THE BANK OF NEW YORK NEW YORKS FIRST BANK - FOUNDED 1784 BY ALEXANDER HAMILTON 101 BARCLAY STREET, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10286 AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS February 9, 2005 SECURITIES & EXCHANGE COMMISSION 450 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20549 Attn.: Document Control RE:	Depositary Shares evidenced by the American Depositary Receipts for Ordinary Shares, each of HANNOVER RUECKVERSICHERUNG AG (File No. 333-113516) Ladies and Gentlemen: Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on behalf of The Bank of New York, as Depositary for securities against which American Depositary Receipts are to be issued, we attach a copy of the new prospectus (Prospectus) reflecting the change in the number of ordinary shares represented by American Depositary Share (the Ratio). Pursuant to Section III B of the General Instructions to the Form F-6 Registration Statement, the Prospectus consists of the ADR certificate for HANNOVER RUECKVERSICHERUNG AG. The Prospectus has been revised to reflect the new Ratio, and has been overstamped with: Effective February 8, 2005 HANNOVER RUECKVERSICHERUNG AGs American Depositary Receipt (ADR) ratio changed from 1:1 (one ADR equaling one ordinary share) to 2:1 (two ADRs equaling one ordinary share). Please contact me with any questions or comments at 212 815-2276. Sincerely, /s/ Violet Pagan Violet Pagan Assistant Vice President Encl.