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Form 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of January 2007
CONVERIUM HOLDING AG
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(Translation of registrant's name into English)
Dammstrasse 19
CH-6301 Zug
Switzerland
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(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F X Form 40-F
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes No X
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If "Yes" is marked, indicate the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- Not Applicable
Converium Holding Ltd, Zug
Zug, Switzerland - January 9, 2007 - Converium Chief Financial Officer
Paolo De Martin speaks at Cheuvreux's Insurance Conference in Paris outlining
the rebalancing of the Company's investment portfolio
At today's Cheuvreux Insurance Conference in Paris, Paolo De Martin, CFO of
Converium, will highlight Converium's future value drivers and the Company's
integrated asset & liability management approach. He will present a rebalancing
of Converium's approximately USD 6 billion year-end 2006 investment portfolio
and the Company's move towards an optimal strategic asset allocation to improve
future investment returns.
Converium freed up around USD 561 million of assets in the fourth quarter of
2006, previously tied up in Letters of Credit, and increased its equity
investments by approximately USD 240 million and alternative investments by USD
50 million in the respective period. In addition, the Company sold its
investment in Swiss direct real estate and reinvested the funds into globally
diversified indirect real estate holdings. With these actions Converium expects
to improve the investment yield with minimum additional risk-based capital due
to diversification benefits.
At the end of 2006 Converium's targeted investment mix was as follows: 75% fixed
income securities, 10% cash and short term investments, 8% equities, 4% real
estate and 3% alternative investments. Paolo De Martin, CFO of Converium: "The
new asset allocation is expected to generate an improved return on investment
with minimum additional risks. We will continue to focus our risk-based capital
on underwriting. The optimization of our strategic asset allocation is based on
Converium's unique approach to an integrated asset & liability management. We
consider this approach a catalyst for future value growth." In his presentation
Paolo De Martin will further stress the Company's historically strong earnings
record, its robust capital position and the intact client franchise, from which
Converium expects to regain a share of wallet following a potential upgrade to
A- by Standard & Poor's. Converium saw strong support from existing clients
during the important January 1, 2007 renewals. The Company expects to improve
its combined ratio due to a shift of business mix towards non-proportional
business and the strong impact of the attractive US Property Cat market. Overall
the premium volume is expected to be at least stable for the year 2007. The
presentation is available on Converium's webpage (www.converium.com). Converium
will report on its renewals performance on 15 February 2007.
Converium has made it a policy not to provide any quarterly or annual earnings
guidance and it will not update any past outlooks for full-year earnings. It
will, however, continue to provide investors with perspectives on its value
drivers, certain financial guidance for the full year, its strategic initiatives
and those factors critical to understanding its business and operating
environment.
Enquiries
Beat W. Werder Marco Circelli Dr. Kai-Uwe Schanz
Head of Public Relations Head of Investor Relations Chief Communication &
Corporate Development Officer
beat.werder@converium.com marco.circelli@converium.com kai-uwe.schanz@converium.com
Phone: +41 (0) 44 639 90 22 Phone: +41 (0) 44 639 91 31 Phone: +41 (0) 44 639 90 35
Fax: +41 (0) 44 639 70 22 Fax: +41 (0) 44 639 71 31 Fax: +41 (0) 44 639 70 35
About Converium
Converium is an independent international multi-line reinsurer known for its
innovation, professionalism and service. Today Converium employs about 500
people in 15 offices around the globe and is organized into three business
segments: Standard Property & Casualty Reinsurance, Specialty Lines and Life &
Health Reinsurance. Converium has a "BBB+" financial strength rating (Credit
Watch positive) from Standard & Poor's and a "B++" financial strength rating
(outlook positive) from A.M. Best Company.
Important Disclaimer
This document contains forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. It contains forward-looking statements
and information relating to the Company's financial condition, results of
operations, business, strategy and plans, based on currently available
information. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of
words or phrases such as `seek to', `expects', `should continue', `believes',
`anticipates', `estimates' and `intends'. The specific forward-looking
statements cover, among other matters, the Company's internal review and related
restatement, the reinsurance market, the Company's operating results, certain
financial guidance, e.g. related to the tax rate of the Company, the acquisition
costs ratio and the costs of the Corporate Center, the rating environment and
the prospect for improving results and expense reductions. Such statements are
inherently subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Actual future results and
trends could differ materially from those set forth in such statements due to
various factors. Such factors include the impact of our ratings downgrade or a
further lowering or loss of one of our financial strength ratings; the impact of
the restatement on our ratings and client relationships; uncertainties of
assumptions used in our reserving process; risk associated with implementing our
business strategies and our capital improvement measures; cyclicality of the
reinsurance industry; the occurrence of natural and man-made catastrophic events
with a frequency or severity exceeding our estimates; acts of terrorism and acts
of war; changes in economic conditions, including interest and currency rate
conditions that could affect our investment portfolio; actions of competitors,
including industry consolidation and development of competing financial
products; a decrease in the level of demand for our reinsurance or increased
competition in our industries or markets; a loss of our key employees or
executive officers without suitable replacements being recruited within a
suitable period of time; our ability to address material weaknesses we have
identified in our internal control environment; political risks in the countries
in which we operate or in which we reinsure risks; the passage of additional
legislation or the promulgation of new regulation in a jurisdiction in which we
or our clients operate or where our subsidiaries are organized; the effect on us
and the insurance industry as a result of the investigations being carried out
by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, New York's Attorney General and
other governmental authorities; changes in our investment results due to the
changed composition of our invested assets or changes in our investment policy;
failure of our retrocessional reinsurers to honor their obligations or changes
in the credit worthiness of our reinsurers; our failure to prevail in any
current or future arbitration or litigation; and extraordinary events affecting
our clients, such as bankruptcies and liquidations, and other risks and
uncertainties, including those detailed in the Company's filings with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission and the SWX Swiss Exchange. The Company does
not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
CONVERIUM HOLDING AG
By: /s/ Inga Beale
Name: Inga Beale
Title: CEO
By: /s/ Christian Felderer
Name: Christian Felderer
Title: General Legal Counsel
Date:January 12, 2007