Although ACE Limited (NYSE: ACL) does not normally comment on individual insurance exposures, in light of recent announcements of credit defaults by both Southern California Edison ("SoCal Ed") and Pacific Gas & Electric Company ("PG&E"), ACE felt it appropriate to disclose the amount of aggregate insurance exposure of its financial guaranty subsidiary ACE Financial Services Inc. ("AFS"). The aggregate exposure is approximately $140 million, which consists of $8 million in bond reinsurance assumed from primary insurers and $30 million in senior unsecured exposure assumed through credit default swaps on SoCal Ed, and $6 million in bond reinsurance and $95 million in senior unsecured exposure through credit default swaps on PG&E.
While the nominal exposure stands at approximately $140 million, ACE believes that any loss would be substantially less. Any financial statement impact for ACE will be mitigated by existing reserves held at AFS and would be determined on an after tax basis. Utility officials, the California Legislature and the state regulators continue to work on a resolution of the present liquidity problems of both SoCal Ed and PG&E.
To the extent a loss was incurred on the credit default swap exposure, it would be measured as the difference between the notional amount and the then market value of the senior unsecured debt obligations of the respective utilities. These obligations are currently trading at approximately 50-60% of par. For the bond reinsurance exposure, ACE believes that any losses after salvage would be minimal.
The ACE Group of Companies provides insurance and reinsurance for a diverse group of clients. The ACE Group conducts its business on a global basis with operating subsidiaries in nearly 50 countries. Additional information can be found at: www.acelimited.com.
Application of the Safe Harbour of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:
Any forward-looking statements made in this press release reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and financial performance and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in these statements. For example, actual losses from these utilities' exposures may be impacted by funds available to the utilities, competing claims on such funds, actions taken by governmental officials and details of any resolution to the utilities' liquidity problems. In addition, reserves available may be affected by other claims. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the dates on which they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.