Used in the 1960s in certain global slip excess-of-loss reinsurance treaties
written by underwriters participating in the Lloyd's of London marketplace,
the clause provided as follows.
[t]his Contract does not cover any claim or
claims arising from a common cause, which are not first advised during the
period of this Contract.
It is part of a larger common cause coverage meant to allow the cedent to
cumulate losses ("occurrences") and cede them to the excess-of-loss
treaty when the individual losses all arise out of a larger common cause
(occurrences during the term of the contract that are the "probable common
cause or causes" of more than one claim).