Cautionary note on forward-looking statements
Certain statements contained herein are forward-looking. These statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to a historical fact or current fact. Forward-looking statements typically are identified by words or phrases such as "anticipate", "assume", "believe", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "foresee", "intend", "may increase" and "may fluctuate" and similar expressions or by future or conditional verbs such as "will", "should", "would" and "could". These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause Swiss Re's actual results, performance, achievements or prospects to be materially different from any future results, performance, achievements or prospects expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include, among others:
- cyclicality of the reinsurance industry;
- changes in general economic conditions, particularly in our core markets;
- uncertainties in estimating reserves;
- risks and uncertainties relating to our estimates of the losses arising from the 11 September 2001 terrorist attack in the United States;
- the performance of financial markets;
- expected changes in our investment results as a result of the changed composition of our investment assets or changes in our investment policy;
- the frequency, severity and development of insured claim events;
- acts of terrorism and acts of war;
- changes in rating agency policies or practices;
- mortality and morbidity experience;
- policy renewal and lapse rates;
- the lowering or loss of one of the financial or claims-paying ratings of one or more of our Group companies;
- changes in levels of interest rates;
- political risks in the countries in which we operate or in which we insure risks;
- extraordinary events affecting our clients, such as bankruptcies and liquidations;
- risks associated with implementing our business strategies;
- changes in currency exchange rates;
- changes in laws and regulations, including changes in accounting standards and taxation requirements; and
- increases in competitive pressures.
These factors are not exhaustive. We operate in a continually changing environment and new risks emerge continually. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
