Mr. Hofmann added that the suspension doesn't mean these employees have been found to have acted improperly in any way and the suspensions are only a process to further the insurer's internal evaluation.

"They were suspended to help us with the ongoing review," said Mr. Hofmann. "In the course of our internal review, we developed some concerns with some individuals at our U.S. Excess Casualty unit, and we decided to look into that more deeply."

In order to facilitate that review, he said, "we decided it would be better to suspend these individuals, so we could work on the review."

"This review is still an ongoing process that needs to be completed," Mr. Hofmann said.

The Zurich representative declined to name the suspended U.S. employees, but he said they have been working at Zurich's U.S. Excess Casualty underwriting unit, which, as part of Zurich North America Commercial, provides excess-casualty insurance coverage through various brokerage firms including Marsh & McLennan.

In addition to its own internal evaluation, Zurich Financial is also cooperating with investigations by various attorneys general in the United States. Mr. Hofmann confirmed that Zurich is continuing to fully cooperate with the investigation led by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, who has subpoenaed the Zurich-based carrier. Additionally, the company has also received subpoenas from "a couple other attorneys general" so far, Mr. Hofmann said.

"We certainly have been cooperating [with the investigation]," Mr. Hofmann said. "Certainly, there is absolutely no desire on our part not to cooperate."