Ad-hoc | 28 September 2005 08:06

Munich Re updates loss estimate for Hurricane Katrina

Ad hoc announcement §15 WpHG Loss estimates for Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita Munich Re updates loss estimate for Hurricane Katrina Ad hoc announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. —————————————————————————— Munich Re updates loss estimate for Hurricane Katrina: Possible loss burden for the Group of around EUR 1.1bn gross or approximately EUR 500m after retrocessions and taxes / First estimate for Hurricane Rita As the full extent of the devastation caused by Hurricane Rita has gradually emerged and Munich Re experts have concluded and evaluated their loss inspection of the hurricane-affected region, the Company is now revising its original estimate on the scale of losses. Munich Re currently estimates the overall market loss at up to USD 30bn. This figure does not include the flood and storm-surge losses covered under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). However, there are still significant uncertainties regarding the loss burden for the insurance industry, not least due to highly complex questions regarding the actual extent to which losses are covered by insurance. It therefore cannot be ruled out that the insured market loss could exceed USD 30bn. On the basis of a market-loss scenario of up to USD 30bn, the loss burden for the Munich Re Group could be in the region of EUR 1.1bn gross or around EUR 500m after retrocessions and taxes. A higher insured market loss in the region of USD 60bn could produce a gross loss burden of around EUR 1.3bn and a net burden (after retrocessions and taxes) of a just under EUR 650m. Katrina was followed by Rita, another severe hurricane on the US Gulf Coast. According to initial calculations based on an assumed market loss of USD 5bn to 10bn, the loss burden for the Munich Re Group could be around EUR 230m gross and around EUR 150m after retrocessions and taxes. This year’s natural hazard events have thus already clearly exceeded the loss forecasts for the first nine months of the year. The Board of Management is nevertheless optimistic of achieving the result target of 12% return on equity if the acquisition of HVB by UniCredit is completed in 2005. As always, this statement is subject to the proviso that in the remaining three months of the business year there are no exceptional developments with regard to major losses or on the capital market. Munich, 28 September 2005 Münchener Rückversicherungs-Gesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft Königinstraße 107 80802 München Deutschland ISIN: DE0008430026 (DAX) WKN: 843002 Listed: Amtlicher Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard) und München; Freiverkehr in Berlin-Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover und Stuttgart; EUREX End of ad hoc announcement (c)DGAP 28.09.2005 Issuer’s information/explanatory remarks concerning this ad hoc announcement: This announcement contains and refers to statements relating to the future. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and prognoses as well as assessments and assumptions of the management of Munich Reinsurance Company. Such statements contain in particular comments regarding plans, strategies and outlooks. Words such as “expect” and similar expressions characterise such forward-looking statements. These statements are no guarantee that results will actually materialise in the future and they are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to foresee. Therefore, actual consequences and results could deviate substantially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. End of message (c)DGAP 280806 Sep 05