Summary of ACE LTD - Yahoo! Finance

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement, Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On November 6, 2012, ACE Limited ("ACE"), ACE Bermuda Insurance Ltd. ("ACE Bermuda"), ACE Tempest Life Reinsurance Ltd. ("ACE Tempest Life"), ACE Tempest Reinsurance Ltd. ("ACE Tempest Re") and ACE INA Holdings Inc. ("ACE INA" and, together with ACE, ACE Bermuda, ACE Tempest Life and ACE Tempest Re, the "Borrowers") entered into a syndicated credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement") with a group of lenders and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent.

The Credit Agreement is unsecured and provides for up to $1,000,000,000 of availability, all of which may be used for the issuance of letters of credit and up to $300,000,000 of which may be used for revolving loans. Subject to obtaining additional commitments, ACE may increase the availability under the Credit Agreement by up to $500,000,000.

The Credit Agreement may be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes. The Credit Agreement replaces (i) the $1,000,000,000 syndicated second amended and restated reimbursement agreement dated as of November 8, 2007 among ACE, ACE Bermuda, ACE Tempest Life, ACE Tempest Re, various lenders and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association), as administrative agent, and (ii) the $500,000,000 syndicated second amended and restated credit agreement dated as of November 8, 2007 among ACE, ACE Bermuda, ACE Tempest Re, ACE INA, various lenders and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, each of which was terminated on November 6, 2012.

Under the Credit Agreement, ACE or the applicable Borrower pays (a) a commitment fee based upon ACE's long-term foreign issuer credit rating (or its equivalent) by S&P or Moody's (the "ACE Ratings") on any unutilized portion of the facility,
(b) an interest rate margin based on the ACE Ratings on the outstanding amount of loans, (c) a letter of credit commission based on the ACE Ratings on the amount of the outstanding letters of credit, (d) fronting fees to each lender that issues letters of credit on behalf of other lenders under the Credit Agreement, (e) customary administrative charges of the applicable letter of credit issuers and (f) customary administrative fees of the administrative agent. ACE also paid customary upfront and arrangement fees in connection with the closing of the Credit Agreement.

The terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement are substantially similar to the provisions in other ACE group credit facilities. The Credit Agreement contains customary covenants, including covenants limiting liens, substantial asset sales and mergers. Most of these restrictions are subject to certain minimum thresholds and exceptions. ACE guarantees all obligations of the other Borrowers under the Credit Agreement.

The Credit Agreement also contains financial covenants that require maintenance of:

(i) a minimum consolidated net worth of not less than $17,486,776,000 (subject to an annual reset provision) plus 25 percent of cumulative net income from June 30, 2012, plus 50 percent of the net proceeds of any issuance of equity interests subsequent to June 30, 2012; and

(ii) a ratio of consolidated total debt (excluding trust preferred securities and mezzanine capital to the extent not exceeding 15 percent of total capitalization) to total capitalization of not greater than 0.35 to 1.

In addition, the Credit Agreement has customary events of default, including (subject to certain materiality thresholds and grace periods) payment default, failure to comply with covenants, material inaccuracy of representation or warranty, bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, change of control and cross-default to other debt agreements.