ACE Casualty Risk Introduces New Lead Umbrella with Premises Pollution Policy.

Business Editors

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 15, 2004

ACE Casualty Risk, a unit of ACE USA--the U.S.-based retail operating division of The ACE Group of Companies--today introduced a new Lead Umbrella with Premises Pollution Liability program designed to provide businesses with the unique combination of reliable excess casualty capacity enhanced with coverage for premises pollution exposures. This new product helps companies facing pollution exposures protect against large losses through pollution coverage as a part of their casualty policy.

"With so many companies facing pollution exposure, this new product fulfills customers' needs by providing a single source for obtaining pollution coverage," said Geoffrey Gregory, President, ACE Casualty Risk. "The combined breadth of experience in working with specialized pollution coverage and underwriting of large, complex casualty exposures uniquely positions the ACE Casualty Risk team in the environmental liability arena."

Insurance is provided with separate limits available up to $25 million per occurrence/aggregate for both Lead Umbrella and Premises Pollution Liability losses. Coverage is available on both an admitted and non-admitted basis. In addition, this policy is offered with a minimum premium of $100,000. The target market for this new policy includes the following: energy, including oil and gas; utilities; and chemical manufacturing and distribution. In addition, most classes of business and exposures are eligible, except aviation, asbestos and pharmaceutical products and nursing homes.

Coverage highlights include the following:

-- Gradual as well as sudden and accidental first-and third-party

environmental liabilities

-- Remediation costs, claimed by a governmental agency for

pollution on, at, or emanating from an insured location

-- Third-party coverage for bodily injury, property damage and

remediation costs for pollution on, at, or emanating from an

insured location

-- Legal defense expenses for any pollution claims covered under

the policy

-- Natural resource damages

ACE Environmental Risk, a unit within ACE Casualty Risk, offers a full range of environmental liability solutions designed to minimize bottom line impacts and provide hands-on management for those liabilities. These products are distributed through the retail and wholesale brokerage communities to the commercial market. Non-admitted products are marketed through licensed surplus lines brokers. ACE's environmental liability offerings also include premises pollution liability, contractor's pollution liability, remediation cost containment and blended finite risk programs.

ACE USA is a U.S.-based operating division of The ACE Group of Companies, headed by ACE Limited (NYSE:ACE). ACE USA provides insurance products and services throughout the U.S. Additional information on ACE USA and its products and services can be found at www.ace-ina.com. The ACE Group of Companies provides insurance and reinsurance for a diverse group of clients around the world. This is a general summary of the products described and the actual policy terms and conditions govern.