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                       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

                                November 12, 2002
                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)


                                 XL CAPITAL LTD
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         Cayman Islands                   1-10809                 98-0191089
(State or other jurisdiction of   (Commission file number)     (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                              Identification No.)

              XL House, One Bermudiana Road, Hamilton, Bermuda HM11
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                 (441) 292-8515
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                 Not Applicable
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)



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Item 5. Other events.


On November 12, 2002, XL Capital Ltd issued the press release attached as
Exhibit 99(a) and incorporated by reference herein.


Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.


     (c) Exhibits. The following exhibit is filed herewith:

         Exhibit No.    Description
         -----------    -----------

            99(a)       Press Release ("XL Capital Announces Plans to Issue
                        Preference Ordinary Shares") dated November 12, 2002.














                                   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 hereunto duly authorized.

Dated:   November 12, 2002


                                   XL CAPITAL LTD


                                   By:  /s/ Brian M. O'Hara
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Name:   Brian M. O'Hara
                                        Title:  President and Chief
                                                  Executive Officer






                                                                   Exhibit 99(a)





                                                              XL Capital Ltd
                                                                    XL House
                                                         One Bermudiana Road
                                                      Hamilton HM 11 Bermuda
                                                       Phone: (441) 292-8515
                                                         Fax: (441) 292-5280
NEWS RELEASE

IMMEDIATE

Contact:      Gavin R. Arton                       Roger R. Scotton
              Investor Relations                   Media Relations
              441-294-7104                         441-294-7165


                       XL CAPITAL ANNOUNCES PLANS TO ISSUE
                           PREFERENCE ORDINARY SHARES

HAMILTON, Bermuda (November 12, 2002) - XL Capital Ltd ("XL") (NYSE: XL)
announced today that it currently plans to issue and sell Series B preference
ordinary shares pursuant to XL's currently effective shelf registration
statement. The preference shares offered will not be exchangeable for or
convertible into ordinary shares of XL. The managing underwriters for XL's
preference share offering are Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, as joint book-runners.

The net proceeds from the sale of the preference shares will be used for general
corporate purposes.

XL Capital Ltd, through its operating subsidiaries, is a leading provider of
insurance and reinsurance coverages and financial products to industrial,
commercial and professional service firms, insurance companies, and other
enterprises on a worldwide basis. As of September 30, 2002, XL Capital Ltd had
consolidated assets of approximately $34.1 billion and consolidated
shareholders' equity of approximately $5.9 billion. More information about XL
Capital Ltd is available at www.xlcapital.com.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of
an offer to buy any of the preference shares or any other securities, nor will
there be any sale of the preference shares or any other securities in any state
or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be




unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any
such state or jurisdiction.


This press release contains forward-looking statements which involve inherent
risks and uncertainties. Statements that are not historical facts, including
statements about XL's beliefs, plans or expectations, are forward-looking
statements. These statements are based on current plans, estimates and
expectations. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in such
forward-looking statements and therefore you should not place undue reliance on
them. A non-exclusive list of other important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements is
set forth in XL's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and XL's other
documents on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. XL undertakes no
obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statement, whether
as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

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