NU Online News Service, May 26, 1:12 p.m. EDT

Lloyd's announced that its estimates to-date for the net claimsfrom the Deepwater Horizon explosion in the Gulf of Mexico arebetween $300 million and $600 million and that estimates of its netclaims before tax from the earthquake in Chile are about $1.4billion.

As additional information emerges, Lloyd's said actual ultimatenet claims from both events may vary from the preliminaryestimate.

Lloyd's said today that its preliminary estimate of claims fromthe two events is consistent with the upper range of industryinsured loss estimates and draws on market share analysis, theapplication of modeling techniques, and a review of contracts inforce as well as early estimates from each syndicate.

Lloyd's added that it is "difficult at this time to provide anaccurate estimate of the financial impact of these events on theoverall market given that both are still evolving."

There will be a negligible impact on Lloyd's capital and noCentral Fund exposure from the events, either individually orcollectively, Lloyd's said.

Chief Executive Richard Ward said in a statement, "Clearly theseevents have had a significant impact on both Chilean and U.S.coastal communities, as well as a severe environmental cost in thecase of the oil spill off Louisiana. Our priority remains to assessand settle valid claims as quickly as possible in both regions andhelping to rebuild."

He added that the figures "are our estimates of the market'stotal exposure. The claims relating to the Chilean Earthquake willevolve for some time, while the event in the Gulf of Mexico isstill developing."