DESCRIPTION OF ACE CAPITAL STOCK

The following is a summary of the material provisions of ACE’s Articles of Association and selected legal provisions that are related thereto. You should refer to ACE’s Articles of Association for complete information regarding its provisions, a copy of which is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

ACE’s Capital Structure

ACE’s common shares are registered shares with a par value of currently CHF 25.40 each. The common shares rank pari passu in entitlement to dividends, liquidation proceeds in case of a liquidation of ACE and pre-emptive rights. ACE does not have any shares carrying preferential rights. As of November 30, 2014, ACE had 330,179,324 common shares outstanding.

ACE’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ACE.” Its common shares currently issued and outstanding are fully paid and non-assessable, which means that its common shares are paid for in full at the time they are issued, and, once its common shares are paid for in full, there is no further liability for further assessment or taxation. Any of ACE’s common shares offered by a prospectus supplement will also be fully paid and non-assessable once they are issued to the purchaser in exchange for the full purchase price.

Authorized Share Capital .    ACE’s Articles of Association provide its Board of Directors to arrange for a share capital increase from time to time and at any time until May 15, 2016 not exceeding CHF 3,556,000,000 through the issue of up to 140,000,000 fully paid up registered shares.

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Conditional Share Capital.     ACE’s Articles of Association provide for increases of the share capital as follows:

There are no provisions of Swiss law or ACE’s Articles of Association which impose any limitation on the rights of its shareholders to hold or vote common shares by reason of their not being residents of Switzerland.

Dividend Rights

Under Swiss law, shareholders must approve in advance dividend distributions, though the determination of the record and payment dates may be delegated to the Board of Directors. In order to maintain the practice of quarterly dividends that ACE established many years ago prior to becoming a Swiss company, ACE asks its shareholders annually to approve an annual dividend distribution to be paid in four quarterly installments on dates determined by its Board of Directors. In recent years, ACE has paid dividend distributions made as a share capital decrease in form of a par value reduction or out of capital contribution reserves (additional paid in capital), in either case in four quarterly installments. ACE currently intends, subject to the discretion of its Board of Directors and the needs of its business, to propose at each annual general meeting a dividend distribution using one of these methods. ACE’s shareholders approved a U.S. $0.65 per share quarterly dividend installment at its 2014 annual general meeting, and two of the four quarterly installments have been paid as of the date of this prospectus.

Although dividend distributions are approved by shareholders as denominated in Swiss francs, payments of such dividend distributions to shareholders are made in U.S. dollars, consistent with ACE’s practices before it redomesticated to Switzerland. To limit shareholder exposure to fluctuations in the U.S. dollar/Swiss franc exchange rate, the per share amount of each quarterly installment is either defined in U.S. dollars or paid pursuant to a formula which ensures that the U.S. dollar amount of such installment remains constant through appropriate adjustment of the Swiss francs amount, in each case subject to a cap expressed in Swiss francs.

Under Swiss law, dividends (other than through reductions in par value) may be paid out only if the corporation has sufficient distributable profits from previous business years, or if the reserves of the corporation are sufficient to allow distribution of a dividend. The board of directors of a Swiss corporation may propose that a dividend be paid, but cannot itself authorize the dividend independently from a shareholders’ authorization of a maximum amount. The company auditors must confirm that the dividend proposal of the Board of Directors conforms with statutory law and the articles of association. Prior to the distribution of dividends, five percent of the annual profits must be allocated to the general reserve until the amount of general reserves has reached twenty percent of the paid-in nominal share capital. ACE’s Articles of Association can provide for a higher general reserve or for the creation of further reserves setting forth their purpose and use. Once this level has been reached and maintained, the shareholders meeting may approve a distribution of each year’s profit within the framework of applicable legal requirements. Unless otherwise resolved, dividends are usually due and payable immediately after the shareholders’ resolution relating to the allocation of profits has been passed. Under Swiss law, the statute of limitations in respect of claims for dividend payments is five years. Distributions in the form of a par value reduction must also be approved by shareholders, require confirmation by an audit expert that the creditors’ claims are fully covered and are subject to a special procedure in which creditors may ask to be satisfied or secured before payment of the distribution. To the extent ACE pays distributions in the form of par value reductions or dividends from its qualifying capital contribution reserves, they will not be subject to Swiss withholding tax under current law.

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Voting Rights

Each share is entitled to one vote subject to certain limitations mentioned below. A shareholder of record has the right to grant his voting proxy directly to the independent proxy or to grant a written proxy to any person, who does not need to be a shareholder, or to vote in person at the shareholders’ meeting. The independent proxy is obliged to exercise the voting rights granted by shareholders in accordance with shareholder instructions; absent of such instructions, it must abstain from voting.

Under ACE’s Articles of Association, resolutions generally require the approval of an absolute majority of the votes present at the shareholders’ meeting, each share granting the right to one vote. Shareholders resolutions requiring a vote by absolute majority include amendments to ACE’s Articles of Association, elections of directors and statutory auditors, approval of the annual report and the consolidated financial statements, setting the annual dividend, decisions to discharge directors and management from liability for matters disclosed to the shareholders’ meeting and the ordering of an independent investigation into the specific matters proposed to the shareholders’ meeting ( Sonderprüfung ).

The approval of at least two-thirds of the votes represented at a shareholders’ meeting will be, however, required for resolutions with respect to:

Pursuant to the Swiss Federal Merger Act, special quorum rules apply by law to a merger ( Fusion ) (including a possible squeeze-out merger), de-merger ( Spaltung ) or conversion ( Umwandlung ) of a company.

Except as noted below, ACE’s Articles of Association confer on the holders of shares equal rights, including equal voting and equal financial rights, with each share carrying one vote at ACE’s shareholders’ meetings.

To be able to exercise voting rights, holders of the shares must apply to ACE for enrollment in its share register ( Aktienregister ) as shareholders with voting rights. Registered holders of shares may obtain the form of declaration from ACE’s transfer agent. Cede & Co., as nominee of The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, will make such declaration with respect to shares held in “street name.” Purchasers of shares will be required to disclose their name and address and that they have acquired their shares in their name and for their account in order to be recorded in ACE’s share register as shareholders with voting rights. As discussed under “Transfer of Shares,” registration with voting rights has some restrictions.

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Persons not expressly declaring themselves to be holding shares for their own account in the application for entry in the share register will not be registered as shareholders with voting rights. Certain exceptions exist with regard to nominees.

Legal entities or partnerships or other associations or joint ownership arrangements which are linked through capital ownership or voting rights, through common management or in like manner, as well as individuals, legal entities or partnerships (especially syndicates) which act in concert with intent to evade the entry restrictions are considered as one shareholder or nominee.

Failing registration as shareholder with voting rights, registered shareholders may not participate in or vote at ACE’s shareholders’ meetings, but will be entitled to dividends, preemptive rights and liquidation proceeds. Only shareholders that are registered as shareholders with voting rights on the relevant record date are permitted to participate in and vote at a general shareholders’ meeting.

Notwithstanding the above, if and so long as the Controlled Shares (as defined below) of any individual or legal entity constitute ten percent or more of the registered share capital recorded in the commercial register, such individual or legal entity shall be entitled to cast votes at any ordinary or extraordinary shareholders’ meeting in the aggregate equal to the number (rounded down to the nearest whole number) obtained from following formula: (T ÷ 10) - 1, where “T” is the aggregate number of votes conferred by all the registered share capital recorded in the commercial register. “Controlled Shares” are all shares of ACE directly, indirectly or constructively owned or beneficially by such individual or entity.

ACE’s common shares have noncumulative voting rights, which means that the holders of a majority of its common shares may elect all of its directors, and, in this event, the holders of the remaining shares will not be able to elect any directors. ACE’s directors are elected for one-year terms. Directors may be removed without cause at any time and with immediate effect by resolution of the shareholders at an ordinary or extraordinary shareholders’ meeting.

Shareholders’ Meeting

The shareholders’ meeting is ACE’s supreme body. Ordinary and extraordinary shareholders’ meetings may be held. Currently, the following powers will be vested exclusively in the shareholders’ meeting:

In conjunction with recent changes to Swiss law, beginning with ACE’s 2015 annual general meeting, the annual binding approval of the maximum aggregate compensation of the Board of Directors and ACE’s executive management will also be vested exclusively in the shareholder meeting.

ACE’s annual shareholders’ meeting must be held within six months after the end of a financial year.

ACE’s extraordinary shareholders’ meetings may be convened by the Board of Directors or, under certain circumstances, by the statutory auditors or the liquidators. The Board of Directors is further required to convene

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an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting if so resolved by a shareholders’ meeting or if so requested by shareholders with voting powers who represent at least 10 percent of ACE’s nominal share capital. Shareholders with voting powers whose combined holdings represent shares with a nominal value of at least CHF 1 million have the right to request that a specific proposal be put on the agenda and voted upon at the next shareholders’ meeting. Such request must be made at least 45 days prior to the relevant shareholders’ meeting.

ACE’s shareholders’ meetings will be held at ACE’s place of incorporation, unless the Board of Directors decides otherwise. Notice of an ordinary or extraordinary shareholders’ meeting must be given by the Board of Directors or, if necessary, by the auditors, no later than 20 days prior to the meeting date. Such notice is given by way of an announcement appearing once in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce ( Schweizerisches Handelsamtsblatt ). The notice period is deemed to have been observed if notice of the meeting is published in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce whereby the date of publication is not calculated when computing the period. Shareholders may in addition be informed by ordinary mail. The notice of a meeting must state the items on the agenda and the proposals of the Board of Directors and of the shareholders who demanded that a shareholders’ meeting be held or that an item be included on the agenda and, in case of elections, the names of the nominated candidates. No resolutions may be passed at a shareholders’ meeting concerning agenda items for which proper notice was not given. This does not apply, however, to proposals made during a shareholders’ meeting to convene an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting or to initiate a special audit. No previous notification will be required for proposals concerning items included on the agenda, and for debates as to which no vote is taken.

ACE’s annual report and auditor’s report must be made available for inspection by the shareholders at its place of incorporation no later than twenty days prior to the meeting. Each shareholder is entitled to request immediate delivery of a copy of these documents free of charge. Shareholders of record will be notified of this in writing.

There is no quorum requirement for ordinary or extraordinary shareholders’ meetings.

Shareholder Proposals

Shareholders with voting powers whose combined holdings represent shares with a nominal value of at least CHF 1 million may, according to ACE’s Articles of Association up to 45 days before the date of the meeting, demand that matters be included in the agenda. Such demands shall be in writing addressed to the Chairman and shall specify the items and the proposals to be submitted.

Action without a Meeting

Under Swiss law, resolutions in lieu of a shareholders’ meeting by written consent are not permitted.

Preemptive Rights

Under Swiss law, any increase of ACE’s share capital, whether for cash or non-cash consideration, requires prior shareholder approval. Shareholders of a Swiss corporation have preemptive rights to subscribe for new issues of shares, warrants, convertible bonds, or similar debt instruments with option rights in proportion to the nominal amount of shares held ( Bezugsrechte , Vorwegzeichnungsrechte ). A resolution adopted at a shareholders’ meeting by a two-thirds majority vote may, however, limit or withdraw such preemptive rights, but only for important and valid reasons ( wichtiger Grund ) (such as a merger, an acquisition, or participation of employees).

ACE’s Articles of Association provide for the following conditional share capital, which will permit its Board of Directors to increase its share capital and to issue new shares without further shareholder approval within certain parameters:

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Conditional share capital for convertible bonds and similar debt instruments issued by ACE or one of its subsidiaries allows that registered shares may be issued upon the exercise of conversion and/or option or warrant rights granted in connection with bonds, notes or similar instruments, issued or to be issued by ACE or by subsidiaries of ACE, including convertible debt instruments.

Shareholders’ advance subscription rights with regard to the new bonds, notes or similar instruments may be restricted or excluded by decision of the Board of Directors in order to finance or refinance the acquisition of companies, parts of companies or holdings, or new investments planned by ACE, or in order to issue convertible bonds and warrants on the international capital markets.

If advance subscription rights are excluded, then:

Where such increase of share capital is used for employee benefit plans , shareholders’ pre-emptive rights shall be excluded with regard to these shares. These new registered shares may be issued at a price below the current market price. The Board of Directors shall specify the precise conditions of issue.

The acquisition of registered shares through the exercise of conversion rights or warrants and any further transfers of registered shares shall be subject to the restrictions on registration specified under “Transfers of Shares.”

DESCRIPTION OF ACE INA DEBT SECURITIES AND ACE GUARANTEE

The following description of the ACE INA debt securities and the ACE guarantee sets forth the material terms and provisions of the ACE INA debt securities and the ACE guarantee to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The ACE INA senior debt securities are to be issued under an indenture, referred to in this prospectus as the ACE INA senior indenture, among ACE INA, ACE and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (as successor), as trustee, dated as of August 1, 1999, a copy of which is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The ACE INA subordinated debt securities are to be issued under an indenture, referred to in this prospectus as the ACE INA subordinated indenture, among ACE INA, ACE and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (as successor), as trustee, dated December 1, 1999, a copy of which is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The ACE INA senior indenture and the ACE INA subordinated indenture are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the ACE INA indentures and each individually as an ACE INA indenture. The specific terms applicable to a particular issuance of ACE INA debt securities and any variations from the terms set forth below will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The following is a summary of the material terms and provisions of the ACE INA indentures, the ACE INA debt securities and the ACE guarantee. You should refer to the ACE INA indentures and the ACE INA debt securities for complete information regarding the terms and provisions of the ACE INA indentures, the ACE INA debt securities and the ACE guarantee. The ACE INA indentures are substantially identical, except for the covenants of ACE INA and ACE and provisions relating to subordination.

General

The ACE INA indentures do not limit the aggregate principal amount of ACE INA debt securities which ACE INA may issue. ACE INA may issue ACE INA debt securities under the ACE INA indenture from time to time in one or more series. The ACE INA indentures do not limit the amount of other indebtedness or ACE INA debt securities, other than secured indebtedness which ACE, ACE INA or their respective subsidiaries may issue.

Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the ACE INA senior debt securities will be unsecured obligations of ACE INA and will rank equally with all of its other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness, subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of ACE INA’s senior indebtedness, which term includes ACE INA senior debt securities, as described below under “Subordination of

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ACE INA Subordinated Debt Securities.” The ACE INA subordinated debt securities of any series issued to an ACE Trust will rank equally with each other series of ACE INA subordinated debt securities issued to other ACE Trusts.

Because ACE INA is a holding company, its rights and the rights of its creditors, including you as a holder of ACE INA debt securities, to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon that subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization or otherwise would be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors, except to the extent that ACE INA is a creditor of the subsidiary. The rights of creditors of ACE INA, including you as a holder of ACE INA debt securities, to participate in the distribution of stock owned by ACE INA in its subsidiaries, including ACE INA’s insurance subsidiaries, may also be subject to the approval of insurance regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the subsidiaries.

If ACE INA subordinated debt securities are issued to an ACE Trust in connection with the issuance of securities by that ACE Trust, those ACE INA subordinated debt securities may subsequently be distributed pro rata to the holders of the securities of the ACE Trust under the dissolution of that ACE Trust. This type of distribution would only occur upon the occurrence of specified events, which will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Only one series of ACE INA subordinated debt securities will be issued to an ACE Trust in connection with the issuance of securities by that ACE Trust.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms of the offered ACE INA debt securities:

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ACE INA will have the ability under the ACE INA indentures to reopen a previously issued series of ACE INA debt securities and issue additional ACE INA debt securities of that series or establish additional terms of that series. ACE INA is also permitted to issue ACE INA debt securities with the same terms as previously issued ACE INA debt securities. (Section 3.1)

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Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, principal of, premium and interest on and additional amounts, if any, on the ACE INA debt securities will initially be payable at the corporate trust office of the trustee, or any other office or agency designated by ACE INA for this purpose. Interest on ACE INA debt securities issued in registered form:

ACE INA will designate the initial paying agents, which will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement, and may, at any time, designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts. However, ACE INA is required to maintain a paying agent in each place where the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to the ACE INA debt securities are payable.

Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, you may present the ACE INA debt securities for transfer, duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer if so required by ACE INA or the security registrar, or exchange for other ACE INA debt securities of the same series containing identical terms and provisions, in any authorized denominations, and of a like aggregate principal amount, in each case at the office or agency maintained by ACE INA for these purposes. This office will initially be the corporate trust office of the trustee. Any transfer or exchange will be made without service charge, although ACE INA may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge and any other expenses then payable. ACE INA is not required to:

ACE INA has appointed the trustee as security registrar. The security registrar and any transfer agent initially designated by ACE INA will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. At any time, ACE INA may designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts. However, ACE INA is required to maintain a transfer agent in each place where the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to the ACE INA debt securities are payable. (Section 10.2)

Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, ACE INA will only issue the ACE INA debt securities in fully registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000. (Section 3.2) If the ACE INA debt securities are issued in bearer form, any restrictions and considerations, including offering restrictions and U.S. Federal income tax considerations applicable to, and to payment on and transfer and exchange of, these securities, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The ACE INA debt securities may be issued as original issue discount securities, which means that they will bear no interest or bear interest at a rate which, at the time of issuance, is below market rates. ACE INA debt securities issued as original issue discount securities will be sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount. U.S. Federal income tax and other considerations applicable to original issue discount securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

If the purchase price, or the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to, any ACE INA debt securities is payable, or if any ACE INA debt securities are denominated, in one or more foreign currencies or currency units, the restrictions, elections, U.S. Federal income tax considerations, specific terms and other information will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, other than as described below under “— Covenants Applicable to ACE INA Senior Debt Securities — Limitation on Liens on Stock of Designated Subsidiaries,” the ACE INA indentures do not contain any provisions that would limit the ability of ACE INA to incur indebtedness or that would afford holders of ACE INA debt securities protection in the event of a sudden and significant decline in the credit quality of ACE INA or ACE or a takeover, recapitalization or highly leveraged or similar transaction involving ACE INA or ACE. Accordingly, ACE INA or ACE could in the future enter into transactions that could increase the amount of its outstanding indebtedness that could affect its respective capital structure or credit rating.

ACE Guarantee

ACE will fully and unconditionally guarantee all payments on the ACE INA debt securities. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, ACE’s guarantee of the ACE INA senior debt securities will be an unsecured obligation of ACE and will rank equally with all of its other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. ACE’s guarantee of the ACE INA subordinated debt securities will be an unsecured obligation of ACE, subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all ACE senior indebtedness. ACE’s guarantee of the ACE INA subordinated debt securities issued to an ACE Trust will rank equally with ACE’s guarantee of each other series of ACE subordinated debt securities issued to other ACE Trusts.

Since ACE is a holding company, its rights and the rights of its creditors, including you as a holder of the ACE INA debt securities who would be a creditor of it by virtue of its guarantee, and shareholders to participate in any distribution of the assets of any subsidiary upon the subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization or otherwise would be subject to prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors, except to the extent that ACE may be a creditor of the subsidiary. The right of ACE’s creditors, including you, to participate in the distribution of the stock owned by ACE in some of its subsidiaries, including ACE’s insurance subsidiaries, may also be subject to approval by insurance regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the subsidiaries.

Conversion and Exchange

The terms, if any, on which ACE INA debt securities are convertible into or exchangeable for, either mandatorily, at your option or at ACE INA’s option, for common shares of ACE or other securities, whether or not issued by ACE, property or cash, or a combination of any of these, will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Payments of Additional Amounts

ACE will make all payments on ACE INA debt securities without withholding of any present or future taxes or governmental charges of Switzerland, the Cayman Islands or Bermuda, each referred to in this prospectus as a taxing jurisdiction, unless ACE is required to do so by applicable law or regulation.

If ACE is required to withhold amounts, it will, subject to the limitations described below, pay to you additional amounts so that every net payment made to you, after the withholding will not be the same amount provided for in the ACE INA debt security and the applicable ACE INA indenture.

ACE will not be required to pay any additional amounts for

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In addition, ACE will not pay additional amounts if you are a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of the ACE debt security if the beneficiary or partner or settlor would not have been entitled to the additional amounts had it been the holder of the ACE debt security. (Section 10.4)

Global Securities

The ACE INA debt securities may be issued, in whole or in part, in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee. Interests in any global ACE INA debt security will be shown on, and transfers of the ACE INA debt securities will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary and its participants as described below.

The specific terms of the depositary arrangement will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Option to Extend Interest Payment Date

If and as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, ACE INA will have the right, at any time and from time to time during the term of any series of ACE INA subordinated debt securities issued to an ACE Trust, to defer payment of interest for a number of consecutive interest payment periods, which we refer to in this prospectus as an extension period. However, no extension period may extend beyond the stated maturity of the ACE INA subordinated debt securities. U.S. Federal income tax consequences and other considerations applicable to the ACE INA subordinated debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. (Section 3.11 of the ACE INA subordinated indenture)

Covenants Applicable to ACE INA Senior Debt Securities

Limitation on Liens on Stock of Designated Subsidiaries

Under the ACE INA senior indenture, each of ACE INA and ACE will covenant that, so long as any ACE INA senior debt securities are outstanding, it will not, nor will it permit any subsidiary to create, incur, assume, guarantee or otherwise permit to exist any indebtedness secured by any security interest on any shares of capital stock of any designated subsidiary, unless ACE INA and ACE concurrently provide that the ACE INA senior debt securities and, if ACE INA and ACE elect, any other indebtedness of ACE INA that is not subordinate to the ACE INA senior debt securities and with respect to which the governing instruments require, or pursuant to which the ACE INA is otherwise obligated, to provide such security, will be secured equally with the indebtedness for at least the time period the other indebtedness is so secured. (Section 10.5 of the ACE INA senior indenture)

The term “designated subsidiary” means any present or future consolidated subsidiary of ACE, the consolidated net worth of which constitutes at least 5 percent of ACE’s consolidated net worth. (Section 1.1 of the ACE INA senior indenture)

For purposes of the ACE INA indentures, the term “indebtedness” means, with respect to any person:

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Limitations on Disposition of Stock of Designated Subsidiaries

The ACE INA senior indenture also provides that, so long as any ACE INA senior debt securities are outstanding and except in a transaction otherwise governed by the ACE INA indentures, neither ACE INA nor ACE will issue, sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any shares of, securities convertible into, or warrants, rights or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of, capital stock, other than preferred stock having no voting rights, of any designated subsidiary. Similarly, ACE INA will not permit any designated subsidiary to issue, other than to ACE INA or ACE, these types of securities, warrants, rights or options, other than director’s qualifying shares and preferred stock having no voting rights, of any designated subsidiary, if, after giving effect to the transaction and the issuance of the maximum number of shares issuable upon the conversion or exercise of all the convertible securities, warrants, rights or options, ACE would own, directly or indirectly, less than 80 percent of the shares of capital stock of the designated subsidiary, other than preferred stock having no voting rights.

However, ACE INA may issue, sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of securities if the consideration is at least a fair market value as determined by ACE INA’s board or if required by law or regulation. ACE INA or ACE, as the case may be, may also merge or consolidate any designated subsidiary into or with another direct or indirect subsidiary of ACE, the shares of capital stock of which ACE owns at least 80 percent or, subject to the provisions described under “— Consolidation, Amalgamation, Merger and Sale of Assets” below, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the entire capital stock of any designated subsidiary at one time if the consideration is at least fair market value as determined by ACE INA’s or ACE’s board. (Section 10.6 of the ACE INA senior indenture)

Covenants Applicable to ACE INA Subordinated Debt Securities Issued to an ACE Trust

Each of ACE INA and ACE will also covenant, as to each series of ACE INA subordinated debt securities issued to an ACE Trust in connection with the issuance of preferred securities and common securities by that ACE Trust, that it will not, and will not permit any of its subsidiaries to:

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If ACE INA subordinated debt securities are issued to an ACE Trust in connection with the issuance of preferred securities and common securities of the ACE Trust, for so long as the ACE INA subordinated debt securities remain outstanding, ACE INA will also covenant:

Consolidation, Amalgamation, Merger and Sale of Assets

Each ACE INA indenture provides that ACE INA and ACE may not:

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Events of Default

Each of the following events will constitute an event of default under each ACE INA indenture, whether it be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body:

If an event of default with respect to the ACE INA debt securities of any series, other than events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, occurs and is continuing, either the trustee or the holders of not less than 25 percent in principal amount of the outstanding ACE INA debt securities of the series may declare the

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principal amount, or a lesser amount as may be provided for in the ACE INA debt securities, of all outstanding ACE INA debt securities of the series to be immediately due and payable by written notice. In the case of an event of default with respect to a series of ACE INA subordinated debt securities issued to an ACE Trust, if the trustee or the holders fail to declare the principal amount, or lesser amount, to be due and payable immediately, the holders of at least 25 percent in liquidation amount of the outstanding preferred securities of the ACE Trust may do so by written notice. At any time after a declaration of acceleration has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of money has been obtained by the trustee, generally, the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the ACE INA debt securities of the series may rescind and annul the declaration of acceleration. In the case of a series of ACE INA subordinated debt securities issued to an ACE Trust, if the holders fail to rescind and annul the declaration, the holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the outstanding preferred securities of the ACE Trust may, subject to satisfaction of specified conditions, rescind and annul the declaration by written notice. Any event of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization will cause the principal amount and accrued interest, or the lesser amount as provided for in the ACE INA debt securities, to become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act by the trustee or any holder. (Section 5.2)

Each ACE INA indenture provides that, within 90 days after the occurrence of any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an event of default the trustee must transmit, notice of the default to each holder of the ACE INA debt securities unless the default has been cured or waived. However, except in the case of a default in the payment of principal of, or premium or interest, if any, on or additional amounts or any sinking fund or purchase fund installment with respect to any ACE INA debt security, the trustee may withhold this notice if and so long as the Board of Directors, executive committee or trust committee of directors and/or responsible officers of the trustee determine in good faith that the withholding of the notice is in the best interest of the holders. (Section 6.2)

If an event of default occurs and is continuing with respect to the ACE INA debt securities of any series, the trustee may, in its discretion, proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the holders of ACE INA debt securities by all appropriate judicial proceedings. (Section 5.3) Each ACE INA indenture provides that, subject to the duty of the trustee during any default to act with the required standard of care, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the ACE INA indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders, unless the holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity. (Section 6.1) Subject to these indemnification provisions, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding ACE INA debt securities of any series will generally have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, with respect to the ACE INA debt securities of the series. (Section 5.12)

If an event of default with respect to a series of ACE INA subordinated debt securities issued to an ACE Trust has occurred and is continuing and this event is attributable to a default in the payment of principal of, any premium or interest on or additional amounts with respect to the related ACE INA subordinated debt securities on the date the principal, premium, interest or additional amounts are otherwise payable, a holder of preferred securities of the ACE Trust may institute directly a legal proceeding against ACE INA or ACE, pursuant to the ACE guarantee, for enforcement of payment to the holder of the principal of, any premium and interest on and additional amounts with respect to the related ACE INA subordinated debt securities having a principal amount equal to the liquidation amount of the holder’s related preferred securities, referred to in this prospectus as a direct action. (Section 5.8 of the ACE INA subordinated indenture) ACE INA and ACE may not amend the ACE INA subordinated indenture to remove this right to bring a direct action without the prior consent of the holders of all of the outstanding preferred securities of the ACE Trust. (Section 9.2 of the ACE INA subordinated indenture) If the right to bring a direct action is removed, the applicable ACE Trust may become subject to the reporting obligations under the Exchange Act. Each of ACE INA and ACE will have the right under the ACE INA subordinated indenture to set-off any payment made to a holder of preferred securities by ACE INA or ACE, as the case may be, in connection with a direct action. (Section 3.12 of the ACE INA subordinated indenture)

The holders of the preferred securities will not be able to exercise directly any remedies other than those set forth in the preceding paragraph available to the holders of the related ACE INA subordinated debt securities.

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Modification and Waiver

ACE INA, ACE and the trustee may modify or amend either ACE INA indenture with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding ACE INA debt securities of each series affected by the modification or amendment, so long as the modification or amendment does not, without the consent of each affected holder:

In addition, no supplemental indenture may, directly or indirectly, modify or eliminate the subordination provisions of the ACE INA subordinated indenture in any manner which might terminate or impair the subordination of the ACE INA subordinated debt securities to senior indebtedness or the subordination of the related ACE guarantee to ACE senior indebtedness, without the prior written consent of the holders of the senior indebtedness or the ACE senior indebtedness, respectively. (Section 9.7 of the ACE INA subordinated indenture)

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ACE INA, ACE and the trustee may modify or amend either ACE INA indenture and the ACE INA debt securities of any series without the consent of any holder in order to, among other things:

The holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding ACE INA debt securities of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all ACE INA debt securities of that series, waive compliance by ACE INA and ACE with specified covenants of the applicable ACE INA indenture. (Section 10.8 of the ACE INA senior indenture; Section 10.6 of the ACE INA subordinated indenture) The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding ACE INA debt securities on behalf of the holders of all ACE INA debt securities of that series and, in the case of any ACE INA subordinated debt securities issued to an ACE Trust, the holders of not less than a majority in liquidation amount of the outstanding preferred securities of the ACE Trust, may waive any past default and its consequences with respect to the ACE INA debt securities of that series, except a default:

Under each ACE INA indenture, each of ACE INA and ACE must annually furnish the trustee a statement regarding its performance of specified obligations and any default in its performance under the applicable ACE INA indenture. Each of ACE INA and ACE is also required to deliver to the trustee, within five days after its occurrence, written notice of any event of default, or any event which after notice or lapse of time or both would constitute an event of default, resulting from the failure to perform or breach of any covenant or warranty contained in the applicable ACE INA indenture or the ACE INA debt securities of any series. (Sections 10.9 and 10.10 of the ACE INA senior indenture; Sections 10.7 and 10.8 of the ACE INA subordinated indenture)

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

ACE INA or ACE may discharge their payment obligations on the ACE INA debt securities, which we refer to as defeasance, or elect to be discharged from complying with the covenants in the ACE INA indentures, except for certain ministerial obligations, like registering transfers or exchanges of the ACE INA debt securities, which we refer to as covenant defeasance.

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ACE INA or ACE may only do this if, among other things,

Subordination of ACE INA Subordinated Debt Securities

The ACE INA subordinated debt securities will generally be subordinate in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all senior indebtedness. (Section 16.1 of the ACE INA subordinated indenture) Upon any payment or distribution of assets of ACE INA of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of ACE INA, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due upon all senior indebtedness will first be paid in full, or payment provided for in money in accordance with its terms, before the holders of ACE INA subordinated debt securities of that series are entitled to receive or retain any payment on account of principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any additional amounts with respect to, the ACE INA subordinated debt securities. This means that the holders of the senior indebtedness will be entitled to receive any payment or distribution, which may be payable or deliverable by reason of the payment of any other indebtedness of ACE INA being subordinated to the payment of ACE INA subordinated debt securities, which may be payable or deliverable in respect of the ACE INA subordinated debt securities upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization or in any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceeding. (Section 16.3 of the ACE INA subordinated indenture)

By reason of this subordination, in the event of liquidation or insolvency of ACE INA, holders of senior indebtedness and holders of other obligations of ACE INA that are not subordinated to the senior indebtedness may recover more, ratably, than the holders of the ACE INA subordinated debt securities.

Subject to the payment in full of all senior indebtedness, the rights of the holders of the ACE INA subordinated debt securities will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of the senior indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of ACE INA applicable to the senior indebtedness until the principal of, any premium and interest on, and any additional amounts with respect to, the ACE INA subordinated debt securities have been paid in full. (Section 16.4 of the ACE INA subordinated indenture)

No payment of principal of, including redemption and sinking fund payments, or any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to the ACE INA subordinated debt securities may be made by ACE INA if:

The ACE INA subordinated indenture does not limit or prohibit ACE INA from incurring additional senior indebtedness, which may include indebtedness that is senior to the ACE INA subordinated debt securities, but subordinate to other obligations of ACE INA. The ACE INA senior debt securities will constitute senior indebtedness with respect to the ACE INA subordinated debt securities.

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The term “senior indebtedness” means, with respect to the ACE INA subordinated debt securities of any particular series, all indebtedness of ACE INA outstanding at any time, except:

Senior indebtedness with respect to the ACE INA subordinated debt securities shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of the senior indebtedness. (Sections 1.1 and 16.8 of the ACE INA subordinated indenture)

The ACE INA subordinated indenture provides that the subordination provisions, insofar as they relate to any particular series of ACE INA subordinated debt securities, may be changed prior to issuance of the applicable ACE INA subordinated debt securities, which change would be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Subordination of ACE Guarantee of ACE INA Subordinated Debt Securities

The ACE guarantee of ACE INA subordinated debt securities will generally be subordinate in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all ACE senior indebtedness. (Section 18.1 of the ACE INA subordinated indenture) Upon any payment or distribution of assets of ACE of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of ACE, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due upon all ACE senior indebtedness will first be paid in full, or payment of the ACE senior indebtedness provided for in money in accordance with its terms, before the holders of ACE INA subordinated debt securities are entitled to receive or retain any payment from ACE on account of principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any additional amounts with respect to, the ACE INA subordinated debt securities. This means that the holders of ACE senior indebtedness shall be entitled to receive any payment or distribution by ACE of any kind or character, including any payment or distribution which may be payable or deliverable by ACE by reason of the payment of any other indebtedness of ACE being subordinated to the payment of ACE INA subordinated debt securities, which may be payable or deliverable by ACE in respect of the ACE INA subordinated debt securities upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization or in any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceeding. (Section 18.3 of the ACE INA subordinated indenture)

By reason of this subordination, in the event of liquidation or insolvency of ACE, holders of ACE senior indebtedness and holders of other obligations of ACE that are not subordinated to the ACE senior indebtedness may recover more, ratably, than the holders of the ACE INA subordinated debt securities.

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Subject to the payment in full of all ACE senior indebtedness, the rights of the holders of the ACE INA subordinated debt securities under the ACE guarantee will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of the ACE senior indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of ACE applicable to the ACE senior indebtedness until the principal of, any premium and interest on, and any additional amounts with respect to, the ACE INA senior debt securities have been paid in full. (Section 18.4 of the ACE INA subordinated indenture)

No payment of principal of, including redemption and sinking fund payments, or any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to the ACE INA subordinated debt securities of any series may be made by ACE if:

The ACE INA subordinated indenture does not limit or prohibit ACE from incurring additional ACE senior indebtedness, which may include indebtedness that is senior to the ACE guarantee of the ACE INA subordinated debt securities, but subordinate to other obligations of ACE. The ACE senior debt securities will constitute ACE senior indebtedness with respect to the ACE INA subordinated debt securities.

The term “ACE senior indebtedness” means, with respect to the ACE INA subordinated debt securities of any particular series, all indebtedness of ACE outstanding at any time, except:

The ACE INA subordinated indenture provides that the subordination provisions, insofar as they relate to any particular series of ACE INA subordinated debt securities, may be changed prior to the issuance of that series of ACE INA subordinated debt securities, which change would be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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New York Law to Govern

The ACE INA indentures, the ACE INA debt securities and the ACE guarantee will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the state of New York. (Section 1.13)

DESCRIPTION OF THE WARRANTS TO PURCHASE COMMON SHARES

The following summary sets forth the material terms and provisions of the common share warrants which would be issued pursuant to a stock warrant agreement between ACE and a stock warrant agent to be selected at the time of issue. The stock warrant agreement may include or incorporate by reference standard warrant provisions substantially in the form of the standard stock warrant provisions, which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

General

The stock warrants may be issued under the stock warrant agreement independently or together with any other securities offered by a prospectus supplement. If stock warrants are offered, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the designation and terms of the stock warrants, including, without limitation, the following:

The common shares issuable upon exercise of the stock warrants will, when issued in accordance with the stock warrant agreement, be fully paid and nonassessable. This means that the shares will be paid for in full at the time they are issued, and, once they are paid for in full, there will be no further liability for further assessments or taxation.

Exercise of Stock Warrants

The procedures for exercising stock warrants will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SECURITIES

Each ACE Trust will be governed by an amended and restated trust agreement, referred to in this prospectus as a trust agreement, a form of which is an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Under each trust agreement, the ACE Trust may issue, from time to time, only one series of preferred securities with the terms set forth in the trust agreement or made a part of the trust agreement by the Trust Indenture Act, which terms will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of the ACE Trust preferred securities will generally mirror the terms of the ACE INA subordinated debt securities, which the ACE Trust will purchase with the proceeds from the sale of its preferred securities and its common securities. The ACE INA subordinated debt securities issued to an ACE Trust will be guaranteed by ACE on a subordinated basis and are referred to in this prospectus as the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities relating to that ACE Trust.

The following is a summary of the material terms and provisions of each trust agreement and the preferred securities. You should refer to the form of amended and restated trust agreement and to the Trust Indenture Act for complete information regarding the terms and provisions of the trust agreement and of the preferred securities.

Issuance, Status and Guarantee of Preferred Securities

The preferred securities will represent preferred beneficial interests in an ACE Trust and you, as holders of the preferred securities, will be entitled to a preference in specified circumstances, including as regards distributions and amounts payable on redemption or liquidation over the common securities of the applicable ACE Trust. The preferred securities of each ACE Trust will rank equally, and payments will be made on the preferred securities pro rata , with the common securities of that ACE Trust, except as described under “— Subordination of Common Securities” below. The property trustee will hold legal title to the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities in trust for your benefit and for the benefit of the holder of the ACE Trust’s common securities. In this prospectus, we refer to the common securities and the preferred securities of an ACE Trust collectively as the “trust securities” of that ACE Trust.

ACE will guarantee, which we refer to in this prospectus as the preferred securities guarantee, the preferred securities. Under each preferred securities guarantee, ACE will guarantee, on a subordinated basis, payment of distributions on the related preferred securities and amounts payable on redemption or liquidation of the related preferred securities, but only to the extent that the related ACE Trust has funds to make these payments. See “Description of Preferred Securities Guarantees.”

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Distributions

Distributions on the preferred securities will accumulate from the original issue date and will be payable on the dates specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. If any date on which these distributions are payable is not a business day, payment of the distribution payable on that date will be made on the next succeeding business day without any additional distributions or other payment in respect of the delay. However, if the next succeeding business day is in the next succeeding calendar year, payment of the distribution will be made on the immediately preceding business day, in each case as if made on the date the payment was originally payable. We refer to each date on which distributions are payable in this prospectus as a distribution date. (Section 4.1) A “business day” is any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to remain closed or a day on which the corporate trust office of the property trustee or the trustee for the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities is closed for business. (Section 1.1)

Distributions on each preferred security will be payable at the rate specified in the applicable prospectus supplement and the amount of distributions payable for any period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Distributions to which you are entitled will accumulate additional distributions at the rate per annum if and as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. References to “distributions” include any accumulated or additional distributions unless otherwise stated. (Section 4.1)

If set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, ACE INA will have the right under the ACE INA subordinated indenture to defer the payment of interest on any series of corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities for the period specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. However, no extension period may extend beyond the stated maturity of the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities. See “Description of ACE INA Debt Securities and ACE Guarantee — Option to Extend Interest Payment Date.” As a consequence of any extension, distributions on the corresponding preferred securities would be deferred but would continue to accumulate additional distributions at the rate set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, which rate will match the interest rate payable on the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities during the extension period, by the ACE Trust which issued the preferred securities during any extension period. (Section 4.1)

The funds of each ACE Trust available for distribution to you will be limited to payments under the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities in which the ACE Trust will invest the proceeds from the issuance and sale of its trust securities. If ACE INA or ACE, as the case may be, does not make interest payments on those corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities, the property trustee will not have funds available to pay distributions on the related preferred securities. The payment of distributions, if and to the extent the ACE Trust has funds legally available for the payment of the distributions and cash sufficient to make the payments, is guaranteed by ACE as set forth under “Description of Preferred Securities Guarantees.”

Distributions on the preferred securities will be payable to the holders of the preferred securities as they appear on the register of the applicable ACE Trust on the relevant record dates. As long as the preferred securities remain in book-entry form, the record dates will be one business day prior to the relevant distribution dates. Generally, each distribution payment will be made as described under “Global Preferred Securities.” If any preferred securities are not in book-entry form, the relevant record date will be the date 15 days prior to the relevant distribution date, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. (Section 4.1)

Redemption or Exchange

Mandatory Redemption .    Upon any repayment or redemption, in whole or in part, of any corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities held by an ACE Trust, the property trustee will simultaneously apply the proceeds from the repayment or redemption, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice to holders of trust securities, to redeem, on a pro rata basis, trust securities having an aggregate stated liquidation amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities repaid or redeemed. The redemption price per trust security will be equal to its stated liquidation amount, plus any

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accumulated and unpaid distributions on the trust security to the redemption date, plus the related amount of premium, if any, and any additional amounts paid by ACE INA or ACE upon the concurrent repayment or redemption of the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities. The amount described in the preceding sentence is referred to in this prospectus as the redemption price. (Section 4.2) If less than all of the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities are to be repaid or redeemed on a redemption date, then the property trustee shall allocate the proceeds from the repayment or redemption to the redemption pro rata of the related trust securities. (Section 4.2)

Generally, ACE INA will have the right to redeem any series of corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities at any time, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of a special event and subject to the conditions described under “Description of ACE INA Debt Securities and ACE Guarantee — Redemption.”

Special Event Redemption or Distribution of Corresponding ACE INA Subordinated Debt Securities .    If a special event relating to the trust securities of an ACE Trust occurs and is continuing, within 90 days following the occurrence of the special event, ACE INA has the right to redeem the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities, in whole but not in part, and, in doing so, cause a mandatory redemption of the related trust securities, in whole but not in part, at the redemption price. At any time, ACE INA has the right to dissolve the ACE Trust and, after satisfaction of the liabilities of creditors of the ACE Trust, cause the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities to be distributed to the holders of the trust securities in liquidation of the ACE Trust. If ACE INA does not elect to redeem the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities upon the occurrence of a special event, the applicable trust securities will remain outstanding. If a tax event has occurred and is continuing, additional sums may be payable on the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities. For purposes of this section, “additional sums” means the additional amounts as may be necessary in order that the amount of distributions then due and payable by an ACE Trust on its outstanding trust securities shall not be reduced as a result of any additional taxes, duties and other governmental charges to which it has become subject as a result of a tax event. (Section 1.1)

On and from the date fixed for any distribution of corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities upon dissolution of an ACE Trust:

There can be no assurance as to the market prices for the preferred securities or the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities that may be distributed in exchange for preferred securities if a dissolution and liquidation of an ACE Trust were to occur. Accordingly, the preferred securities that you may purchase, and the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities that you may receive on dissolution and liquidation of an ACE Trust, may trade at a discount to the price that you paid to purchase the preferred securities.

Redemption Procedures

The property trustee shall redeem the preferred securities on each redemption date at the redemption price with the applicable proceeds from the contemporaneous redemption of the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities. The property trustee will redeem the preferred securities, and shall pay the redemption price, on each redemption date only to the extent that the applicable ACE Trust has funds on hand available for the payment of the redemption price. See also “— Subordination of Common Securities.”

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If an ACE Trust gives a notice of redemption, which notice will be irrevocable, in respect of its preferred securities, then, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the redemption date, to the extent funds are available, the property trustee will, so long as the preferred securities are in book-entry-only form, deposit irrevocably with the depositary for the preferred securities funds sufficient to pay the applicable redemption price. The property trustee will also give the depositary irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the redemption price to you, as a holder of the preferred securities. If the preferred securities are no longer in book-entry form, the property trustee, to the extent funds are available, will irrevocably deposit with the paying agent for the preferred securities funds sufficient to pay the applicable redemption price and will give the paying agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the redemption price to you upon surrender of your certificates evidencing the preferred securities. Notwithstanding the preceding sentences, distributions payable on or prior to the redemption date for any preferred securities called for redemption shall be payable to you on the relevant record date for the related distribution dates. If notice of redemption shall have been given and funds deposited as required, then, immediately prior to the close of business on the date of the deposit, all of your rights, as a holder of preferred securities so called for redemption, will cease, except your right to receive the redemption price, but without interest, and your preferred securities will cease to be outstanding. If any date on which any redemption price is payable is not a business day, then payment of the redemption price payable on that date will be made on the next succeeding business day without any interest or other payment in respect of the delay. However, if the next succeeding business day falls in the next calendar year, the payment will be made on the immediately preceding business day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on the proper payment date. If that payment of the redemption price is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the ACE Trust or by ACE pursuant to the preferred securities guarantee as described under “Description of Preferred Securities Guarantees,” distributions on the preferred securities will continue to accumulate interest at the then applicable rate, from the redemption date originally established by the ACE Trust for the preferred securities to the date the redemption price is actually paid, in which case the actual payment date will be the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the redemption price.

Generally, ACE or its subsidiaries, including ACE INA, may purchase outstanding preferred securities.

Payment of the redemption price on the preferred securities will be made to the record holders as they appear on the register for the preferred securities on the relevant record date, which will be one business day prior to the relevant redemption date. If any preferred securities are not in book-entry form, the relevant record date for the preferred securities will be a date 15 days prior to the redemption date, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The property trustee will allocate the aggregate liquidation amount pro rata to the trust securities based upon the relative liquidation amounts of the classes if less than all of the trust securities issued by an ACE Trust are to be redeemed on a redemption date. The property trustee will select on a pro rata basis not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date from the outstanding preferred securities not previously called for redemption the particular preferred securities to be redeemed by any method, including without limitation by lot, as it shall deem fair and appropriate. The property trustee will promptly notify the trust registrar in writing of the preferred securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any preferred securities selected for partial redemption, the liquidation amount of the preferred securities to be redeemed. Generally, for purposes of each trust agreement, all provisions relating to the redemption of preferred securities will relate, in the case of any preferred securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the liquidation amount of preferred securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of trust securities to be redeemed at its registered address. Unless each of ACE INA and ACE defaults in payment of the redemption price on the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the ACE INA subordinated debt securities or portions of the ACE INA subordinated debt securities, and distributions will cease to accrue on the related preferred securities or portions of the related preferred securities, called for redemption. (Section 4.2)

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Subordination of Common Securities

Payment on each ACE Trust’s trust securities will be made pro rata based on the liquidation amount of the trust securities. However, if an event of default under the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities occurs and is continuing on any distribution date or redemption date, no payment of any distribution on, or redemption price of, any of the ACE Trust’s common securities, and no other payment on account of the redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of the common securities, will be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and unpaid distributions on all of the ACE Trust’s outstanding preferred securities for all distribution periods terminating on or prior to that date, or in the case of payment of the redemption price the full amount of the redemption price on all of the ACE Trust’s outstanding preferred securities then called for redemption, have been made or provided for, and all funds available to the property trustee will first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all distributions on, or redemption price of, the ACE Trust’s preferred securities then due and payable.

If any event of default under the trust agreement resulting from a event of default under the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities occurs, the holder of the ACE Trust’s common securities will be deemed to have waived any right to act with respect to that event of default until the effect of all of the events of default with respect to the preferred securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until these events of default have been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the property trustee shall act solely on behalf of the holders of the preferred securities and not on behalf of the holder of the ACE Trust’s common securities, and only the holders of the preferred securities will have the right to direct the property trustee to act on their behalf. (Section 4.3)

Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution of ACE Trust

Pursuant to each trust agreement, each ACE Trust will automatically dissolve upon expiration of its term and will dissolve on the first to occur of:

If an early dissolution occurs as described in the first, second and fifth bullets above or upon the date designated for automatic dissolution of the ACE Trust, the ACE Trust will be liquidated by the ACE trustees as expeditiously as the ACE trustees determine to be possible by distributing to the holders of the trust securities, after satisfaction of liabilities to the ACE Trust’s creditors, corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the trust securities. However, if the property trustee determines that this distribution is not practical, the holders will be entitled to receive out of the ACE Trust’s assets available for distribution, after satisfaction of liabilities to the ACE Trust’s creditors, an amount equal to, in the case of holders of preferred securities, the aggregate of the liquidation amount plus accumulated and unpaid distributions on the trust securities to the date of payment, this amount being referred to in this prospectus as the liquidation distribution. If the liquidation distribution can be paid only in part because the ACE Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate liquidation distribution, then the amounts payable directly by the ACE Trust on its preferred securities will be paid on a pro rata basis. The holder of the ACE Trust’s common securities will be entitled to receive distributions upon any

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liquidation pro rata with the holders of its preferred securities, except that if an event of default under the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities has occurred and is continuing, the preferred securities shall have a priority over the common securities. (Section 9.4)

Events of Default; Notice

The following constitute an event of default under each trust agreement with respect to the applicable preferred securities:

Within five business days after the occurrence of any event of default actually known to the property trustee, the property trustee will transmit notice of the event of default to the holders of the applicable preferred securities, the administrative trustees and ACE INA, as depositor, unless the event of default has been cured or waived. (Section 8.2) ACE INA, as depositor, and the administrative trustees are required to file annually with the property trustee a certificate as to whether or not they are in compliance with all the conditions and covenants applicable to them under each trust agreement. (Sections 8.15 and 8.16)

If an event of default under the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities has occurred and is continuing, the preferred securities shall have a preference over the common securities upon dissolution of each ACE Trust as described above. See “— Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution of ACE Trust.” The existence of an event of default under the trust agreement does not entitle the holders of preferred securities to accelerate the maturity of the preferred securities.

Removal of ACE Trustees

Unless an event of default under the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities has occurred and is continuing, any ACE trustee may be removed at any time by the holder of the ACE Trust’s common securities. If an event of default under the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities has occurred and is continuing, the property trustee and the Delaware trustee may be removed by the holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the outstanding preferred securities. In no event will the holders of the preferred securities have the right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the administrative trustees, which voting rights are vested exclusively in the holder of the ACE Trust’s common securities. No resignation or removal of an ACE trustee and no appointment of a successor trustee shall be effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee in accordance with the provisions of the applicable trust agreement. (Section 8.10)

Co-Trustees and Separate Property Trustee

Unless an event of default shall have occurred and be continuing, for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of the Trust Indenture Act or of any jurisdiction in which any part of the property of any ACE Trust

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may at the time be located, ACE INA, as depositor, and the administrative trustees, by agreed action of the majority of such trustees, shall have power, at any time or times, to appoint one or more persons either to act as a co-trustee jointly with the property trustee of all or any part of the property of the ACE Trust or to act as separate trustee of any property, in either case with the powers as may be provided in the instrument of appointment. ACE INA, as depositor, and the administrative trustees shall generally also have the power to vest in that person or persons in that capacity any property, title, right or power deemed necessary or desirable. If an event of default under the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities has occurred and is continuing, the property trustee alone shall have power to make this appointment. (Section 8.9)

Merger or Consolidation of ACE Trustees

Any corporation into which the property trustee, the Delaware trustee or any administrative trustee that is not a natural person may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the ACE trustee shall be a party, shall be the successor of the ACE trustee under each trust agreement, so long as the corporation is otherwise qualified and eligible. (Section 8.12)

Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements of the ACE Trusts

An ACE Trust may not merge with or into, convert into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other entity, except as described below or as described in “— Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution of ACE Trust.” An ACE Trust may, at the request of ACE INA, with the consent of only the administrative trustees and without the consent of the holders of the preferred securities, merge with or into, convert into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to a trust organized as such under the laws of any state so long as the following conditions are met:

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Notwithstanding the preceding description, an ACE Trust shall not, except with the consent of holders of 100 percent in liquidation amount of the preferred securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, convert into, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, convert into, or replace it if the consolidation, amalgamation, merger, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease would cause the ACE Trust or the successor entity to be classified as other than a grantor trust for U.S. Federal income tax purposes. (Section 9.5)

Voting and Preemptive Rights

Except as provided below and under “— Removal of ACE Trustees,” “Description of ACE INA Debt Securities and ACE Guarantee — Events of Default,” “Description of Preferred Securities Guarantees — Amendments and Assignment”, the holders of the preferred securities will generally not have any voting rights. Holders of the preferred securities have no preemptive or similar rights. (Sections 5.14 and 6.1)

Amendment of Restated Trust Agreements

Each trust agreement may be amended by ACE INA and the ACE trustees, without the consent of the holders of the trust securities:

However, in the case of the first bullet above, that action will not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any holder of trust securities. Any amendments of a trust agreement adopted in accordance with the two bullet points above will become effective when notice of the amendment is given to the holders of trust securities of the applicable ACE Trust.

Each trust agreement may be amended by the ACE Trustees and ACE INA with the consent of holders representing not less than a majority, based upon liquidation amounts, of the outstanding trust securities and receipt by the ACE trustees of an opinion of counsel to the effect that the amendment or the exercise of any power granted to the ACE trustees in accordance with the amendment will not affect the ACE Trust’s status as a grantor trust for U.S. Federal income tax purposes or the ACE Trust’s exemption from status as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act. However, without the consent of each holder of trust securities, the trust agreement may not be amended to:

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So long as any corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities are held by the property trustee, the ACE trustees shall not:

However, where a consent under the ACE INA subordinated indenture would require the consent of each holder of the affected corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities, no consent shall be given by the property trustee without the prior consent of each holder of the corresponding preferred securities. The ACE trustees shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the holders of the preferred securities except by subsequent vote of the holders of the preferred securities. The property trustee shall notify each holder of preferred securities of any notice of default with respect to the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities. In addition to obtaining these approvals of the holders of the preferred securities, prior to taking any of these actions, the ACE trustees shall obtain an opinion of counsel to the effect that the ACE Trust will not be classified as an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. Federal income tax purposes on account of that action. (Section 6.1)

Any required approval or action of holders of preferred securities may be given or taken at a meeting of holders of preferred securities convened for that purpose or pursuant to written consent. The property trustee will cause a notice of any meeting at which holders of preferred securities are entitled to vote to be given to each holder of record of preferred securities. (Sections 6.2, 6.3 and 6.6)

No vote or consent of the holders of preferred securities will be required for an ACE Trust to redeem and cancel its preferred securities in accordance with the applicable trust agreement.

Even though the holders of preferred securities are entitled to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the preferred securities that are owned by ACE INA, the ACE trustees or any affiliate of ACE INA or any ACE trustees shall, for purposes of the vote or consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding.

Global Preferred Securities

The preferred securities of an ACE Trust may be issued, in whole or in part, in the form of one or more global preferred securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the depositary. The depositary and the specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to the preferred securities of an ACE Trust will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Payment and Paying Agency

Payments of distributions in respect of the preferred securities shall be made to the depositary, which shall credit the relevant accounts at the depositary on the applicable distribution dates. However, if any ACE Trust’s preferred securities are not held by the depositary, these payments shall be made by check mailed to the address of the holder entitled to the payments as it shall appear on the register of the ACE Trust. (Section 4.4)

Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the paying agent shall initially be The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (as successor) and any co-paying agent chosen by The Bank of

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New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. and acceptable to the administrative trustees and ACE INA. The paying agent shall be permitted to resign as paying agent upon 30 days’ written notice to the administrative trustees, the property trustee and ACE INA. If The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. shall no longer be the paying agent, the administrative trustees shall appoint a successor, which shall be a bank or trust company acceptable to the administrative trustees and ACE INA, to act as paying agent. (Section 5.9)

Registrar and Transfer Agent

Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. will act as registrar and transfer agent for the preferred securities.

Registration of transfers and exchanges of preferred securities will be effected without charge by or on behalf of each ACE Trust. However, the holders must pay any tax or other governmental charges that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange. The ACE Trusts will not be required to register or cause to be registered the transfer of their preferred securities after the preferred securities have been called for redemption. (Section 5.4)

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEES

Concurrently with the issuance by each ACE Trust of its preferred securities, ACE will execute and deliver a preferred securities guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the preferred securities. The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. will act as the guarantee trustee under each preferred securities guarantee for the purposes of compliance with the Trust Indenture Act, and each preferred securities guarantee will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

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The following is a summary of the material provisions of the preferred securities guarantees. You should refer to the form of preferred securities guarantee and the Trust Indenture Act for more complete information regarding the provisions of each preferred securities guarantee. The form of the preferred securities guarantee has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Reference in this summary to preferred securities means the ACE Trust’s preferred securities to which the preferred securities guarantee relates. The guarantee trustee will hold each preferred securities guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the related ACE Trust’s preferred securities.

General

ACE will irrevocably agree to pay in full on a subordinated basis, to the extent described below, the guarantee payments, without duplication of amounts previously paid by or on behalf of the ACE Trust, to the holders of the preferred securities as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of setoff or counterclaim that the ACE Trust may have or assert other than the defense of payment. The following payments with respect to the preferred securities, to the extent not paid by or on behalf of the related ACE Trust, are referred to in this prospectus as the guarantee payments:

ACE’s obligation to make a guarantee payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by it to the holders of the preferred securities or by causing the ACE Trust to pay these amounts to the holders. (Section 5.1)

Each preferred securities guarantee will be an irrevocable guarantee on a subordinated basis of the related ACE Trust’s payment obligations under the preferred securities, but will apply only to the extent that the applicable ACE Trust has funds sufficient to make the payments. Each preferred securities guarantee is, to that extent, a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection. See “— Status of the Preferred Securities Guarantees.”

If either ACE INA or ACE does not make interest payments on the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities held by an ACE Trust, the ACE Trust will not be able to pay distributions on the preferred securities and will not have funds legally available for payment. Each preferred securities guarantee will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to ACE’s senior indebtedness, including all its debt securities and obligations as guarantor under the ACE INA subordinated indenture, as described below under “— Status of the Preferred Securities Guarantees.”

Because ACE is a holding company, its rights and the rights of its creditors, including the holders of preferred securities who are its creditors by virtue of a preferred securities guarantee, and shareholders to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon the subsidiary’s liquidation, reorganization or otherwise would be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors, except to the extent that ACE may itself be a creditor with recognized claims against the subsidiary. The right of ACE’s creditors, including the holders of preferred securities who are its creditors by virtue of a preferred securities guarantee, to participate in

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the distribution of stock owned by ACE in its subsidiaries, including its insurance subsidiaries, may also be subject to approval by insurance regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the subsidiaries. Generally, the preferred securities guarantees do not limit ACE’s ability to incur or issue other secured or unsecured debt, whether under an indenture or otherwise.

ACE’s obligations under preferred securities guarantee, the ACE INA subordinated indenture, including its guarantee of the ACE INA subordinated debt securities, and the expense agreement described below, taken together, constitute a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee by it of payments due on the preferred securities. No single document standing alone or operating in conjunction with fewer than all of the other documents constitute this guarantee. It is only the combined operation of these documents that has the effect of providing a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of the ACE Trust’s obligations under the preferred securities. See “The ACE Trusts,” “Description of Preferred Securities,” and “Description of ACE INA Debt Securities and ACE Guarantee.”

ACE will also agree to guarantee the obligations of each ACE Trust with respect to the common securities issued by the ACE Trust to the same extent as under the preferred securities guarantee. However, if an event of default under the ACE INA subordinated indenture has occurred and is continuing, the holders of preferred securities under the preferred securities guarantee will have priority over the holders of the common securities under the common securities guarantee with respect to distributions and payments on liquidation, redemption or otherwise.

Status of the Preferred Securities Guarantees

Each preferred securities guarantee will constitute ACE’s unsecured obligation and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to its senior indebtedness, including its debt securities and obligations as guarantor under the ACE INA subordinate indenture. (Section 6.2) For purposes of any preferred securities guarantee, “senior indebtedness” means ACE’s indebtedness, including its obligations as guarantor under the ACE INA subordinated indenture, outstanding at any time, except:

Each preferred securities guarantee will rank equally with all other similar preferred securities guarantees issued by ACE on behalf of holders of preferred securities of any other ACE Trust or any trust, partnership or other entity affiliated with ACE which is a financing vehicle of it or any affiliate of it in connection with the issuance by the entity of preferred securities or other similar securities that are guaranteed by ACE pursuant to an instrument that ranks equally with or junior in right of payment to the preferred securities guarantee. (Section 6.3). Each preferred securities guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment and not of collection, which means that the guaranteed party may generally institute a legal proceeding directly against ACE to enforce its rights under the preferred securities guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against any other person or entity, including the applicable ACE Trust. (Section 5.4)

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No preferred securities guarantee will be discharged except by payment of the guarantee payments in full to the extent not paid by the ACE Trust or upon distribution to the holders of the preferred securities of the corresponding ACE INA subordinated debt securities. None of the preferred securities guarantees places a limitation on the amount of additional indebtedness that may be incurred by ACE. ACE expects from time to time to incur additional indebtedness that will rank senior to the preferred securities guarantees.

Payments of Additional Amounts

ACE will make all guarantee payments without withholding or deduction at source for, or on account of, any present or future taxes, fees, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature imposed or levied by or on behalf of Switzerland, the Cayman Islands or Bermuda, each referred to in this prospectus as a taxing jurisdiction, or any political subdivision or taxing authority of the taxing jurisdiction, unless the taxes, fees, duties, assessments or governmental charges are required to be withheld or deducted by:

If a withholding or deduction at source is required, ACE will, subject to limitations and exceptions described below, pay to the holder of any related preferred securities the additional amounts as may be necessary so that every guarantee payment made to the holder, after this withholding or deduction, will not be less than the amount provided for in the preferred securities guarantee to be then due and payable.

ACE will not be required to pay any additional amounts for or on account of:

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In addition, ACE will not pay you any additional amounts with respect to any guarantee payment if you are a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of the related preferred security, to the extent the payment would be required by the laws of the relevant taxing jurisdiction, or any political subdivision or relevant taxing authority of or in the taxing jurisdiction, to be included in the income for tax purposes of a beneficiary or partner or settlor with respect to the fiduciary or a member of the partnership or a beneficial owner who would not have been entitled to the additional amounts had it been the holder of the preferred security. (Section 5.8)

Amendments and Assignment

No preferred securities guarantee may be amended without the prior approval of the holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding preferred securities, except with respect to any changes which do not materially adversely affect the rights of holders of the related preferred securities, in which case no consent will be required. (Section 8.2) All guarantees and agreements contained in each preferred securities guarantee will bind ACE’s successors and assigns and will inure to the benefit of the holders of the related preferred securities. (Section 8.1) ACE may not assign its obligations under the preferred securities guarantee except in connection with a consolidation, amalgamation or merger or conveyance, transfer or lease that is permitted under the ACE INA subordinated indenture and under which the person formed by the consolidation or amalgamation or into which ACE is merged or which acquires or leases ACE’s properties and assets agrees in writing to perform ACE’s obligations under the preferred securities guarantee.

Events of Default

An event of default under each preferred securities guarantee will occur upon ACE’s failure to perform any of its payment or other obligations under the preferred securities guarantee. The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the related preferred securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the guarantee trustee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the guarantee trustee. (Section 5.4)

Any holder of the preferred securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against ACE to enforce its rights under the preferred securities guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against the ACE Trust, the guarantee trustee or any other person or entity. (Section 5.4)

ACE, as guarantor, is required to file annually with the guarantee trustee a certificate as to whether or not it is in compliance with all the conditions and covenants applicable to it under the preferred securities guarantee. (Section 2.4)

Information Concerning the Guarantee Trustee

The guarantee trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of a default by ACE in performance of any preferred securities guarantee, undertakes to perform only the duties specifically set forth in each preferred securities guarantee. After default with respect to any preferred securities guarantee, the guarantee trustee must exercise the same degree of care and skill as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. (Section 3.1) Subject to the preceding sentence, the guarantee trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by any preferred securities guarantee at the request of any holder of any preferred securities unless it is offered reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses, and liabilities that it might incur. (Section 3.2)

Termination of the Preferred Securities Guarantees

Each preferred securities guarantee will terminate upon:

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Each preferred securities guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated if, at any time, any holder of the related preferred securities must restore payment of any sums paid with respect to the preferred securities or the preferred securities guarantee. (Section 7.1)

New York Law to Govern

Each preferred securities guarantee will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. (Section 8.5)

The Expense Agreement

Pursuant to the expense agreement entered into by ACE under each trust agreement, ACE will irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee to each person or entity to whom an ACE Trust becomes indebted or liable, the full payment of any costs, expenses or liabilities of the ACE Trust, other than obligations of the ACE Trust to pay to the holders of the preferred securities or other similar interests in the ACE Trust of the amounts due them pursuant to the terms of the preferred securities or other similar interests, as the case may be.