Shareholders' equity

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Shareholders' equity

Shareholders’ equity

All of ACE’s Common Shares are authorized under Swiss corporate law. Though the par value of Common Shares is stated in Swiss francs, ACE continues to use U.S. dollars as its reporting currency for preparing the consolidated financial statements. Under Swiss corporate law, dividends, including distributions through a reduction in par value (par value reduction) or from legal reserves, must be stated in Swiss francs though dividend payments are made by ACE in U.S. dollars. At our May 2011 annual general meeting, our shareholders approved a dividend for the following year, payable in four quarterly installments after the May 2011 annual general meeting from our capital contribution reserves (Additional paid-in capital), a subaccount of legal reserves. At our May 2012 annual general meeting, our shareholders approved a dividend for the following year, payable in four quarterly installments after the May 2012 annual general meeting in the form of a distribution by way of a par value reduction. We have determined this procedure is more appropriate for us at this time due to current Swiss law. For the three months endedMarch 31, 2013, dividends per Common Share amounted to CHF 0.46 ($0.49). Par value reductions had been reflected as such through Common Shares in the consolidated statements of shareholders' equity and had the effect of reducing par value per Common Share to CHF 28.43 at March 31, 2013.

For the three months endedMarch 31, 2012, dividends per Common Share amounted to CHF 0.53 ($0.59), which included a $0.12 per Common Share increase (approved by our shareholders at the January 9, 2012 extraordinary general meeting) to the third and fourth installments of the dividend approved at the May 2011 annual general meeting.

Common Shares in treasury are used principally for issuance upon the exercise of employee stock options, grants of restricted stock, and purchases under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). At March 31, 2013, 2,787,156 Common Shares remain in treasury after net shares redeemed under employee share-based compensation plans.

ACE Limited securities repurchase authorization

In August 2011, the Board of Directors (Board) authorized the repurchase of up to $303 million of ACE’s Common Shares through December 31, 2012. The amount authorized in August 2011 was in addition to the $197 million balance remaining under a $600 million share repurchase program approved in November 2010. In November 2012, the Board authorized an extension of our then-remaining repurchase capacity through December 31, 2013. These authorizations were granted to allow ACE to repurchase Common Shares to partially offset potential dilution from the exercise of stock options and the granting of restricted stock under share-based compensation plans. Such repurchases may be made in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions, block trades, accelerated repurchases and/or through option or other forward transactions. For the three months ended March 31, 2013, ACE repurchased 1,808,300 Common Shares for a cost of $154 million in a series of open market transactions. At March 31, 2013, $307 million in share repurchase authorization remained through December 31, 2013 pursuant to the November 2010, August 2011, and November 2012 Board authorizations.