MIDWEST INSURERS ANNOUNCE CHARLEY LOSS ESTIMATES:

St. Paul Travelers Cos. announced that it estimated losses from Hurricane Charley to be about $140 million, after tax and reinsurance. St. Paul Travelers’ commercial book of business saw about $79 million in losses, the specialty lines about $35 million, and about $26 million was lost on the personal lines side. Springfield, Ill.-based insurer Horace Mann Educators Corp. estimated its financial impact from Hurricane Charley, net of anticipated reinsurance, will total about $12 million to $14 million pretax. Cincinnati-based American Financial Group Inc., the parent company of the Great American Insurance Group, estimated its Charley-related losses at about $8 million, or 10 cents per share, net of reinsurance. Meanwhile, Southfield, Mich.-based Meadowbrook Insurance Group said it does not expect its net after-tax losses to exceed $50,000. Cincinnati Financial Corp. announced a preliminary estimate of about $25 million for pre-tax catastrophe losses resulting from Hurricane Charley. The Midland Co., a specialty insurer also based in Cincinnati, estimated Charley-related losses of $4 million through Aug. 18. RLI, meanwhile, has preliminarily estimated its insured losses from Hurricane Charley to fall between $3 million and $4 million on an after-tax basis, net of reinsurance. CNA Financial Corp. reported its preliminary estimate of net losses related to Hurricane Charley. CNA estimated its losses net of anticipated reinsurance recoveries will be in the range of $40 to $60 million after-tax. Industry loss estimates currently range from $6 billion to $8 billion.