity, reductions in the expected level of reported claims, changes to the regulatory environment which contract the exposure insured by the Company, changes in the litigation environment that decrease claim awards, filings or verdicts, and/or unexpected decreases in loss inflation.

     As shown in the table above and as previously noted, the Company developed a methodology for calculating reserve ranges around its single point reserve estimates for all its lines of business. Similar to VAR (Value At Risk) models commonly used to evaluate risk, the Company modeled a statistical distribution of potential reserve outcomes over a one year run-off period. The Company used the modeled statistical distribution to calculate an 80% confidence interval for the potential reserve outcomes over this one year run-off period. The high and low end points of the ranges set forth in the above table are such that there is a 10% modeled probability that the reserve will develop higher than the high point and a 10% modeled probability that the reserve will develop lower than the low point.

     The development of a reserve range models the uncertainty of the claim environment as well as the limited predictive power of past loss data. These uncertainties and limitations are not specific to the Company. The ranges represent an estimate of the range of possible outcomes over a one year development period. A range of possible outcomes should not be confused with a range of best estimates. The range of best estimates will generally be much narrower than the range of possible outcomes as it will reflect reasonable actuarial and management best estimates of the expected reserve.

     Reserve volatility was analyzed for each line of business within each of the Reinsurance and Insurance segments’ general operations using the Company’s historical data supplemented by industry data. These ranges were then

37


aggregated to the lines of business shown above taking into account correlation between lines of business based on a study of the Company’s historical data supplemented by industry data. The practical result of the correlation approach to aggregation is that the ranges by line of business disclosed above, are narrower than the sum of the ranges of the

individual lines of business. Similarly, the range for the Company’s total reserves in the aggregate, is narrower than the sum of the ranges for the lines of business disclosed above.

     The Company is not aware of any generally accepted model to perform the reserve range analysis described above, however, other models may be employed to develop these ranges.

     The Company does not calculate a range for its total net unpaid loss and loss expense reserves as it would not be appropriate to add the ranges for each line of business to obtain a range around the Company’s total reserves, because this would not reflect the diversification effects across the Company’s various lines of business. The diversification effects result from the fact that losses across the Company’s different lines of business are not completely correlated.

     The Company writes both “short-tail” and “long-tail” lines of business. “Short-tail” and “long-tail” describe the time between the receipt of the premium from a policy and the final settlement of any loss incurred under such policy. Short-tail lines include property catastrophe, other property and certain marine and aviation lines where, on average, the settlement period may be up to 24 months. Long-tail lines, on the other hand, include the Company’s casualty business in which claims may take up to 30 years to be reported and settled. The increase in the time associated with ultimate settlement of a claim is directly related to an increase in the amount of judgment required to establish loss reserves, especially IBNR reserves.

     See further discussion under “—Segments” below for prior year development of loss reserves.

     The Company’s three types of reserve exposure with the longest tails are:

      (1)      high layer excess casualty insurance;
 
  (2) casualty reinsurance; and
 
  (3) discontinued asbestos and long-tail environmental business.

     Certain aspects of the Company’s casualty operations complicate the actuarial process for establishing reserves. Certain casualty business written by the Company’s insurance operations is high layer excess casualty business, meaning that the Company’s liability attaches after large deductibles including self insurance or insurance from sources other than the Company. The Company commenced writing this type of business in 1986 and issued policies in forms that were different from traditional policies used by the industry at that time. Initially, there was a lack of industry data available for this type of business. Consequently, the basis for establishing loss reserves by the Company for this type of business was largely judgmental and based upon the Company’s own reported loss experience which was used as basis for determining ultimate losses, and therefore IBNR reserves. Over time, the amount of available historical loss experience data has increased. As a result, the Company has obtained a larger statistical base to assist in establishing reserves for these excess casualty insurance claims.

     High layer excess casualty insurance claims typically involve claims relating to (i) a “shock loss” such as an explosion or transportation accident causing severe damage to persons and/or property over a short period of time, (ii) a “non-shock” loss where a large number of claimants are exposed to injurious conditions over a longer period of time, such as exposure to chemicals or pharmaceuticals or (iii) a professional liability loss such as a medical malpractice claim. In each case, these claims are ultimately settled following extensive negotiations and legal proceedings. This process can typically take 5 to 15 years following the date of loss.

     Reinsurance operations by their nature add further complications to the reserving process, particularly for casualty business written, in that there is an inherent lag in the timing and reporting of a loss event from an insured or ceding company to the reinsurer. This reporting lag creates an even longer period of time between the policy inception

38


and when a claim is finally settled. As a result, more judgment is required to establish reserves for ultimate claims in the Company’s reinsurance operations.

     In the Company’s reinsurance general operations, case reserves for reported claims are generally established based on reports received from ceding companies. Additional case reserves may be established by the Company to reflect the Company’s estimated ultimate cost of a loss.

     Casualty reinsurance business involves reserving methods that generally include historical aggregated claim information as reported by ceding companies, combined with the results of claims and underwriting reviews of a sample of the ceding company’s claims and underwriting files. Therefore, the Company does not always receive detailed claim information for this line of business.

     Discontinued asbestos and long-tail environment business had been previously written by NAC Re Corp. (now known as XL Reinsurance America Inc.), prior to its acquisition by the Company.

     Except for certain workers’ compensation and long-term disability liabilities, the Company does not discount its unpaid losses and loss expenses. The Company utilizes tabular reserving for workers’ compensation and long-term disability unpaid losses that are considered fixed and determinable. For further discussion see the Consolidated Financial Statements. As noted above, case reserves for the Company’s reinsurance general operations are generally established based on reports received from ceding companies. Additional case reserves may be established by the Company to reflect the Company’s estimated ultimate cost of a loss. In addition to information received from ceding companies on reported claims, the Company also utilizes information on the pattern of ceding company loss reporting and loss settlements from previous catastrophic events in order to estimate the Company’s ultimate liability related to these hurricane loss events. Commercial catastrophe model analyses and zonal aggregate exposures are utilized to assess potential client loss before and after an event. Initial cedant loss reports are generally obtained shortly after a catastrophic event, with subsequent updates received as new information becomes available. The Company actively requests loss updates from cedants periodically for the first year following an event. The Company’s claim settlement processes also incorporate an update to the total loss reserve at the time a claim payment is made to a ceding company.

     While the reliance on loss reports from ceding companies may increase the level of uncertainty associated with the estimation of total loss reserves for property reinsurance relative to direct property insurance, there are several factors which serve to reduce the uncertainty in loss reserve estimates for property reinsurance. First, for large events such as Hurricane Katrina, aggregate limits in property catastrophe reinsurance contracts are generally fully exhausted by the loss reserve estimates. Second, as a reinsurer, the Company has access to information from a broad cross section of the insurance industry. The Company utilizes such information in order to perform consistency checks on the data provided by ceding companies and is able to identify trends in loss reporting and settlement activity and incorporate such information in its estimate of IBNR reserves. Finally, the Company also supplements the loss information received from cedants with loss estimates developed by market share techniques and/or from third party catastrophe models applied to exposure data supplied by cedants.

Reinsurance Premium Estimates

     The Company writes business on both an excess of loss and proportional basis. In the case of excess of loss contracts, the subject written premium is generally outlined within the treaty and the Company receives a minimum and/or deposit premium on a quarterly basis which is normally followed by an adjustment premium based on the ultimate subject premium for the contract. The Company estimates the premium written on the basis of the expected subject premium and regularly reviews this against actual quarterly statements to revise the estimate based on the information provided by the cedent.

     On proportional contracts, written premiums are estimated to expected ultimate premiums based on information provided by the ceding companies. An estimate of premium is recorded at the inception of the contract. The ceding company’s premium estimate may be adjusted based on their history of providing accurate premium estimates. When the actual premium is reported by the ceding company, normally on a quarterly basis, it may be materially higher

39


or lower than the estimate. Adjustments arising from the reporting of actual premium by the ceding companies are recorded in the period in which they are determined.

     Written premiums on excess of loss contracts are earned in accordance with the loss occurring period defined within the treaty, normally 12 months following inception of the contract. Written premiums on proportional contracts are earned over the risk periods of the underlying policies issued and renewed, normally 24 months. For both excess of loss and proportional contracts, the earned premium is recognized ratably over the earning period, namely 12 - 24 months. The portion of the premium related to the unexpired portion of the policy at the end of any reporting period is reflected in unearned premiums.

     Reinstatement premiums are recognized at the time a loss event occurs where coverage limits for the remaining life of the contract are reinstated under pre-defined contract terms and are fully earned when recognized. Accrual of reinstatement premiums is based on the Company’s estimate of loss and loss adjustment expense reserves, which involves management judgment as described below.

     Reinsurance operations by their nature add further complications in that generally the ultimate premium due under a specific contract will not be known at the time the contract is entered into. As a result, more judgment and ongoing monitoring is required to establish premiums written and earned in the Company’s reinsurance operations.

     The amount premiums receivable related to reinsurance operation amounted to $1.8 billion as at December 31, 2005.

     A significant portion of amounts included as premiums receivable, which represent estimated premiums written, net of commissions, are not currently due based on the terms of the underlying contracts. Management reviews the premiums receivable balance at least quarterly and provides a provision for amounts deemed to be uncollectible. The Company recorded a provision for uncollectible premiums receivable at December 31, 2005 of $11.0 million.

Variable Interest Entities and Other Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

     See the discussion of the Company’s variable interest entities and other off-balance sheet arrangements in Item 7 of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.

Segment Results for the three months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2005

     The Company is organized into four operating segments — Insurance, General Reinsurance, Life and Annuity Reinsurance and Financial Products and Services — in addition to a Corporate segment that includes the general investment and financing operations of the Company. Following changes in executive management responsibilities the Company now considers the Life and Annuity Reinsurance business as a separate operating segment. General operations include property and casualty lines of business.

     The Company evaluates the performance of each segment based on underwriting results for general operations, net income from life and annuity operations and contribution from financial operations. Other items of revenue and expenditure of the Company are not evaluated at the segment level. In addition, the Company does not allocate assets by segment for its general operations. Investment assets related to the Company’s life and annuity and financial operations are held in separately identified portfolios. Net investment income from these assets is included in net income from life and annuity operations and contribution from financial operations, respectively.

Insurance

     General insurance business written includes risk management and specialty lines. Risk management products are comprised of global property and casualty insurance programs for large multinational companies, including umbrella liability, integrated risk and primary master property and liability coverages. Specialty lines products include directors’ and officers’ liability, environmental liability, professional liability, aviation and satellite, employment practices liability, marine, equine and certain other insurance coverages including program business. The Company discontinued writing surety business in 2005.

40


     A large part of the Company’s casualty insurance business written has loss experience that is low frequency and high severity. As a result, large losses, though infrequent, can have a significant impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. The Company attempts to mitigate this risk by using strict underwriting guidelines and various reinsurance arrangements.

     The following table summarizes the underwriting results for this segment:

(U.S. dollars in thousands)   
(Unaudited)
     
   
Three Months Ended
     
   
June 30,
     


 
   
2006 
2005
   
% Change


     

 

Gross premiums written   
$
1,372,084   
$
1,414,389     (3.0 )% 
Net premiums written   
1,107,265   
1,112,212     (0.4 )% 
Net premiums earned   
1,029,135   
1,054,360     (2.4 )% 
Fee income and other   
7,099   
(2,916 )    NM  
Net losses and loss expenses   
681,728   
676,374     0.8 % 
Acquisition costs   
113,555   
119,032     (4.6 )% 
Operating expenses   
157,604   
140,261     12.4 % 
Exchange losses (gains)   
46,324   
(34,104 )    NM  




 

Underwriting profit   
$
37,023   
$
149,881     (75.3 )% 




 



* NM — Not Meaningful

     Gross and net premiums written decreased by 3.0% and 0.4%, respectively, in the three months ended June 30, 2006 compared with the three months ended June 30, 2005. The decrease in gross premium written was primarily due to continued competitive pressures and price decreases across most non-catastrophe exposed lines, reduced exposures in property and marine and offshore energy business, and the discontinuation of the segment’s surety business. Decreases were partially offset by increased volume in professional lines. The decrease in net premiums written compared to the same period in 2005 was in line with that of gross premiums due to lower net retentions in certain lines of business combined with returned ceded premiums associated with a professional lines commutation.

     Net premiums earned decreased by 2.4% in the three months ended June 30, 2006 compared with the three months ended June 30, 2005. The decrease was due to the factors affecting net premiums written noted above. The ceded premium impact of the commutation noted above increased net premium earned by $65.0 million in the current quarter.

     Exchange losses in the three months ended June 30, 2006 were primarily due to the impact of the strengthening of the U.K. Sterling, Euro, and Swiss Franc against the U.S. dollar during the quarter on Euro and U.K. Sterling loss reserves in units with U.S. dollar functional currencies.

     The following table presents the ratios for this segment:
       
   
(Unaudited)
   
Three Months Ended
   
June 30,



   
2006
2005

     
Loss and loss expense ratio    66.2%   64.2%
Underwriting expense ratio   26.4%   24.5%


Combined ratio.    92.6%   88.7%



41


     The loss and loss expense ratio includes net losses incurred for both the current year and any adverse or favorable prior year development of loss and loss expense reserves held at the beginning of the year. The loss ratio for the three months ended June 30, 2006 increased compared with the three months ended June 30, 2005, primarily due to loss ratios recorded on current quarter business earned being slightly higher than prior year because of recent price reductions and the impact of losses recaptured upon the commutation, noted above. The three months ended June 30, 2006 included only approximately $2.0 million in net prior period reserve strengthening.

     The increase in the underwriting expense ratio in the three months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the same period in 2005 was due primarily to an increase in the operating expense ratio of 1.9 points (15.3% as compared to 13.4%). The increase in the operating expense ratio was due primarily to increased compensation costs compared to the same quarter in the prior year, combined with the reduction in net earned premiums described above.

Reinsurance

Reinsurance — General Operations

     General reinsurance business written includes casualty, property, marine, aviation and other specialty reinsurance on a global basis. The Company’s reinsurance property business generally has loss experience characterized as low frequency and high severity, which can have a negative impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. The Company endeavors to manage its exposures to catastrophic events by limiting the amount of its exposure in each geographic zone worldwide and requiring that its property catastrophe contracts provide for aggregate limits and varying attachment points.

     The following table summarizes the underwriting results for the general operations of this segment:

(U.S. dollars in thousands)   
(Unaudited)
   
   
Three Months Ended
   
   
June 30,
   






 
   
2006
2005
   
% Change


 

 
Gross premiums written   
$
582,353    
$
506,250     15.0%
Net premiums written   
439,664    
347,492     26.5%
Net premiums earned   
671,871    
673,201     (0.2)%
Fee income and other   
(2,109 )   
(463 )    NM
Net losses and loss expenses   
372,613    
568,154     (34.4)%
Acquisition costs   
159,485    
149,049     7.0%
Operating expenses   
45,077    
38,153     18.1%
Exchange (gains) losses   
(21,083 )   
21,895     NM


 

 
Underwriting profit (loss)   
$
113,670    
$
(104,513 )    NM


 

 


* NM — Not Meaningful

     Gross and net premiums written increased by 15.0% and 26.5%, respectively, in the second quarter of 2006 as compared to the second quarter in 2005. The growth in gross premiums written was due primarily to certain premium adjustments of $54.7 million in the current quarter related to prior underwriting years. Net premiums written reflected the above changes in gross premiums written combined with the new catastrophe reinsurance agreement with Cyrus Reinsurance Limited and timing changes on certain segment reinsurance programs.

     Net premiums earned in the second quarter of 2006 decreased 0.2% as compared to the second quarter of 2005. This decrease is a reflection of the premium adjustments noted above as well as an overall reduction of net premiums written over the last 24 months.

42


     The following table presents the ratios for this segment:
       
   
(Unaudited)
   
Three Months Ended
   
June 30,



   
2006
 
2005


Loss and loss expense ratio    55.5%   84.4%
Underwriting expense ratio    30.4%   27.8%


Combined ratio.    85.9%   112.2%



     The loss and loss expense ratio includes net losses incurred for both the current year and any adverse or favorable prior year development of loss reserves held at the beginning of the year. The decrease in the loss and loss expense ratio in the three months ended June 30, 2006, compared to the same three months ended in 2005, primarily reflected adverse prior year development relating to North American Reinsurance operations of $190.6 million recorded in 2005. This increase resulted from the Company’s scheduled semi-annual 2005 reserve review. There was limited development as noted below resulting from the 2006 review. Net prior year loss development represented a release of $20.9 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2006. This development consists of $42.9 million adverse development on the 2005 hurricanes, which was more than offset by $63.8 million favorable development on the remainder of the portfolio. This compares to $157.6 million in total net adverse development in the second quarter of 2005.

     The $63.8 million favorable development experienced in the quarter is comprised of $12.8 million adverse on Casualty lines more than offset by $76.6 million favorable on non-casualty lines, primarily property risk. The casualty development includes adverse on a specific Workers’ Compensation program written in our North American Reinsurance operations and deterioration on claims related to Enron, partially offset by favorable developments on Medical Malpractice. Professional lines continue to develop within expectations.

     The increase in the underwriting expense ratio in the three months ended June 30, 2006, as compared with the three months ended June 30, 2005, was due to increases in the both acquisition expense ratio and operating expense ratio to 23.7% and 6.7%, respectively, as compared to 22.1% and 5.7%, respectively, in the second quarter of 2005. The increase in the acquisition expense ratio was due to increased profit commissions that resulted from favorable loss development compared to prior periods. The operating expense ratio increase was primarily due to compensation expenses.

     Exchange gains in the three months ended June 30, 2006 were mainly attributable to an overall weakening, during the quarter, in the value of the U.S. dollar against U.K. Sterling and the Euro in those operations with U.S. dollar as their functional currency and net U.K. sterling and Euro assets.

Reinsurance — Life and Annuity Operations

     Life business written by the reinsurance operations is primarily European life reinsurance. This includes term assurances, group life, critical illness cover, immediate annuities and disability income business. Due to the nature of these contracts, premium volume may vary significantly from period to period. In addition, certain closed block U.S. life and annuity reinsurance contracts previously included in the Financial Products and Services segment are now included in the Reinsurance segment as management of these contracts was transferred to the traditional life reinsurance business units in 2005 in order to centralize management of mortality-based life and annuity reinsurance business.

43


     The following summarizes net income from life and annuity operations:

(U.S. dollars in thousands)   
(Unaudited)
   
   
Three Months Ended
   
   
June 30,
   


 
   
2006
2005
   
% Change


 

 
Gross premiums written   
$
189,174    
$
1,942,748     (90.3)%
Net premiums written   
179,678     1,933,008     (90.7)%
Net premiums earned   
179,894     1,933,215     (90.7)%
Fee income and other   
128     114     12.3%
Claims and policy benefits   
232,453     2,020,664     (88.5)%
Acquisition costs   
12,279     35,058     (65.0)%
Operating expenses   
5,446     5,068     7.5%
Exchange (gains) losses   
(2,864 )    403     NM
Net investment income   
85,371     71,963     18.6%


 

 
Net income (loss) from life and annuity operations   
$
18,079    
$
(55,901 )    NM


 

 


* NM — Not Meaningful

     Gross and net premiums written as well as net premiums earned and claims and policy benefits decreased significantly in the second quarter of 2006 as compared to the second quarter of 2005. These decreases were primarily the result of a large U.K. immediate annuity portfolio contract written in the second quarter of 2005, representing $1.8 billion in net premiums written and earned. The underlying portfolio of installment premium term assurance business continues to grow predominantly in the U.K. and Europe. Ceded premiums remained consistent with the prior year.

     Claims and policy benefits also decreased significantly as a result of the annuity payout liabilities assumed under the contract noted above during 2005. Changes in claims and policy benefits also include the movement in policy benefit reserves related to other contracts where investment assets were acquired with the assumption of the policy benefit reserves at the inception of the contract. In addition, during the second quarter of 2005, $37.4 million in claims and policy benefits were recorded related to certain novated blocks of U.S.-based term-life mortality reinsurance business as a result of the actuarially modeled impact of actual paid losses being greater than expected, which were not repeated in 2006.

     Acquisition costs decreased in the second quarter of 2006, as compared to the second quarter of 2005, due to the write-off of certain deferred costs related to the U.S. mortality business of $25.9 million, which took place in the second quarter of 2005 as then current profit projections did not support the recovery of deferred costs. Operating expenses increased in the second quarter of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005, reflecting reduced compensation costs offset by increased corporate allocations and the start-up costs of new life operations in the U.S.

     Net investment income is included in the calculation of net income from life and annuity operations, as it relates to income earned on portfolios of separately identified and managed life investment assets and other allocated assets. The continued build-up of the business has significantly increased the invested assets relating to these operations since 2005.

Financial Products and Services

     Financial Products and Services provides (i) financial guaranty insurance and reinsurance, (ii) a wide range of structured financial and alternative risk transfer products, (iii) municipal investment and funding agreements, (iv) political risk insurance, and (v) weather and energy risk management products. Many of the products offered by Financial Products and Services are unique and tailored to the specific needs of the insured or user.

     Financial guaranty insurance and reinsurance generally guarantees payments of interest and principal on an issuer’s obligations when due. Obligations guaranteed or enhanced by the Company range in duration and premiums are received either on an installment basis or upfront. Guaranties written in credit default swap form provide coverage for losses upon the occurrence of specified credit events set forth in the swap documentation.

44


     Structured financial and alternative risk transfer products cover complex financial risks, including property, casualty and mortality insurance and reinsurance, and business enterprise risk management products

     Municipal investment contracts and funding agreements provide users guaranteed rates of interest on amounts deposited with the Company. The Company has investment risk related to its ability to generate sufficient investment income to enable the total invested assets to cover the payment of its estimated ultimate liability on such agreements.

     Political risk insurance generally covers risks arising from expropriation, currency inconvertibility, contract frustration, non-payment and war on land or political violence (including terrorism) in developing regions of the world. Political risk insurance is typically provided to financial institutions, equity investors, exporters, importers, export credit agencies and multilateral agencies in connection with investments and contracts in emerging market countries.

     The Company’s weather and energy risk management products are customized solutions designed to assist corporate customers, primarily energy companies and utilities, to manage their financial exposure to variations in underlying weather conditions and related energy markets. The following table summarizes the contribution for this segment:

(U.S. dollars in thousands)   
(Unaudited)
   
   
Three Months Ended
   
   
June 30,
   





 
   
2006 
2005
   
% Change




 
Gross premiums written    $  152,570   
$
102,450     48.9%
Net premiums written      148,220    100,386     47.7%
Net premiums earned      103,690    51,992     99.4%
Fee income and other      1,512    217     NM
Net losses and loss expenses      65,220    17,179     279.6%
Acquisition costs      10,193    7,849     29.9%
Operating expenses      20,399    17,338     17.7%
Exchange losses      316    1,113     (71.6)%




 
Underwriting profit    $  9,074    $ 8,730     3.9%




 
Net investment income — financial guarantee    $  18,323    $ 14,986     22.3%
Net investment income — structured products      108,487    70,725     53.4%
Interest expense — structured products      80,521    54,134     48.7%
Operating expenses — structured products      11,625    13,439     (13.5)%
Net income (losses) from financial and investment affiliates      12,255    (7,437 )    NM
Minority interest          2,300     NM
Net results from derivatives      3,887    17,487     (77.8)%




 
Net contribution from financial operations    $  59,880    $ 34,618     73.0%




 


* NM — Not Meaningful

     Gross and net premiums written relating to the financial guaranty line of business reflect premiums received and accrued for in the periods presented and do not include the present value of future cash receipts expected from financial guaranty installment premium policies and contracts written in the period. In addition to financial guaranty premiums, segment premiums also include premiums received from political risk and other structured property and casualty business lines. Increases in gross and net premiums written of 48.9% and 47.7%, respectively, in the second quarter of 2006, as compared to the comparable period in 2005 were primarily due to additional premiums written as a result of losses reported and a change of control cancellation of a structured property and casualty reinsurance contract. In addition, the financial guarantee business reported continued growth in its public finance in-force portfolio.

     Net premiums earned increased in the second quarter of 2006, as compared to the same period in 2005. The increase primarily resulted from earnings attributable to the additional premium written relating to the structured property and casualty reinsurance contract discussed above, as well as to earnings from the early termination of certain financial guaranty insurance contracts (e.g. as a result of issuers refinancing such obligations).

45


     The following table provides a line of business breakdown of the Financial Products and Services segment’s net premiums earned:

(U.S. dollars in thousands)    (Unaudited)   
    Three Months Ended   
   
June 30, 
 



    2006   
2005 
 
% Change



Financial Guaranty    $59,794    $40,850    46.4%
Political Risk    9,578    6,352    50.8%
Other (1)    34,318    4,790    NM


(1)   Includes structured financial and alternative risk transfer products and weather and energy risk management products
*      NM — Not Meaningful

     Net losses and loss expenses include current year net losses incurred and adverse or favorable development of prior year net loss and loss expense reserves. Net losses and loss expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2006 increased by 279.6% compared to the three months ended June 30, 2005. This increase was primarily a result of adverse development on 2005 hurricane losses and a structured property and casualty contract of aggregating $26.0 million, as well as an increase of $28.0 million in a case reserve on a structured finance transaction which guaranteed a certain amount of revenue from a pool of equipment leases. The second quarter of 2005 included approximately $9.5 million of net provisions for case reserves related to certain financial guaranty contracts, as well as a provision for unallocated reserves on our financial guaranty business of approximately $2.4 million.

     For the three months ended June 30, 2006, acquisition costs as a percentage of net premiums earned decreased as compared to the same period in 2005 as there were no acquisition costs associated with the additional premiums earned discussed above.

     Operating expenses increased in the second quarter of 2006, as compared to the second quarter of 2005, due to increases in certain segment management costs.

     Net investment income related to the financial guaranty business increased by 22.3% in the three months ended June 30, 2006, as compared to the same period in 2005, due primarily to higher average invested assets resulting from net cash inflows from operations combined with higher yields on new investments during the three months ended June 30, 2006.

     Net investment income related to structured products increased by 53.4% in the three months ended June 30, 2006, as compared to the same period in 2005, primarily as a result of significant increases in the combined average funding agreement and guaranteed investment contract balances from $4.7 billion to $5.9 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2005 and 2006, respectively, together with increased yields.

     Interest expenses on structured products relate to the accretion charges on deposit liabilities related to funding agreements, guaranteed investment contracts and certain structured insurance and reinsurance contracts. The increase in interest expense during the three months ended June 30, 2006, as compared to the same period in 2005, related primarily to the increase in the combined average funding agreement and guaranteed investment contract balances for the three months ended June 30, 2006, as compared to the period in 2005.

     Net results from derivatives represent changes in the market value of the Company’s insured credit derivative portfolio, weather and energy derivative instruments and certain structured derivatives. The net results from derivatives for the three months ended June 30, 2006 primarily related to small gains on certain weather derivatives and a larger gain in 2005, related to the early termination of a structured derivative product tied to appreciation in a housing price index.

     Net income from financial and investment affiliates include earnings on the Company’s investment in Primus Guaranty, Ltd (“Primus”) and certain of the Company’s investment affiliates. The increase in the second quarter of 2006, as compared to the second quarter of 2005, was due primarily to increased earnings from Primus. Primus spe-

46


cializes in providing credit risk protection through credit derivatives. Primus had a positive mark-to-market adjustment in the quarter related to such derivatives.

Investment Activities

     The following table illustrates the change in net investment income from general operations, net income (loss) from investment affiliates, net realized gains (losses) on investments and net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investment derivative instruments for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005.

(U.S. dollars in thousands)    (Unaudited)      
    Three Months Ended      
    June 30,      

 
   
2006
   
2005
   
% Change
 

 
 
 
Net investment income — general operations    $261,441     $209,727     24.7%  
Net income (loss) from investment affiliates — general operations    27,800     (7,936 )    NM  
Net realized (losses) gains on investments    (23,604 )    90,055     NM  
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investment             
   derivative instruments — general operations    25,351     (65,428 )    NM  


* NM — Not Meaningful

     Net investment income related to general operations increased 24.7% in the second quarter of 2006 as compared to the second quarter of 2005 due primarily to a higher investment base, as well as increases in the yield of the portfolio. Excluding the non-recurring $28.6 million of income associated with the unwind of a collateralized debt obligation in the second quarter of 2005, the increase in net investment income related to general operations was 44.3%. The growth in the investment base reflected the issuance of ordinary shares and equity units in the fourth quarter of 2005 and the Company’s cash flow from operations. The market yield to maturity on the fixed income portfolio was 5.4% at June 30, 2006, as compared to 4.1% at June 30, 2005 due primarily to higher interest rates in the U.S.

     Net income from investment affiliates increased in the second quarter of 2006 compared to a net loss for the second quarter of 2005 due primarily to stronger performance in alternative fund affiliates.

     The Company manages its investment grade fixed income securities using an asset/liability management framework. Due to the unique nature of the underlying liabilities, customized benchmarks are used to measure investment performance and comparison to standard market indices is not meaningful. Investment performance is not monitored for certain assets primarily consisting of operating cash and special regulatory deposits. The following is a summary of the investment portfolio returns for the asset/liability portfolios and risk asset portfolios:

    (Unaudited)  
(Unaudited)
    Three Months  
Three Months
    Ended  
Ended
    June 30, 2006 (1)  
June 30, 2005 (1)




Asset/Liability portfolios         
USD fixed income portfolio    0.6 %    2.3 % 
Non USD fixed income portfolio    0.1 %    3.0 % 
Risk Asset portfolios         
Alternative portfolio (2)    1.5 %    (0.7 )% 
Equity portfolio    (3.2 )%    1.3 % 
High-Yield fixed income portfolio    0.5 %    2.9 % 


(1)      Portfolio returns are calculated by dividing the sum of net investment income or net income (loss) from investment affiliates, realized gains (losses) and unrealized gains (losses) by the average market value of each portfolio. Non U.S. dollar fixed income performance is measured in either the underlying currency or in U.S. dollars.
 
(2) Performance on the alternative portfolio reflects the three months ended May 31, 2006 and May 31, 2005, respectively.
 

47


Net Realized Gains and Losses and Other than Temporary Declines in the Value of Investments

     Net realized losses on investments in the second quarter of 2006 included net realized losses of $11.3 million from sales of investments and net realized losses of approximately $12.3 million related to the write-down of certain of the Company’s fixed income, equity and other investments where the Company determined that there was an other than temporary decline in the value of these investments.

     Net realized gains on investments in the second quarter of 2005 included net realized gains of $101.3 million from sales of investments and net realized losses of approximately $11.2 million related to the write-down of certain of the Company’s fixed income, equity and other investments where the Company determined that there was an other than temporary decline in the value of those investments.

     The Company’s process for identifying declines in the fair value of investments that are other than temporary involves consideration of several factors. These factors include: (i) the time period during which there has been a significant decline in value; (ii) an analysis of the liquidity, business prospects and overall financial condition of the issuer; (iii) the significance of the decline; (iv) an analysis of the collateral structure and other credit support, as applicable, of the securities in question; and (v) the Company’s intent and ability to hold the investment for a sufficient period of time for the value to recover. Where the Company’s analysis of the above factors results in the Company’s conclusion that declines in fair values are other than temporary, the cost of the security is written down to fair value and the previously unrealized loss is therefore realized in the period such determination is made.

     Net realized and unrealized gains on investment derivatives for the three months ended June 30, 2006, as well as the losses for the corresponding period in 2005, resulted from the Company’s investment strategy to hedge certain interest, credit and foreign exchange risks within the investment portfolio.

Net Unrealized Gains and Losses on Investments

     At June 30, 2006, the Company had net unrealized losses on fixed income and short term securities of $459.7 million and net unrealized gains on equities of $131.2 million. Of these amounts, gross unrealized losses on fixed income and short term securities and equities were $699.2 million and $12.7 million, respectively. The information presented below for the gross unrealized losses on the Company’s investments at June 30, 2006 shows the potential effect upon future earnings and financial position should management later conclude that some of the current declines in the fair value of these investments are other than temporary. U.S., U.K. and the Euro zone interest rates increased during the three months ended June 30, 2006, which was the primary reason for the decline in net unrealized gains on fixed income securities.

     At June 30, 2006, approximately 11,400 fixed income securities out of a total of approximately 17,400 securities were in an unrealized loss position. The largest single unrealized loss in the fixed income portfolio was $6.5 million. Approximately 300 equity securities out of a total of approximately 1,700 securities were in an unrealized loss position at June 30, 2006 with the largest individual loss being $1.3 million.

48


     The following is an analysis of how long each of those securities with an unrealized loss at June 30, 2006 had been in a continual unrealized loss position:

(U.S. dollars in thousands)       
(Unaudited) 
(Unaudited) 
       
Amount of 
Fair Value of Securities 
    Length of time in a continual   
unrealized loss at 
unrealized loss position 
Type of Securities    unrealized loss position   
June 30, 2006 
at June 30, 2006 








Fixed Income and       
     
   
Short-Term    Less than six months   
$
204,172     
$
9,112,947   
    At least 6 months but less than 12 months   
308,829     
8,699,510   
    At least 12 months but less than 2 years   
137,912     
4,579,046   
    2 years and over   
48,251     
823,492   




 
    Total   
$
699,164     
$
23,214,995   




 
Equities    Less than six months   
$
9,827     
$
104,176   
    At least 6 months but less than 12 months   
2,903     
40,478   




 
    Total   
$
12,730     
$
144,654   




 

     The following is the maturity profile of the fixed income securities that were in a gross unrealized loss position at June 30, 2006:

(U.S. dollars in thousands)             
   
(Unaudited) 
 
(Unaudited) 
Maturity profile in years of fixed   
Amount of 
 
Fair value of securities 
income securities in a continual   
unrealized loss at 
 
in unrealized loss positions 
unrealized loss position   
June 30, 2006 
 
at June 30, 2006 









Less than 1 year remaining     
$
4,727 
     
$
838,159   
At least 1 year but less than 5 years remaining    
130,938 
   
6,570,555   
At least 5 years but less than 10 years remaining    
175,711 
   
3,885,236   
At least 10 years but less than 20 years remaining    
38,282 
   
1,874,183   
At least 20 years or more remaining   
100,198 
   
930,839   
Mortgage and asset backed securities   
249,308 
   
9,116,023   
 

 

 
Total     
$
699,164 
     
$
23,214,995   
 

 

 

     The Company operates a risk asset portfolio that includes high yield (below investment grade) fixed income securities. These represented approximately 2.2% of the total fixed income portfolio market value at June 30, 2006. Fair values of these securities have a higher volatility than investment grade securities. Of the total gross unrealized losses in the Company’s fixed income portfolio as at June 30, 2006, $18.1 million related to securities that were below investment grade or not rated. The following is an analysis of how long each of these below investment grade and unrated securities had been in a continual unrealized loss position at the date indicated:

(U.S. dollars in thousands)             
   
(Unaudited) 
(Unaudited) 
   
Amount of 
Fair value of securities 
Length of time in a continual   
unrealized loss at 
in unrealized loss position 
unrealized loss position   
June 30, 2006 
at June 30, 2006 









Less than six months     
$
8,363       
$
414,111   
At least 6 months but less than 12 months   
7,192     
131,319   
At least 12 months but less than 2 years   
2,233     
33,255   
2 years and over   
278     
2,481   
 

 

 
Total     
$
18,066       
$
581,166   
 

 

 

49


Other Revenues and Expenses

     The following table sets forth other revenues and expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005:

(U.S. dollars in thousands)   
(Unaudited) 
 
   
Three Months Ended 
 
   
June 30, 
 



   
2006 
2005 
 
% Change

     

Net income from operating affiliates — general operations    $27,810    $18,393    51.2%
Amortization of intangible assets    420    3,043    (86.2)%
Corporate operating expenses    39,313    34,691    13.3%
Interest expense    54,111    43,632    24.0%
Income tax expense    66,437    41,776    59.0%

     Net income from operating affiliates was higher for the three months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to the same period in 2005 due to higher income from the Company’s investment manager affiliates.

     Corporate operating expenses in the three months ended June 30, 2006 increased compared to the three months ended June 30, 2005 primarily reflecting increased compensation costs partially offset by favorable foreign exchange impacts.

     The increase in interest expense primarily reflected the increase in outstanding debt since June 30, 2005. For more information on the Company’s financial structure, see “Liquidity and Capital Resources”.

     The increase in the Company’s income taxes arose principally from the increase in the profitability of the Company’s U.S. and European operations.

Segment Results for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2005

Insurance           
 
     The following table summarizes the underwriting results for this segment: 
     
 
(U.S. dollars in thousands)   
(Unaudited)
   
   
Six Months Ended
   
   
June 30,
   





 
   
2006 
2005
   
% Change




 
Gross premiums written   
$
2,930,907   
$
3,092,164     (5.2)%
Net premiums written    2,260,430    2,392,362     (5.5)%
Net premiums earned    2,060,432    2,136,878     (3.6)%
Fee income and other    14,494    1,011     NM
Net losses and loss expenses    1,359,235    1,401,889     (3.0)%
Acquisition costs    241,249    257,775     (6.4)%
Operating expenses    295,682    266,129     11.1%
Exchange (gains) losses    77,035    (19,789 )    NM




 
Underwriting profit   
$
101,725   
$
231,885     (56.1)%




 


* NM — Not Meaningful

50


     Gross and net premiums written decreased by 5.2% and 5.5%, respectively, in the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared with the six months ended June 30, 2005. The decrease in gross premiums written was primarily due to corporate risk management initiatives, continued competitive pressures, fewer multi-year contracts, foreign exchange movements and the discontinuation of the segment’s surety line of business. These decreases were partially offset by increased volume in professional lines. The decrease in net written premiums as a percentage of gross premiums is primarily a result of decreasing net retentions in certain lines partially offset by the return premium associated with the commutation of a ceded reinsurance policy in professional lines of business.

     Net premiums earned decreased by 3.6% in the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared with the six months ended June 30, 2005. The decline in net premium earned is primarily as a result of the earn out of net premiums written in 2005, and the factors impacting gross and net premiums noted above.

     Exchange losses in the six months ended June 30, 2006 were primarily due to the strengthening of the U.K. sterling and the Euro against the U.S. dollar during the period.

      The following table presents the ratios for this segment:
       
   
(Unaudited)
   
Six Months Ended
   
June 30,



   
2006
2005


Loss and loss expense ratio    66.0%   65.6%
Underwriting expense ratio    26.0%   24.5%


Combined ratio.    92.0%   90.1%



     The loss and loss expense ratio includes net losses incurred for both the current year and any adverse or favorable prior year development of loss and loss expense reserves held at the beginning of the year. The loss and loss expense ratio for the six months ended June 30, 2006 increased compared with the six months ended June 30, 2005, primarily as a result of higher net adverse development in the same period of the prior year. Prior year net adverse development totaled approximately $16.4 million in the first half of 2006. Net adverse development during the first half of 2005 was $60.0 million largely in professional lines.

     The underwriting expense ratio in the six months ended June 30, 2006 increased compared to the same period in 2005, as a result of an increase in the operating expense ratio of 1.9 points (14.4% as compared to 12.5%) partially offset by a lower acquisition expense ratio. The increase in the operating expense ratio was due primarily to increased compensation costs combined with the lower earned premiums.

51


Reinsurance

Reinsurance — General Operations

     The following table summarizes the underwriting results for the general operations of this segment:

(U.S. dollars in thousands)   
(Unaudited)
   
   
Six Months Ended
   
   
June 30,
   


 
   
2006
2005
   
% Change


 

 
Gross premiums written   
$
2,064,908    
$
2,200,452     (6.2)%
Net premiums written   
1,728,663    
1,915,362     (9.7)%
Net premiums earned   
1,306,998    
1,356,952     (3.7)%
Fee income and other   
817    
(446 )    NM
Net losses and loss expenses   
759,701    
978,504     (22.4)%
Acquisition costs   
282,524    
291,239     (3.0)%
Operating expenses   
84,653    
79,559     6.4%
Exchange (gains) losses   
(17,669 )   
18,281     NM


 

 
Underwriting profit (loss)   
$
198,606    
$
(11,077 )    NM


 

 


* NM — Not Meaningful

     Gross and net premiums written decreased 6.2% and 9.7%, respectively, in the first half of 2006 as compared to the first half of 2005. This decrease related primarily to the net reduction in catastrophe exposure and restructuring of the Company’s marine and energy exposures as a part of the Company’s aggregate risk reduction initiatives, partially offset by certain premium adjustments of $54.7 million reflected in the second quarter of 2006. Additionally, selective underwriting in certain motor and casualty lines of business contributed to the decrease. On a net premiums written basis, the decrease largely reflected the significant new catastrophe quota share reinsurance treaty with Cyrus Reinsurance Limited.

     Net premiums earned in the first half of 2006 decreased 3.7% as compared to the first half of 2005, due primarily to the earn out of the impact of rate pressures seen in gross premiums written over the last 12 months.

     The following table presents the ratios for this segment:
       
   
(Unaudited)
   
Six Months Ended
   
June 30,



   
2006
2005


Loss and loss expense ratio    58.1%   72.1%
Underwriting expense ratio    28.1%   27.3%


Combined ratio    86.2%   99.4%



     The loss and loss expense ratio includes net losses incurred for both the current year and any adverse or favorable prior year development of loss reserves held at the beginning of the year. The increase in the loss and loss expense ratio in the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the same period in 2005, primarily reflected higher than expected development in the second quarter of 2005 relating to U.S. casualty business of $190.6 million noted above. During the six months ended June 30, 2006, net prior year reserve releases totaled $14.2 million largely in property and professional lines of business.

     The increase in the underwriting expense ratio in the first half of 2006 as compared with the first half of 2005, was due to an increase in the operating expense ratio to 6.5%, as compared to 5.9%, in the first half of 2005. Acquisition costs remained flat.

52


     The operating expense ratio increase reflects additional compensation expenses particularly offset by corporate cost reduction efforts.

     Exchange gains in the six months ended June 30, 2006 were mainly attributable to an overall weakening in the value of the U.S. dollar against the U.K. Sterling and the Euro in those operations with U.S. dollars as their functional currency and net U.K. Sterling and Euro assets.

Reinsurance — Life and Annuity Operations

     The following summarizes net income from life and annuity operations:

(U.S. dollars in thousands)   
(Unaudited)
   
   
Six Months Ended
   
   
June 30,
   


 
   
2006
2005
   
% Change


 

 
Gross premiums written   
$
288,816    
$
2,033,757     (85.8)%
Net premiums written   
270,146    
2,014,264     (86.6)%
Net premiums earned   
270,559    
2,014,686     (86.6)%
Fee income and other   
194    
179     8.4%
Claims and policy benefits   
375,333    
2,146,291     (82.5)%
Acquisition costs   
21,554    
41,409     (47.9)%
Operating expenses   
11,924    
9,251     28.9%
Exchange (gains) losses   
(6,238 )   
673     NM
Net investment income   
163,994    
131,866     24.4%


 

 
Net profit (loss) from life and annuity operations   
$
32,174    
$
(50,893 )    (163.2)%


 

 


* NM — Not Meaningful

     Gross and net premiums written as well as net premiums earned and claims and policy benefits decreased significantly in the first half of 2006 as compared to the first half of 2005 primarily as a result of several large immediate annuity portfolio contracts bound in the second quarter of 2005. In addition, the underlying portfolio of installment premium term assurance business continues to grow.

     Claims and policy benefits also decreased significantly as a result of the annuity payout liabilities accepted under the contracts noted above. Changes in claims and policy benefits also included the movement in policy benefit reserves related to other contracts where investment assets were acquired with the assumption of the policy benefit reserves at the inception of the contract. In addition, during the second quarter of 2005, $37.4 million in losses were recorded related to certain novated blocks of U.S.-based term life mortality reinsurance business as a result of the actuarially modeled impact of actual paid losses being greater than expected.

     Acquisition costs decreased in the first half of 2006 as compared to the first half of 2005 reflecting the write-off of certain deferred costs related to the U.S. mortality business during the prior year noted above, as then current profit projections did not support the recovery of the deferred costs product commissions booked in the prior year. Operating expenses increased in the first half of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005 due to build out of existing operations and start-up costs of new life operations in the U.S.

     Net investment income increased in the first half of 2006 compared to the first half of 2005 reflecting the increase in life business invested assets primarily arising from new large annuity contracts written since June 30, 2005.

53


Financial Products and Services

     The following table summarizes the contribution for this segment:

(U.S. dollars in thousands)   
(Unaudited)
   
   
Six Months Ended
   
   
June 30, 
   





 
   
2006 
2005
   
% Change




 
Gross premiums written    $  254,063   
$
163,397     55.5%
Net premiums written      244,526    153,015     59.8%
Net premiums earned      165,150    103,687     59.3%
Fee income and other      4,087    13,368     (69.4)%
Net losses and loss expenses      97,749    24,375     301.0%
Acquisition costs      17,272    14,959     15.5%
Operating expenses      38,682    34,894     10.9%
Exchange (gains) losses      314    1,064     (70.5)%




 
Underwriting profit    $  15,220    $ 41,763     (63.6)%




 
Net investment income — financial guarantee    $  35,400    $ 29,504     20.0%
Net investment income — structured products      214,162    132,579     61.5%
Interest expense — structured products      158,040    96,544     63.7%
Operating expenses — structured products      21,629    23,197     (6.8)%
Net (loss) income from financial and investment affiliates      18,704    (809 )    NM
Minority interest      2,258    4,575     (50.6)%
Net results from derivatives      22,815    33,565     (32.0)%




 
Net contribution from financial operations    $  124,374   
$
112,286     10.8%




 


* NM — Not Meaningful

     Gross and net premiums written relating to the financial guaranty line of business reflect premiums received and accrued for in the period and do not include the present value of future cash receipts expected from financial guaranty installment premium policies and contracts written in the period. In addition to financial guaranty premiums, segment premiums also include premiums received from political risk and other structured property and casualty business lines. Increases in gross and net premiums written of 55.5% and 59.8%, respectively, for the six month period ended June 30, 2006, as compared to the comparable period in 2005, were primarily due to the growth in financial guaranty in-force installment business and several large up front financial guaranty public finance policies written in 2006, as well as additional premiums associated with a structured property and casualty reinsurance contract.

     Net premiums earned increased during the six months end June 30, 2006, as compared to the comparable prior year period. The increase primarily resulted from earnings attributable to the additional premium written relating to the structured property and casualty reinsurance contract discussed above, as well as to earnings from the early termination of certain financial guaranty insurance contracts (e.g. as a result of the issuers refinancing such obligations).

     The following table provides a line of business breakdown of the Financial Products and Services segment’s net premiums earned:

(U.S. dollars in thousands)   
(Unaudited) 
 
   
Six Months Ended 
 
   
June 30, 
 



    2006   
2005 
 
% Change



Financial Guaranty    $105,807    $80,457    31.5%
Political Risk    15,607    13,403    16.4%
Other (1)    43,736    9,827    NM


(1)   Includes structured financial and alternative risk transfer products and weather and energy risk management products.
*      NM — Not Meaningful

54


     Net losses and loss expenses include current year net losses incurred and adverse or favorable development of prior year net loss and loss expense reserves. Net losses and loss expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2006 increased by 301.0%, as compared to the comparable period in 2005. This increase was primarily a result of case reserve provisions relating to a structured finance transaction which guaranteed a certain amount of revenue from a pool of equipment leases of $49.5 million combined with hurricane losses on a structured property and casualty contract partially offset by a small decrease in financial guaranty reserves.

     For the six months ended June 30, 2006, acquisition costs as a percentage of net premiums earned decreased as there were no acquisition costs relating to the additional earned structural property and casualty premiums discussed above.

     Total operating expenses in the six months ended June 30, 2006 were consistent with the same period in 2005.

     Net investment income related to financial guaranty business increased by 20.0% in the six months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to the same period in 2005, due primarily to higher invested assets resulting from net cash inflows from operations combined with higher investment yields during the period.

     Net investment income related to structured products increased by 61.5% as compared to the same period in 2005 as a result of significant increases in the combined average funding agreement and guaranteed investment contract balances from $4.2 billion to $6.0 billion, combined with increased yields in 2006.

     Interest expenses on structured products are comprised of the accretion charges on deposit liabilities related to funding agreements, guaranteed investment contracts and certain structured insurance and reinsurance contracts. The increase in interest expenses in the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the same period in 2005 related primarily to the increase in the number of funding agreements noted above, partially offset by reduced interest expenses on certain deposit liabilities resulting from a change in the timing of estimated cash outflows.

     Net results from derivatives represent changes in the market value of the Company’s insured credit derivative portfolio, weather and energy derivative instruments and certain structured derivatives. The net results from derivatives for the six months ended June 30, 2006 included realized gains from European frost day weather derivative contracts for the 2005/2006 winter, partially offset by negative movements in certain investment grade credit derivative exposures and the amortization of prior mark-to-market gains.

     Net income (loss) from financial and investment affiliates includes, earnings on the Company’s investment in Primus Guaranty, Ltd (“Primus”) and certain of the Company’s investment affiliates. The increase in the six months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to the same period in 2005 was due primarily to a large positive mark-to-market during the second quarter of 2006 for Primus combined with continued strong performance of certain investment affiliates.

Investment Activities

     The following table illustrates the change in net investment income from general operations, net income from investment affiliates, net realized (losses) gains on investments and net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investment derivative instruments for the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005.

(U.S. dollars in thousands)    (Unaudited)    
   
Six Months Ended
   
    June 30,    

 
   
2006
   
2005
   
% Change

 
 
Net investment income — general operations    $523,808     $381,657     37.2%
Net income from investment affiliates — general operations    127,774     59,978     113.0%
Net realized (losses) gains on investments    (839 )    150,726     NM
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investment           
   derivative instruments — general operations    55,274     (36,328 )    NM


* NM — Not Meaningful

55


     Net investment income related to general operations increased in the first half of 2006 as compared to the first half of 2005 due primarily to a higher investment base as well as increases in the yield of the portfolio. The growth in the investment base reflected the issuance of ordinary shares and equity units in the fourth quarter at 2005 and the Company’s cash flow from operations. The market yield to maturity on the general account portion of the fixed income portfolio was 5.4% at June 30, 2006 as compared to 4.1% at June 30, 2005, due primarily to higher interest rates in the U.S.

     Net income from investment affiliates increased in the first half of 2006 compared to the first half of 2005 due primarily to stronger performance in alternative fund affiliates and private equity fund affiliates in the first half of 2006.

     The Company manages its investment grade fixed income securities using an asset/liability management framework. Due to the unique nature of the underlying liabilities, customized benchmarks are used to measure investment performance and comparison to standard market indices is not meaningful. Investment performance is not monitored for certain assets primarily consisting of operating cash and special regulatory deposits. The following is a summary of the investment portfolio returns for the asset/liability portfolios and risk asset portfolios:

    (Unaudited)  
(Unaudited)
    Six Months  
Six Months
    Ended   Ended
    June 30, 2006 (1)   June 30, 2005 (1)




Asset/Liability portfolios         
USD fixed income portfolio    0.8 %    2.3 % 
Non USD fixed income portfolio    (0.8 %)    3.2 % 
Risk Asset portfolios         
Alternative portfolio (2)    5.9 %    2.2 % 
Equity portfolio    5.1 %    0.8 % 
High-Yield fixed income portfolio    2.4 %    1.5 % 


(1)      Portfolio returns are calculated by dividing the sum of net investment income or net (loss) from investment affiliates, realized gains (losses) and unrealized gains (losses) by the average market value of each portfolio. Non U.S. dollar fixed income performance is measured in either the underlying currency or in U.S. dollars.
 
(2) Performance on the alternative portfolio reflects the six months ended May 31, 2006 and May 31, 2005, respectively.

     Net realized and unrealized gains on investment derivatives for the six months ended June 30, 2006, as well as losses for the corresponding period in 2005, resulted from the Company’s investment strategy to hedge certain interest, credit and foreign exchange risks within the investment portfolio.

Net Realized Gains and Losses and Other Than Temporary Declines in the Value of Investments

     Net realized losses on investments in the first six months of 2006 included net realized gains of $22.2 million from sales of investments and net realized losses of approximately $23.0 million related to the write-down of certain of the Company’s fixed income, equity and other investments where the Company determined that there was an other than temporary decline in the value of these investments.

     Net realized gains on investments in the first six months of 2005 included net realized gains of $184.5 million from sales of investments and net realized losses of approximately $33.8 million related to the write-down of certain of the Company’s fixed income, equity and other investments where the Company determined that there was an other than temporary decline in the value of those investments.

56


Other Revenues and Expenses

     The following table sets forth other revenues and expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005:

(U.S. dollars in thousands)   
(Unaudited) 
 
   
Six Months Ended 
 
   
June 30, 
 





   
2006 
2005 
 
% Change





Net income from operating affiliates — general operations   
$ 
20,360   
$
33,615    (39.4)%
Amortization of intangible assets      1,515    5,836    (74.0)%
Corporate operating expenses      88,455    83,076    6.5%
Interest expense      104,461    89,508    16.7%
Income tax expense      133,073    94,650    40.6%

     Net income from operating affiliates for the six months ended June 30, 2006 decreased by 39.4% compared to the same period in 2005. This decrease related primarily to the impairment in value of certain operating affiliates during the first quarter of 2006.

     Corporate operating expenses in the six months ended June 30, 2006 increased compared to the six months ended June 30, 2005 due to certain increased compensation costs partially offset by favorable foreign exchange movements.

     The increase in interest expense primarily reflected the increase in outstanding debt since June 30, 2005. For more information on the Company’s financial structure, see “Liquidity and Capital Resources”.

     The increase in the Company’s income taxes arose principally from an improvement in the profitability of the Company’s U.S. and European operations.

Investments

     The primary objectives of the investment strategy are to support the liabilities arising from the operations of the Company, generate stable investment income and to build book value for the Company over the longer term. The strategy strives to maximize investment returns while taking into account market and credit risk. The Company’s overall investment portfolio is structured to take into account a number of variables including local regulatory requirements, business needs, collateral management and risk tolerance.

     At June 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, total investments, cash and cash equivalents and net payable for investments purchased were $41.0 billion and $41.2 billion, respectively. The following table summarizes the composition of the Company’s total investments and cash and cash equivalents:

(U.S. dollars in thousands)   
(Unaudited)
   
Market Value at
Market Value at
   
June 30,
Percent of
December 31,
Percent of
   
2006
Total
2005
Total


       

     

       

Cash and cash equivalents   
$
2,566,768     6.3 %   
$
3,693,475     9.0 % 
Net payable for investments purchased   
(450,548 )    (1.1 )%    (639,034 )    (1.6 )% 
Short-term investments   
2,772,074     6.8 %    2,546,073     6.2 % 
Fixed maturities   
32,792,886     80.0 %    32,309,565     78.4 % 
Equity securities   
838,364     2.0 %    868,801     2.1 % 
Investments in affiliates   
2,021,256     4.9 %    2,046,721     5.0 % 
Other investments   
442,797     1.1 %    399,417     0.9 % 


 
 

 
 
Total investments and cash and cash equivalents   
$
40,983,597     100 %   
$
41,225,018     100 % 


 
 

 
 

57


     The Company reviews, on a regular basis, its corporate debt concentration, credit quality and compliance with established guidelines. At June 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, the average credit quality of the Company’s total fixed income portfolio was “AA”. Approximately 54.4% of the fixed income portfolio was rated “AAA” by one or more of the principal ratings agencies. Approximately 2.2% was below investment grade or not rated.

Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses

     The Company establishes reserves to provide for estimated claims, the general expenses of administering the claims adjustment process and for losses incurred but not reported. These reserves are calculated using actuarial and other reserving techniques to project the estimated ultimate net liability for losses and loss expenses. The Company’s reserving practices and the establishment of any particular reserve reflects management’s judgment concerning sound financial practice and do not represent any admission of liability with respect to any claims made against the Company.

     Unpaid losses and loss expenses relates primarily to the casualty insurance and reinsurance business written by the Company. The balance was $17.6 billion at June 30, 2006, and $17.4 billion at December 31, 2005.

     The table below represents a reconciliation of the Company’s unpaid losses and loss expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2006:

   
(Unaudited)
(Unaudited) 
(U.S. dollars in thousands)   
(Unaudited) 
Unpaid
Net unpaid 
   
Gross unpaid 
losses and
losses 
   
losses and loss 
loss expenses
and loss 
   
expenses 
recoverable
expenses 




 

Balance as at December 31, 2005   
$
23,767,672   
$
(6,412,648 )   
$
17,355,024 
Losses and loss expenses incurred   
2,738,295   
(521,610 )   
2,216,685 
Losses and loss expenses paid /recovered   
978,442   
(769,713 )   
2,208,729 
Foreign exchange and other   
205,975   
31,663    
237,638 




 

Balance as at June 30, 2006   
$
23,733,500   
$
(6,132,882 )   
$
17,600,618 




 


     While the Company reviews the adequacy of established reserves for unpaid losses and loss expenses regularly, no assurance can be given that actual claims made and payments related thereto will not be in excess of the amounts reserved. In the future, if such reserves develop adversely, such deficiency would have a negative impact on future results of operations. See “Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses” in Item 1, “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in Item 7 and Item 8, Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, each in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, for further discussion.

Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses Recoverable and Reinsurance Balances Receivable

     As a significant portion of the Company’s net premium written incepts in the first six months ended of the year, certain assets and liabilities have increased at June 30, 2006 compared to December 31, 2005. This includes deferred acquisition costs, unearned premiums, premiums receivable and prepaid reinsurance premiums.

     In the normal course of business, the Company seeks to reduce the potential amount of loss arising from claims events by reinsuring certain levels of risk assumed in various areas of exposure with other insurers or reinsurers. While reinsurance agreements are designed to limit the Company’s losses from large exposures and permit recovery of a portion of direct unpaid losses, reinsurance does not relieve the Company of its ultimate liability to its insureds. Accordingly, the loss and loss expense reserves on the balance sheet represent the Company’s total unpaid gross losses. Unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverable relates to estimated reinsurance recoveries on the unpaid loss and loss expense reserves.

     Unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverables were $6.3 billion at June 30, 2006 and $6.6 billion at December 31, 2005. The table below presents the Company’s net paid and unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverable and reinsurance balances receivable at June 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005.

58


(U.S. dollars in thousands) 
(Unaudited)
 
June 30,
December 31,
 
2006
2005




     



Reinsurance balances receivable   
$
1,046,991      
$
1,069,402  
Reinsurance recoverable on future policy benefits   
15,954      
28,874  
Unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverable   
6,341,949      
6,646,972  
Bad debt reserve on unpaid losses and loss expenses   
     
 
   and reinsurance balances recoverable   
(229,561 )     
(260,713 ) 


 

 
Net paid and unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverable   
     
 
   and reinsurance balances receivable   
$
7,175,333      
$
7,484,535  


 

 

     Under the terms of the Sale and Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”), as amended, between XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd (“XLI”) and Winterthur Swiss Insurance Company (“WSIC”), WSIC provided the Company with post-closing protection determined as of June 30, 2004 with respect to, among other things, adverse development of reserves and premium on certain Winterthur International Insurance business. This protection was based upon net loss experience and development over a three-year, post-closing seasoning period based on actual loss development experience, collectible reinsurance and certain other factors set forth in the SPA. The SPA included a process for determining the amount due from WSIC by an independent actuarial process whereby the Independent Actuary developed a value of the seasoned net reserves. The actual final seasoned net reserves amount was the submission that was closest to the number developed by the Independent Actuary.

     As the Company and WSIC were unable to come to an agreement, the Company submitted to WSIC notice to trigger the independent actuarial process as contemplated by the SPA. On February 3, 2005, both the Company and WSIC made submissions for the independent actuarial process. There were two separate numbers submitted - that for the Seasoned Net Reserves Amount (“SNRA”) and that for the Net Premium Receivable Amount (“NPRA”). Subsequent to this date neither party had the opportunity to submit revised figures to the Independent Actuary.

     On November 23, 2005 the Company received the draft report from the Independent Actuary in connection with the Company’s post-closing protection. The final report was received on December 6, 2005. The Independent Actuary’s report concluded that WSIC submitted SNRA and NPRA were closest to the Independent Actuary’s determinations of SNRA and NPRA. These determinations resulted in the Company receiving a net lump sum payment in the amount of approximately $575.0 million (including interest receivable) from WSIC. As the Company had recorded $1.4 billion in unpaid losses and loss expenses recoverable related to this protection, a loss of approximately $834.2 million was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2005.

     As noted above the independent actuarial process followed a “baseball-type” arbitration whereby there were only two possible outcomes, not a range of outcomes. The nature of the process was that the final SNRA was either the SNRA submitted by the Company or the SNRA submitted by WSIC. Accordingly, until the receipt of the Independent Actuary’s report in the fourth quarter of 2005, the Company’s best estimate was the SNRA it had submitted, as it could only ever have been either that number or the number that WSIC submitted.

     For financial statement purposes, at each reporting period end subsequent to the SNRA and NPRA submissions being made in February of 2005, the Company assessed the two possible outcomes regarding the SNRA and after considering any new or changed information arising from the process, determined whether it continued to be probable that the Company’s SNRA would become the final SNRA as a result of the Independent Actuarial process. If at any time during the process management had concluded, based on the then current information, that the Independent Actuary would calculate an SNRA closer to WSIC’s SNRA submission, then a loss amounting to the entire difference between the two values would have been recorded. Management did not conclude that this was appropriate at any time prior to the receipt of the Independent Actuary’s draft report on November 23, 2005. Specifically, during the third quarter of 2005, further detailed internal analysis was conducted by management to re-evaluate the probability that the Company would be successful in the Independent Actuarial process. All areas where there was a potential that WSIC’s SNRA submission may have been accepted over the Company’s were examined, effectively estimating a reasonable worst-case scenario outcome from the Company’s point of view. This was compared to the midpoint of the difference between the two submissions. Management continued to believe the Company would be successful in the process.

59


     There were many individual differences between the Independent Actuary’s calculation of the SNRA and that of the Company attributable to different judgment calls, different actuarial methodologies and sources of data. These related primarily to the following five areas:

     (i)       The Independent Actuary made downwards and upwards adjustments to the Company’s established case reserves and then used the revised reserves as source data for his actuarial analysis and the related calculation of the resultant IBNR. The Company’s established case reserves previously had been reviewed both internally and by independent claims analysts (which were outside legal counsel in most instances).

     (ii)      The Independent Actuary selected projection methodologies different than the Company’s. Most significantly the Independent Actuary’s weighting of paid loss projection versus incurred loss projection was different from the Company’s which gave rise to differing conclusions regarding future loss development. The Company continues to believe that its methodology, which was adopted by in-house actuaries and reviewed by both outside actuaries and included in the financial statements audited by the Company’s outside auditors, is appropriate and has not changed its loss projections based on the Independent Actuary’s report. The methodology used by the Company’s actuaries for these reserves is consistent with that used by the Company’s actuaries for similar risks written in other business units of the Company.

     (iii)      The Independent Actuary adopted a methodology different from that of the Company to estimate the application of reinsurance treaties against loss reserves across underwriting years and types of business.

     (iv)      The conversion into U.S. dollars of the underlying reserve development in local currency between July 2001 and June 2004 also generated a difference. The impact of the decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar on the Independent Actuary’s lower levels of local currency adverse development was to increase the difference between XL and the Independent Actuary in U.S. dollars. This was an issue peculiar to the interpretation of the SPA and does not affect the conversions of the loss reserves under U.S. GAAP.

     (v)       The Independent Actuary made different assumptions than the Company regarding the classification of data used in the actuarial analysis. For example, the Independent Actuary characterized losses as large losses for purposes of separate treatment in his actuarial analysis at a level that was different from the Company. The Company’s loss reserves and actuarial methodologies were reviewed both internally and externally by outside actuaries and included in the financial statements audited by the Company’s outside auditors.

     The differences between the Independent Actuary’s and the Company’s evaluations of the factors described above were the result of the application of judgments in, the application of actuarial methodology, assessment of loss on individual claims events and/or interpretation of the provisions of the SPA. Because these factors are interdependent, quantification of a single factor’s individual contribution to the overall difference is not always possible. The quantification of certain reasonably discrete items has been given below. The Company’s loss reserves and actuarial methodologies were reviewed both internally and externally by outside actuaries and claims analysts throughout the seasoning period up to the date of our submission to the Independent Actuary and thereafter. Any adjustments to the underlying carried reserves (both upward and downward) since that date have been the result of new information and have been recorded in the period during which the information became available. In particular during our ongoing assessments of unpaid losses in 2005 it was noted that in certain instances reported experience indicated that the distribution of gross losses to existing reinsurance treaties had developed such that net losses were reduced by approximately $90 million. In addition certain claim settlements and new claim emergence resulted in positive development of approximately $110 million as required by the application of actuarial methodologies on a basis consistent with historical practices. As a result, changes in estimates were recorded as the new information and other developments became available contributing to the net positive development for global risk lines of business during 2005 noted in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”. These developments did not change the Company’s assessment of the outcome of the Independent Actuarial process.

     The difference between the independent actuary’s conclusion on the Net Premium Receivable Amount (“NPRA”) and that of the Company related almost exclusively to an interpretation of the SPA with respect to the

60


application of certain accruals for premiums payable at the closing of the purchase in 2001. The Company accordingly has not made any adjustment to its current premiums receivable balances.

     The losses resulting from the determinations of the Independent Actuary were recorded in the fourth quarter of 2005 as it was at this time that the draft and final reports of the Independent Actuary were released and sufficient new information was available to support recording a loss for uncollectible reinsurance based on the baseball-type arbitration which allowed for only one of two outcomes. At no time before the release of that report did the Company believe that recognition of a loss under FAS 5 was appropriate.

     Under FAS 5, paragraph 8, a loss contingency shall be accrued to income if information available prior to issuance of the financial statements indicates that it is probable that an asset had been impaired or a liability had been incurred at the date of the financial statements. It is implicit in this condition that it must be probable that one or more future events will occur confirming the fact that of the loss. At no time prior to the Company’s receipt of the draft actuarial report did this condition exist.

     Under the terms of the SPA, WSIC also provided the Company with protection with respect to third party reinsurance receivables and recoverables related to the acquisition of certain Winterthur International insurance operations (the “Winterthur Business”).

     On June 7, 2006, subsidiaries of the Company, entered into an agreement (the “Agreement”) with WSIC. The purpose of this Agreement is to release all actual or potential disputes, claims or issues arising out of or related in any way to: (i) the Liquidity Facility and the Sellers Retrocession Agreements, as well as (ii) subject to certain exceptions, the SPA.

     The Agreement further provides for a four-year term, collateralized escrow arrangement (the “Fund”) of up to $185 million (plus interest) to protect certain subsidiaries from future nonperforming third party reinsurance related to the Winterthur Business. The Fund has been structured to align the parties’ interests by providing for any sums remaining in the Fund at the end of its term to be shared in agreed percentages.

     The Agreement replaces the protections provided to the Company from WSIC for reinsurance receivables and recoverables under the Liquidity Facility and Sellers Retrocession Agreements noted above and described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

     As a holding company, the Company’s assets consist primarily of its investments in subsidiaries, and the Company’s future cash flows depend on the availability of dividends or other statutorily permissible payments from its subsidiaries. The ability to pay such dividends is limited by the applicable laws and regulations of the various countries the Company operates in including, among others, Bermuda, the United States, Ireland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, and those of the Society of Lloyd’s and certain contractual provisions. No assurance can be given that the Company or its subsidiaries will be permitted to pay dividends in the future.

     The Company and its subsidiaries provide no guarantees or other commitments (express or implied) of financial support to the Company’s subsidiaries or affiliates, except for express written financial support provided by XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd in connection with the Company’s financial guaranty subsidiaries and where other express written guaranty or other financial support arrangements are in place.

Liquidity

     Liquidity is a measure of the Company’s ability to generate sufficient cash flows to meet the short and long term cash requirements of the Company’s business operations.

61


     The Company’s operating subsidiaries provide liquidity in that premiums are generally received months or even years before losses are paid under the policies related to 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 the Company.

     New cash from operations was approximately $1.3 billion in the first six months of 2006 compared with $2.6 billion in the same period in 2005. New cash in the first six months of 2005 included a large immediate annuity portfolio of $1.8 billion. Net new cash in 2006 was due primarily to higher investment income in the period, offset by payments related to the 2005 hurricanes of approximately $590 million. In addition net cash from structured and spread transactions was negative $784.7 million, substantially due to ordinary course net redemptions in the muni-GIC's and funding agreements.

Capital Resources

     At June 30, 2006, the Company had total shareholders’ equity of $8.5 billion. In addition to ordinary and preferred share capital, the Company depends on external sources of financing such as debt, credit facilities and contingent capital to support its underwriting activities.

     The Company does not intend, subject to the terms and conditions of the Series A or Series B preference ordinary shares as set forth in the relevant prospectus supplements, to redeem either the Series A or Series B preference ordinary shares unless replaced with capital having at least the equivalent credit.

     As at June 30, 2006, the Company had revolving loan facilities from a variety of sources, including commercial banks, totaling $4.6 billion of which $3.4 billion in debt was outstanding. In addition, the Company had letters of credit facilities amounting to $6.1 billion of which $4.1 billion was utilized to provide letters of credit in issue at June 30, 2006, 4.8% of which were collateralized by the Company’s investment portfolio. Such letters of credit principally support the Company’s U.S. non-admitted business and the Company’s capital requirements at Lloyd’s.

Debt

     The following table presents the Company’s indebtedness under outstanding debt securities and lenders’ commitments as at June 30, 2006:

 
Payments Due by Period








Notes Payable and Debt   
Year of 
Less than 
1 to 3
3 to 5
After 5 
(U.S. dollars in thousands)   
Commitment 
In Use 
Expiry 
1 Year 
Years
Years
Years 

     

     

     
     

     

     

     

364-day revolver    $  100,000    $      2006    $      $    $      
5 and 3-year revolvers      1,000,000          2007/2010                $   
5-year revolver      100,000          2010                   
2.53% Senior Notes
    825,000      825,000    2009            825,000        
5.25% Senior Notes
    745,000      745,000    2011            745,000        
6.58% Guaranteed
                                 
   Senior Notes      255,000      255,000    2011              255,000      
6.50% Guaranteed
                                 
   Senior Notes      598,237      598,237    2012                  600,000 
5.25% Senior Notes
    594,650      594,650    2014                  600,000 
6.375% Senior Notes      350,000      350,000    2024                  350,000 












Total   $  4,567,887    $  3,367,887        $      $  1,570,000  
$
255,000   $  1,550,000 













     “Commitment” and “In Use” data represent June 30, 2006 accreted values. “Payments Due by Period” data represent ultimate redemption values.

 

62


Credit facilities, contingent capital and other sources of collateral.

     The Company closed a new $500 million syndicated credit facility on May 9, 2006. The new facility has a tenor of 364-days and is available for letters of credit only.

     At June 30, 2006, the Company had eight letter of credit facilities in place with total availability of $6.1 billion, of which $4.1 billion was utilized.

 
Amount of Commitment
 
Expiration Per Period
Other Commercial 








Commitments 
 
Year of 
Less than 
1 to 3
3 to 5
After 5 
(U.S. dollars in thousands) 
 
Commitment 
In Use 
Expiry 
1 Year 
Years
Years
Years 

     

     

     
     

     

     

     

Letter of credit 
 
   
       
         
 
     facility 
 
$
200,000   
$
192,421    Continuous   
$
200,000    $    $  
$ 
 
2 Letter of credit 
 
   
       
         
 
     facilities 
 
5,979   
5,979    2006   
5,979         
 
Letter of credit 
 
   
       
         
 
     facility (1) 
 
100,000   
    2006   
100,000         
 
Letter of credit 
 
   
       
         
 
     facility 
 
150,000   
150,000    2006   
150,000         
 
Letter of credit 
 
   
       
         
 
     facility 
 
500,000   
471,238    2007   
500,000         
 
Letter of credit 
 
   
       
         
 
     facility 
 
913,250   
742,282    2008   
      913,250    
 
Letter of credit 
 
   
       
         
 
     facility (1) 
 
2,000,000   
737,793    2007   
      2,000,000    
 
Letter of credit 
 
   
       
         
 
     facility (1) 
 
2,250,000   
1,824,684    2010   
        2,250,000  
 












8 Letter of credit 
 
   
       
         
 
     facilities 
 
$
6,119,229   
$
4,124,397       
$
955,979    $  2,913,250  
$
2,250,000  
$ 
 














(1)    Of the total letter of credit facilities above, $1,000 million is also included in the revolvers under notes payable and debt.

     The Company has several letter of credit facilities provided on a syndicated and bilateral basis from commercial banks. These facilities are principally utilized to support non-admitted insurance and reinsurance operations in the United States and capital requirements at Lloyd’s. In addition to letters of credit, the Company has established insurance trusts in the U.S. that provide cedants with statutory relief under state insurance regulations in the U.S. It is anticipated that the commercial facilities will be renewed on expiry but such renewals are subject to the availability of credit from banks utilized by the Company. In the event that such credit support is insufficient, the Company could be required to provide alternative security to cedants. This could take the form of additional insurance trusts supported by the Company’s investment portfolio or funds withheld using the Company’s cash resources. The value of letters of credit required is driven by, among other things, loss development of existing reserves, the payment pattern of such reserves, the expansion of business written by the Company and loss experience of such business.

     In addition to funded debt transactions, the Company and a majority-owned subsidiary XL Financial Assurance Ltd. (“XLFA”) have entered into contingent capital transactions. No up-front proceeds were received by the Company or XLFA under these transactions, however, in the event that the associated irrevocable put option agreements are exercised, proceeds previously raised from investors from the issuance of pass-through trust securities would be received in return for the issuance of preferred shares by the Company or XLFA, as applicable.

Ratings

     The Company’s ability to underwrite business is dependent upon the quality of its claims paying and financial strength ratings as evaluated by independent rating agencies. As a result, in the event that the Company is downgraded,

63


its ability to write business may be adversely affected. In the normal course of business, the Company evaluates its capital needs to support the volume of business written in order to maintain its claims paying and financial strength ratings. The Company regularly provides financial information to rating agencies to both maintain and enhance existing ratings.

     The following are the current financial strength and claims paying ratings from internationally recognized rating agencies in relation to the Company’s principal insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries and pools:

      Rating agency        Rating 
 
   
  Standard & Poor’s        A+ (Stable) 
  Fitch        AA- (Stable) 
  A.M. Best        A+ (Stable) 
  Moody’s Investor Services        Aa3 (Stable) 

     The following are the current financial strength ratings from internationally recognized rating agencies in relation to the Company’s principal financial guaranty insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries:

      Rating agency   
Rating 
 

  Standard & Poor’s    AAA 
  Fitch    AAA 
  Moody’s Investor Services    Aaa 

     In addition, XL Capital Ltd had the following long term debt ratings as at June 30, 2006: “a-” (Stable) from A.M. Best, “A-” (Stable) from Standard and Poor’s, “A3” (Stable) from Moody’s and “A” (Stable) from Fitch.

Other

     For information regarding cross-default and certain other provisions in the Company’s debt and convertible securities documents, see Item 7 of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.

     The Company has had several share repurchase programs in the past as part of its capital management strategy. On January 9, 2000, the Board of Directors authorized a program for the repurchase of shares up to $500.0 million. Under this plan, the Company has purchased 6.6 million shares at an aggregate cost of $364.6 million or an average cost of $55.24 per share. The Company has $135.4 million remaining in its share repurchase authorization. During the six months ended June 30, 2006, no shares were repurchased in the open market. The Company has repurchased shares from employees and directors in relation to withholding tax on restricted stock. See Part II, Item 2 “Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds”, below.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“PSLRA”) provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. Any prospectus, prospectus supplement, the Company’s Annual Report to ordinary shareholders, any proxy statement, any other Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K of the Company or any other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of the Company may include forward-looking statements that reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Such statements include forward-looking statements both with respect to the Company in general, and to the insurance, reinsurance and financial products and services sectors in particular (both as to underwriting and investment matters). Statements that include the words “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “believe”, “project”, “anticipate”, “will”, “may”, and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements for purposes of the PSLRA or otherwise. All forward-looking statements address matters that involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements. The Company believes that these factors include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) the adequacy of rates and terms and conditions may not be as sustainable as the Company is currently projecting; (ii) changes to the size of the Company’s claims relating to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma and other natural catastrophes; (iii) the Company’s ability to realize the expected

64


benefits of the collateralized quota share reinsurance treaty that it entered into in the fourth quarter of 2005 with respect to specified portions of its property catastrophe and retrocessional lines of business; (iv) the timely and full recoverability of reinsurance placed by the Company with third parties, or other amounts due to the Company; (v) the projected amount of ceded reinsurance recoverables and the ratings and creditworthiness of reinsurers may change; (vi) the size of the Company’s claims relating to the hurricane and tsunami losses described herein may change; (vii) the timing of claims payments being faster or the receipt of reinsurance recoverables being slower than anticipated by the Company; (viii) ineffectiveness or obsolescence of the Company’s business strategy due to changes in current or future market conditions; (ix) increased competition on the basis of pricing, capacity, coverage terms or other factors; (x) greater frequency or severity of claims and loss activity, including as a result of natural or man-made catastrophic events, than the Company’s underwriting, reserving or investment practices anticipate based on historical experience or industry data; (viii) developments in the world’s financial and capital markets that adversely affect the performance of the Company’s investments and the Company’s access to such markets; (ix) the potential impact on the Company from government-mandated insurance coverage for acts of terrorism; (x) the potential impact of variable interest entities or other off-balance sheet arrangements on the Company; (xi) developments in bankruptcy proceedings or other developments related to bankruptcies of companies insofar as they affect property and casualty insurance and reinsurance coverages or claims that the Company may have as a counterparty; (xii) availability of borrowings and letters of credit under the Company’s credit facilities; (xiii) changes in regulation or tax laws applicable to the Company or its subsidiaries, brokers or customers; (xiv) acceptance of the Company’s products and services, including new products and services; (xv) changes in the availability, cost or quality of reinsurance; (xvi) changes in the distribution or placement of risks due to increased consolidation of insurance and reinsurance brokers; (xvii) loss of key personnel; (xviii) the effects of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; (xix) changes in ratings, rating agency policies or practices; (xx) changes in accounting policies or practices or the application thereof; (xxi) legislative or regulatory developments; (xxii) changes in general economic conditions, including inflation, foreign currency exchange rates and other factors; (xxiii) the effects of business disruption or economic contraction due to war, terrorism or other hostilities; and (xxiv) the other factors set forth in the Company’s other documents on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The foregoing review of important factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included herein or elsewhere. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

     Except as described below, there have been no material changes in the Company’s market risk exposures, or how those exposures are managed, since December 31, 2005. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” presented under Item 7A of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.

     The Company enters into derivatives and other financial instruments primarily for risk management purposes. The Company’s derivative transactions can expose the Company to credit default swap risk, weather and energy risk, investment market risk and foreign currency exchange rate risk. The Company attempts to manage these risks based on guidelines established by senior management. Derivative instruments are carried at fair value with resulting changes in fair value recognized in income in the period in which they occur.

     Value-at-risk (“VaR”) is one of the tools used by management to estimate potential losses in fair values using historical rates, market movements and credit spreads to estimate the volatility and correlation of these factors to calculate the potential loss that could occur over a defined period of time given a certain probability.

     This risk management discussion and the estimated amounts generated from the sensitivity and VaR analyses presented in this document are forward-looking statements of market risk assuming certain adverse market conditions occur. Actual results in the future may differ materially from these estimated results due to, among other things, actual developments in the global financial markets. The results of analysis used by the Company to assess and mitigate risk should not be considered projections of future events of losses. See generally “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Item 2.

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Credit Default Swaps

     The Company has written certain financial guaranty transactions in derivative or swap form. The Company does not actively trade these transactions and generally issues and holds these contracts to maturity. Changes in fair value can result from changes in market credit spreads, supply and demand for similar type instruments, changes in future loss and/or recovery estimates, interest rates and credit rating upgrades or downgrades. The Company therefore is at risk for changes in fair value due to changes in any of the above factors. In addition, the Company enters into credit default swap transactions as part of its overall investment strategy.

Weather and Energy Market Risk

     The Company offers weather and energy risk management products in insurance or derivative form to end-users, while managing the risks in the over-the-counter and exchange traded derivatives markets in a weather and energy derivatives trading portfolio.

     Fair values for the Company’s natural gas derivative contracts are determined through the use of quoted market prices. As quoted market prices are not widely available in the weather derivative market, management uses available market data and internal pricing models based upon consistent statistical methodologies to estimate fair values. Estimating fair value of instruments that do not have quoted market prices requires management judgment in determining amounts that could reasonably be expected to be received from, or paid to, a third party in settlement of the contracts. The amounts could be materially different from the amounts that might be realized in an actual sale transaction. Fair values are subject to change in the near-term and reflect management’s best estimate based on various factors including, but not limited to, realized and forecasted weather conditions, changes in commodity prices, changes in interest rates and other market factors.

     The following table summarizes the movement in the fair value of weather and energy contracts outstanding during the six months ended June 30, 2006.

 
(Unaudited)
 
Six Months Ended
(U.S. dollars in thousands) 
June 30, 2006




Fair value of contracts outstanding, beginning of the period   
$ 
(4,345 ) 
Net option premiums realized (1)   
(4,627 ) 
Reclassification of settled contracts to realized (2)   
(13,176 ) 
Other changes in fair value (3)   
16,169  


 
Fair value of contracts outstanding, end of period   
$ 
(5,979 ) 


 


(1)      The Company received $11.6 million of premiums and realized $7.0 million of premiums on expired transactions for a net increase in the balance sheet derivative asset of $4.6 million.
 
(2) The Company paid $13.2 million to settle derivative positions during the period resulting in a reclassification of this amount from unrealized to realized and an increase in the derivative asset on the balance sheet.
 
(3) This represents the effects of changes in commodity prices, the time value of options, and other valuation adjustments.

     The change in the fair value of contracts outstanding at June 30, 2006 as compared to the beginning of the period, is primarily a result of realized gains from European frost day weather derivative contracts for the 2005/06 winter, and favorable weather development in the European weather portfolio and the impact on seasonal contracts that are at the end of their risk periods.

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     The following table summarizes the maturity of contracts outstanding as of June 30, 2006:

(U.S. dollars in thousands)                           
(Unaudited)                           
   
Less Than
Greater Than 
Total
 
Source Of Fair Value   
1 Year
1-3 Years
3-5 Years 
5 Years 
Fair Value
 



       

       

     
     

 
Prices actively quoted    $      $      $    
$ 
  $   
Prices based on models and other                           
   valuation methods      (5,557 )      (4,032 )    3,610          (5,979 ) 


 

 




 
Total fair value of contracts                           
   outstanding    $  (5,557 )    $  (4,032 )   
$
3,610   
$ 
  $  (5,979 ) 


 

 




 

     The Company manages its weather and energy portfolio through the employment of a variety of strategies. These include geographical and directional diversification of risk exposures and direct hedging within the capital and reinsurance markets. Risk management is undertaken on a product portfolio-wide basis, to maintain a portfolio that the Company believes is well diversified and which remains within the aggregate risk tolerance established by the Company’s senior management.

     The Company’s aggregate average, low and high seasonal VaR amounts for its weather risk management portfolio, calculated at a 99% confidence level, during the period ended June 30, 2006 were $39.6 million, $37.3 million and $51.8 million, respectively. The corresponding levels for the weather risk management portfolio during the period ended June 30, 2005 were $100.8 million, $86.0 million and $115.1 million, respectively. The Company calculates its aggregate VaR by summing the VaR amounts for each of its seasonal portfolios. The Company’s aggregation methodology yields a conservative aggregate portfolio VaR, given that current weather events and patterns have an immaterial effect on expectations for future seasons and the Company could therefore greatly reduce or eliminate its VaR on future seasons by selling its positions prior to the beginning of a season. At present, the Company’s VaR calculation does not exceed $15.0 million in any one season.

     For electricity generation outage insurance products, VaR is calculated using an annual holding period. Management has established an annual VaR limit of $25.0 million for this book of business. The Company’s average, low and high annual VaR amounts, calculated at a 99% confidence level, during the period ended June 30, 2005 were $21.0 million, $15.3 million, and $28.8 million, respectively. The corresponding amounts during the period ended June 30, 2004 were $4.2 million, $2.6 million, and $7.6 million, respectively.

Investment Market Risk

     The Company’s investment portfolio consists of exposures to fixed income securities, equities, alternative investments, derivatives, business and other investments and cash. These securities and investments are denominated in both U.S. dollars and foreign currencies.

     Through the structure of the Company’s investment portfolio, the Company’s earnings and book value are directly affected by changes in the valuations of the securities and investments held in the investment portfolio. These valuation changes reflect changes in interest rates (e.g. changes in the level, slope and curvature of the yield curves, volatility of interest rates, mortgage prepayment speeds and credit spreads), credit quality, equity prices (e.g. changes in prices and volatilities of individual securities, equity baskets and equity indices) and foreign currency exchange rates (e.g. changes in spot prices, forward prices and volatilities of currency rates). Market risk therefore arises due to the uncertainty surrounding the future valuations of these different assets, the factors that impact their values and the impact that this could have on the Company’s earnings and book value.

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     The Company seeks to manage the risks of the investment portfolio through a combination of asset class, country, industry and security level diversification and investment manager allocations. These allocation decisions are made relative to the liability profile of the Company and the Company’s surplus. Further, individual security and issuer exposures are generally controlled and monitored at the investment portfolio level, via specific investment constraints outlined in investment guidelines and agreed with the Company’s external investment professionals. Additional constraints are generally agreed with the external investment professionals which may address exposures to eligible securities, prohibited investments/transactions, credit quality and general concentration limits.

     The Company’s direct use of investment derivatives includes futures, forwards, swaps and option contracts that derive their value from underlying assets, indices, reference rates or a combination of these factors. When investment guidelines allow for the use of derivatives, these can generally only be used for the purposes of managing interest rate risk, foreign exchange risk, credit risk and replicating permitted investments, provided the use of such instruments is incorporated in the overall portfolio duration, spread, convexity and other relevant portfolio metrics. The direct use of derivatives is generally not permitted to economically leverage the portfolio outside of the stated guidelines. Derivatives may also be used to add value to the investment portfolio where market inefficiencies are perceived to exist, to utilize cash holdings to purchase equity indexed derivatives and to adjust the duration of a portfolio of fixed income securities to match the duration of related deposit liabilities.

Investment Value-At-Risk

     The VaR of the Company’s total investment portfolio at June 30, 2006, based on a 95% confidence level with a one month holding period, was approximately $666.3 million as compared to $489.0 million as at December 31, 2005. The VaR of all investment related derivatives as at June 30, 2006 was approximately $19.9 million as compared to $26.3 million as at December 31, 2005. The Company’s investment portfolio VaR as at June 30, 2006 is not necessarily indicative of future VaR levels.

     To complement the VaR analysis based on normal market environments, the Company considers the impact on the investment portfolio of several different historical stress periods to analyze the effect of unusual market conditions. The Company establishes certain historical stress test scenarios which are applied to the actual investment portfolio. As these stress tests and estimated gains and losses are based on historical events, they will not necessarily reflect future stress events or gains and losses from such events. The results of the stress test scenarios are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure they are appropriate, based on current shareholders’ equity, market conditions and the Company’s total risk tolerance. Given the investment portfolio allocations as at June 30, 2006, the Company would expect to lose approximately 5.0% of the portfolio if the most damaging event stress tested was repeated, all other things held equal, as compared to 5.2% at December 31, 2005. Given the investment portfolio allocations as at June 30, 2006, the Company would expect to gain approximately 17.3% on the portfolio if the most favorable event stress tested was repeated, all other things held equal, as compared to 17.3% at December 31, 2005. The Company assumes that no action is taken during the stress period to either liquidate or rebalance the portfolio. The Company believes that this fairly reflects the potential decreased liquidity that is often associated with stressed market environments.

Fixed Income Portfolio

     The Company’s fixed income portfolio is exposed to credit and interest rate risk. The fixed income portfolio includes fixed maturities, short-term investments, cash and cash equivalents and net payable for investments purchased.

     As at June 30, 2006, the value of the Company’s fixed income portfolio, including cash and cash equivalents and net payable for investments purchased, was approximately $37.7 billion as compared to approximately $37.9 billion as at December 31, 2005. As at June 30, 2006, the fixed income portfolio consisted of approximately 91.1% of the total investment portfolio (including cash and cash equivalents, accrued investment income and net payable for investments purchased) as compared to approximately 91.1% as at December 31, 2005.

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     The table below shows the Company’s fixed income portfolio by credit rating in percentage terms of the Company’s total fixed income exposure (including fixed maturities, short-term investments, cash and cash equivalents and net payable for investments purchased) as at June 30, 2006.

    Total


AAA    54.4 % 
AA    15.2 % 
A    16.9 % 
BBB    11.3 % 
BB & BELOW    2.0 % 
NR    0.2 % 

 
Total    100.0 % 

 

     At June 30, 2006, the average credit quality of the Company’s total fixed income portfolio was “AA”.

     As at June 30, 2006, the top 10 corporate holdings, which exclude government guaranteed and government sponsored enterprises, represented approximately 3.9% of the Company’s total fixed income portfolio and approximately 11.4% of all corporate holdings. The top 10 corporate holdings listed below represent the direct exposure to the corporations listed below, including their subsidiaries, and excludes any securitized, credit enhanced and collateralized asset or mortgage backed securities, cash and cash equivalents and excludes any reduction to this exposure through credit default swaps, if applicable.

    Percentage of Total
Top 10 Corporate Holdings    Fixed Income Portfolio (1)



Bank of America Corporation    0.5 % 
KFW Bankengruppe    0.5 % 
Lloyds TSB Group plc    0.4 % 
The Royal Bank of Scotland    0.4 % 
General Electric Company    0.4 % 
Wells Fargo & Company    0.4 % 
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc    0.4 % 
HSBC Holdings plc    0.3 % 
Citigroup Inc    0.3 % 
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc    0.3 % 


(1)     Including fixed maturities, short-term investments, cash and cash equivalents and net payable for investments purchased.

     The Company’s fixed income portfolio is exposed to interest rate risk. Interest rate risk is the price sensitivity of a fixed income security to changes in interest rates. The hypothetical case of an immediate 100 basis point adverse parallel shift in global bond yield curves as at June 30, 2006 would decrease the fair value of the Company’s fixed income portfolio by approximately 3.9% or $1.5 billion. Based on historical observations, it is unlikely that all global yield curves would shift uniformly in the same direction and at the same time.

Equity Portfolio

     As at June 30, 2006, the Company’s equity portfolio, which for financial reporting purposes includes certain fixed income mutual fund investments that do not have the risk characteristics of equity investments, was $838.4 million as compared to $868.8 million as at December 31, 2005. As at June 30, 2006, the Company’s allocation to equity securities was approximately 2.0% of the total investment portfolio (including cash and cash equivalents, accrued investment income and net payable for investments purchased) as compared to approximately 2.1% as at December 31, 2005.

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     As at June 30, 2006, approximately 44% of the equity portfolio was invested in U.S. companies as compared to approximately 53% as at December 31, 2005. As at June 30, 2006, the top ten equity holdings represented approximately 6.2% of the Company’s total equity portfolio as compared to approximately 5.8% as at December 31, 2005.

     The Company’s equity portfolio is exposed to price risk. Equity price risk is the potential loss arising from decreases in the market value of equities. An immediate hypothetical 10% change in the value of each equity position would affect the fair value of the portfolio by approximately $83.8 million as at June 30, 2006 as compared to $86.9 million as at December 31, 2005.

Alternative Investment Portfolio

     The Company’s alternative investment portfolio had approximately 60 separate fund investments at June 30, 2006 with a total exposure of $1.6 billion representing approximately 3.9% of the total investment portfolio as compared to December 31, 2005 where the Company had approximately 80 separate fund investments with a total exposure of $1.7 billion representing approximately 4.1 % of the total investment portfolio.

     As at June 30, 2006, the alternative investment style allocation was 38% in Directional/tactical strategies, 29% in Event-driven strategies, 24% in Arbitrage strategies, and 9% in Multi-strategy strategies. As at December 31, 2005, the alternative investment style allocation was 43% in Directional/tactical strategies, 31% in Event-driven strategies, 18% in Arbitrage strategies, and 8% in Multi-strategy strategies.

Private Investment Portfolio

     As at June 30, 2006, the Company’s exposure to private investments was approximately $347.4 million compared to $252.2 million as at December 31, 2005. As at June 30, 2006, the Company’s exposure to private investments comprised approximately 0.8% of the total investment portfolio (including cash and cash equivalents, accrued investment income and net payable for investments purchased), as compared to 0.6% as at December 31, 2005.

Bond and Stock Index Futures Exposure

     As at June 30, 2006, bond and stock index futures outstanding had a net long position of $11.2 million as compared to a net long position of $46.4 million as at December 31, 2005. A 10% appreciation or depreciation of the underlying exposure to these derivative instruments would have resulted in realized gains or realized losses of $1.1 million as at June 30, 2006 and $4.6 million as at December 31, 2005, respectively. The Company may reduce its exposure to these futures through offsetting transactions, including options and forwards.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

     The Company has exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations through its operations, unpaid losses and loss expenses and in its investment portfolio. The Company’s net foreign currency denominated payable on foreign exchange contracts as at June 30, 2006 was $120.9 million as compared to $603.0 million as at December 31, 2005, with a net unrealized loss of $3.8 million as compared to a net unrealized gain of $15.9 million as at December 31, 2005.

     Foreign exchange contracts within the investment portfolio are utilized to manage individual portfolio foreign exchange exposures, subject to investment manager guidelines established by management. These contracts are not designated as specific hedges for financial reporting purposes and, therefore, realized and unrealized gains and losses on these contracts are recorded in income in the period in which they occur. These contracts generally have maturities of three months or less.

     The Company also attempts to manage the foreign exchange volatility arising on certain transactions denominated in foreign currencies. These include, but are not limited to, premium receivable, reinsurance contracts, claims payable and investments in subsidiaries.

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Credit Risk

     The Company is exposed to credit risk in the event of non-performance by the other parties to the forward contracts, however the Company does not anticipate non-performance. The difference between the notional principal amounts and the associated market value is the Company’s maximum credit exposure.

ITEM 4.      CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

     The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that all material information relating to the Company required to be filed in this report has been made known to them in a timely fashion.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

     There have been no changes in internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the Company’s evaluation required pursuant to Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     On June 21, 2004, a consolidated and amended class action complaint (the “Amended Complaint”) was served on the Company and certain of its present and former directors and officers as defendants in a putative class action (Malin et al. v. XL Capital Ltd et al.) filed in United States District Court, District of Connecticut (the “Malin Action”). The Malin Action purports to be on behalf of purchasers of the Company’s common stock between November 1, 2001 and October 16, 2003, and alleges claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder (the “Securities Laws”). The Amended Complaint alleged that the defendants violated the Securities Laws by, among other things, failing to disclose in various public and shareholder and investor reports and other communications the alleged inadequacy of the Company’s loss reserves for its NAC Re subsidiary (now known as XL Reinsurance America, Inc.) and that, as a consequence, the Company’s earnings and assets were materially overstated. On August 26, 2005, the Court dismissed the Amended Complaint owing to its failure adequately to allege “loss causation,” but provided leave for the plaintiffs to file a further amended complaint. The plaintiffs thereafter filed a second amended complaint (the “Second Amended Complaint”), which is similar to the Amended Complaint in its substantive allegations. On December 31, 2005, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the Second Amended Complaint. The plaintiffs have opposed the motion. The Company and the defendant present and former officers and directors intend to vigorously defend the claims asserted against them.

     On June 17, 2004, William Kronenberg, III, Frank A. Piliero and David M. Rosenberg (together, the “Claimants”) commenced an arbitration against the Company before the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) in New York, New York. The Claimants and the Company were parties to a stock purchase agreement dated June 1, 1999, pursuant to which the Company acquired the outstanding capital stock of ECS, Inc. (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”). In their AAA arbitration demand, the Claimants asserted claims of fraud and deceitful conduct, negligent misrepresentation, and breach of contract and a covenant of good faith and fair dealing, all relating to the allegation that the Company failed to make certain contingent payments allegedly due to the Claimants under the Stock Purchase Agreement. Claimants sought $85 million (the maximum amount payable under the contingent payment provision at issue), plus punitive damages, interest, costs and attorneys’ fees. On February 21, 2006, the AAA panel issued a final award in favor of the Company with respect to the major disputes at issue. On June 21, 2006 the parties reached a settlement in principle of all remaining issues in dispute, and the settlement is in the process of being finalized.

     The Company is also subject to litigation and arbitration in the normal course of its business. These lawsuits and arbitrations principally involve claims on policies of insurance and contracts of reinsurance and are typical for the Company and for the property and casualty insurance and reinsurance industry in general. Such legal proceedings are considered in connection with the Company’s loss and loss expense reserves. Reserves in varying amounts may or may not be established in respect of particular claims proceedings based on many factors, including the legal merits thereof. In addition to claims litigation, the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to lawsuits in the normal course of business that do not arise from or directly relate to claims on policies of insurance or contracts of reinsurance.

     As previously disclosed, in May and June of 2005, the Company received a subpoena from the SEC and a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, respectively, in each case for documents and information relating to certain finite-risk and loss mitigation insurance products. The Company is fully cooperating and responding to these requests.

     From time to time, the Company has also received and responded to additional requests from Attorneys General and state insurance regulators for information relating to the Company’s contingent commission arrangements with brokers and agents and the Company’s insurance and reinsurance practices in connection with certain finite-risk and loss mitigation products. Similarly, the Company’s affiliates outside the United States have, from time to time, received and responded to requests from regulators relating to the Company’s insurance and reinsurance practices regarding contingent commissions or finite-risk and loss mitigation products. The Company is fully cooperating with these regulators in these matters.

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     In August 2005, plaintiffs in a proposed class action multi-district lawsuit, captioned In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation, MDL No. 1663, Civil Action No. 04-5184 (FSH) (the “MDL”), filed a consolidated amended complaint (the “Amended Complaint”), which named as new defendants, in the pending action approximately 30 entities, including Greenwich Insurance Company, Indian Harbor Insurance Company and XL Capital Ltd. In the MDL, named plaintiffs have asserted various claims purportedly, on behalf of a class of commercial insureds against approximately 113 insurance companies and insurance brokers through which the named plaintiffs allegedly purchased insurance. The Amended Complaint alleges that the defendant insurance companies and insurance brokers conspired to manipulate bidding practices for insurance policies in certain insurance lines and failed to disclose certain commission arrangements. The named plaintiffs have asserted statutory claims under the Sherman Act, various state antitrust laws and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, as well as common law claims alleging breach of fiduciary duty, aiding and abetting a breach of fiduciary duty and unjust enrichment. Discovery in the MDL continues. Defendants filed motions to dismiss the Amended Complaint in late November 2005. On February 1, 2006, plaintiffs filed a motion seeking leave to further amend their Amended Complaint to, among other things, add additional defendants, including X.L. America, Inc. and XL Insurance America, Inc. That motion was denied without prejudice. On or about February 13, 2006, plaintiffs filed a motion seeking class certification. Defendants filed an opposition to the class certification motion, as well as a separate motion seeking to exclude the testimony of the expert witness upon whom plaintiffs have relied in seeking class certification. These motions are presently pending before the Court. Discovery has been proceeding since the fall of 2005.

     On April 4, 2006 a complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on behalf of New Cingular Wireless Headquarters LLC and several other corporations against approximately 100 defendants, including Greenwich Insurance Company, XL Specialty Insurance Company, XL Insurance America, Inc., XL Insurance Company Limited, Lloyd’s syndicates 861, 588 and 1209 and XL Capital Ltd. (the “New Cingular Lawsuit”). The New Cingular Complaint, which makes the same basic allegations as those alleged in the MDL Amended Complaint, asserts statutory claims under the Sherman Act, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, as well as common law claims alleging breach of fiduciary duty, inducement to breach fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment and fraud. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litgation (the “JPML”) issued a Conditional Transfer Order directing that the New Cingular Lawsuit be transferred to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey so that it can be coordinated and/or consolidated with the MDL. Certain parties in the New Cingular Lawsuit have filed motions seeking to vacate the JPML’s Conditional Transfer Order; the JPML has not yet ruled on such motions.

     See also discussion of the Sale and Purchase Agreement, as amended, between XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd and Winterthur Swiss Insurance Company, in “Unpaid Losses and Loss Expenses Recoverable and Reinsurance Balances Receivable” in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Item 2 above.

     The Company believes that the ultimate outcome of all outstanding litigation and arbitration will not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial condition, future operating results and/or liquidity, although an adverse resolution of a number of these items could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations in a particular fiscal quarter or year.

ITEM 1A.      RISK FACTORS

     Refer to Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2005 for further information.

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ITEM 2.      UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

     (c) Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliate Purchasers

     The following table provides information about purchases by the Company during the three months ended June 30, 2006 of equity securities that are registered by the Company pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act:

Issuer purchases of equity securities

   
Total Number
   
   
of Shares 
 
Approximate Dollar 
   
Purchased as 
  Value of Shares 
   
Part of 
  that May Yet Be 
   
Total Number 
Average Price 
Publicly 
  Purchased Under 
   
of Shares 
Paid 
Announced Plans 
  the Plans 
Period   
Purchased (1) 
per Share (2) 
or Programs 
  or Programs (3) 





April 1-30, 2006    10,263    64.62        $135.4 million 
May 1-31, 2006    4,087    63.43        $135.4 million 
June 1-30, 2006    158    64.06        $135.4 million 




Total    14,508    64.28        $135.4 million 






(1)      All of the shares included in each period were purchased in connection with the vesting of restricted shares granted under the Company’s restricted stock plan. All of these purchases were made in connection with satisfying tax withholding obligations of those employees. These shares were not purchased as part of the Company’s publicly announced share repurchase program.
 
(2) The price paid per share is the closing price of the shares on the vesting date.
 
(3) On January 9, 2000, the Board of Directors previously authorized a $500.0 million share repurchase program. The Company did not repurchase any equity securities under the share repurchase program during the three or six months ended June 30, 2006. As of June 30, 2006, the Company could repurchase up to approximately $135.4 million of its equity securities under the share repurchase program.

ITEM 4.      SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

     At the Annual General Meeting of holders (the “Shareholders”) of Class A Ordinary Shares held on April 28, 2006 at the Executive Offices of the Company, XL House, One Bermudiana Road, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda, the Shareholders approved the following:

     1. The election of three Class II Directors to hold office until 2009:

   
Votes in Favor 
Votes Withheld 


Dale R. Comey    152,559,822    3,872,130 
Brian M. O’Hara    152,997,967    3,433,985 
John T. Thornton    151,526,208    4,905,744 

     In addition, the terms of the following Directors continued after the Annual General Meeting: J. Mauriello, E.M. McQuade, R.S. Parker, A.Z. Senter, M.P. Esposito, Jr., C. Rance and E.E. Thrower. Mr. Weiser retired from the Board of Directors on April 28, 2006, immediately prior to the Company’s Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. On June 8, 2006, the Company’s board, acting upon the recommendation of its Nominating and Governance Committee, elected Herbert Haag to the board effective immediately.

     2. The appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, New York, New York, to act as the registered independent public accounting firm for the Company for the year ending December 31, 2006:

Votes In Favor 
Votes Against 
Abstentions 



155,427,262 
  860,588    144,102 

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ITEM 6.      EXHIBITS
   
10.1           Amendment No. 2, dated as of May 5, 2006, to the Three-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of June 23, 2004, between XL Capital Ltd, X.L. America, Inc., XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd and XL Re Ltd, as Account Parties and Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 11, 2006.
 
10.2 Amendment No. 1, dated as of May 5, 2006, to the Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of June 22, 2005, between XL Capital Ltd, X.L. America, Inc., XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd and XL Re Ltd, as Account Parties and Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 11, 2006.
 
10.3 Credit Agreement, dated as of May 9, 2006, between XL Capital Ltd, X.L. America, Inc., XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd and XL Re Ltd, as Account Parties and Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 11, 2006.
 
10.4 Amendment No. 1 to the Credit Agreement, dated as of August 3, 2005, between XL Capital Ltd, X.L. America, Inc., XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd and XL Re Ltd, as Borrowers and Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto and Bear Stearns Corporate Lending Inc. as Administrative Agent, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 11, 2006.
 
10.5 Amendment No. 1, dated as of May 15, 2006, to the 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2005, between XL Capital Ltd, X.L. America, Inc., XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd and XL Re Ltd, as Account Parties and Guarantors, and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as the Lender, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 19, 2006.
 
10.6 Letter of Amendment, dated as of May 16, 2006, to the Letter of Credit Facility and Reimbursement Agreement, dated as of March 14, 2006, by and among XL Capital Ltd, as Account Party, XL Capital Ltd, X.L. America, Inc., XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd and XL Re Ltd, as Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto and Citibank International plc, as Agent and Security Trustee, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 19, 2006.
 
10.7 Amendment No. 2, dated as of May 26, 2006, to the Master Standby Letter of Credit and Reimbursement Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2005, between XL Capital Ltd, X.L. America, Inc., XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd and XL Re Ltd, as Account Parties and Guarantors, and National Australia Bank Limited, New York Branch, as the Bank, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 30, 2006.
 
10.8 Amendment No. 1, dated as of May 31, 2006, to the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 12, 2001, relating to XLA’s 6.58% guaranteed senior notes due April 12, 2011, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 6, 2006.
 
31 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications.
 
32 Section 1350 Certification.
 
99.1 XL Capital Assurance Inc. and Subsidiary condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited) for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2006 and 2005.
 
99.2 XL Financial Assurance Ltd. condensed financial statements (unaudited) for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2006 and 2005.
 

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SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

    XL CAPITAL LTD 
    (Registrant) 
     
Date: August 9, 2006  
 
/s/ BRIAN M. O’HARA 
    Brian M. O’Hara 
    President and Chief Executive Officer 
     
Date: August 9, 2006  
 
/s/ JERRY DE ST. PAER 
    Jerry de St. Paer 
    Executive Vice President and 
    Chief Financial Officer 

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