March 23, 2006

Dear Shareholder:

You are cordially invited to attend the 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of The Chubb Corporation, which will be held on April 25, 2006 at 10:00 a.m., local time, in the Amphitheater of our corporate headquarters located at 15 Mountain View Road, Warren, New Jersey 07059.

Details regarding admission to the meeting and the business to be presented at the meeting can be found in the accompanying Notice of 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement.

Your vote is important. Regardless of whether you are able to attend, it is important that your shares be represented at the meeting. You may vote over the internet as well as by telephone or by returning your proxy card. Directions for using these voting options are provided in the enclosed materials.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the management of Chubb, I extend our appreciation for your continued support.

	Yours sincerely,
	John D. Finnegan Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

NOTICE OF 2006 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

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2006 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

PROXY STATEMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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PROXY STATEMENT

PROXY AND VOTING INFORMATION

Our Board has provided you with these proxy materials in connection with our solicitation of proxies to be voted at the annual meeting of shareholders. We will hold the annual meeting on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 in the Amphitheater at The Chubb Corporation, 15 Mountain View Road, Warren, New Jersey 07059, beginning at 10:00 a.m., local time. Please note that throughout these proxy materials we may refer to The Chubb Corporation as “Chubb,” “we,” “us,” or “our.” We first began mailing this proxy statement and accompanying proxy card on or about March 23, 2006.

Who Can Vote

Our Board has set March 6, 2006 as the record date for the annual meeting. Shareholders of record of our common stock at the close of business on March 6, 2006 may vote at the annual meeting.

How Many Shares Can Be Voted

Each shareholder has one vote for each share of common stock owned at the close of business on the record date. On the record date, 207,361,528 shares of our common stock were outstanding.

How You Can Vote

Record Holders.   If your shares are registered in your name with Computershare Trust Company, N.A., our dividend agent, transfer agent and registrar, you are considered a shareholder of record, and these proxy materials are being sent directly to you by us. Shareholders of record can vote in person at the annual meeting or give their proxy to be voted at the meeting in any one of the following ways:

·       over the internet;

·       by telephone; or

·       by completing and mailing the enclosed proxy card.

The internet and telephone voting procedures have been set up for your convenience. These procedures are designed to authenticate your identity, to allow you to give voting instructions and to confirm that those instructions have been recorded properly. If you are a shareholder of record and you would like to vote by using the internet or by telephone, please refer to the voting instructions attached to your proxy card. If you wish to vote using the enclosed proxy card, please specify your voting instructions using the boxes provided, sign, date and return your proxy card before the annual meeting, and we will vote your shares as you direct.

Chubb Plan Participants.   If you are a participant in our 401(k) plan (the Capital Accumulation Plan), your proxy will include all shares allocated to you in the plan (Plan Shares), which you may vote over the internet, by telephone, by completing and mailing the enclosed proxy card or by voting in person at the meeting. Your proxy will serve as a voting instruction for the trustee of the plan. If your voting instructions are not received by April 20, 2006 any Plan Shares you hold will be voted in proportion to the way the other plan participants vote their shares.

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Brokerage and Other Account Holders.   You are considered to be the beneficial owner of shares held for you in an account by a broker, bank or other nominee. These proxy materials are being forwarded to you with respect to those shares by your broker, bank or nominee who is the shareholder of record. You have the right to direct your broker, bank or nominee on how to vote, and you may also attend the annual meeting. Your broker, bank or nominee has enclosed a voting instruction card. Beneficial owners of shares who wish to vote at the meeting must obtain a legal proxy from their broker, bank or nominee and present it at the meeting. The availability of telephone and internet voting for beneficial owners will depend on the voting processes of the broker, bank or nominee. Please refer to the voting instructions of your broker, bank or nominee for directions as to how to vote shares that you beneficially own.

Voting.   Whether you vote over the internet, by telephone or by mail, you can specify whether you wish to vote your shares for or have your vote withheld from all, some, or none of the nominees for election as director (Proposal 1 on the proxy card). You can also specify whether you vote for or against, or abstain from, Proposals 2, 3, 4 and 5. If you abstain, your vote will not count for or against Proposals 2, 3, 4 or 5.

If you duly execute the proxy card but do not specify how you want to vote, your shares will be voted as our Board recommends, which is “FOR” the election of each of the nominees for director as set forth under Proposal 1 below, “FOR” the adoption of The Chubb Corporation Annual Incentive Compensation Plan (2006) as described in Proposal 2 below, “FOR” ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditor as described in Proposal 3 below, “AGAINST” the shareholder proposal regarding the manner in which directors are elected as described in Proposal 4 below, and “AGAINST” the shareholder proposal regarding political contributions as described in Proposal 5 below.

Revocation of Proxies

If you are a shareholder of record or a holder of Plan Shares, you may revoke your proxy at any time before it is exercised in any of four ways:

·       by notifying our Corporate Secretary of the revocation in writing;

·       by delivering a duly executed proxy card bearing a later date;

·       by properly submitting a new timely and valid proxy via the internet or by telephone after the date of the revoked proxy; or

·       by voting in person at the annual meeting.

You will not revoke a proxy merely by attending the annual meeting. To revoke a proxy, you must take one of the actions described above.

If you hold your shares in a brokerage or other account, you may submit new voting instructions by contacting your broker, bank or nominee.

Required Votes

The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of all outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote at the annual meeting is necessary to constitute a quorum. For Proposal 1, election of directors, directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the annual meeting. This means that the 13 nominees receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected as directors. Approval of the other proposals requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal at the meeting. Abstentions are counted as shares present at the meeting for purposes of determining a quorum. Similarly, shares which brokers do not have the authority to vote in the absence of timely instructions from beneficial owners (broker non-votes) also are counted as shares present at the meeting for purposes of determining a quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not considered votes cast and will not be counted either

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“for” or “against” these proposals and, accordingly, will have no effect on the outcome of the vote for Proposals 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.

Other Matters to be Acted upon at the Meeting

Our Board currently is not aware of any matters other than those specifically stated in the Notice of 2006 Annual Meeting, which are to be presented for action at the annual meeting. If any matter other than those described in this proxy statement is presented at the annual meeting on which a vote may properly be taken, the shares represented by proxies will be voted in accordance with the judgment of the person or persons voting those shares.

Adjournments and Postponements

Any action on the items of business described above may be considered at the annual meeting at the time and on the date specified above or at any time and date to which the annual meeting may be properly adjourned or postponed.

Combined Annual Report and Form 10-K

We have prepared a combined Form 10-K and 2005 Annual Report to Shareholders in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). A copy of this combined report, which is not a part of the proxy soliciting materials, accompanies this proxy statement and proxy card. This report is available on our website at www.chubb.com. It also is available without charge by sending a written request to The Chubb Corporation, attention of the Corporate Secretary at 15 Mountain View Road, P.O. Box 1615, Warren, New Jersey 07061-1615.

Important Notice about Security

All meeting attendees may be asked to present a valid, government-issued photo identification (federal, state or local), such as a driver’s license or passport, and proof of beneficial ownership if you hold your shares through a broker, bank or other nominee before entering the meeting. Attendees may be subject to security inspections. Video and audio recording devices and other electronic devices will not be permitted at the meeting.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Commitment to Corporate Governance

Our Board and management have a strong commitment to effective corporate governance. We have in place a comprehensive corporate governance framework for our operations which, among other things, takes into account the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The key components of this framework are set forth in the following documents:

·       our Restated Certificate of Incorporation;

·       our By-Laws;

·       our Audit Committee Charter;

·       our Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee Charter;

·       our Organization & Compensation Committee Charter;

·       our Corporate Governance Guidelines;

·       our Code of Business Conduct; and

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·       our Code of Ethics for CEO and Senior Financial Officers.

Copies of each of these documents are available on our website at www.chubb.com. Copies also are available without charge by sending a written request to our Corporate Secretary.

Corporate Governance Guidelines

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines address a number of policies and principles employed in the operation of our Board and our business generally, including our policies with respect to:

·       the size of our Board;

·       director independence and minimum qualifications;

·       factors to be considered in selecting candidates to serve on our Board;

·       director nominating procedures, including the procedures by which shareholders may propose director candidates;

·       director election standards and our policy with respect to directors who do not receive a majority of the votes cast in uncontested elections;

·       term limits, director retirement, director resignations upon job change and Board vacancies;

·       directors’ outside directorships and outside audit committee service;

·       role and responsibilities of the independent Lead Director;

·       director responsibilities;

·       director attendance at Board meetings, committee meetings and the annual shareholders’ meeting;

·       executive sessions of our independent directors;

·       director access to management and our Board’s ability to retain outside consultants;

·       director compensation;

·       stock ownership guidelines for directors and certain employees;

·       administration of our legal compliance and ethics program;

·       charitable contributions and related party transactions;

·       director orientation and continuing education;

·       management succession and evaluation of the Chief Executive Officer;

·       annual self-assessments of the Board and each of the Audit Committee, the Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee (the Governance Committee) and the Organization & Compensation Committee (the Compensation Committee); and

·       shareholder access to our Board and Audit Committee.

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Director Qualifications and Candidate Considerations

Our Board has established the Governance Committee which is comprised solely of directors satisfying the independence requirements of the NYSE. A copy of the charter of the Governance Committee is available on our website at www.chubb.com. Copies also are available by sending a written request to our Corporate Secretary. The Governance Committee is responsible, among other things, for:

·       recruiting qualified independent directors, consisting of persons with diverse backgrounds and skills who have the time and ability to exercise independent judgment and perform our Board’s function effectively and who meet the needs of our Board; and

·       identifying the respective qualifications needed for directors serving on the committees of the Board and serving as chairmen of such committees, recommending to the Board the nomination of persons meeting such respective qualifications to the appropriate committees of the Board and as chairmen of such committees, and taking a leadership role in shaping our corporate governance policies.

We require that a majority of the directors on our Board meet the criteria for independence under applicable law and the rules of the NYSE. We believe that variety in the lengths of service among the directors benefits us. Accordingly, we do not have term limits for service on our Board. As an alternative to term limits, all director nominations are considered annually by the Governance Committee. Individuals who would be age 72 or older at the time of election are ineligible for nomination to serve on our Board. While our Board does not require that in every instance directors who retire or change from the position they held when they were elected to the Board resign, it does require that the Governance Committee consider the desirability of continued Board membership under the circumstances.

The Governance Committee considers a number of factors in selecting director candidates, including:

·       the personal and professional ethics, integrity and values of the candidate;

·       the independence of the candidate under legal, regulatory and other applicable standards, including the ability of the candidate to represent all of our shareholders without any conflicting relationship with any particular constituency;

·       the diversity of the existing Board, so that we maintain a diverse body of directors, with diversity reflecting gender, ethnic background, and geographic and professional experience;

·       whether the professional experience and industry expertise of the candidate will complement that of the existing Board;

·       the compatibility of the candidate with the existing Board;

·       the length of tenure of the members of the existing Board;

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·       the number of other public company boards of directors on which the candidate serves or intends to serve, with the general expectation that the candidate would not serve on the boards of directors of more than four other public companies;

·       the number of public company audit committees on which the candidate serves or intends to serve, with the general expectation that, if the candidate is to be considered for service on our Audit Committee, the candidate would not serve on the audit committees of more than two other public companies;

·       the candidate’s service on the boards of directors of other for profit, not-for-profit, trade associations or industry associations;

·       the ability and willingness of the candidate to devote sufficient time to carrying out his or her Board duties and responsibilities effectively;

·       the commitment of the candidate to serve on our Board for an extended period of time; and

·       such other attributes of the candidate and external factors as the Governance Committee deems appropriate.

The Governance Committee has the discretion to weight these factors as it deems appropriate. The importance of these factors may vary from candidate to candidate.

Director Independence

Our Governance Committee reviews each director’s independence annually in accordance with the standards set forth in our Corporate Governance Guidelines and the requirements of the NYSE. No member of our Board will be considered independent unless the Governance Committee determines that the director has no material relationship with us that would affect the director’s independence and that the director satisfies the independence requirements of all applicable laws, rules and regulations. To facilitate the analysis of whether a director has a relationship with us that could affect his or her independence, we have identified in our Corporate Governance Guidelines the following categories of relationships which should not affect a director’s independence and therefore are deemed immaterial:

·       charitable contributions made by us to any organization:

·        pursuant to our Matching Gifts Program on terms applicable to employees and directors;

·        in amounts that do not exceed $25,000 per year; or

·        that have been approved by the Governance Committee;

·       commercial relationships with any entity or organization where the annual sales to, or purchases from, us are less than two percent of our annual revenue and less than two percent of the annual revenue of the other entity or organization; and

·       insurance, reinsurance and other risk transfer arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business on an arm’s length basis.

Although not required by law or the NYSE, because we act primarily as a holding company, our Board believes that it is in our best interest and the best interest of our shareholders for our principal operating subsidiary, Federal Insurance Company, to have a majority of its directors meet the criteria for independence applicable to our directors. Accordingly, for 2005, as the sole shareholder of Federal Insurance Company, we elected to its Board of Directors all of the members of our Board, and the Board of Directors of Federal Insurance Company appointed the individuals who serve as members of our Board’s committees to serve on the same committees of the Board of Directors of Federal Insurance Company.

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Our Board believes that such board and committee responsibilities are consistent with the independence requirements applicable to service on our Board and its committees and that simultaneous service on our Board and on the Board of Directors of Federal Insurance Company and their respective committees enhances the effectiveness of such service.

Our Board reviewed director independence in 2005 based on the assessment of the Governance Committee. During this review, our Board considered relationships and transactions during the year between each director, or any member of the director’s immediate family, and us. As a result of its review, our Board determined that each of our directors, other than Mr. Finnegan, who is our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, is independent. In reaching this determination, the Board noted the following charitable contributions which were previously approved by the Governance Committee:

·       In 2005, we made a contribution of $60,000 to the Institute for Civil Justice, a part of RAND Corporation. We have been a long time supporter of the Institute. Until January 2004, one of our directors, Raymond G.H. Seitz, served as an advisor to RAND Europe, which is also a subsidiary of RAND. Ambassador Seitz did not receive compensation from RAND Europe in connection with his advisory services.

·       In 2005, we donated the sixth annual $80,000 installment of an $800,000 pledge we made in February 2000 to the Friends of the National Zoo (which pledge is to be paid in ten equal annual installments commencing in 2000). The National Zoo is part of the Smithsonian Institution, which employs two of our directors. Lawrence M. Small is Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution and Sheila P. Burke is its Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer. The husband of one of our directors, Karen Hastie Williams, retired from his position as a Regent of the Smithsonian Institution on December 31, 2004.

Our Board determined that none of these relationships impaired the independence of any director.

Nominating Procedures

The primary purpose of our nominating procedures is to identify and recruit outstanding individuals to serve on our Board. Our Board has delegated responsibility for identifying director candidates to the Governance Committee, which meets periodically to consider the slate of nominees for election at our next annual meeting. If appropriate, the Governance Committee schedules follow-up meetings and interviews with potential candidates. The Governance Committee submits its recommended nominee slate to our entire Board for approval.

The Governance Committee will consider candidates recommended by directors, members of management and our shareholders. In addition, the Governance Committee may, in its discretion, engage one or more search firms to assist in the recruitment of director candidates.

The procedures for shareholders to propose director candidates are set forth in Article I, Section 10 of our By-Laws. For a shareholder proposed candidate to be considered, in addition to complying with the notice period described in our By-Laws, the shareholder must provide:

·       all information relating to each person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election as a director as would be required to be disclosed in a solicitation of proxies for the election of such person as a director pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act), including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if so elected;

·       the name and address of the shareholder giving the notice, as they appear on our books, and of the beneficial owner of those shares; and

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·       the class and number of shares which are owned beneficially and of record by the shareholder and the beneficial owner.

The Governance Committee may make such additional inquiries of the candidate or the proposing shareholder as the Governance Committee deems appropriate. This information is necessary to allow the Governance Committee to evaluate the shareholder’s proposed candidate on the same basis as those candidates referred through directors, members of management or by consultants the Governance Committee retains. The Governance Committee will not consider any candidate who it concludes does not meet its minimum director qualifications described above.

Shareholders wishing to propose a candidate for consideration should refer to Article I, Section 10 of our By-Laws, the section of this proxy statement entitled “2007 Shareholder Proposals and Nominations” and the SEC rules relating to shareholder proposal submission procedures.

Director Election Procedures

Pursuant to New Jersey law, our directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast.  To address the possibility of a director-nominee being elected, but receiving a majority of “withheld” votes, we have adopted a corporate governance guideline.  This guideline provides that, in an uncontested election, any nominee who receives a greater number of votes “withheld” from his or her election than votes “for” such election is required to tender his or her resignation following certification of the shareholder vote. The Governance Committee is required to make recommendations to the Board with respect to any such resignation. The Board is required to take action with respect to this recommendation within 90 days following the date of the shareholders’ meeting. These procedures are described in full in our Corporate Governance Guidelines.

Lead Director

Our Board annually elects an independent director to serve as Lead Director to ensure our Board’s independence and proper functioning when, as is currently the case, the offices of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board are combined. The Lead Director has the following authority:

·       to call special meetings of the Board;

·       to call special meetings of any committee of the Board;

·       with the consent of a majority of the members of our Board’s Executive Committee, to call special meetings of the shareholders;

·       in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, to preside at meetings of the Board;

·       to preside at all executive sessions of the non-management directors and the independent directors;

·       in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, to preside at shareholders’ meetings;

·       to provide direction regarding the meeting schedule, information to be sent to the Board and the agenda for the Board meetings to assure that there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items;

·       at the Lead Director’s election, to attend committee meetings of any committee on which he or she is not otherwise a member;

·       to hire independent legal, financial or other advisors as he or she deems desirable or appropriate, without consulting or obtaining the approval of any member of management in advance; and

·       to exercise such additional powers as may be conferred upon the office of Lead Director by resolution of the Board or the Governance Committee from time to time.

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The Lead Director serves on our Board’s Executive Committee and is eligible to serve on any or all other committees of the Board. The office of Lead Director is not subject to term limits. Joel J. Cohen has served as our Lead Director since December 2003 when our President and Chief Executive Officer, John D. Finnegan, succeeded Mr. Cohen as Chairman of the Board.

Contacting our Board of Directors and Audit Committee

Director Communications

Shareholders interested in contacting our Board, the Chairman of the Board, the Lead Director or any individual director are invited to do so by writing to them in care of the Corporate Secretary at:

The Chubb Corporation

15 Mountain View Road

P.O. Box 1615

Warren, New Jersey 07061-1615

Complaints and concerns relating to our accounting, internal controls over financial reporting or auditing matters should be communicated to our Audit Committee using the procedures described below. Shareholder communications addressed to a particular director will be referred to that director. All other shareholder communications addressed to our Board will be referred to our Lead Director and tracked by the Corporate Secretary.

Audit Committee Communications

Complaints and concerns relating to our accounting, internal controls over financial reporting  or auditing matters should be communicated to our Audit Committee, which consists solely of non-employee directors. Any such communication may be anonymous and may be reported to the Audit Committee through our General Counsel by writing to:

Executive Vice President and General Counsel

The Chubb Corporation

15 Mountain View Road

P.O. Box 1615

Warren, New Jersey 07061-1615

GeneralCounsel@chubb.com

All such concerns will be reviewed under the Audit Committee’s direction and oversight by the General Counsel, Internal Audit, or such other persons as the Audit Committee determines to be appropriate. Confidentiality will be maintained to the fullest extent possible, consistent with the need to conduct an adequate review. Prompt and appropriate corrective action will be taken when and as warranted in the judgment of the Audit Committee. The General Counsel will prepare a periodic summary report of all such communications for the Audit Committee.

Our Code of Business Conduct provides that we will not discharge, demote, suspend, threaten, harass or in any manner discriminate against any employee in the terms and conditions of employment based upon any lawful actions of such employee with respect to good faith reporting of complaints regarding accounting matters or otherwise as specified in Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Required Certifications

As of the mailing date of this proxy statement, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have timely delivered the certifications required under applicable rules of the SEC and the NYSE.

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Meeting Attendance and Related Matters

Our directors are expected to attend all Board meetings, meetings of committees on which they serve and the annual meeting of shareholders. Except for three directors who had unavoidable schedule conflicts, all of our directors attended the 2005 annual meeting of shareholders. Directors also are expected to spend the time needed and to meet as frequently as necessary to properly discharge their responsibilities. The Chairman of the Board generally presides at all Board meetings and the Lead Director presides at all executive sessions of our non-management and independent directors.

All of our directors also are directors of our principal insurance company subsidiary, Federal Insurance Company. It is the practice of our Board to hold concurrent meetings with the Board of Directors of Federal Insurance Company. In 2005, our Board met nine times. All of our directors attended at least 75% of the meetings of our Board and the committees on which they served.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and retention (or termination) of our independent auditor. The Audit Committee also is responsible for the oversight of the integrity of our financial statements, our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the independence and qualifications of our independent auditor, the performance of our internal audit function and independent auditor and other significant financial matters. Our Board has designated Joel J. Cohen, James M. Cornelius and Daniel E. Somers as our “audit committee financial experts” (as defined by SEC rules). Mr. Cornelius currently serves on the audit committees of three other public companies. Our Board has determined that this service does not impair Mr. Cornelius’ ability to effectively serve on our Audit Committee. In 2005, the Audit Committee met eight times. The Audit Committee Report for 2005 is set forth in this proxy statement.

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee discharges the Board’s responsibilities relating to compensation of our executives. The Compensation Committee’s primary responsibilities include establishing general compensation policies and overseeing the development and implementation of compensation and benefit programs. The Compensation Committee also evaluates the performance and sets the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer. In addition, the Compensation Committee recommends the form and amount of compensation for the non-management directors of our Board, subject to review by the Governance Committee and approval by the Board. The Compensation Committee’s duties also include administering several of our incentive compensation and equity plans. In 2005, the Compensation Committee met five times. The Organization & Compensation Committee Report for 2005 is set forth in this proxy statement.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee, which consists of our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, our Lead Director and the Chairmen of each of our Board committees, is responsible for overseeing our business, property and affairs during the intervals between the meetings of the Board, if necessary. The Executive Committee did not meet during 2005.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee oversees and regularly reviews the purchase and sale of securities in our investment portfolio. In 2005, the Finance Committee met four times.

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Governance Committee

The Governance Committee assists our Board in identifying individuals qualified to become members of the Board and oversees the annual evaluation of the Board and each committee. As provided in its charter, the Governance Committee also makes recommendations to the Board on a variety of corporate governance and nominating matters, including recommending standards of independence, director nominees, appointments to committees of the Board, designees for chairmen of the committees, non-employee director compensation and corporate governance guidelines. In 2005, the Governance Committee met six times.

Pension & Profit Sharing Committee

The Pension & Profit Sharing Committee oversees and regularly reviews our retirement and profit sharing plans.  In 2005, the Pension & Profit Sharing Committee met three times.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

No member of the Compensation Committee is a current or former officer or employee of Chubb or any of our subsidiaries. There were no Compensation Committee interlocks, within the meaning of the SEC’s proxy rules, with other companies during 2005.

Directors’ Compensation

Cash Compensation

Non-employee directors received the following cash compensation:

 

Under our Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors, directors who are not officers or employees of Chubb or any of our subsidiaries may defer receipt of all or a portion of their cash compensation. The amounts are payable at the option of the director either upon the director’s termination of service or at a specified date chosen by the director. This plan provides that amounts deferred may be invested in:

·       a cash account which earns interest at the prime rate;

·       a market value account with units based on the market value of our common stock; or

·       a shareholder’s equity account with units based on the book value of our common stock.

Our Board has adopted guidelines suggesting that eligible non-employee directors voluntarily defer 50% of all stipends into a market value account. A participant may elect to receive the compensation deferred in either a lump sum or in annual installments. All amounts are paid in cash except for the market value account which is paid in shares of our common stock. At December 31, 2005, deferred compensation accounts were maintained for nine directors, of which seven directors are currently deferring compensation pursuant to this plan. For 2005, directors deferred an aggregate of $272,875 of compensation.

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At December 31, 2005, the aggregate account values reflecting directors’ deferrals and earnings on such deferrals were as follows:

 

During 2005, Messrs. Seitz and Small recognized imputed income of $2,078 and $253, respectively, in connection with life insurance policies purchased prior to 2002 under our Estate Enhancement Program. The cost of the life insurance policies to us will not exceed the after-tax cost we expect to incur in connection with the payment of previously deferred amounts under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors. No policies have been purchased since the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Equity Compensation

The Chubb Corporation Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors was originally adopted by the Board and approved by shareholders in 1988. From 1988 through 2001 it was amended three times to adjust the number of shares issuable thereunder. In 2004, our shareholders voted to replace The Chubb Corporation Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors with The Chubb Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan for Non-Employee Directors (2004) (the 2004 Director Plan).

The 2004 Director Plan is administered by the Governance Committee. Subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events described below, a maximum of 250,000 shares may be issued under the 2004 Director Plan in respect of annual and discretionary stock-based awards. The 2004 Director Plan provides for a specific level of annual grants to be made to each non-employee director in the form of performance shares and stock units. The 2004 Director Plan also authorizes the Governance Committee to make additional grants in its discretion which may be in the form of performance shares, performance units, stock awards, stock units, stock options or stock appreciation rights. Each of the 12 non-employee directors who we expect to continue serving on our Board after the annual meeting will be eligible to receive awards under the 2004 Director Plan.

Effective immediately following the annual meeting of our shareholders occurring in each calendar year during which the 2004 Director Plan is in effect, each non-employee director then in office will receive an annual grant comprised of performance shares and stock units, where the ratio of performance shares to stock units is three to one. The number of performance shares and stock units in each annual grant will be established so that the aggregate value of the annual grant will be approximately $90,000 (or such higher amount not greater than the value of 1,500 shares of our common stock, as the Governance Committee may determine). The 2004 Director Plan also authorizes the Governance Committee to make grants to non-employee directors in addition to the annual grants described in the preceding paragraph. These discretionary grants may be made in the form of any type of award authorized for grant under the 2004 Director Plan. It is currently anticipated that discretionary grants will be made to address special circumstances, such as when one or more non-employee directors are called upon to provide services to us above and beyond that required of non-employee directors generally. The Governance Committee also may exercise this discretionary authority to make awards to any non-employee director who is first elected to the Board other than at the time of an annual shareholders meeting.

Performance shares or units comprise 75% of each annual grant. The payment of performance shares and performance units is conditioned upon meeting one or more specified performance goals. Subject to the Governance Committee’s discretion to adjust the applicable performance goal as it deems equitable to reflect unusual or non-recurring events affecting us or changes in tax law or accounting principles or other factors, the performance goal with respect to any such annual grant will be the total return to our shareholders, inclusive of dividends paid, during the applicable performance period, determined relative to the

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total shareholder return of the companies included in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index on the date the annual grant is made, who will have continued to file public reports which will allow us to perform such comparison for the entire time covering the performance period. The Governance Committee may provide that, depending on actual performance measured against the stated performance goals, the amount payable in respect of performance shares and units will range from 0% to 200% of the target grant for each such award. A non-employee director whose service as a member of the Board terminates during a performance cycle will be entitled to receive the same payment in respect of performance shares (including those made as part of the annual grant) and performance units, without proration, that would have been payable had his or her service continued until the end of the applicable performance cycle. Any amount payable to a departed non-employee director will generally be paid at the same time as amounts in respect of similar awards are paid to other participants in the 2004 Director Plan (or at such earlier time as the Governance Committee may permit). However, if a non-employee director is removed from the Board for cause (or resigns in anticipation of such removal), the director will forfeit all rights to receive any payment in respect of his or her outstanding performance shares or performance units.

Stock or stock units comprise 25% of each annual grant. These awards fully vest immediately upon grant. However, if a non-employee director is removed from the Board for cause (or resigns in anticipation of such removal), the director will forfeit all rights to receive any payment in respect of his or her outstanding stock units.

Director Stock Ownership Guidelines

In June 2003, our Board adopted a stock ownership guideline which provides that, within five years of the later of first being elected and the date of the guideline’s adoption, a director should achieve an ownership level in our common stock or common stock equivalents, such as market value equivalents, which has a value equal to five times the annual stipend paid to non-employee directors for Board service.

Director’s Charitable Award Program

Effective January 1, 1992, we established the Director’s Charitable Award Program. Under the program, which is administered by the Compensation Committee, each non-employee director following his or her first election to the Board by shareholders may recommend that we direct one or more charitable contributions totaling up to $500,000 to eligible tax exempt organizations. The program may be funded by us through, among other things, the purchase of life insurance policies on the lives of the directors. Generally, eligible directors are paired for purposes of buying second-to-die life insurance policies. The proceeds of these policies are used to fund the contributions to the organizations selected by the directors upon the death of the second paired director. At March 6, 2006, 10 current directors were participating in the program. We may amend or terminate the program at our election at any time. In addition, the director is entitled to change his or her designated charities at any time.

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OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Our Board oversees our business operations, assets, affairs and performance. In accordance with our long-standing practice, each of our directors other than our Chief Executive Officer is independent. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that no director may be nominated to a new term if the director would be age 72 or older at the time of election.

The name, age, length of service on our Board and principal occupation of each incumbent director, together with certain other biographical information, are set forth below. Our shareholders elected each of this year’s nominees to serve as directors during 2005. Unless otherwise indicated, each nominee has served for at least five years in the business position currently or most recently held. The age of each director is as of April 25, 2006, the date of the annual meeting.

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COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

Our Board has established six committees to assist the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities. Those committees are the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Executive Committee, the Finance Committee, the Governance Committee and the Pension & Profit Sharing Committee. The charter for each of the Audit, Compensation and Governance Committees, which are available on our website at www.chubb.com, requires that all members satisfy the independence requirements of the NYSE. The Governance Committee annually considers committee assignments, with appointments being effective as of the date of the annual shareholders’ meeting. Current members of our committees are identified below:

Audit Committee

 

Compensation Committee

 

Executive Committee

 

Finance Committee

 

Governance Committee

 

Pension & Profit Sharing Committee

 

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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

Purpose

The Board has formed the Audit Committee to assist the Board in monitoring:

·       the integrity of our financial statements;

·       our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements;

·       the independence and qualifications of our independent auditor; and

·       the performance of our internal auditors and independent auditor.

Composition and Meetings

The Audit Committee is composed of five directors, each of whom our Board has determined to be independent and each of whom satisfies the applicable legal and regulatory independence requirements. Mr. Cornelius serves as the chairman of the Audit Committee and our Board also has designated him, together with Messrs. Cohen and Somers, as the audit committee financial experts. The Governance Committee and the full Board consider Audit Committee membership annually. Committee appointments are effective as of the date of the annual meeting. In addition to Messrs. Cornelius, Cohen and Somers, Ms. Baird and Mr. Zollar currently serve on the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee met eight times during 2005.

Charter and Self-Assessment

The Audit Committee operates pursuant to its written charter, which has been approved by the Audit Committee and our entire Board. The Audit Committee Charter is subject to review at least annually. It was last revised in February 2005.

Pursuant to its charter, the Audit Committee performs an annual self-assessment. For 2005, the Audit Committee concluded that, in all material respects, it had fulfilled its responsibilities and satisfied the requirements of its charter and applicable laws and regulations.

Appointment of Independent Auditor

Under its charter, the Audit Committee, among other things, is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the independent auditor engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work or performing other audit, review or attest services for us. The Audit Committee has appointed Ernst & Young LLP to serve as independent auditor. The Audit Committee has recommended to the Board that Ernst & Young’s appointment as independent auditor be submitted for ratification by Chubb’s shareholders. This matter is described in this proxy statement under the heading “Proposal 3, Ratification of Appointment of Independent Auditor.”

Review of Financial Information

Management is responsible for our internal controls over the financial reporting process and the independent auditor is responsible for performing an independent audit of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and for issuing a report on its audit. The Audit Committee is charged with overseeing and monitoring these activities on behalf of the Board. During 2005 and the first quarter of 2006, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management and the independent auditor our quarterly financial statements, our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2005 and the results of the independent auditor’s review of our 2005 quarterly financial statements. In particular, the Audit Committee discussed with the independent

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auditor the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, Communications with Audit Committees, as amended by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 90, Audit Committee Communications, and SEC Final Rule Release Nos. 33-8183 and 33-8183a.

Critical Accounting Policies

During its discussions with the independent auditor, the Audit Committee reviewed our critical accounting policies and practices and alternative treatments of financial information.

Auditor Independence

The Audit Committee received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditor required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 and discussed with the independent auditor the firm’s independence and objectivity. The Audit Committee reviewed and approved all fees of the independent auditor for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, and determined that the provision of these services is compatible with maintaining the independence of the independent auditor.

Inclusion of Consolidated Financial Statements in Form 10-K

Based on the foregoing, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the SEC during the first quarter of 2006.

The foregoing report has been furnished by the following members of the Board who comprise the Audit Committee:

 

This Audit Committee Report shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material,” to be “filed” with the SEC, subject to Regulation 14A or 14C or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically request that the information be treated as soliciting material, nor shall it be incorporated by reference into any document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act), or the Exchange Act unless we specifically incorporate it by reference.

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ORGANIZATION & COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation Committee, which establishes and administers our compensation program, has furnished the following report for 2005.

Compensation Policies

Our compensation program is designed to align shareholders’ interests with our business strategy, values and management initiatives based on the following principles:

·       a substantial portion of management’s compensation should depend on our overall financial performance;

·       members of senior management should be encouraged to own our stock;

·       we should attract and retain superior executives by providing them with the opportunity to earn competitive total compensation packages that are aligned with company and individual performance;

·       we should reward individual results by recognizing performance through salary, annual cash incentives and long-term incentives; and

·       we should manage compensation based on the level of skill, knowledge, effort and responsibility needed to perform the job successfully.

Compensation Strategy

In 2005, the Compensation Committee continued utilizing the principles and policies it has employed in the past to guide the design and implementation of, and decisions relating to, compensation. To assess the competitiveness of total compensation opportunities for our Chief Executive Officer and the other executive officers in the Summary Compensation Table (with Mr. Finnegan, the named executive officers) and to validate their pay and performance relationship, the Compensation Committee utilized a peer group of 23 companies in the property and casualty insurance and financial services industries. The compensation program for our named executive officers is designed to target long-term incentive and total compensation in the second quartile of the peer group discussed above. For compensation benchmarking for other members of senior management, the Compensation Committee utilizes a variety of broader industry surveys, which include companies in the property and casualty insurance industry and the insurance and financial services peer group, and assesses data for positions of similar scope and responsibility. The total compensation program for senior management emphasizes performance-based compensation as a significant portion of the total pay mix.

To assist in the analysis of 2005 executive pay, the Compensation Committee engaged a nationally recognized independent compensation consultant to review and assess our compensation program. Its study indicated that our compensation program provided competitive total pay opportunities for named executive officers reflective of our compensation strategy, and that total pay received for the prior year was aligned generally with our relative performance versus peers. In addition, during the first quarter of 2006, the Compensation Committee approved the form of tally sheet prepared by the Compensation Committee’s independent compensation consultant for evaluating the compensation and benefits extended to the named executive officers, including the accumulated and unrealized gain attributable to stock-denominated incentive awards, the value of retirement benefits, and our financial obligations to each of the executives in the event of any of several employment termination scenarios.

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Deductibility of Compensation in Excess of $1 Million

Under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code), compensation paid to certain named executive officers in excess of $1 million per year is not deductible for federal income tax purposes unless the compensation is “performance-based” as described in the regulations under Section 162(m). The Compensation Committee understands the desirability of designing compensation in a manner which avoids non-deductibility under Section 162(m), but also recognizes the need to structure competitive pay packages that properly incentivize management and align their interests with those of our shareholders. For 2005, almost all of the compensation paid to our named executive officers is deductible.

Components of Compensation

The primary components of our compensation program for senior management are:

·       base salary;

·       annual cash incentive awards;

·       long-term incentive awards; and

·       benefits.

The level of annual cash and long-term incentive awards, which constitute the majority of the compensation opportunity for members of senior management, varies with corporate, business unit and individual performance.

Base Salary

Amounts paid as base salary, including merit salary increases, are determined by:

·       the employee’s individual performance;

·       salary level within the established pay range for the individual’s position;

·       salaries offered in the industry for comparable positions; and

·       in the case of our Chief Executive Officer, reference to his employment agreement.

The Compensation Committee monitors the factors described above and periodically approves changes in base salary for members of senior management.

Annual Cash Incentive Awards for 2005

Annual cash incentive compensation for employees is determined and paid pursuant to our Annual Incentive Compensation Plan (2001) (the 2001 Annual Plan). In March 2005, the Compensation Committee established the 2005 target award pool, the annual performance goals and the payout schedules for plan participants. The annual performance goals established related to our combined ratio and operating income—to which the Compensation Committee assigned a weight of 70% to the combined ratio and a weight of 30% to operating income. Under the payout schedule adopted by the Compensation Committee in March 2005, the pool could range in size from 0% to 200% of the target dollar award for all participants covered by the 2001 Annual Plan. Our year-end 2005 performance resulted in a combined ratio of 92.3% and operating income of $1,578,200,000. As a result, the company achieved each of the annual performance goals, which would have resulted in an award pool of 100% of target. Nevertheless, in light of the company’s strong performance in 2005 and the impact of high catastrophe losses, the Compensation

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Committee determined, other than with respect to the named executive officers, that the award pool would be funded at 130% of target. In so doing, the Compensation Committee noted:

·       Chubb produced its third consecutive year of record earnings despite unusually high catastrophe losses in 2005;

·       the strong performance of Chubb’s stock price relative to both the property and casualty industry as a whole and to the S&P 500 Index;

·       Chubb’s continued success at cost containment;

·       significant achievements in the areas of risk reduction;

·       the highly successful transfer of the ongoing business of Chubb Re, Inc. to Harbor Point Limited; and

·       public recognition of Chubb’s efforts in recruitment, development and advancement of women in business and for diversity.

Taking into account Chubb’s strong financial performance and other significant accomplishments in 2005 and Chubb’s operating income and combined ratios for 2005, the Compensation Committee awarded, within the bonus parameters established by the Compensation Committee in March 2005, annual cash incentive compensation of $2,237,700, $979,600, $825,500, $793,000 and $453,700 for Messrs. Finnegan, Motamed, O’Reilly, Degnan and Krump, respectively. These amounts are reflected in the Summary Compensation Table under the Bonus column.

Long-Term Incentive Awards

Long-term incentive awards are made under our Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (2004) (the 2004 Employee Plan), which the Compensation Committee administers. This plan provides stock-based awards to eligible employees, including the named executive officers and most other levels of management and can include:

·       performance share awards (including total shareholder return-based performance shares, described below);

·       restricted stock and restricted stock units; and

·       stock options.

Long-term incentive awards that we grant generally contain provisions that allow us to recover the value of the award if the award recipient violates non-solicitation or non-competition agreements with us. Except for stock option grants to employees in certain foreign jurisdictions made for purposes of tax efficiencies, the current intention is to grant only performance shares and restricted stock units.

The number of long-term incentive awards granted is based on guidelines that provide for competitive award opportunities commensurate with payband levels. For the Chief Executive Officer and the three Vice Chairmen, the award opportunities reflect competitive practices within our peer group of 23 insurance and financial services companies against which we benchmark pay opportunities. For other members of senior management, the Compensation Committee generally uses a variety of broader industry surveys which include members of the 23 company peer group described above in this report under the heading “—Compensation Strategy.”

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2004 Employee Plan

We have long had in effect stock-based incentive plans that have allowed us to grant management and other key employees various types of awards, including stock options, performance shares and restricted stock. The use of these programs reflects our Board’s belief that encouraging stock ownership by senior management and other key employees serves to attract, retain and motivate such personnel by providing them a direct, personal financial interest in our continued success. However, our Board has concluded that shifting away from stock options in favor of total shareholder return-based performance shares (TSRs) and restricted stock or units will better align management’s interests with those of our shareholders and serve as a stronger retention tool for key employees. Accordingly, while there still may be times or circumstances where stock option grants are a more appropriate means of providing a long-term incentive, the vast majority of long-term incentive awards under the 2004 Employee Plan are granted in the form of TSRs, restricted stock and restricted stock units. An additional benefit of this shift in award type is that substantially fewer shares are needed to provide competitive awards when grants are primarily in the form of TSRs, restricted stock and restricted stock units, rather than stock options.

In 2005, the Compensation Committee granted TSRs representing up to 820,986 shares, restricted stock units representing an aggregate of 716,530 shares and options representing a total of 379,291 shares. With respect to TSRs, 820,986 shares will be issued if maximum performance is achieved compared to 410,493 shares that will be issued if target performance is achieved. Restricted stock unit grants generally will vest three years after the grant date subject to the grantee’s continued service, except accelerated vesting may occur in the case of death, disability, retirement or otherwise as the Compensation Committee may determine.

We granted long-term incentive compensation in 2006 using the same award types, approximately the same number of eligible participants and the same award targets as used in 2005.

TSR Awards

TSR awards generally are granted annually and will become earned, if at all, based on the total shareholder return (share price change plus dividends) for our shareholders over a three-year performance period relative to the total shareholder returns over the same period for the companies in the S&P 500 Index who continue to file public reports through the entire performance period. The number of TSRs granted is based on payband level, an assessment of the recipient’s most recent level of performance and anticipated future contributions to our success. The number of TSR shares earned for each three-year performance period can vary from 0% to 200% of the original target award based on attainment of a relative total shareholder return position. Final earned award values are dependent not only on relative TSR performance, but also on the final share price at the end of the three-year period, thus providing a strong link between the interests of employees receiving these awards and those of shareholders.

For equity awards made to members of senior management (including the named executive officers) in 2005, the Compensation Committee determined that TSRs should comprise 75% of the target dollar amount of long-term compensation for each recipient. The performance cycle for these awards ends on December 31, 2007 and payment of these awards, if any, will be made in March 2008 subject to the grantee’s satisfaction of the applicable service requirements, except accelerated vesting may occur in the case of death, disability, retirement or otherwise as the Compensation Committee may determine.

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units

The Compensation Committee also grants restricted stock and restricted stock units in combination with TSRs, but has determined that these awards will be secondary to the performance-based TSR awards. Restricted stock units are payable in shares of our common stock. Unless the Compensation Committee

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establishes a different period, the restriction period applicable to any award of restricted stock or restricted stock units will lapse on the third anniversary of the date of grant provided the recipient remains employed by us over that period, except accelerated vesting may occur in the case of death, disability, retirement or otherwise as the Compensation Committee may determine. If a participant is (or is reasonably expected to be) subject to the deductibility limitations of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code for the calendar year in which delivery of stock in respect of restricted stock units would ordinarily be made, we will delay delivery of the stock to the recipient until six months after the termination of his or her employment with us because this will allow us to fully deduct this compensation without regard to deductibility limitations in Section 162(m).

For equity awards made to members of senior management (including the named executive officers) in 2005, the Compensation Committee determined that restricted stock units should comprise 25% of the target dollar amount of long-term compensation for each recipient. For other levels of management, equity awards in 2005 were only granted in the form of restricted stock units or, in the case of employees residing in certain countries, stock options. For all 2005 recipients, the restricted stock unit awards vest on the third anniversary of the grant date, except accelerated vesting may occur in the case of death, disability, retirement or otherwise as the Compensation Committee may determine.

Benefits

Our health care and other core benefit programs are the same for all employees, including the named executive officers. The named executive officers are provided with a financial counseling benefit that is available to all Senior Vice Presidents and above and some are provided with access to a business or country club membership for business entertainment purposes. Also, where there is a significant business reason, such as safety, protection of our confidential business information or enhancing efficiency, certain executive officers may be permitted reasonable personal use of company assets, such as corporate aircraft and, in the case of our Chief Executive Officer, a company driver and company-owned automobile.

Share Ownership

In March 2004, the Compensation Committee approved stock ownership guidelines for members of senior management. The suggested ownership guidelines range from a stock ownership level for the Chief Executive Officer equal to five times base salary, three times base salary for our Vice Chairmen, two times for Executive Vice Presidents and one times base salary for Senior Vice Presidents. Members of management subject to the guidelines have a five-year phase-in period beginning on the later of becoming an officer subject to the stock ownership guidelines and the date of the guidelines adoption in which to achieve the suggested ownership level. A provision included in these guidelines provides that an individual will be deemed in compliance with the guidelines if he or she falls below the suggested ownership threshold due to a decline in the price of our stock, provided that the individual has deferred receipt of all restricted stock unit awards eligible for deferral granted under the 2004 Employee Plan. These guidelines credit management for shares held outright, shares allocated to their accounts in our retirement plans, unvested restricted stock and restricted stock units and any shares that have been earned but the payment of which has been deferred. Included among any shares earned but deferred will be all shares issuable upon the expiration of the restrictive period applicable to any award of restricted stock units made to the named executive officers who will defer receipt of all such shares until termination of their employment. As of December 31, 2005, all named executive officers were in compliance with these suggested ownership guidelines.

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CEO Compensation

John D. Finnegan has been employed as our President and Chief Executive Officer since December 1, 2002. Chubb entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Finnegan effective as of that date. In December 2003, Mr. Finnegan also was named Chairman of the Board. The terms of Mr. Finnegan’s employment agreement are summarized in this proxy statement under the heading “Executive Compensation—Employment and Change in Control Agreements.”  Under the terms of the employment agreement, Mr. Finnegan is to receive a minimum annual base salary of $1,200,000. In April 2005, Mr. Finnegan received a $75,000 merit-based increase in his annual base salary.

The Compensation Committee granted to Mr. Finnegan on March 3, 2005, a target TSR performance share award of 72,143 shares with a fair market value as of the grant date of $5,700,018 and 24,047 restricted stock units with a fair market value as of the grant date of $1,899,953. After reviewing a presentation prepared by its independent compensation consultant, the Compensation Committee determined that these monetized targets were competitive and reflective of our executive compensation strategy (to target long-term incentive and total compensation in the second quartile of the peer group discussed above) and subsequently approved these awards. As noted above under “Annual Cash Incentive Awards for 2005,” Mr. Finnegan received an annual cash compensation incentive award of $2,237,700 in recognition of the company’s strong financial performance and other significant accomplishments in 2005.

The foregoing report has been furnished by the following members of the Board who comprise the Compensation Committee:

 

This Organization & Compensation Committee Report shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material,” to be “filed” with the SEC, subject to Regulation 14A or 14C or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically request that the information be treated as soliciting material, nor shall it be incorporated by reference into any document filed under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act unless we specifically incorporate it by reference.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Summary Compensation Table

The following Summary Compensation Table sets forth information on compensation earned by or paid to John D. Finnegan and each of our four other most highly compensated executive officers during each of the past three fiscal years.

 

(1)             Bonuses were paid under the 2001 Annual Plan (including certain amounts that were deferred at the election of certain of those executives).

(2)             The value of the restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards included in this column are based on the per share price of our common stock on the grant date. The total number, value (based on the per share price of our common stock on December 30, 2005 of $97.65), and vesting schedule of outstanding non-vested restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards as of December 31, 2005 are shown in the following chart. Dividends are paid on restricted stock and dividend equivalents are paid on restricted stock units.

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Restricted Stock/Restricted Stock Unit Table

 

 

*                     Based on the per share price of our common stock on December 30, 2005 of $97.65.

(3)             Amounts reported include options granted in such years (including restoration options) under the 2004 Employee Plan and its predecessor.

(4)             Amounts reported represent payments made in settlement of performance share awards for Messrs. Motamed, O’Reilly, Degnan, and Krump for the three-year periods ended December 31, 2003 and 2004. The Compensation Committee administers the grant and settlement of performance share awards. In calculating whether the performance target was met for the three-year performance period ended December 31, 2003, the Compensation Committee eliminated the effect of after-tax costs related to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack and excluded pre-tax charges relating to increases in asbestos reserves in the third and fourth quarters of 2002 and the fourth quarter of 2003. In calculating whether the performance target was met for the three-year performance period ended December 31, 2004, the Compensation Committee excluded pre-tax charges relating to increases in asbestos reserves in the third and fourth quarters of 2002 and the fourth quarters of 2003 and 2004, and also excluded the positive impact of the second quarter 2004 reserve release of $80 million related to World Trade Center loss reserves attributable to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack.

(5)             Amounts included in “All Other Compensation” for 2005 are detailed in the table below.

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All Other Compensation

 

*                     Amount imputed as income in connection with Chubb’s payment in 1999 of a premium on a life insurance policy on the lives of Mr. Motamed and his spouse in exchange for the relinquishing by Mr. Motamed of the right to receive under the Pension Program a lump amount equal to $300,000 plus interest in accordance with his participation in our Estate Enhancement Program.

Option Grants in 2005

The following table is a summary of all stock options that we granted to our named executive officers in 2005. We did not grant any stock appreciation rights in 2005. The stock options granted in 2005 were not granted on a discretionary basis, but rather pursuant to a restoration feature that was included in stock options previously granted. The restoration feature provides for an automatic grant of a new stock option if, upon exercise of the stock option, shares are exchanged in a stock-for-stock exercise. The restoration feature only applies if the option is exercised within seven years of the grant date and if fair value market of our stock on the date the stock option is exercised is at least 25% higher than the exercise price of the stock option on the grant date. This table also shows the potential gain that could be realized if the fair market value of our common stock were to appreciate at either a five or ten percent annual rate over the period of the option term.

(1)             The stock options were fully exercisable on the date of grant, are non-statutory options and were granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the grant date. These options are transferable to certain members of the optionee’s immediate family. These stock options do not contain the option restoration feature described above. Mr. Finnegan received the automatic stock option grant for 20,235 shares on April 27, 2005 and for 26,277 shares on October 28, 2005. Mr. Krump received the automatic stock option grant on May 5, 2005.

(2)             Based on total grants in 2005 of options to purchase 379,291 shares.

(3)             The assumed 5% and 10% annual rates of stock price appreciation used in the table are prescribed by the proxy rules and are not intended to forecast possible future appreciation in the price of our common stock.

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Aggregated Option Exercises in 2005 and Option Values on December 31, 2005

The following table shows stock options that our named executive officers exercised during 2005 and the number of shares and the value of grants outstanding as of December 31, 2005 for each named executive officer. Our named executive officers do not hold stock appreciation rights.

*                     Based on the per share price of our common stock on December 30, 2005 of $97.65.

2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards

The following table shows the number of TSRs awarded to the named executive officers in 2005 under the 2004 Employee Plan and the number of shares that would be awarded at threshold, target and maximum performance. One TSR represents one share of common stock. The number of TSRs earned and paid out at the end of the three-year performance period can vary from 0% to 200% of the original target award based on our total shareholder return relative to the total shareholder returns over the same period for the companies in the S&P 500 Index on the date the performance period begins who continue to file public reports through the entire performance period.

 

*                    Threshold is the minimum level of performance required to earn this number of shares; no shares will be earned for performance below the threshold.

Restricted stock unit awards granted in 2005 are reflected in the Restricted Stock Awards column of the “Summary Compensation Table” above. For additional information regarding the 2004 Employee Plan, see the discussion under the heading “Organization & Compensation Committee Report—2004 Employee Plan.”

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Pension Program

Our eligible employees and certain eligible employees of our subsidiaries participate in the Pension Plan of The Chubb Corporation, Chubb & Son Inc. and Participating Affiliates (Pension Plan). As in effect during 2005, the Pension Plan provides to each eligible employee annual retirement income beginning at age 65 equal to the product of:

·       the total number of years of participation in the Pension Plan; and

·       the excess, if any, of (i) 1 3¤4% of average compensation for the five years in the last ten years of participation prior to retirement during which the employee was most highly paid (final average earnings), over (ii) an amount related to the employee’s primary social security benefit.

Effective January 1, 2001, we amended our Pension Plan to provide a cash balance benefit in lieu of the benefit described above. This benefit provides for a participant to receive a cash credit to his or her cash balance account every six months.  The amount of the cash balance credit increases as the sum of a participant’s age and years of service credit increases. The maximum credit of 5% of compensation (subject to the maximum limitation on compensation permitted by the Internal Revenue Code) earned over the preceding six months is made when the sum of a participant’s age and years of service credit equals or exceeds 55 (which is the case for each named executive officer). Amounts credited to a participant’s cash balance account earn interest at a rate based on the 30 year treasury rate. Employees who participated in the Pension Plan prior to January 1, 2001 (including Messrs. Motamed, O’Reilly, Degnan and Krump) will receive a benefit under the Pension Plan equal to the greater of the pension benefit described in the preceding paragraph or the amount calculated under the cash balance formula. Because the amount of the pension benefit described in the preceding paragraph will be greater than the amount calculated under the cash balance formula for Messrs. Motamed, O’Reilly, Degnan and Krump for the foreseeable future, it is likely that none of these individuals will receive a benefit under the Pension Plan based on the cash balance formula.

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), and the Internal Revenue Code, impose maximum limitations on the annual amount of a pension which may be paid under a funded defined benefit plan such as the Pension Plan. The Pension Plan complies with these limitations. The Board adopted, effective as of January 1, 1976, an unfunded benefit equalization plan of the type permitted by ERISA, which provides payments to persons who are participants under the Pension Plan and their beneficiaries. Such payments equal the difference between:

·       the benefits which would be payable to such persons under the Pension Plan, without taking into consideration the limitations imposed by ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code; and

·       the maximum annual benefits to which those persons are entitled under the Pension Plan by reason of such limitations.

Accordingly, there generally are two sources of funds available to provide the retirement benefits listed in the table below (and to provide the retirement benefits that will be payable to Mr. Finnegan pursuant to his employment agreement):

·       the Pension Plan, to the extent that benefits may be provided thereunder in accordance with the above referenced limitations; and

·       our general corporate assets for the portion of these benefits that may not be provided under the Pension Plan.

The operation of the limitations on the benefits that can be provided under the Pension Plan generally results in a very substantial percentage of the retirement benefits payable to our executive officers being provided from our general corporate assets. As of December 31, 2005, our named executive officers would receive between approximately 79% and 99% of their total retirement benefits from general corporate

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assets, instead of from the Pension Plan. Assuming for illustrative purposes that each of the named executive officers had obtained the age of 65 and was in pay status, as of December 31, 2005, we estimate that the maximum aggregate retirement benefits payable to the named executive officers out of general corporate assets would be approximately $4.2 million per year. The unfunded benefits equalization plan allows for distribution of the actuarial present value of the portion of the retirement benefits payable thereunder in a lump sum or various forms of annuity following the employee’s retirement.

The following table shows the estimated annual benefits payable upon retirement to persons in specified remuneration and years-of-service classifications under the Pension Plan and the unfunded benefit equalization plan (referred to collectively as the Pension Program).

Estimated Annual Retirement Benefits Payable at Age 65

Straight Life Annuity Basis

 

Remuneration covered by the Pension Program includes salary (including salary contributed to our Capital Accumulation Plan), and awards under our Annual Incentive Compensation Plans and our Profit Sharing Plan in the year paid rather than the year earned.

The retirement benefits shown assume retirement as of December 31, 2005 at age 65 and computed on the basis of straight life annuity benefits. The benefits shown in the table are subject to an offset of an amount related to the primary social security benefits in an amount approved by the Internal Revenue Service in effect at the time of retirement.

Messrs. Finnegan, Degnan, Motamed, O’Reilly and Krump have, for the purposes of the Pension Program, 2, 14, 27.5, 35 and 22.5 years of credited service, respectively, and their 2005 remuneration for purposes of the Pension Program was $3,263,250, $1,386,500, $1,641,551, $1,429,051 and $914,225, respectively. In 1999, Mr. Motamed relinquished the right to receive under the Pension Program a lump sum amount equal to $300,000 plus interest in accordance with his participation in our Estate Enhancement Program.

Mr. Finnegan’s estimated pension payable at age 65, assuming continued employment, reflecting his annual base salary of $1,275,000 and target award under the 2001 Annual Plan and payment in the normal form of a straight line annuity, is $1,858,000 per year. This includes the amount that Mr. Finnegan is entitled to receive under the supplemental pension benefits provisions of his employment agreement. For additional information, see the summary of Mr. Finnegan’s employment agreement under the heading “Executive Compensation—Employment and Change in Control Agreements.”

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