SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 20, 2001 ACE LIMITED (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Cayman Islands 1-11778 98-0091805 (State or other jurisdiction (Commission (I.R.S. Employer of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.) The ACE Building ACE Global Headquarters 17 Woodbourne Avenue Hamilton, Bermuda HM 08 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (441) 295-5200 Not Applicable (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) Item 5. Other Information ACE Limited (the "Company") has announced that it will change its transfer agent for Ordinary Shares from The Bank of New York to Mellon Investor Services LLC ("Mellon"), effective as of the close of business on December 31, 2001. Mellon will also serve as rights agent under the Company's shareholders' rights plan and will administer the dividend reinvestment plan, in each case effective as of the close of business on December 31, 2001. The Company previously announced that Meryl Hartzband resigned from the Company's Board of Directors, effective October 5, 2001 and that Dominic Frederico was appointed to the Company's Board of Directors, effective November 16, 2001. Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits. Attached as Exhibit 99.1 is a copy of the letter to shareholders, dated December 13, 2001. 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. Dated: December 21, 2001 ACE LIMITED By: /s/ Christopher Z. Marshall --------------------------- Christopher Z. Marshall Chief Financial Officer EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit Number Description - ------ ----------- 99.1 Letter to shareholders, dated December 13, 2001