CNA FINANCIAL CORP - Quarter Report: 2004 September (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2004

OR

For the transition period from                 to                

Commission File Number 1-5823

CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(312) 822-5000
(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.

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

     Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION
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CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

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The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

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The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

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Note A. Basis of Presentation

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) include the accounts of CNA Financial Corporation (CNAF) and its controlled subsidiaries. Collectively, CNAF and its subsidiaries are referred to as CNA or the Company. CNA’s property and casualty and remaining life and group insurance operations are primarily conducted by Continental Casualty Company (CCC), The Continental Insurance Company (CIC), and Continental Assurance Company (CAC). Loews Corporation (Loews) owned approximately 91% of the outstanding common stock and 100% of the preferred stock of CNAF as of September 30, 2004.

The Company’s individual life insurance business, including its previously wholly owned subsidiary Valley Forge Life Insurance Company (VFL), was sold on April 30, 2004 to Swiss Re Life & Health America Inc. (Swiss Re). The results of the individual life insurance business sold through the date of sale are included in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003. See Note N for further information.

CNA Group Life Assurance Company (CNAGLA) was sold to Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (Hartford) on December 31, 2003. The results of the group benefits business sold are included in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003. See Note N for further information.

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Certain financial information that is normally included in annual financial statements, including certain financial statement footnotes, prepared in accordance with GAAP, is not required for interim reporting purposes and has been condensed or omitted. These statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in CNAF’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the year ended December 31, 2003.

The interim financial data as of September 30, 2004 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 is unaudited. However, in the opinion of management, the interim data includes all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s results for the interim periods. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. All significant intercompany amounts have been eliminated.

In the second quarter of 2004, the expenses incurred related to uncollectible reinsurance receivables were reclassified from “Other operating expenses” to “Insurance claims and policyholders’ benefits” on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. This reclassification had no impact on net income (loss) in any period.

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Note B. Accounting Pronouncements

In January of 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an interpretation of ARB No. 51 (FIN 46). In December of 2003, the FASB issued FIN 46 (revised December 2003), Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an interpretation of ARB No. 51 (FIN 46R) which replaces FIN 46 and clarifies the application of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51 Consolidated Financial Statements (ARB 51). As per ARB 51, a general rule for preparation of consolidated financial statements of a parent and its subsidiary is ownership by the parent, either directly or indirectly, of over fifty percent of the outstanding voting shares of a subsidiary. However, application of the majority voting interest requirement of ARB 51 to certain types of entities may not identify the party with a controlling financial interest because the controlling financial interest may be achieved through arrangements that do not involve voting interest. FIN 46R clarifies applicability of ARB 51 to entities in which the equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support. FIN 46R requires an entity to consolidate a variable interest entity even though the entity does not, either directly or indirectly, own over fifty percent of the outstanding voting shares.

FIN 46R is applicable for financial statements issued for reporting periods that end after March 15, 2004. The adoption of FIN 46R did not have a significant impact on the results of operations or equity of the Company.

In December of 2003, the FASB revised SFAS No.132, Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (SFAS 132) to require additional disclosures related to pensions and post retirement benefits. While retaining the existing disclosure requirements for pensions and postretirement benefits, additional disclosures are required related to pension plan assets, obligations, contributions and net benefit costs, beginning with fiscal years ending after December 15, 2003. Additional disclosures pertaining to benefit payments are required for fiscal years ending after June 30, 2004. The SFAS 132 revisions also include additional disclosure requirements for interim financial reports beginning after December 15, 2003. CNA has implemented the revised interim disclosures in these financial statements and will implement the annual benefit payment disclosures in subsequent annual financial statements.

In July of 2003, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued Statement of Position 03-01, Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts and for Separate Accounts (SOP 03-01). SOP 03-01 provides guidance on accounting and reporting by insurance enterprises for certain nontraditional long-duration contracts and for separate accounts. SOP 03-01 is effective for financial statements for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2003. SOP 03-01 may not be applied retroactively to prior years’ financial statements, and initial application should be as of the beginning of an entity’s fiscal year, therefore prior year amounts have not been conformed to the current year presentation.

CNA adopted SOP 03-01 as of January 1, 2004. The assets and liabilities of certain guaranteed investment contracts and indexed group annuity contracts that were previously segregated and reported as separate accounts no longer qualify for separate account presentation. Prior to the adoption of SOP 03-01, the asset and liability presentation of these affected contracts were categorized as separate account assets and liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The results of operations from separate account business were primarily classified as other revenue in the Condensed Consolidated

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Statements of Operations. In accordance with the provisions of SOP 03-01, the classification and presentation of certain balance sheet and income statement items have been modified within these financial statements. Accordingly, the investment securities previously classified as separate account assets have now been reclassified to the general account and will be reported based on their investment classification whether available-for-sale or trading securities. The investment portfolio supporting indexed group annuity contracts is classified as held for trading purposes and is carried at fair value, with both the net realized and unrealized gains (losses) included within net investment income in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.

The following table provides the balance sheet presentation of assets and liabilities for certain guaranteed investment contracts and indexed group annuity contracts upon adoption of SOP 03-01, including the classification of the indexed group annuity contract investments as trading securities.

The Company continues to have contracts that meet the criteria for separate account presentation. The assets and liabilities of these contracts are legally segregated and reported as assets and liabilities of the separate account business. Substantially all assets of the separate account business are carried at fair value. Separate account liabilities are carried at contract values.

In May of 2004, the FASB revised FASB Staff Position (FSP) 106-1, Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 and issued FSP 106-2, Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (FSP 106-2). The FSP provides accounting guidance

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to employers who sponsor postretirement health care plans that provide prescription drug benefits and the prescription drug benefit provided by the employer is “actuarially equivalent” to Medicare Part D and hence qualifies for the subsidy under the Medicare amendment act. This FSP was effective for the Company as of July 1, 2004, and its adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations and/or equity.

In March of 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) reached consensus on the guidance provided in EITF Issue No. 03-1, The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and its Application to Certain Investments (EITF 03-1), as applicable to debt and equity securities that are within the scope of SFAS No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities (SFAS 115) and equity securities that are accounted for using the cost method specified in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 18, The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock. Under EITF 03-1 an investment is impaired if the fair value of the investment is less than its cost including adjustments for amortization, accretion, foreign exchange, and hedging. An impairment would be considered other-than-temporary unless a) the investor has the ability and intent to hold an investment for a reasonable period of time sufficient for the recovery of the fair value up to (or beyond) the cost of the investment and b) evidence indicating that the cost of the investment is recoverable within a reasonable period of time outweighs evidence to the contrary. The investor should consider its cash or working capital needs to assess its intent and ability to hold an investment for a reasonable period of time for the recovery of fair value up to or beyond the cost of the investment. Although not presumptive, a pattern of selling investments prior to the forecasted recovery of fair value may call into question the investor’s intent. In addition, the severity and duration of the impairment should also be considered in determining whether the impairment is other-than-temporary.

This new guidance for determining whether impairment is other-than-temporary was to be effective for reporting periods beginning after June 15, 2004. In September of 2004, the FASB issued FSP EITF Issue 03-1-1, which delayed the effective date for the measurement and recognition guidance included in EITF Issue 03-1 related to other-than-temporary impairment until additional implementation guidance is provided. As a result of the delay, during the three month period ended September 30, 2004, the Company continued to apply existing accounting literature for determining when a decline in fair value is other-than-temporary.

The Company continues to evaluate the impact of this new accounting standard on its process for determining other-than-temporary impairment of equity and fixed maturity securities, including the potential impacts from any revisions to the original guidance issued. Adoption of this standard as originally issued may cause the Company to recognize impairment losses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations which would not have been recognized under the current guidance or to recognize such losses in earlier periods, especially those due to increases in interest rates, and would likely also impact the recognition of investment income on impaired securities. Such an impact would likely increase earnings volatility in future periods. However, since fluctuations in the fair value for available-for-sale securities are already recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, adoption of this standard is not expected to have a significant impact on equity. Further information on the Company’s investments is provided in the Investments section below.

Note C. Earnings (Loss) Per Share

Earnings (loss) per share available to common stockholders is based on weighted-average outstanding shares. Basic and diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock or common stock equivalents outstanding for the period. The weighted average number of shares outstanding for computing basic and

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diluted earnings per share was 256.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 223.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003. Included in the outstanding shares in 2004 is the effect of 32.3 million shares of CNAF common stock issued on April 20, 2004 in conjunction with the conversion of the $750 million Series I convertible preferred stock issued during the fourth quarter of 2003.

The Series H Cumulative Preferred Issue (Series H Issue) is held by Loews and accrues cumulative dividends at an initial rate of 8% per year, compounded annually. As of September 30, 2004, the Company has $110 million of undeclared but accumulated dividends. The Series H Issue dividend amounts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 have been subtracted from Net Income (Loss) to determine income (loss) available to common stockholders.

Diluted earnings (loss) per share reflect the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, approximately one million shares attributable to the exercise of outstanding options were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings (loss) per share because the exercise price of these options was greater than the average market price of CNA common stock.

The computation of earnings (loss) per share was as follows.

Earnings (Loss) Per Share

The Company applies the intrinsic value method under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees (APB 25), and related interpretations, in accounting for its stock-based compensation plan. Under the recognition and measurement principles of APB 25, no stock-based compensation cost has been recognized, as the exercise price of the granted options equaled the market price of the underlying stock at the grant date.

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The following table illustrates the pro forma effect on net income (loss) and earnings per share, had the Company applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123 to stock-based employee compensation under the Company’s stock-based compensation plans.

Pro Forma Effect of SFAS 123 on Net Income (Loss) and Earnings (Loss) Per Share

Note D. Investments

The significant components of net investment income are presented in the following table.

Net Investment Income

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The components of realized investment results from available-for-sale securities are presented in the following table.

Realized Investment Gains (Losses)

Realized investment losses were $62 million as compared to realized investment gains of $164 million for the three months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003. The decline was primarily due to losses related to derivative securities held to mitigate the effect of changes in long term interest rates on the value of the fixed maturity portfolio. While a decrease in long term interest rates during the third quarter of 2004 resulted in a realized loss related to these derivatives, the fair value of the Company’s fixed maturity portfolio benefited from the interest rate movements resulting in a substantial increase in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income and Stockholders’ Equity.

Realized investment losses were $415 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 as compared to realized investment gains of $466 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003. The decrease in the pretax investment results was primarily due to a $622 million pretax loss on the sale of the individual life insurance business, losses related to derivative securities and decreased realized gains on the sale of fixed maturity securities. These decreases were partially offset by a $162 million pretax gain on the disposition of the Company’s equity holdings of Canary Wharf Group PLC (Canary Wharf), a London-based real estate company.

Realized investment gains for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 included $16 million and $302 million of pretax impairment losses for other-than-temporary declines in fair values for fixed maturity and equity securities. These impairment losses were for securities across several market sectors, including the airline, healthcare and energy industries. Impairment losses were $19 million pretax for other-than-temporary declines in fair value for fixed maturity and equity securities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004.

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Note E. Derivative Financial Instruments

A summary of the recognized gains (losses) related to derivative financial instruments follows.

Derivative Financial Instruments Recognized Gains (Losses)

A summary of the aggregate contractual or notional amounts and estimated fair values related to derivative financial instruments follows.

Derivative Financial Instruments

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Derivative Financial Instruments

Options embedded in convertible debt securities are classified as fixed maturity securities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, consistent with the host instruments.

The change in fair value for derivatives with no hedge designation that are associated with the indexed group annuity contracts are reflected in Net Investment Income.

Note F. Legal Proceedings and Contingent Liabilities

IGI Contingency

In 1997, CNA Reinsurance Company Limited (CNA Re Ltd.) entered into an arrangement with IOA Global, Ltd. (IOA), an independent managing general agent based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to develop and manage a book of accident and health coverages. Pursuant to this arrangement, IGI Underwriting Agencies, Ltd. (IGI), a personal accident reinsurance managing general underwriter, was appointed to underwrite and market the book under the supervision of IOA. Between April 1, 1997 and December 1, 1999, IGI underwrote a number of reinsurance arrangements with respect to personal accident insurance worldwide (the IGI Program). Under various arrangements, CNA Re Ltd. both assumed risks as a reinsurer and also ceded a substantial portion of those risks to other companies, including other CNA insurance subsidiaries and ultimately to a group of reinsurers participating in a reinsurance pool known as the Associated Accident and Health Reinsurance Underwriters (AAHRU) Facility. CNA’s group operations business unit, now included in the Life and Group Non-Core segment, participated as a pool member in the AAHRU Facility in varying percentages between 1997 and 1999.

CNA has determined that a portion of the premiums assumed under the IGI Program related to United States workers compensation “carve-out” business. Some of these premiums were received from John Hancock Financial Services, Inc. (John Hancock). CNA is aware that a number of reinsurers with

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workers compensation carve-out insurance exposure, including John Hancock, have disavowed their obligations under various legal theories. If one or more such companies are successful in avoiding or reducing their liabilities, then it is likely that CNA’s potential liability will also be reduced. Moreover, based on information known at this time, CNA believes it has strong grounds to successfully challenge its alleged exposure on a substantial portion of its United States workers compensation carve-out business, including all purported exposure derived from John Hancock, through legal action.

As noted, CNA arranged substantial reinsurance protection to manage its exposures under the IGI Program. CNA believes it has valid and enforceable reinsurance contracts with the AAHRU Facility and other reinsurers with respect to the IGI Program, including the United States workers compensation carve-out business. However, certain reinsurers have disputed their liabilities to CNA, and CNA has commenced arbitration proceedings against such reinsurers. CNA has resolved its dispute with respect to the validity and enforceability of ceding IGI Program losses to the AAHRU Facility, including the United States workers compensation carve-out business; however, an arbitration is still pending with certain members of the AAHRU Facility related to a dispute over the allocation of such losses to pool years. As a result, the Company increased its insurance reserves related to the IGI program by $18 million in the second quarter of 2004. An arbitration with another reinsurer is also still pending.

CNA has established reserves for its estimated exposure under the IGI Program, other than that derived from John Hancock, and an estimate for recoverables from retrocessionaires. CNA has not established any reserve for any exposure derived from John Hancock because, as indicated, CNA believes the contract will be rescinded. An arbitration to determine whether rescission will be granted is pending.

The Company is pursuing a number of loss mitigation strategies with respect to the entire IGI Program. Although the results of these various actions to date support the recorded reserves, the estimate of ultimate losses is subject to considerable uncertainty due to the complexities described above. As a result of these uncertainties, the results of operations in future periods may be adversely affected by potentially significant reserve additions. Management does not believe that any such reserve additions would be material to the equity of the Company, although results of operations may be adversely affected. The Company’s position in relation to the IGI Program was unaffected by the sale of CNA Re Ltd. in 2002.

California Wage and Hour Litigation

Ernestine Samora, et al. v. CCC, Case No. BC 242487, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, California and Brian Wenzel v. Galway Insurance Company, Superior Court of California, County of Orange No. BC01CC08868 are purported class actions on behalf of present and former CNA employees asserting they worked hours for which they should have been compensated at a rate of one and one-half times their base hourly wage over a four-year period. The Company has denied the material allegations of the amended complaint and intends to vigorously contest the claims. Based on facts and circumstances presently known, in the opinion of management, an unfavorable outcome would not materially affect the equity of the Company, although results of operations may be adversely affected.

Voluntary Market Premium Litigation

CNA, along with dozens of other insurance companies, is a defendant in twelve cases, including eleven purported class actions, brought by large policyholders which generally allege that the defendants, as part of an industry-wide conspiracy, included improper charges in their retrospectively rated and other loss-sensitive insurance programs. Among the claims asserted are violations of state antitrust laws, breach of contract, fraud and unjust enrichment. In one federal court case, Sandwich Chef of Texas, Inc. v. Reliance National Indemnity Insurance Co., 202 F.R.D. 480 (S.D. Tex. 2001), rev’d, 319 F.3d 205 (5th

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Cir. 2003), cert. denied, 72 USLW 3235 (U.S. Oct 6, 2003), the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed a decision by the District Court for the Southern District of Texas certifying a multi-state class. The Company intends to vigorously contest these claims. Based on facts and circumstances presently known, in the opinion of management, an unfavorable outcome will not materially affect the equity of the Company, although results of operations may be adversely affected.

Asbestos, Environmental Pollution and Mass Tort (APMT) Reserves

CNA is also a party to litigation and claims related to APMT cases arising in the ordinary course of business. See Note G for further discussion.

Other Litigation

CNA is also a party to other litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. Based on the facts and circumstances currently known, such other litigation will not, in the opinion of management, materially affect the results of operations or equity of CNA.

Note G. Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves

CNA’s property and casualty insurance claim and claim adjustment expense reserves represent the estimated amounts necessary to settle all outstanding claims, including claims that are incurred but not reported (IBNR) as of the reporting date. The Company’s reserve projections are based primarily on detailed analysis of the facts in each case, CNA’s experience with similar cases and various historical development patterns. Consideration is given to such historical patterns as field reserving trends and claims settlement practices, loss payments, pending levels of unpaid claims and product mix, as well as court decisions, economic conditions and public attitudes. All of these factors can affect the estimation of claim and claim adjustment expense reserves.

Establishing claim and claim adjustment expense reserves, including claim and claim adjustment expense reserves for catastrophic events that have occurred, is an estimation process. Many factors can ultimately affect the final settlement of a claim and, therefore, the necessary reserve. Changes in the law, results of litigation, medical costs, the cost of repair materials and labor rates can all affect ultimate claim costs. In addition, time can be a critical part of reserving determinations since the longer the span between the incidence of a loss and the payment or settlement of the claim, the more variable the ultimate settlement amount can be. Accordingly, short-tail claims, such as property damage claims, tend to be more reasonably estimable than long-tail claims, such as general liability and professional liability claims. Adjustments to prior year reserve estimates, if necessary, are reflected in the results of operations in the period that the need for such adjustments is determined.

Catastrophes are an inherent risk of the property and casualty insurance business and have contributed to material period-to-period fluctuations in the Company’s results of operations and/or equity. The level of catastrophe losses experienced in any period cannot be predicted and can be material to the results of operations and/or equity of the Company.

Catastrophe losses were $271 million and $132 million pretax for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003. The catastrophe losses in 2004 related primarily to Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne. The catastrophe losses in 2003 related primarily to Hurricane Claudette, Hurricane Isabel, Texas tornadoes, and Midwest rain storms.

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Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense reserves are presented net of amounts due from insureds related to losses under high deductible policies. The Company has established a valuation allowance related to these amounts, which is presented as a component of the allowance for doubtful accounts for insurance receivables.

APMT Reserves

CNA’s property and casualty insurance subsidiaries have actual and potential exposures related to APMT claims.

Establishing reserves for APMT claim and claim adjustment expenses is subject to uncertainties that are greater than those presented by other claims. Traditional actuarial methods and techniques employed to estimate the ultimate cost of claims for more traditional property and casualty exposures are less precise in estimating claim and claim adjustment expense reserves for APMT, particularly in an environment of emerging or potential claims and coverage issues that arise from industry practices and legal, judicial, and social conditions. Therefore, these traditional actuarial methods and techniques are necessarily supplemented with additional estimating techniques and methodologies, many of which involve significant judgments that are required of management. Accordingly, a high degree of uncertainty remains for the Company’s ultimate liability for APMT claim and claim adjustment expenses.

In addition to the difficulties described above, estimating the ultimate cost of both reported and unreported APMT claims is subject to a higher degree of variability due to a number of additional factors, including among others: the number and outcome of direct actions against the Company; coverage issues, including whether certain costs are covered under the policies and whether policy limits apply; allocation of liability among numerous parties, some of whom may be in bankruptcy proceedings, and in particular the application of “joint and several” liability to specific insurers on a risk; inconsistent court decisions and developing legal theories; increasingly aggressive tactics of plaintiffs’ lawyers; the risks and lack of predictability inherent in major litigation; increased filings of claims in certain states; enactment of national federal legislation to address asbestos claims; a future increase in asbestos and environmental pollution claims which cannot now be anticipated; a future increase in number of mass tort claims relating to silica and silica-containing products, and the outcome of ongoing disputes as to coverage in relation to these claims; a further increase of claims and claims payments that may exhaust underlying umbrella and excess coverages at accelerated rates; and future developments pertaining to the Company’s ability to recover reinsurance for asbestos and environmental pollution claims.

CNA regularly performs ground up reviews of all open APMT claims to evaluate the adequacy of the Company’s APMT reserves. In performing its comprehensive ground up analysis, the Company considers input from its professionals with direct responsibility for the claims, inside and outside counsel with responsibility for representation of the Company, and its actuarial staff. These professionals review, among many factors, the policyholder’s present and predicted future exposures, including such factors as claims volume, trial conditions, prior settlement history, settlement demands and defense costs; the impact of asbestos defendant bankruptcies on the policyholder; the policies issued by CNA, including such factors as aggregate or per occurrence limits, whether the policy is primary, umbrella or excess, and the existence of policyholder retentions and/or deductibles; the existence of other insurance; and reinsurance arrangements.

With respect to other court cases and how they might affect the Company’s reserves and reasonable possible losses, the following should be noted. State and federal courts issue numerous decisions each year, which potentially impact losses and reserves in both a favorable and unfavorable manner. Examples of favorable developments include decisions to allocate defense and indemnity payments in a manner so

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as to limit carriers’ obligations to damages taking place during the effective dates of their policies; decisions holding that injuries occurring after asbestos operations are completed are subject to the completed operations aggregate limits of the policies; and decisions ruling that carriers’ loss control inspections of their insured’s premises do not give rise to a duty to warn third parties to the dangers of asbestos. Examples of unfavorable developments include decisions limiting the application of the absolute pollution exclusion; and decisions holding carriers liable for defense and indemnity of asbestos and pollution claims on a joint and several basis.

The Company’s ultimate liability for its environmental pollution and mass tort claims is impacted by several factors including ongoing disputes with policyholders over scope and meaning of coverage terms and, in the area of environmental pollution, court decisions that continue to restrict the scope and applicability of the absolute pollution exclusion contained in policies issued by the Company after 1989. Due to the inherent uncertainties described above, including the inconsistency of court decisions, the number of waste sites subject to cleanup, and in the area of environmental pollution, the standards for cleanup and liability, the ultimate liability of CNA for environmental pollution and mass tort claims may vary substantially from the amount currently recorded.

Due to the inherent uncertainties in estimating claim and claim adjustment expense reserves for APMT and due to the significant uncertainties previously described related to APMT claims, the ultimate liability for these cases, both individually and in aggregate, may exceed the recorded reserves. Any such potential additional liability, or any range of potential additional amounts, cannot be reasonably estimated currently, but could be material to the Company’s business, results of operations, equity, and insurer financial strength and debt ratings. Due to, among other things, the factors described above, it may be necessary for the Company to record material changes in its APMT claim and claim adjustment expense reserves in the future, should new information become available or other developments emerge.

The following table provides data related to CNA’s APMT claim and claim adjustment expense reserves.

APMT Reserves

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Asbestos

CNA’s property and casualty insurance subsidiaries have exposure to asbestos-related claims. Estimation of asbestos-related claim and claim adjustment expense reserves involves limitations such as inconsistency of court decisions, specific policy provisions, allocation of liability among insurers and insureds, and additional factors such as missing policies and proof of coverage. Furthermore, estimation of asbestos-related claims is difficult due to, among other reasons, the proliferation of bankruptcy proceedings and attendant uncertainties, the targeting of a broader range of businesses and entities as defendants, the uncertainty as to which other insureds may be targeted in the future and the uncertainties inherent in predicting the number of future claims.

As of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, CNA carried approximately $1,707 million and $1,767 million of claim and claim adjustment expense reserves, net of reinsurance recoverables, for reported and unreported asbestos-related claims. The Company recorded $44 million of unfavorable asbestos-related net claim and claim adjustment expense reserve development for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and $642 million asbestos-related net claim and claim adjustment expense development for the same period in 2003. The 2004 unfavorable net prior year development was primarily related to a commutation loss related to The Trenwick Group Ltd. (Trenwick). See Note H for further details. The Company paid asbestos-related claims, net of reinsurance recoveries, of $104 million and $101 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003.

Some asbestos-related defendants have asserted that their policies issued by CNA are not subject to aggregate limits on coverage. CNA has such claims from a number of insureds. Some of these claims involve insureds facing exhaustion of products liability aggregate limits in their policies, who have asserted that their asbestos-related claims fall within so-called “non-products” liability coverage contained within their policies rather than products liability coverage, and that the claimed “non-products” coverage is not subject to any aggregate limit. It is difficult to predict the ultimate size of any of the claims for coverage purportedly not subject to aggregate limits or predict to what extent, if any, the attempts to assert “non-products” claims outside the products liability aggregate will succeed. The Company has attempted to manage its asbestos exposure by aggressively seeking to settle claims on acceptable terms. There can be no assurance that any of these settlement efforts will be successful, or that any such claims can be settled on terms acceptable to CNA. Where CNA cannot settle a claim on acceptable terms, the Company aggressively litigates the claim. Adverse developments with respect to such matters could have a material adverse effect on CNA’s results of operations and/or equity.

Certain asbestos litigation in which CNA is currently engaged is described below:

On February 13, 2003, CNA announced it had resolved asbestos related coverage litigation and claims involving A.P. Green Industries, A.P. Green Services and Bigelow — Liptak Corporation. Under the agreement, CNA is required to pay $74 million, net of reinsurance recoveries, over a ten year period. The settlement resolves CNA’s liabilities for all pending and future asbestos claims involving A.P. Green Industries, Bigelow — Liptak Corporation and related subsidiaries, including alleged “non-products” exposures. The settlement has received initial bankruptcy court approval and CNA expects to procure confirmation of a bankruptcy plan containing an injunction to protect CNA from any future claims.

CNA is engaged in insurance coverage litigation with underlying plaintiffs who have asbestos bodily injury claims against the former Robert A. Keasbey Company (Keasbey) in New York state court (Continental Casualty Co. v. Nationwide Indemnity Co. et al., No. 601037/03 (N.Y. County)). Keasbey, a currently dissolved corporation, was a seller and installer of asbestos-containing insulation products in

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New York and New Jersey. Thousands of plaintiffs have filed bodily injury claims against Keasbey; however, Keasbey’s involvement at a number of work sites is a highly contested issue. Therefore, the defense disputes the percentage of valid claims against Keasbey. CNA issued Keasbey primary policies for 1970-1987 and excess policies for 1972-1978. CNA has paid an amount substantially equal to the policies’ aggregate limits for products and completed operations claims. Claimants against Keasbey allege, among other things, that CNA owes coverage under sections of the policies not subject to the aggregate limits, an allegation CNA vigorously contests in the lawsuit.

CNA has insurance coverage disputes related to asbestos bodily injury claims against Burns & Roe Enterprises, Inc. (Burns & Roe). Originally raised in litigation, now stayed, these disputes are currently part of In re: Burns & Roe Enterprises, Inc., pending in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey, No. 00-41610. Burns & Roe provided engineering and related services in connection with construction projects. At the time of its bankruptcy filing, Burns & Roe faced approximately 11,000 claims alleging bodily injury resulting from exposure to asbestos as a result of construction projects in which Burns & Roe was involved. CNA allegedly provided primary liability coverage to Burns & Roe from 1956-1969 and 1971-1974, along with certain project-specific policies from 1964-1970.

CIC issued certain primary and excess policies to Bendix Corporation (Bendix), now part of Honeywell International, Inc. (Honeywell). Honeywell faces approximately 75,105 pending asbestos bodily injury claims resulting from alleged exposure to Bendix friction products. CIC’s primary policies allegedly covered the period from at least 1939 (when Bendix began to use asbestos in its friction products) to 1983, although the parties disagree about whether CIC’s policies provided product liability coverage before 1940 and from 1945 to 1956. CIC asserts that it owes no further material obligations to Bendix under any primary policy. Honeywell alleges that two primary policies issued by CIC covering 1969-1975 contain occurrence limits but not product liability aggregate limits for asbestos bodily injury claims. CIC has asserted, among other things, which even if Honeywell’s allegation is correct, which CNA denies, its liability is limited to a single occurrence limit per policy or per year, and in the alternative, a proper allocation of losses would substantially limit its exposure under the 1969-1975 policies to asbestos claims. These and other issues are being litigated in Continental Insurance Co., et al. v. Honeywell International Inc., No. MRS-L-1523-00 (Morris County, New Jersey).

Policyholders have also initiated litigation directly against CNA and other insurers in four jurisdictions: Ohio, Texas, West Virginia and Montana. In the two Ohio actions, plaintiffs allege the defendants negligently performed duties undertaken to protect workers and the public from the effects of asbestos (Varner v. Ford Motor Co., et al. (Cuyahoga County, Ohio) and Peplowski v. Ace American Ins. Co., et al. (U.S.D.C. N.D. Ohio)). The state trial court recently granted insurers, including CNA, summary judgment against a representative group of plaintiffs, ruling that insurers had no duty to warn plaintiffs about asbestos. Similar lawsuits have also been filed in Texas against CNA, and other insurers and non-insurer corporate defendants asserting liability for failing to warn of the dangers of asbestos (Boson v. Union Carbide Corp., et al. (District Court of Nueces County, Texas)). Many of the Texas claims have been dismissed as time-barred by the applicable statute of limitations. In other claims, the Texas court recently ruled that the carriers did not owe any duty to the plaintiffs or the general public to advise on the effects of asbestos thereby dismissing these claims. The time period for filing an appeal of this ruling has not expired and it remains uncertain whether the plaintiffs’ will continue to pursue their causes of action.

CNA has been named in Adams v. Aetna, Inc., et al. (Circuit Court of Kanawha County, West Virginia), a purported class action against CNA and other insurers, alleging that the defendants violated West Virginia’s Unfair Trade Practices Act in handling and resolving asbestos claims against their policy-holders. A direct action has also been filed in Montana (Pennock, et al. v. Maryland Casualty, et al. First Judicial District Court of Lewis & Clark County, Montana) by eight individual plaintiffs (all employees

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CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION

of W.R. Grace & Co. (W.R. Grace)) and their spouses against CNA, Maryland Casualty and the State of Montana. This action alleges that the carriers failed to warn of or otherwise protect W.R. Grace employees from the dangers of asbestos at a W.R. Grace vermiculite mining facility in Libby, Montana. The Montana direct action is currently stayed as to CNA because of W.R. Grace’s pending bankruptcy.

CNA is vigorously defending these and other cases and believes that it has meritorious defenses to the claims asserted. However, there are numerous factual and legal issues to be resolved in connection with these claims, and it is extremely difficult to predict the outcome or ultimate financial exposure represented by these matters. Adverse developments with respect to any of these matters could have a material adverse effect on CNA’s business, insurer financial strength and debt ratings, and results of operations and/or equity.

As a result of the uncertainties and complexities involved, reserves for asbestos claims cannot be estimated with traditional actuarial techniques that rely on historical accident year loss development factors. In establishing asbestos reserves, CNA evaluates the exposure presented by each insured. As part of this evaluation, CNA considers the available insurance coverage; limits and deductibles; the potential role of other insurance, particularly underlying coverage below any CNA excess liability policies; and applicable coverage defenses, including asbestos exclusions. Estimation of asbestos-related claim and claim adjustment expense reserves involves a high degree of judgment on the part of management and consideration of many complex factors, including: inconsistency of court decisions, jury attitudes and future court decisions; specific policy provisions; allocation of liability among insurers and insureds; missing policies and proof of coverage; the proliferation of bankruptcy proceedings and attendant uncertainties; novel theories asserted by policyholders and their counsel; the targeting of a broader range of businesses and entities as defendants; the uncertainty as to which other insureds may be targeted in the future and the uncertainties inherent in predicting the number of future claims; volatility in claim numbers and settlement demands; increases in the number of non-impaired claimants and the extent to which they can be precluded from making claims; the efforts by insureds to obtain coverage not subject to aggregate limits; the long latency period between asbestos exposure and disease manifestation and the resulting potential for involvement of multiple policy periods for individual claims; medical inflation trends; the mix of asbestos-related diseases presented and the ability to recover reinsurance.

Environmental Pollution and Mass Tort

Environmental pollution cleanup is the subject of both federal and state regulation. By some estimates, there are thousands of potential waste sites subject to cleanup. The insurance industry is involved in extensive litigation regarding coverage issues. Judicial interpretations in many cases have expanded the scope of coverage and liability beyond the original intent of the policies. The Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (Superfund) and comparable state statutes (mini-Superfunds) govern the cleanup and restoration of toxic waste sites and formalize the concept of legal liability for cleanup and restoration by “Potentially Responsible Parties” (PRPs). Superfund and the mini-Superfunds establish mechanisms to pay for cleanup of waste sites if PRPs fail to do so and assign liability to PRPs. The extent of liability to be allocated to a PRP is dependent upon a variety of factors. Further, the number of waste sites subject to cleanup is unknown. To date, approximately 1,400 cleanup sites have been identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and included on its National Priorities List (NPL). State authorities have designated many cleanup sites as well.

Many policyholders have made claims against various CNA insurance subsidiaries for defense costs and indemnification in connection with environmental pollution matters. The vast majority of these claims

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relate to accident years 1989 and prior, which coincides with CNA’s adoption of the Simplified Commercial General Liability coverage form, which includes what is referred to in the industry as an absolute pollution exclusion. CNA and the insurance industry are disputing coverage for many such claims. Key coverage issues include whether cleanup costs are considered damages under the policies, trigger of coverage, allocation of liability among triggered policies, applicability of pollution exclusions and owned property exclusions, the potential for joint and several liability and the definition of an occurrence. To date, courts have been inconsistent in their rulings on these issues.

A number of proposals to modify Superfund have been made by various parties. However, no modifications were enacted by Congress during 2003 or in the first three quarters of 2004, and it is unclear what positions Congress or the Administration will take and what legislation, if any, will result in the future. If there is legislation, and in some circumstances even if there is no legislation, the federal role in environmental cleanup may be significantly reduced in favor of state action. Substantial changes in the federal statute or the activity of the EPA may cause states to reconsider their environmental cleanup statutes and regulations. There can be no meaningful prediction of the pattern of regulation that would result or the possible effect upon CNA’s results of operations or equity.

As of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, CNA carried approximately $508 million and $577 million of claim and claim adjustment expense reserves, net of reinsurance recoverables, for reported and unreported environmental pollution and mass tort claims. There was no environmental pollution and mass tort net claim and claim adjustment expense reserve development for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and $153 million of unfavorable reserve development for the nine months ended September 30, 2003. The Company paid environmental pollution-related claims and mass tort-related claims, net of reinsurance recoveries, of $79 million and $68 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003. Additionally, the Company recorded $10 million of current accident year losses related to mass tort in 2004.

CNA has made resolution of large environmental pollution exposures a management priority. The Company has resolved a number of its large environmental accounts by negotiating settlement agreements. In its settlements, CNA sought to resolve those exposures and obtain the broadest release language to avoid future claims from the same policyholders seeking coverage for sites or claims that had not emerged at the time CNA settled with its policyholder. While the terms of each settlement agreement vary, CNA sought to obtain broad environmental releases that include known and unknown sites, claims and policies. The broad scope of the release provisions contained in those settlement agreements should, in many cases, prevent future exposure from settled policyholders. It remains uncertain, however, whether a court interpreting the language of the settlement agreements will adhere to the intent of the parties and uphold the broad scope of language of the agreements.

In 2003, CNA observed a marked increase in silica claims frequency in Mississippi, where plaintiff attorneys appear to have filed claims to avoid the effect of tort reform. In 2004, silica claims frequency in Mississippi has moderated notably due to implementation of tort reform measures and favorable court decisions. To date, the most significant silica exposures identified included a relatively small number of accounts with significant numbers of new claims reported in 2003 and continuing in 2004. Establishing claim and claim adjustment expense reserves for silica claims is subject to uncertainties because of disputes concerning medical causation with respect to certain diseases, including lung cancer, geographical concentration of the lawsuits asserting the claims, and the large rise in the total number of claims without underlying epidemiological developments suggesting an increase in disease rates or plaintiffs. Moreover, judicial interpretations regarding application of various tort defenses, including

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application of various theories of joint and several liabilities, impede the Company’s ability to estimate its ultimate liability for such claims.

Net Prior Year Development

Unfavorable net prior year development of $116 million, including $227 million of unfavorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and $111 million of favorable premium development, was recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2004. Unfavorable net prior year development of $2,835 million, including $2,312 million of unfavorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and $523 million of unfavorable premium development, was recorded for the same period in 2003. The gross carried claim and claim adjustment expense reserves for CNAF were $31,495 million and $31,730 million at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003. The net carried claim and claim adjustment expense reserves for CNAF were $17,457 million and $17,514 million at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003.

Standard Lines

Unfavorable net prior year development of $13 million, including $111 million of unfavorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and $98 million of favorable premium development, was recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 for Standard Lines. Unfavorable net prior year development of $1,425 million, including $957 million of unfavorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and $468 million of unfavorable premium development, was recorded for the same period in 2003. The gross and net carried claim and claim adjustment expense reserves were $14,370 million and $9,236 million at September 30, 2004. The gross and net carried claim and claim adjustment expense reserves for Standard Lines were $14,282 million and $8,967 million at December 31, 2003.

In the second quarter of 2004, the Company finalized commutation agreements with several members of the Trenwick Group. These commutations resulted in unfavorable claim and claim adjustment expense reserve development which was more than offset by a release of a previously established allowance for uncollectible reinsurance.

In addition approximately $75 million of unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense development recorded in the second quarter of 2004 resulted from increased severity trends for workers compensation on large account policies primarily in accident years 2002 and prior. Favorable premium development on retrospectively rated large account policies of $25 million was recorded in relation to this unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense development. Also, favorable net prior year premium development of approximately $60 million resulted primarily from higher audit and endorsement premiums on workers compensation and general liability policies. Approximately $30 million of the unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development was recorded related to the higher audit and endorsement premium.

In the third quarter of 2004, approximately $15 million of unfavorable net prior claim and allocated claim adjustment expense development was recorded in relation to the Company’s share of the National Workers Compensation Reinsurance Pool (NWCRP). During the third quarter of 2004, the NWCRP reached an agreement with a former pool member to settle their pool liabilities at an amount less than their established share. The result of this settlement will be a higher allocation to the remaining pool members, including the Company.

The following discusses net prior year development for Standard Lines recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2003.

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CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION

Approximately $495 million of unfavorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development was recorded related to construction defect claims for the nine months ended September 30, 2003. Based on analyses completed during the third quarter of 2003, it became apparent that the assumptions regarding the number of claims, which were used to estimate the expected losses, were no longer appropriate. The analyses indicated that the actual number of claims reported during 2003 was higher than expected primarily in states other than California. States where this activity is most evident include Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Washington and Colorado. The number of claims reported in states other than California during the first six months of 2003 was almost 35% higher than the last six months of 2002. The number of claims reported during the last six months of 2002 increased by less than 10% from the first six months of 2002. In California, claims resulting from additional insured endorsements increased throughout 2003. Additional insured endorsements are regularly included on policies provided to subcontractors. The additional insured endorsement names general contractors and developers as additional insureds covered by the policy. Current California case law (Presley Homes, Inc. v. American States Insurance Company, (June 11, 2001) 90 Cal App. 4th 571, 108 Cal. Rptr. 2d 686) specifies that an individual subcontractor with an additional insured obligation has a duty to defend the additional insured in the entire action, subject to contribution or recovery later. In addition, the additional insured is allowed to choose one specific carrier to defend the entire action. These additional insured claims can remain open for a longer period of time than other construction defect claims because the additional insured defense obligation can continue until the entire case is resolved. The adverse reserve development recorded related to construction defect claims was primarily related to accident years 1999 and prior.

Unfavorable net prior year development of approximately $595 million, including $518 million of unfavorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and $77 million of unfavorable premium development, was recorded for large account business including workers compensation coverages for the nine months ended September 30, 2003. Many of the policies issued to these large accounts include provisions tailored specifically to the individual accounts. Such provisions effectively result in the insured being responsible for a portion of the loss. An example of such a provision is a deductible arrangement where the insured reimburses the Company for all amounts less than a specified dollar amount. These arrangements often limit the aggregate amount the insured is required to reimburse the Company.

Analyses completed during the second and third quarters of 2003, including claims handled by third party administrators (TPA), indicated higher losses from the large accounts. In addition, these analyses indicated that the provisions that result in the insured being responsible for a portion would have less of an impact due to the larger size of claims as well as the increased number of claims. The development recorded was primarily related to accident years 2000 and prior.

Approximately $98 million of unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, resulted from a program covering facilities that provide services to developmentally disabled individuals. This net prior year development was due to an increase in the size of known claims and increases in policyholder defense costs. With regard to average claim size, updated data showed the average claim increasing at an annual rate of approximately 20%. Prior data had shown average claim size to be level. Similar to the average claim size, updated data showed the average policyholder defense cost increasing at an annual rate of approximately 20%. Prior data had shown average policyholder defense cost to be level. The net prior year development recorded was primarily for accident years 2001 and prior.

Approximately $40 million of unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 was for excess workers compensation coverages due to increasing severity. The increase in severity means that a higher

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CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION

percentage of the total loss dollars will be the Company’s responsibility since more claims will exceed the point at which the Company’s coverage begins. The net prior year development recorded was primarily for accident year 2000.

Approximately $73 million of unfavorable development recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 was the result of a commutation of all ceded reinsurance treaties with Gerling Global Group of companies (Gerling), related to accident years 1999 through 2001, including $41 million of unfavorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense development and $32 million of unfavorable premium development.

Unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development of approximately $40 million recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 was related to a program covering tow truck and ambulance operators, primarily impacting the 2001 accident year. The Company had previously expected that loss ratios for this business would be similar to its middle market commercial automobile liability business. During 2002, the Company ceased writing business under this program.

Approximately $25 million of unfavorable net prior year premium development was recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 was related to a second quarter of 2003 reevaluation of losses ceded to a reinsurance contract covering middle market workers compensation exposures. The reevaluation of losses led to a new estimate of the number and dollar amount of claims that would be ceded under the reinsurance contract. As a result of the reevaluation of losses, the Company recorded approximately $36 million of unfavorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development, which was ceded under the contract. The net prior year development was recorded for accident year 2000.

Approximately $11 million of unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 was related to directors and officers exposures in Global Lines. The unfavorable net prior year reserve development was primarily due to securities class action cases related to certain known corporate malfeasance cases and investment banking firms. This net prior year development recorded was primarily for accident years 2000 through 2002.

The following premium and claim and allocated claim adjustment expense development was recorded in the third quarter of 2003 as a result of the elimination of deficiencies and redundancies in reserve positions within the segment. Unfavorable net prior year development of approximately $210 million related to small and middle market workers compensation exposures and approximately $110 million related to E&S lines was recorded in the third quarter of 2003. Offsetting these increases was $210 million of favorable net prior year development in the property line of business, including $79 million related to the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center Disaster and related events (WTC event).

Also, offsetting the unfavorable premium and claim and allocated claim adjustment expense development was a $215 million underwriting benefit from cessions to corporate aggregate reinsurance treaties recorded in the nine months ended September 30, 2003 of which $140 million was recorded in the third quarter of 2003. The benefit is comprised of $480 million of ceded losses and $265 million of ceded premiums for accident years 2000 and 2001.

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CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION

Specialty Lines

Unfavorable net prior year development of $39 million, including $65 million of unfavorable net claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and $26 million of favorable premium development, was recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 for Specialty Lines. Unfavorable net prior year development of $287 million, including $263 million of unfavorable net claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and $24 million of unfavorable premium development, was recorded for the same period in 2003. The gross and net carried claim and claim adjustment expense reserves were $4,658 million and $3,141 million at September 30, 2004. The gross and net carried claim and claim adjustment expense reserves for Specialty Lines were $4,200 million and $2,919 million at December 31, 2003.

The Company finalized commutation agreements with several members of the Trenwick Group in the second quarter of 2004. These commutations resulted in unfavorable claim and claim adjustment expense reserve development which was more than offset by a release of a previously established allowance for uncollectible reinsurance. Additionally, unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development resulted from the increased emergence of several large directors and officers (D&O) claims, primarily in recent accident years.

The following discusses net prior year development for Specialty Lines recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2003.

Approximately $50 million of unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 was related to increased severity in excess coverages provided to facilities providing health care services. The increase in reserves is based on reviews of individual accounts where claims had been expected to be less than the point at which the Company’s coverage applies. The current claim trends indicated that the layers of coverage provided by the Company would be impacted. The net prior year development recorded was primarily for accident years 2001 and prior.

Approximately $68 million of unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 was for surety coverages related to primarily workers compensation bond exposure from accident years 1990 and prior and large losses for accident years 1999 and 2002. Approximately $21 million of unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development was recorded in the surety line of business in the second quarter of 2003 as the result of recent developments on one large claim.

Approximately $75 million of unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 was related to directors and officers exposures in CNA Pro. The unfavorable net prior year reserve development was primarily due to securities class action cases related to certain known corporate malfeasance cases and investment banking firms. This net prior year development recorded was primarily for accident years 2000 through 2002.

Approximately $47 million of losses was recorded for third quarter of 2003 as the result of a commutation of ceded reinsurance treaties with Gerling, relating to accident years 1999 through 2002. An additional $37 million of losses was recorded in the second quarter of 2003 as the result of a commutation of three ceded reinsurance treaties covering CNA HealthPro, relating to accident years 1999 through 2001.

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The following development was recorded in the third quarter of 2003 as a result of the elimination of deficiencies and redundancies in reserve positions within the segment. An additional $50 million of unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development was recorded related to medical malpractice and long term care facilities. Partially offsetting this unfavorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development was a $27 million underwriting benefit from cessions to corporate aggregate reinsurance treaties. The benefit was comprised of $59 million of ceded losses and $32 million of ceded premiums for accident years 2000 and 2001. See Note H for further discussion of the Company’s aggregate reinsurance treaties.

Corporate and Other Non-Core

Unfavorable net prior year development of $76 million, including $63 million of net unfavorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and $13 million of unfavorable premium development, was recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 for Corporate and Other. Unfavorable net prior year development of $1,058 million, including $1,027 million of net unfavorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and $31 million of unfavorable premium development, was recorded for the same period in 2003. The gross and net carried claim and claim adjustment expense reserves were $8,760 million and $3,277 million at September 30, 2004. The gross and net carried claim and claim adjustment expense reserves for Corporate and Other were $9,672 million and $3,737 million at December 31, 2003.

The net prior year development recorded for 2004 relates primarily to commutation agreements with several members of the Trenwick Group which resulted in unfavorable net prior year development which was partially offset by a release of a previously established allowance for uncollectible reinsurance.

The following discusses net prior year development for Corporate and Other Non-Core recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2003.

Unfavorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development of $795 million related to APMT was recorded in the nine months ended September 30, 2003.

Unfavorable net prior year development of $148 million, including $109 million of unfavorable claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development and $39 million of unfavorable premium development, was recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 related to CNA Re.

The unfavorable net prior year development was primarily a result of a general change in the reporting pattern of losses as reported by the companies that purchased reinsurance from CNA Re. Losses have continued to show large increases for accident years in the late 1990s and into 2000 and 2001. These increases are greater than the increases indicated by patterns from older accident years and have a similar effect on several lines of business. Approximately $67 million unfavorable net prior year development recorded for nine months ended September 30, 2003 was related to proportional liability exposures, primarily from multi-line and umbrella treaties in accident years 1997 through 2001. Approximately $32 million of unfavorable net prior year development recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, was related to assumed financial reinsurance for accident years 2001 and prior and approximately

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CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION

$24 million of unfavorable net prior year development related to professional liability exposures in accident years 2001 and prior.

CNA Re recorded an additional $15 million of unfavorable development for construction defect related exposures. Because of the unique nature of this exposure, losses have not followed expected development patterns. The continued reporting of claims in California, the increase in the number of claims from states other than California and a review of individual ceding companies’ exposure to this type of claim resulted in an increase in the estimated reserve.

Unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development of approximately $25 million was recorded primarily for directors and officers exposures. The net prior year reserve development was a result of a claims review that was completed during the second quarter of 2003. The unfavorable net prior year reserve development was primarily due to securities class action cases related to certain known corporate malfeasance cases and investment banking firms. The net prior year reserve development recorded was for accident years 2000 and 2001.

The following premium and claim and allocated claim adjustment expense development, was recorded in the third quarter of 2003 as a result of the elimination of deficiencies and redundancies in the reserve positions of individual products within the segment. Unfavorable net prior year premium and claim and allocated claim adjustment expense development of approximately $42 million related to surety exposures, $32 million related to excess of loss liability exposures and $12 million related to facultative liability exposures were recorded in the third quarter of 2003. Offsetting this unfavorable premium and claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development was approximately $55 million of favorable development related to the WTC event. In addition, there was a $47 million underwriting benefit from cessions to corporate aggregate reinsurance treaties for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 of which $55 million was recorded in the third quarter of 2003. The benefit was comprised of $104 million of ceded losses and $57 million of ceded premiums for accident years 2000 and 2001. See Note H for further discussion of the Company’s aggregate reinsurance treaties.

Unfavorable net prior year claim and allocated claim adjustment expense reserve development of approximately $75 million recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 was related to an adverse arbitration decision in the second quarter of 2003 involving a single large property and business interruption loss. The decision was rendered against a voluntary insurance pool in which the Company was a participant. The loss was caused by a fire which occurred in 1995. The Company no longer participates in this pool.

Note H. Reinsurance

CNA assumes and cedes reinsurance with other insurers, reinsurers and members of various reinsurance pools and associations. CNA utilizes reinsurance arrangements to limit its maximum loss, provide greater diversification of risk, minimize exposures on larger risks and to exit certain lines of business. The ceding of insurance does not discharge the primary liability of the Company. Therefore, a credit exposure exists with respect to property and casualty and life reinsurance ceded to the extent that any reinsurer is unable to meet the obligations assumed under reinsurance agreements.

Interest cost on reinsurance contracts accounted for on a funds withheld basis is incurred during all periods in which a funds withheld liability exists. Interest cost, which is included in net investment income, was $55 million and $148 million for the three months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, and $161 million and $288 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003. The amount

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CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION

subject to interest crediting rates on such contracts was $2,726 million and $2,789 million at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003. Certain funds withheld reinsurance contracts, including the corporate aggregate reinsurance treaties, require interest on additional premiums arising from ceded losses as if those premiums were payable at the inception of the contract.

The amount subject to interest crediting on these funds withheld contracts will vary over time based on a number of factors, including the timing of loss payments and ultimate gross losses incurred. The Company expects that it will continue to incur significant interest costs on these contracts for several years.

The following table summarizes the amounts receivable from reinsurers at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003.

Components of reinsurance receivables

The Company has established an allowance for uncollectible reinsurance. The allowance for uncollectible reinsurance was $531 million and $573 million at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003. The net decrease in the allowance for uncollectible reinsurance was primarily due to a release of a previously established allowance related to The Trenwick Group resulting from the finalization of commutation agreements in the second quarter of 2004, partially offset by a net increase in the allowance for other reinsurance receivables. The expenses incurred related to uncollectible reinsurance receivables are presented as a component of “Insurance claims and policyholders’ benefits” on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company attempts to mitigate its credit risk related to reinsurance by entering into reinsurance arrangements only with reinsurers that have credit ratings above certain levels and by obtaining substantial amounts of collateral. The primary methods of obtaining collateral are through reinsurance trusts, letters of credit and funds withheld balances.

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The effects of reinsurance on earned premiums are shown in the following table.

Components of Earned Premiums

Life premiums are primarily from long duration contracts; property and casualty premiums and accident and health premiums are primarily from short duration contracts.

The Company has an aggregate reinsurance treaty related to the 1999 through 2001 accident years that covers substantially all of the Company’s property and casualty lines of business (the Aggregate Cover). The Aggregate Cover provides for two sections of coverage. These coverages attach at defined loss ratios for each accident year. Coverage under the first section of the Aggregate Cover, which was available for all accident years covered by the treaty, had a $500 million limit per accident year of ceded losses and an aggregate limit of $1 billion of ceded losses for the three accident years. The ceded premiums associated with the first section are a percentage of ceded losses and for each $500 million of limit the ceded premium is $230 million. The second section of the Aggregate Cover, which only relates to accident year 2001, provides additional coverage of up to $510 million of ceded losses for a maximum ceded premium of $310 million. Under the Aggregate Cover, interest charges on the funds withheld liability accrue at 8% per annum. This rate will increase to 8.25% per annum commencing in 2006. The aggregate loss ratio for the three-year period has exceeded certain thresholds, which require additional ceded premiums. The Company recorded $5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2004 and $8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 of ceded premiums under this provision. The aggregate limits under both sections of the Aggregate Cover were exhausted in 2003.

The pretax impact of the Aggregate Cover was as follows:

Pretax Impact of Aggregate Cover

In 2001, the Company entered into a one-year aggregate reinsurance treaty related to the 2001 accident year covering substantially all property and casualty lines of business in the Continental Casualty Company pool (the CCC Cover). The loss protection provided by the CCC Cover has an aggregate limit of approximately $761 million of ceded losses.

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The ceded premiums are a percentage of ceded losses. The ceded premium related to full utilization of the $761 million of limit is $456 million. The CCC Cover provides continuous coverage in excess of the second section of the Aggregate Cover discussed above. Under the CCC Cover, interest charges on the funds withheld generally accrue at 8% per annum. The interest rate increases to 10% per annum if the aggregate loss ratio exceeds certain thresholds. During 2003, the aggregate limits under the CCC Cover were exhausted.

The pretax impact of the CCC Cover was as follows:

Pretax Impact of CCC Cover

Note I. Debt

Debt is composed of the following obligations.

Debt

The $250 million CNAF credit facility was repaid on April 20, 2004.

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CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION

The CCC Group surplus note has a 20-year term and bears interest at LIBOR plus 350 basis points, reset annually. CNA plans to seek approval from the insurance regulatory authority for the repayment of the CCC Group surplus note. CNA received insurance regulatory approval for the repayment of a $300 million CCC Life surplus note issued in February of 2004, and repaid the note, including accrued interest, on June 16, 2004.

In May of 2004, CNA Surety, a 64% owned and consolidated subsidiary of CNA, issued privately, through a wholly-owned trust, $30 million of preferred securities through two pooled transactions. These securities bear interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 337.5 basis points with a thirty-year term and are redeemable after five years. The securities were issued by CNA Surety Capital Trust I (Issuer Trust). The sole asset of the Issuer Trust consists of a $31 million junior subordinated debenture issued by CNA Surety to the Issuer Trust. The subordinated debenture bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 337.5 basis points and matures in April of 2034. As of September 30, 2004, the interest rate on the junior subordinated debenture was 5.1%.

On September 30, 2003, CNA Surety entered into a $50 million credit agreement, which consisted of a $30 million two-year revolving credit facility and a $20 million two-year term loan, with semi-annual principal payments of $5 million. The credit agreement is an amendment to a $65 million credit agreement, extending the revolving loan termination date from September 30, 2003 to September 30, 2005. The new revolving credit facility was fully utilized at inception. In June of 2004, CNA Surety reduced the outstanding borrowings under the credit facility by $10 million, and in September of 2004, CNA Surety increased the outstanding borrowings under the credit facility by $5 million to fund the semi-annual term loan payment.

Under the new credit facility agreement, CNA Surety pays a facility fee of 35.0 basis points on the revolving credit portion of the facility, interest at LIBOR plus 90 basis points, and for utilization greater than 50% of the amount available to borrow an additional fee of 5.0 basis points. On the term loan, CNA Surety pays interest at LIBOR plus 62.5 basis points. At September 30, 2004, the weighted-average interest rate on the $35 million of outstanding borrowings under the credit agreement, including facility fees and utilization fees, was 3.3%.

The combined aggregate maturities for debt at September 30, 2004 are presented in the following table.

Maturity of Debt

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CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION

Note J. Benefit Plans

Pension and Postretirement Healthcare and Life Insurance Benefit Plans

CNAF and certain subsidiaries sponsor noncontributory pension plans typically covering full-time employees age 21 or over who have completed at least one year of service. While the terms of the plans vary, benefits are generally based on years of credited service and the employee’s highest 60 consecutive months of compensation. CNA uses December 31 as the measurement date for the majority of its plans.

CNA’s funding policy is to make contributions in accordance with applicable governmental regulatory requirements. The assets of the plans are invested primarily in U.S. government securities with the balance in mortgage-backed securities, equity investments, limited partnerships and short term investments.

CNA provides certain healthcare and life insurance benefits to eligible retired employees, their covered dependents and their beneficiaries. The funding for these plans is generally to pay covered expenses as they are incurred.

The components of net periodic benefit costs are presented in the following table.

Net Periodic Benefit Costs