n o t e s t o t h e c o n s o l i d a t e d f i n a n c i a l s t a t e m e n t s ( continued ) ace limited and subsidiaries 20 . statutory financial information the company 2019s insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries are subject to insurance laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which they operate . these regulations include restrictions that limit the amount of dividends or other distributions , such as loans or cash advances , available to shareholders without prior approval of the insurance regulatory authorities . there are no statutory restrictions on the payment of dividends from retained earnings by any of the bermuda subsidiaries as the minimum statutory capital and surplus requirements are satisfied by the share capital and additional paid-in capital of each of the bermuda subsidiaries . the company 2019s u.s . subsidiaries file financial statements prepared in accordance with statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by insurance regulators . statutory accounting differs from gaap in the reporting of certain reinsurance contracts , investments , subsidiaries , acquis- ition expenses , fixed assets , deferred income taxes , and certain other items . the statutory capital and surplus of the u.s . subsidiaries met regulatory requirements for 2009 , 2008 , and 2007 . the amount of dividends available to be paid in 2010 , without prior approval from the state insurance departments , totals $ 733 million . the combined statutory capital and surplus and statutory net income of the bermuda and u.s . subsidiaries as at and for the years ended december 31 , 2009 , 2008 , and 2007 , are as follows: .
what was the percentage increase in the statutory capital and surplus due to discount of certain a&e liabilities from 2008 to 2009
as permitted by the restructuring discussed previously in note 7 , certain of the company 2019s u.s . subsidiaries discount certain a&e liabilities , which increased statutory capital and surplus by approximately $ 215 million , $ 211 million , and $ 140 million at december 31 , 2009 , 2008 , and 2007 , respectively . the company 2019s international subsidiaries prepare statutory financial statements based on local laws and regulations . some jurisdictions impose complex regulatory requirements on insurance companies while other jurisdictions impose fewer requirements . in some countries , the company must obtain licenses issued by governmental authorities to conduct local insurance business . these licenses may be subject to reserves and minimum capital and solvency tests . jurisdictions may impose fines , censure , and/or criminal sanctions for violation of regulatory requirements . 21 . information provided in connection with outstanding debt of subsidiaries the following tables present condensed consolidating financial information at december 31 , 2009 , and december 31 , 2008 , and for the years ended december 31 , 2009 , 2008 , and 2007 , for ace limited ( the parent guarantor ) and its 201csubsidiary issuer 201d , ace ina holdings , inc . the subsidiary issuer is an indirect 100 percent-owned subsidiary of the parent guarantor . investments in subsidiaries are accounted for by the parent guarantor under the equity method for purposes of the supplemental consolidating presentation . earnings of subsidiaries are reflected in the parent guarantor 2019s investment accounts and earnings . the parent guarantor fully and unconditionally guarantees certain of the debt of the subsidiary issuer. .