Safeco said it estimates pre-tax catastrophe losses fromHurricane Wilma will come in at $45 million, translating into anafter-tax loss of $29 million, or 23 cents per share.

The Seattle-based carrier said the figures represent estimatedlosses from both claims received through Nov. 9 and future expectedclaims from policyholders with hurricane damage.

The carrier said it does not anticipate reimbursement from theFlorida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund or the company's propertycatastrophe reinsurance for losses related to Wilma.

Mike McGavick, Safeco chairman and chief executive officer. saideven as the hurricane season is ending, the company still hashundreds of Safeco claims personnel working with customers, agentsand brokers on Hurricane Wilma claims. He noted that the storm hasbeen "more costly by industry estimates than any one of Florida'sfour 2004 hurricanes."

Safeco said it has a 0.7 percent share of the Florida homeownersmarket and 2.4 percent share of the commercial multi-peril market.The company said its loss estimate is less than proportionate tothe company's market share, due to strict underwriting guidelinesin areas susceptible to coastal storms.

The carrier said it estimated losses for Hurricane Wilma usingits knowledge of severity and reporting patterns from past stormsas well as claims data and assumptions specific to thiscatastrophe.

Wilma struck Florida on Oct. 24, causing an estimated $2-to-$10billion in damages, according to catastrophe modelers.