CNA FINANCIAL CORP

Specialty provides management and professional liability and other coverages through property and casualty products and services using a network of brokers, independent agencies and managing general underwriters. Specialty includes the following business groups:

Management & Professional Liability consists of the following coverages and products:

•Professional liability coverages and risk management services to various professional firms, including architects, real estate agents, accounting firms and law firms.

•D&O, E&O, employment practices, fiduciary, fidelity and cyber coverages. Specific areas of focus include small and mid-size firms, public as well as privately held firms and not-for-profit organizations.

•Insurance products to serve the healthcare industry, including professional and general liability as well as associated casualty coverages. Key customer groups include aging services, allied medical facilities, dentists, physicians, nurses and other medical practitioners.

Surety offers small, medium and large contract and commercial surety bonds. Surety provides surety and fidelity bonds in all 50 states.

Warranty and Alternative Risks provides extended service contracts and insurance products that provide protection from the financial burden associated with mechanical breakdown and other related losses, primarily for vehicles, portable electronic communication devices and other consumer goods. Service contracts are generally distributed by commission-based independent representatives and sold by auto dealerships and retailers in North America to customers in conjunction with the purchase of a new or used vehicle or new consumer goods. Additionally, our insurance companies may issue contractual liability insurance policies or guaranteed asset protection reimbursement insurance policies to cover the liabilities of these service contracts issued by affiliated entities or third parties.

The following table details the results of operations for Specialty.

Gross written premiums, excluding third-party captives, for Specialty decreased $14 million in 2023 as compared with 2022 driven by lower new business partially offset by strong retention. Net written premiums for Specialty increased $23 million in 2023 as compared with 2022. The increase in net earned premiums was consistent with the trend in net written premiums.

Core income increased $40 million in 2023 as compared with 2022 primarily due to higher net investment income partially offset by lower favorable net prior year loss reserve development, lower underlying underwriting results and lower income from non-insurance warranty business.

The combined ratio of 90.4% increased 1.8 point in 2023 as compared with 2022 primarily due to a 1.0 point increase in the expense ratio and a 0.8 point increase in the loss ratio. The increase in the expense ratio was driven by higher employee related and acquisition costs. The increase in the loss ratio was largely due to lower favorable net prior year loss reserve development. There were no catastrophe losses for 2023, as compared with $2 million, or 0.1 points of the loss ratio, for 2022.

Favorable net prior year loss reserve development of $14 million and $40 million was recorded in 2023 and 2022. Further information on net prior year loss reserve development is in Note E to the Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 8.

The following table summarizes the gross and net carried reserves for Specialty.