UNITED STATES SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
FORM 10-Q
[x] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended: March 31, 1998
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ____________________ to __________________
Commission file number: 34-0-26512
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Bermuda 98-013-8020
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
Renaissance House
8-12 East Broadway
Pembroke, Bermuda HM 19
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(441) 295-4513
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year,
if changed since last report)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days. Yes [x] No[ ]
The number of outstanding shares of RenaissanceRe Holding Ltd.'s common stock,
par value US $1.00 per share as of March 31, 1998 was 22,547,124.
Total number of pages in this report: 18
<PAGE>
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.
INDEX TO FORM 10-Q
Part I -- Financial Information
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Item 1 -- Financial Statements
<S> <C>
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 1998 3
(unaudited) and December 31, 1997
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations for 4
the Three Months Ended March 31, 1998 and 1997
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' 5
Equity for the Three Months Ended March 31, 1998 and 1997
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 6
for the Three Months Ended March 31, 1998 and 1997
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements 7
Item II -- Management's Discussion and Analysis of 10
Results of Operations and Financial Condition
Part II -- Other Information 17
Item 1 -- Legal Proceedings
Item 2 -- Changes in Securities
Item 3 -- Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Item 4 -- Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Item 5 -- Other Information
Item 6 -- Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
Signature - RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. 18
</TABLE>
2
<PAGE>
Part I - Financial Information
Item 1 - Financial Statements
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(United States Dollars)
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
As at
----------------------------------------------
March 31, 1998 December 31, 1997
---------------------- ---------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Assets (Unaudited)
Fixed maturity investments available for sale, at fair value
(Amortized cost $716,768 and $722,447, at March 31, 1998 and
December 31, 1997, respectively) $ 710,435 $ 710,166
Equity securities at fair value (cost $24,229) - 26,372
Cash and cash equivalents 199,618 122,929
---------------------- ---------------------
Total investments and cash 910,053 859,467
Premiums receivable 101,352 56,568
Ceded reinsurance balances 13,774 17,454
Accrued investment income 14,628 12,762
Deferred acquisition costs 12,423 5,739
Other assets 5,993 8,759
---------------------- ---------------------
Total assets $ 1,058,223 $ 960,749
====================== =====================
Liabilities, Minority Interests and Shareholders' Equity
Liabilities
Reserve for claims and claim adjustment expenses $ 110,931 $ 110,037
Reserve for unearned premiums 122,354 57,008
Bank loan 50,000 50,000
Reinsurance balances payable 17,278 21,778
Other 11,943 9,541
---------------------- ---------------------
Total liabilities 312,506 248,364
---------------------- ---------------------
Minority Interest - Company obligated mandatorily redeemable
capital securities of a subsidiary trust holding solely junior
subordinated debentures of the Company 100,000 100,000
Minority interest - Glencoe 14,111 13,682
Shareholders' Equity
Common shares 22,547 22,441
Additional paid-in capital 55,437 52,481
Unearned stock grant compensation (7,655) (4,731)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (net unrealized
appreciation (depreciation) on investments) (6,309) (10,155)
Retained earnings 567,586 538,667
---------------------- ---------------------
Total shareholders' equity 631,606 598,703
---------------------- ---------------------
Total liabilities, minority interests, and
shareholders' equity $ 1,058,223 $ 960,749
====================== =====================
Book value per Common Share $ 28.01 $ 26.68
====================== =====================
Common Shares outstanding 22,547 22,441
====================== =====================
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements
3
<PAGE>
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(United States Dollars)
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Quarters Ended
-------------------------------------------------
March 31, 1998 March 31, 1997
--------------------- ---------------------
Revenues
<S> <C> <C>
Gross Premiums Written $ 119,145 $ 120,359
===================== =====================
Net premiums written $ 112,452 $117,648
Increase in unearned premiums (66,355) (61,747)
--------------------- ---------------------
Net premiums earned 46,097 55,901
Net investment income 13,629 12,125
Net foreign exchange losses (24) (1,643)
Net realized gains on investments 1,236 166
--------------------- ---------------------
Total revenues 60,938 66,549
--------------------- ---------------------
Expenses
Claims and claim expenses incurred 7,876 14,238
Acquisition expenses 6,392 6,378
Operational expenses 6,375 5,918
Corporate expenses 790 1,957
Interest expense 786 1,933
--------------------- ---------------------
Total expenses 22,219 30,424
--------------------- ---------------------
Income before minority interests and taxes 38,719 36,125
Minority interest - Company Obligated Mandatorily
Redeemable Capital Securities of a Subsidiary
trust holding solely Junior Subordinated
Debentures of the Company 2,111 545
Minority interest - Glencoe 422 143
--------------------- ---------------------
Income before taxes 36,186 35,437
Income tax expense 512 -
--------------------- ---------------------
Net income $ 35,674 $ 35,437
===================== =====================
Earnings per Common Share - basic $ 1.60 $ 1.56
Earnings per Common Share - diluted $ 1.57 $ 1.52
Average shares outstanding - basic 22,298 22,779
Average shares outstanding - diluted 22,708 23,295
Claims and claim expense ratio 17.1% 25.5%
Expense ratio 27.7% 22.0%
--------------------- ---------------------
Combined ratio 44.8% 47.5%
===================== =====================
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
4
<PAGE>
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity
For the three months ended March 31, 1998 and 1997
(United States Dollars)
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997
------------------------------ -----------------------------
Retained earnings
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance -- January 1 $ 538,667 $ 422,061
Net income 35,674 $ 35,674 35,437 $ 35,437
Dividends paid (6,755) (5,716)
-------------- --------------
Balance -- March 31 567,586 451,782
-------------- --------------
Accumulated other comprehensive income
Balance -- January 1 (10,155) 1,577
Net unrealized gains on securities, net of
adjustment (see disclosure) 3,846 3,846 (5,495) (5,495)
-------------- -------------
Comprehensive income $ 39,520 $ 29,942
-------------- ============== -------------- =============
Balance -- March 31 (6,309) (3,918)
-------------- --------------
Unearned stock grant compensation & loans to officers
Balance -- January 1 (4,731) (3,868)
Stock grants awarded (3,131) -
Amortization and/or interest on loans 207 (59)
-------------- --------------
Balance -- March 31 (7,655) (3,927)
-------------- --------------
Common Stock
Balance -- January 1 22,441 23,531
Exercise of stock options 106 159
Repurchase of shares - (813)
-------------- --------------
Balance -- March 31 22,547 22,877
-------------- --------------
Paid-in Capital
Balance -- January 1 52,481 102,902
Exercise of options for Ordinary Shares 2,956 (2,138)
Repurchase of Ordinary Shares - (27,242)
-------------- --------------
Balance -- March 31 55,437 73,522
-------------- --------------
Total Equity $ 631,606 $ 540,336
============== ==============
Disclosure regarding net unrealized gains
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period $ 5,082 $ (5,329)
Less: net realized gains included in net income (1,236) (166)
-------------- --------------
Net unrealized gains (losses) on securities $ 3,846 $ (5,495)
============== ==============
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
5
<PAGE>
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(United States Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Quarters Ended
--------------------------------------
March 31, 1998 March 31, 1997
----------------- -----------------
Cash flows from operating activities
<S> <C> <C>
Net income $ 35,674 $ 35,437
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
cash provided by operating activities
Amortization and depreciation 1,352 1,331
Net realized investment gains (1,236) (166)
Minority share of income 422 143
Change in:
Reinsurance balances, net (49,284) (50,095)
Ceded reinsurance balances receivable 3,681 3,933
Deferred acquisition costs (6,684) (6,137)
Reserve for claims and claim adjustment expenses 893 4,717
Reserve for unearned premiums 65,347 58,649
Other (227) 1,227
----------------- -----------------
Cash provided by operating activities 49,938 49,039
----------------- -----------------
Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds from sale of investments 217,740 191,473
Purchase of investments available for sale (210,382) (238,051)
Net proceeds from sale of equity securities 26,148 -
----------------- -----------------
Cash provided by (applied to) investing activities 33,506 (46,578)
----------------- -----------------
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of capital securities - 98,500
Repayment of bank loan - (100,000)
Dividends paid (6,755) (5,716)
Purchase of Common Shares - (28,055)
----------------- -----------------
Cash used in financing activities (6,755) (35,271)
----------------- -----------------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 76,689 (32,810)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 122,929 198,982
----------------- -----------------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 199,618 $ 166,172
================= =================
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
6
<PAGE>
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Expressed in United States Dollars)
(unaudited)
1. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis of
United States generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for
interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and
Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the
information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial
statements. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. ("RenaissanceRe"), its wholly owned
subsidiary, Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd. ("Renaissance Reinsurance") and
its majority owned subsidiary Glencoe Insurance Ltd. ("Glencoe").
RenaissanceRe, Renaissance Reinsurance and Glencoe are collectively
referred to herein as the "Company". In the opinion of the Company's
management, these financial statements reflect all the normal recurring
adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Company's financial
position at March 31, 1998 and December 31, 1997, its results of
operations for the three months ended March 31, 1998 and 1997 and cash
flows for the three months ended March 31, 1998 and 1997. These
consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the
1997 audited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto.
Certain comparative information has been reclassified to conform to
current presentation. Because of the seasonality of the Company's business
the results of operations for any interim period will not necessarily be
indicative of results of operations for the full fiscal year.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
a) Earnings per share
In 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 128, Earnings per Share. SFAS
No. 128 replaced the previously reported primary and fully diluted
earnings per share with basic and diluted earnings per share. All earnings
per share amounts for all periods have been presented, and where
necessary, restated to conform to the requirements of SFAS No.128.
b) Comprehensive Income
As of January 1, 1998 the Company adopted SFAS No. 130, "Reporting
Comprehensive Income". SFAS No. 130 requires an enterprise to (a) classify
items of other comprehensive income by their nature in a financial
statement and (b) display the accumulated balance of other comprehensive
income separately in the equity section of a statement of financial
position. SFAS No. 130 requires net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
on the Company's available for sale investments, which were previously
reported separately in shareholders' equity, to be included in other
comprehensive income. Prior year financial statements have been
reclassified to conform with the 1998 presentation. The adoption of this
accounting statement had no impact on the Company's net income or
shareholders' equity. Currently, other than the net unrealized gain (loss)
on
7
<PAGE>
the Company's investments available for sale, there are no other Company
balances which are required to be included as a component of other
comprehensive income.
3. Earnings per share
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted
earnings per share.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 31
1998 1997
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands of U.S. dollars except share and per share data)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Numerator:
Net income $ 35,674 $ 35,437
===============================
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per share -
weighted average shares 22,297,935 22,779,461
Per share equivalents of employee stock
options and restricted shares 409,797 515,250
------------------------------
Denominator for diluted earnings per share -
adjusted weighted average shares and
assumed conversions 22,707,732 23,294,711
===============================
Basic earnings per share $1.60 $1.56
Diluted earnings per share $1.57 $1.52
</TABLE>
1. During the quarter ended March 31, 1998, the Board of Directors of the
Company declared, and the Company paid, a dividend of $0.30 per share to
shareholders of record as of February 18, 1998.
2. Interest paid was $2.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 and
$1.7 million for the same period in the previous year. On March 1, 1998
the Company paid a semi-annual dividend on the Capital Securities of $4.3
million.
3. In January 1998, the Company began to provide personal lines coverages
through DeSoto Insurance Company ("DeSoto"), a wholly owned subsidiary of
Glencoe. DeSoto is a special purpose Florida homeowners insurance company
that is licensed to assume and renew homeowner policies from the Florida
JUA, a state sponsored insurance company. DeSoto's initial assumption
approximated 12,000 policies and an in-force premium of approximately $10
million.
4. On December 19, 1997, the Company announced it had executed a definitive
agreement to acquire the operating subsidiaries of Nobel Insurance
Limited, through a newly established U.S. holding company. The principal
businesses of Nobel Insurance Limited are the service and underwriting of
commercial property, casualty and surety risks for specialized industries
and personal lines coverage for low value dwellings. The casualty business
will
8
<PAGE>
be substantially reinsured by Inter-Ocean Reinsurance Company Ltd., who
will provide comprehensive retrospective reinsurance. Nobel Insurance
Limited's principal operating unit, Nobel Insurance Company ("Nobel"), is
a Texas domiciled company, licensed in 50 states. The purchase of the
operating subsidiaries of Nobel Insurance Limited is expected to close by
the end of June 1998.
Effective April 20, 1998, Nobel sold the renewal rights to its surety
business for $3.5 million plus an additional contingent fee of up to an
additional $3.5 million. Nobel does not currently anticipate receiving any
portion of this contingent fee.
5. Subsequent Events
Glencoe has agreed to repurchase from Underwriters Reinsurance Company
("Underwriter Re") its 20 percent interest in Glencoe. The estimated
purchase price is $15.2 million. Following this repurchase, RenaissanceRe
will own 100% of the outstanding stock of Glencoe.
On May 5, 1998, the Company conducted its Annual General Meeting of
Shareholders, at which each proposal to be considered by the shareholders
described in the Company's Proxy Statement relating to the Annual Meeting
(the "Proxy Statement") was adopted. Accordingly, the Memorandum of
Association and Bye-laws of the Company have been amended pursuant to such
shareholder approval, as described more fully in the Proxy Statement.
9
<PAGE>
Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND
FINANCIAL CONDITION
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
For the quarter ended March 31, 1998 compared to the quarter ended March 31,
1997
For the quarter ended March 31, 1998, net income available to common
shareholders was $35.7 million or $1.57 per share, compared to $35.4 million or
$1.52 per share for the same quarter in 1997.
Gross premiums written for the first quarter of 1998 have remained relatively
flat at $119.1 million compared to gross written premiums of $120.4 million for
the same quarter of 1997. The 1.1 percent decrease in written premiums was the
result of a 12.3 percent decrease in premiums due to the Company not renewing
coverage and a 10.1 percent decrease related to changes in pricing,
participation level and coverage on renewed business, which was partially offset
by a 23.5 percent increase in premiums related to new business, which is
primarily the result of new business written by the primary operations.
During 1998, the Company continued to purchase reinsurance to reduce its
exposure to certain losses. During the first quarter of 1998, ceded premiums
written were $6.7 million compared with $2.7 million for the same quarter in
1997.
The table below sets forth the Company's combined ratio and components thereof
for the quarters ended March 31, 1998 and 1997:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Quarters Ended March 31,
1998 1997
---- ----
<S> <C> <C>
Loss ratio 17.1% 25.5%
Expense ratio 27.7% 22.0%
-----------------------------------------
Combined ratio 44.8% 47.5%
=========================================
</TABLE>
Claims and claim adjustment expenses incurred for the quarter ended March 31,
1998 were $7.9 million or 17.1 percent of net premiums earned. In comparison,
claims and claim adjustment expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 1997 were
$14.2 million or 25.5 percent of net premiums earned. The decrease relates
primarily to a lower level of catastrophe events in the first quarter of 1998.
Underwriting expenses are comprised of acquisition expenses and operational
expenses. Acquisition expenses were $6.4 million for each of the quarters ended
March 31, 1998 and 1997.
Operating expenses for the first quarter of 1998 increased to $6.4 million
compared with $5.9 million for the same quarter of 1997. The primary cause for
the increase in operating expenses, is the continued development of the
Company's primary operations.
Net investment income, excluding realized investment gains and losses, for the
first quarter of 1998 was $13.6 million, compared to $12.1 million for the same
period in 1997. The increase in
10
<PAGE>
net investment income was the result of an increased return on the investment
portfolio and higher average invested assets which is primarily related to cash
flows from operations.
Interest expense and minority interest for the quarter ended March 31, 1998
increased to $2.9 million from $2.7 million for the same period in 1997. The
increase was primarily related to the higher interest rate on the $100.0 million
of Capital Securities which were issued during the first quarter of 1997.
As of January 1, 1998 the company adopted SFAS No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive
Income." SFAS No. 130 requires an enterprise to (a) classify items of other
comprehensive income by their nature in a financial statement and (b) display
the accumulated balance of other comprehensive income separately in the equity
section of a statement of financial position. SFAS No. 130 requires net
unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the Company's available for sale
investments, which were previously reported separately in shareholders' equity,
to be included in other comprehensive income. Prior year financial statements
have been reclassified to conform with the 1998 presentation. The adoption of
this accounting statement had no impact on the Company's net income or
shareholders' equity. Currently, other than the net unrealized gain (loss) on
the Company's investments available for sale, there are no other Company
balances which are required to be included as a component of other comprehensive
income.
FINANCIAL CONDITION
General
The Company provides reinsurance and insurance where risk of natural catastrophe
represents a significant component of the overall exposure. The Company's
results depend to a large extent on the frequency and severity of catastrophic
events, and the concentration and coverage offered to clients impacted thereby.
In addition, the Company writes other lines of insurance and reinsurance on a
limited basis, and is actively exploring new opportunities.
Liquidity and Capital Requirements
As a holding company, RenaissanceRe relies on invested assets, investment
income, cash dividends and permitted payments from its subsidiaries to make
principal payments, interest payments, cash distributions on outstanding
obligations and pay quarterly dividends, if any, to RenaissanceRe's
shareholders. The payment of dividends by its subsidiaries to RenaissanceRe is,
under certain circumstances, limited under Bermuda insurance law. The Bermuda
Insurance Act 1978, amendments thereto and related regulations of Bermuda (the
"Act"), requires the subsidiaries to maintain certain measures of solvency and
liquidity. As at March 31, 1998 the statutory capital and surplus of the
Company's subsidiaries was $655.0 million, and the amount required to be
maintained was $150.0 million.
The operating subsidiaries have historically produced sufficient cash flows to
meet expected claims payments and operational expenses and to provide dividend
payments to RenaissanceRe. The subsidiaries also maintain a concentration of
their investments in high quality liquid securities, which management believes
will provide sufficient liquidity to meet extraordinary claims payments should
the need arise.
11
<PAGE>
During the second quarter of 1998, Glencoe entered into an agreement to purchase
the 20 percent minority interest in Glencoe held by Underwriters Re. Following
the purchase of Glencoe's shares from Underwriters Re, Glencoe will be wholly
owned by RenaissanceRe.
Under the terms of its agreement to acquire the operating subsidiaries of Nobel
Insurance Limited, the Company is required to pay $54.1 million in cash to
consummate the purchase, and will provide approximately $8.9 million of limited
recourse financing, in exchange for a promissory note from Nobel Insurance
Limited, to enable Nobel Insurance Limited to support certain of its obligations
in the liquidation of the remaining operations. The Company's U.S. holding
company has received a commitment from a syndicate of banks to provide $35
million of term debt and a $15 million revolving credit facility. The loan will
be guaranteed by RenaissanceRe.
The Company anticipates that its primary insurance operations, including
Glencoe, DeSoto and Nobel, will become an increasingly important element of the
Company over time. The Company currently believes that internally generated
capital will be sufficient to support its reinsurance and insurance businesses,
however external financing may be utilized to finance significant transactions.
From time to time, the Company may consider opportunistic diversification into
new ventures, either through organic growth or the acquisition of other
companies or books of business. In evaluating such new ventures, the Company
seeks an attractive return on equity, the ability to develop or capitalize on a
competitive advantage and opportunities that will not detract from its core
reinsurance operations. Accordingly, the Company regularly reviews strategic
transaction opportunities and periodically engages in discussions regarding
possible transactions. However, other than with respect to the anticipated
acquisition of Nobel, the Company has no definitive agreements with respect to
any material transaction and there can be no assurance that the Company will
enter into any such agreement in the future, or that any consummated transaction
would contribute materially to the Company's results.
Cash flows from operating activities for the first quarter of 1998 resulted
principally from premium and investment income, net of paid losses, acquisition
costs and underwriting expenses. Cash flows from operations in the first quarter
of 1998 were $49.9 million, compared to $49.0 million for the same period in
1997. The Company has produced cash flows from operations in the first quarter
of 1998, and the full years of 1997 and 1996 significantly in excess of its
commitments. To the extent that capital is not utilized in the Company's
reinsurance business, the Company will consider using such capital to invest in
new opportunities or will consider returning such capital to its shareholders.
Because of the potential high severity and low frequency of losses on the
coverages written by the Company, and the seasonality of the Company's business,
it is not possible to accurately predict the Company's future cash flows from
operating activities. As a consequence, cash flows from operating activities may
fluctuate, perhaps significantly, between individual quarters and years.
12
<PAGE>
Reserves
The Company's policy is to establish claim reserves for the settlement costs of
all claims and claim adjustment expenses incurred by the Company when an event
occurs. During the quarter ended March 31, 1998 the Company incurred claims of
$7.9 million and paid losses of $7.0 million. This was a relatively light
quarter for natural catastrophes which therefore positively affected the
Company's results of operations. Due to the high severity and low frequency of
losses related to the property catastrophe insurance and reinsurance business,
there can be no assurance that the Company will continue to experience this
reduced level of losses.
Claim reserves represent estimates, including actuarial and statistical
projections at a given point in time, of an insurer's or reinsurer's
expectations of the ultimate settlement and administration costs of claims
incurred, and it is possible that the ultimate liability may exceed or be less
than such estimates. Such estimates are not precise in that, among other things,
they are based on predictions of future developments and estimates of future
trends in claim severity and frequency and other variable factors such as
inflation. During the claim settlement period, it often becomes necessary to
refine and adjust the estimates of liability on a claim either upward or
downward. Even after such adjustments, ultimate liability may exceed or be less
than the revised estimates.
Reserves for claims and claim expenses may include reserves for unpaid reported
claims and claim expenses and reserves for estimated losses that have been
incurred but not reported to the Company. Such reserves are estimated by
management based upon reports received from ceding companies, as supplemented by
the Company's own estimates of reserves on such reported losses as well as
reserves for losses that are incurred but not reported. The Company's reserve
estimates are continually reviewed and, in accordance with GAAP, as adjustments
to these reserves become necessary, such adjustments are reflected in current
operations.
Capital Resources & Shareholders' Equity
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
The total capital resources of the Company as at March 31, 1998 and December 31, 1997 was as follows:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 31, December 31,
(in thousands) 1998 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Revolving Credit Facility - borrowed $ 50,000 $ 50,000
Revolving Credit Facility - unborrowed 150,000 150,000
Minority interest - Company obligated mandatorily
redeemable capital securities of a subsidiary trust 100,000 100,000
Shareholders' Equity 631,606 598,703
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL CAPITAL RESOURCES $931,606 $898,703
=============================================================================================
</TABLE>
During the first quarter of 1998, shareholders' equity increased by $32.9
million, from $598.7 million at December 31, 1997 to $631.6 million at March 31,
1998. The significant components of the increase included net income from
continuing operations of $35.7 million and a decrease in the unrealized
depreciation on investments of $3.8 million, partially offset by the payment of
dividends of $6.8 million and the issuance of restricted stock under the
Company's 1993 Stock Incentive Plan.
13
<PAGE>
Investments
The table below shows the aggregate amounts of investments available for sale,
equity securities and cash and cash equivalents comprising the Company's
portfolio of invested assets:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 31, December 31,
(in thousands) 1998 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Investments available for sale, at fair value $ 710,435 $ 710,166
Equity securities, at fair value - 26,372
Cash and cash equivalents 199,618 122,929
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL INVESTED ASSETS $ 910,053 $ 859,467
===========================================================================================================
</TABLE>
The growth in the Company's portfolio of invested assets for the quarter ended
March 31, 1998 primarily resulted from net cash provided by operating activities
of $49.9 million.
The Company's current investment guidelines call for the invested asset
portfolio, including cash and cash equivalents, to have at least an average AA
rating as measured by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group. At March 31, 1998, the
invested asset portfolio had a dollar weighted average rating of AA, an average
duration of 2.3 years and an average yield to maturity of 5.87 percent, after
investment expenses.
All fixed income securities in the Company's investment portfolio are classified
as securities available for sale and are carried at fair value. Any unrealized
gains or losses as a result of changes in fair value over the period such
investments are held are not reflected in the Company's statement of operations,
but rather are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income in the
consolidated statement of shareholders' equity, in accordance with SFAS No. 115
and 130.
As at March 31, 1998 the Company held investments and cash totaling $910.0
million with a net unrealized depreciation balance of $6.3 million. The
Company's investment portfolio, is subject to the risks of declines in
realizable value. The Company attempts to mitigate this risk through the
diversification and active management of its portfolio.
At March 31, 1998, $20.6 million of cash and cash equivalents were invested in
currencies other than the U.S. dollar, which represented approximately 2.3
percent of the Company's invested assets.
The Company's investment portfolio does not contain any investments in
derivatives. Also, the Company's investment portfolio does not contain any
direct investments in real estate, mortgage loans or similar securities.
Effects of Inflation
The potential exists, after a catastrophe loss, for the development of
inflationary pressures in a local or regional economy. The anticipated effects
on the Company are implicitly considered in the
14
<PAGE>
Company's catastrophe loss models. The effects of inflation are also considered
in pricing and in estimating reserves for unpaid claims and claim adjustment
expenses. The actual effects of this post event inflation on the results of the
Company cannot be accurately known until claims are ultimately settled.
Year 2000
Certain computer programs and/or software may recognize a date using "00" as the
year 1900 rather than the year 2000, which could result in miscalculations or
system failures. The Company has completed an assessment of its business
applications and computer systems, and believes that all critical business
applications and systems will function properly with respect to dates in the
year 2000 and thereafter.
The Company is in the process of evaluating its potential exposures from the
non-compliance, if any, of its vendors' and customers' systems with the Year
2000. There can be no assurance that the systems of its vendors and customers,
on which the Company relies for supporting information, will be timely converted
and would not have an effect on the Company's business operations.
Currently, none of the Company's reinsurance or insurance policies specifically
provides coverage for Year 2000 losses. The Company has begun to explicitly
exclude coverage for Year 2000 losses from its policies, and expects to adopt
this wording for the majority of its policies and contracts going forward. The
Company believes that the potential for a material loss due to this exposure has
been, or will be, minimized; however, there can be no assurance that potential
losses would not have an adverse effect on the future results of operations.
The Company anticipates completing the Year 2000 evaluation prior to December
31, 1998 and it is anticipated that any future costs associated with the Year
2000 project will be minimal and accordingly not have an adverse effect on the
future results of operations.
Current Outlook
It is anticipated that the competitive pressures that have existed since 1995
will continue into 1998. The Company anticipates that these pressures will
continue to suppress the growth in premiums from property catastrophe
reinsurance contracts. However, although no assurance can be given, the Company
believes that opportunities in certain select markets will continue to exist,
which because of the Company's competitive advantages, including its
technological capabilities and its relationships with leading brokers and ceding
companies, will enable the Company to find additional opportunities in the
property catastrophe reinsurance business that otherwise would not be available.
Additionally, the Company's financial strength has enabled it to pursue
opportunities outside of the property catastrophe reinsurance market into the
catastrophe exposed primary insurance market. The Company believes that its
financial strength will enable it to continue to pursue other opportunities in
the future. There can be no assurance that the Company's pursuit of such
opportunities will materially impact the Company's financial condition and
results of operations.
15
<PAGE>
Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the
Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical
information or statements of current condition. Some forward-looking statements
may be identified by use of terms such as "believes," "anticipates," "intends,"
or "expects." These forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to
the plans and objectives of the Company for future operations. In light of the
risks and uncertainties inherent in all future projections, the inclusion of
forward-looking statements in this report should not be considered as a
representation by the Company or any other person that the objectives or plans
of the Company will be achieved. Numerous factors could cause the Company's
actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking
statements, including the following: (i) the occurrence of catastrophic events
with a frequency or severity exceeding the Company's estimates; (ii) a decrease
in the level of demand for property catastrophe reinsurance, or increased
competition owing to increased capacity of property catastrophe reinsurers;
(iii) any lowering or loss of one of the financial or claims-paying ratings of
the Company or one or more of its subsidiaries; (iv) actions of competitors; (v)
loss of services of any one of the Company's key executive officers; (vi) the
passage of federal or state legislation subjecting Renaissance Reinsurance to
supervision or regulation in the United States; (vii) challenges by insurance
regulators in the United States to Renaissance Reinsurance's claim of exemption
from insurance regulation under the current laws; (viii) changes in economic
conditions, including currency rate conditions; or (ix) a contention by the
United States Internal Revenue Service that the Company or Renaissance
Reinsurance is engaged in the conduct of a trade or business within the U.S. The
foregoing review of important factors should not be construed as exhaustive; the
Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of any future
revisions it may make to forward-looking statements to reflect events or
circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events.
16
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Part II -- OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1 -- Legal Proceedings
None
Item 2 -- Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds
None
Item 3 -- Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None
Item 4 -- Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
None
Item 5 -- Other Information
None
Item 6 -- Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
a. Exhibits:
Exhibit 3.1 - Memorandum of Increase in Share Capital of the
Company.
Exhibit 3.2 - Amended and Restated Bye-laws of the Company.
Exhibit 27 - Financial Data Schedule.
b. Current Reports on Form 8-K:
The Registrant filed a Current Report on Form 8-K on January 6,
1998.
17
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed by the undersigned
thereunto duly authorized.
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.
Date: May 14, 1998
By: /s/ John M. Lummis
-------------------------
John M. Lummis
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
18
EXHIBIT 3.1
[Letterhead of Bermuda Monetary Authority]
Form No. 7
Memorandum of Increase of Share Capital
BERMUDA
THE COMPANIES ACT 1981
MEMORANDUM OF INCREASE OF SHARE CAPITAL OF
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(hereinafter referred to as "the Company")
DEPOSITED in the office of the Registrar of Companies on the 11th day of May,
1998 in accordance with the provisions of section 45(3) of the Companies Act
1981.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Minimum Share Capital of the Company
$12,000
Authorised Share Capital of the Company $200,000,000
Increase of Share Capital as authorised
by a resolution passed at a general
meeting of the Company on the 5th $125,000,000
day of May, 1998. ------------
AUTHORISED SHARE CAPITAL AS INCREASED
$325,000,000
------------
</TABLE>
/s/ John D. Nichols, Jr.
------------------------
Secretary
DATED THIS 11th day of May, 1998.
NOTE: This memorandum must be filed in the office of the Registrar of Companies
within thirty days after the date on which the resolution increasing the share
capital has effect and must be accompanied by a copy of the resolution and the
prescribed fee.
AMENDED AND RESTATED
B Y E - L A W S
of
RENAISSANCERE HOLDINGS LTD.
INTERPRETATION
1. Interpretation
(a) In these Bye-laws the following words and expressions shall, where
not inconsistent with the context, have the following meanings respectively:
(i) "Act" means the Companies Act 1981 as amended from time to
time;
(ii) "Affiliate" means any person or entity, directly or
indirectly, controlling, controlled by or under common control
with any such person or entity.
(iii) "Alternate Director" means an alternate Director;
(iv) "Auditor" includes any individual or partnership;
(v) "Board" means the Board of Directors appointed or elected
pursuant to these Bye-laws and acting by resolution in
accordance with the Act and these Bye-laws or the Directors
present at a meeting of Directors at which there is a quorum;
(vi) "Common Shares" means the common shares of the Company par
value US $1.00 per share;
(vii) "Company" means the company for which these Bye-laws are
approved and confirmed;
(viii) "Director" means a director of the Company and shall, include
an Alternate Director;
(ix) "General Meeting" means any annual or special general meeting
of the Members;
(x) "Member" means the person registered in the Register of
Members as the holder of shares
<PAGE>
in the Company and, when two or more persons are so registered
as joint holders of shares, means the person whose name stands
first in the Register of Members as one of such joint holders
or all of such persons as the context so requires;
(xi) "notice" means written notice as further defined in these
Bye-laws unless otherwise specifically stated;
(xii) "Person" means an individual, partnership, joint-stock
company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization,
and a government or agency or political subdivision thereof;
(xiii) "Officer" means any person appointed by the Board to hold an
office in the Company;
(xiv) "Register of Directors and Officers" means the Register of
Directors and Officers referred to in Bye-law 28;
(xv) "Register of Members" means the Register of Members referred
to in Bye-law 58; and
(xvi) "Secretary" means the person appointed to perform any or all
the duties of secretary of the Company and includes any deputy
or assistant secretary.
(b) In these Bye-laws, where not inconsistent with the context:
(i) words denoting the plural number include the singular number
and vice versa;
(ii) words denoting a particular gender shall include all and any
genders;
(iii) words importing persons include companies, associations or
bodies of persons whether corporate or not;
(iv) the word:-
(A) "may" shall be construed as permissive;
(B) "shall" shall be construed as imperative; and
(v) unless otherwise provided herein words or expressions defined
in the Act shall bear the same meaning in these Bye-laws.
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<PAGE>
(c) Expressions referring to writing or written shall, unless the
contrary intention appears, include facsimile, printing, lithography,
photography and other modes of representing words in a visible form.
(d) Headings used in these Bye-laws are for convenience only and are not
to be used or relied upon in the construction hereof.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2. Board of Directors
(a) The business of the Company shall be managed and conducted by the
Board.
3. Management of the Company
(a) In managing the business of the Company, the Board may exercise all
such powers of the Company as are not, by statute or by these Bye-laws, required
to be exercised by the Company in General Meeting subject, nevertheless, to
these Bye-laws, the provisions of any statute and to such regulations as may be
prescribed by the Company in General Meeting.
(b) No regulation or alteration to these Bye-laws made by the Company in
General Meeting shall invalidate any prior act of the Board which would have
been valid if that regulation or alteration had not been made.
(c) The Board may procure that the Company pays all expenses incurred in
promoting and incorporating the Company.
4. Power to appoint managing director or chief executive officer
The Board may from time to time appoint one or more Directors to the
office of managing director or chief executive officer of the Company who shall,
subject to the control of the Board, supervise and administer all of the general
business and affairs of the Company.
5. Power to appoint manager
The Board may appoint a person to act as manager of the Company's day to
day business and may entrust to and confer upon such manager such powers and
duties as it deems appropriate for the transaction or conduct of such business.
6. Power to authorize specific actions
The Board may from time to time and at any time authorize any Director
or Officer to act on behalf of the Company
3
<PAGE>
for any specific purpose and in connection therewith to execute any agreement,
document or instrument on behalf of the Company.
7. Power to appoint attorney
The Board may from time to time and at any time by power of attorney
appoint any company, firm, person or body of persons, whether nominated directly
or indirectly by the Board, to be an attorney of the Company for such purposes
and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in
or exercisable by the Board) and for such period and subject to such conditions
as it may think fit and any such power of attorney may contain such provisions
for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such attorney as
the Board may think fit and may also authorize any such attorney to sub-delegate
all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions so vested in the attorney.
Such attorney may, if so authorized under the seal of the Company, execute any
deed or instrument under such attorney's personal seal with the same effect as
the affixation of the seal of the Company.
8. Power to delegate to a committee
(a) The Board shall appoint an Executive Committee of the Board which
shall have the power of the Board between meetings of the Board. The Executive
Committee shall consist of at least two and not more than four Directors. The
Executive Committee shall have the authority to oversee the general business and
affairs of the Company along with whatever additional authority the Board may
grant as necessary for the management of the Company.
(b) The Board may delegate any of its powers, authorities and discretion
to such other committees as it deems appropriate, each such committee to consist
of no fewer than two persons (including persons who are not Directors). Any
committee so formed shall, in the exercise of the powers, authorities and
discretion so delegated, conform to any regulations which may be imposed upon it
by the Board.
9. Power to appoint and dismiss employees
The Board may appoint, suspend or remove any manager, secretary, clerk,
agent or employee of the Company and may fix their remuneration and determine
their duties.
10. Power to borrow and charge property
The Board may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and
to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and uncalled capital, or any
part thereof, and may issue debentures, debenture stock and other securities
whether outright or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of the
Company or any third party.
4
<PAGE>
11. Power to purchase shares of the Company
Subject to the provisions of Section 42A of the Act, the Board may
exercise all the powers of the Company to purchase all or any part of its own
shares.
12. Election of Directors
(a) The business of the Company shall be managed and conducted by a
Board of Directors consisting of eleven Directors who shall be elected or
appointed at the annual general meetings of the Company; provided, however, that
a majority of the Board may determine, in its discretion, to expand the size of
the Board to twelve directors. At the annual general meeting when this Bye-law
becomes effective, the persons nominated to be elected or appointed as Directors
shall be divided into three classes of approximately equal size, designated
Class I, Class II and Class III, each consisting initially of such Directors as
the Board shall determine; the term of office of those Directors in Class I to
expire at the annual general meeting next following such meeting, the term of
office of those Directors in Class II to expire at the second annual general
meeting following such meeting, and the term of office of those Directors in
Class III to expire at the third annual general meeting following such meeting.
At each annual general meeting held after such classification and election,
Directors shall be elected or appointed for a full three-year term, as the case
may be, to succeed those whose terms expire at such meeting. Each Director shall
hold office for the term for which he is elected and until his successor is
appointed. The shareholders may, at any general meeting, authorize the Board to
fill any vacancy on the Board unfilled at a general meeting.
(b) The only persons who shall be eligible for appointment or election
as a Director in accordance with Bye-law 12(a) at any general meeting of the
Company shall be persons either (i) for whom a written notice of nomination
signed by not less than twenty Members holding in the aggregate not less than
10% of the outstanding paid up share capital of the Company at that time has
been delivered to the registered office of the Company for the attention of the
Secretary: (a) in the case of an annual general meeting, not less than 60 days
nor more than 90 days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding
annual general meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that in the event
that the annual general meeting is called for a date that is not within 30 days
before or after such anniversary date, notice by the shareholder in order to be
timely must be received no later than the close of business on the tenth day
following the day on which such notice of the date of the annual general meeting
was mailed or such public disclosure of the date of the annual general meeting
was made, whichever first occurs; and (b) in the case of a special general
meeting called for the purpose of electing directors, not later than the close
of business on the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of
the special general meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the
special general meeting was made, whichever first occurs, or (ii) who have been
approved for such purpose by the Board and identified in the Notice of such
general meeting or by way of note or other document sent to the Members not less
than five days prior to the scheduled date of such general meeting. A
shareholder's notice pursuant to (i) above shall set forth (x) as to each person
whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election as a director: (i) the
name, age, business address and residence address of the person; (ii) the
principal occupation or employment of the person; (iii) the class or series and
number of shares of capital stock of the Company which are owned beneficially or
of record by the person; and (iv) any other information relating to the person
5
<PAGE>
that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings
required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of
directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder (the "Proxy Filings"); and (y) as to the
shareholder giving the notice: (i) the name and record address of such
shareholder; (ii) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of
the Company which are owned beneficially or of record by such shareholder; (iii)
a description of all arrangements or understandings between such shareholder and
each proposed nominee and any other person (including his name and address)
pursuant to which the nomination(s) are to be made by such shareholder; (iv) a
representation that such shareholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at
the meeting to nominate the persons named in its notice; and (v) any other
information relating to such shareholder that would be required to be disclosed
in a Proxy Filing. Such notice must be accompanied by a written consent of each
proposed nominee to being named as a nominee and to serve as a director if
elected. The chairman of the meeting may refuse to acknowledge the nomination of
any person not made in compliance with the foregoing procedure.
13. Defects in appointment of Directors
All acts done bona fide by any meeting of the Board or by a committee of
the Board or by any person acting as a Director shall, notwithstanding that it
be afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any
Director or person acting as aforesaid, or that they or any of them were
disqualified, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and
was qualified to be a Director.
14. Alternate Directors
(a) Any General Meeting of the Company may elect a person or persons to
act as a Director in the alternative to any one or more of the Directors of the
Company or may authorize the Board to appoint such Alternate Directors. Any
person so appointed shall have all the rights and powers of the Director or
Directors for whom such person is appointed in the alternative provided that
such person shall not be counted more than once in determining whether or not a
quorum is present.
(b) An Alternate Director shall be entitled to receive notice of all
meetings of the Board and to attend and vote at any such meeting at which a
Director for whom such Alternate Director was appointed in the alternative is
not personally present and generally to perform at such meeting all the
functions of such Director for whom such Alternate Director was appointed.
(c) An Alternate Director shall cease to be such if the Director for
whom such Alternate Director was appointed ceases for any reason to be a
Director but may be re-appointed by
6
<PAGE>
the Board as alternate to the person appointed to fill the vacancy in accordance
with these Bye-laws.
15. Removal of Directors
(a) The Members shall not be entitled to remove a Director other than
for cause.
(b) Subject to subparagraph (a) of this Bye-law, the Members may, at any
special general meeting convened and held in accordance with these Bye-laws,
upon the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 66-2/3% of the voting
rights attached to all issued and outstanding capital shares of the Company,
remove a Director for cause provided that the notice of any such meeting
convened for the purpose of removing a Director shall contain a statement of the
intention so to do and be served on such Director not less than 60 days before
the meeting and at such meeting such Director shall be entitled to be heard on
the motion for such Director's removal.
(c) A vacancy on the Board created by the removal of a Director under
the provisions of subparagraph (b) of this Bye-law may be filled by the Members
at the meeting at which such Director is removed. A Director so appointed shall
hold office until the expiration of the term of the Director so removed or until
such new Director's successor is elected or appointed or such new Director's
office is otherwise vacated and, in the absence of such election or appointment,
the Members may authorize the Board to fill any vacancy.
16. Vacancies on the Board
(a) The Board, by the vote of a majority of the directors then in
office, shall have the power from time to time and at any time to appoint any
person as a Director to fill a vacancy on the Board occurring as the result of
the death, disability, disqualification or resignation of any Director and to
appoint an Alternate Director to any Director so appointed. A Director so
appointed shall hold office until the annual general meeting at which such
Director's predecessor's term would have expired or until such Director's
successor is elected or appointed or such Director's office is otherwise
vacated.
(b) The Board may act notwithstanding any vacancy in its number but, if
and so long as its number is reduced below the number fixed by these Bye-laws as
the quorum necessary for the transaction of business at meetings of the Board,
the continuing Directors or Director may act for the purpose of (i) summoning a
General Meeting of the Company or (ii) preserving the assets of the Company.
(c) The office of Director shall be vacated if the Director:
(i) is prohibited from being a Director by law;
7
<PAGE>
(ii) is or becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition
with his creditors generally;
(iii) is or becomes of unsound mind or dies;
(iv) resigns her or his office by notice in writing to the Company.
17. Notice of meetings of the Board
(a) A Director may, and the Secretary on the requisition of a Director
shall, at any time summon a meeting of the Board.
(b) Notice of a meeting of the Board shall be deemed to be duly given to
a Director if it is given to such Director verbally in person or by telephone or
otherwise communicated or sent to such Director by post, cable, telex, board,
facsimile or other mode of representing words in a legible and non-transitory
form at such Director's last known address or any other address given by such
Director to the Company for this purpose.
18. Quorum at meetings of the Board
The quorum necessary for the transaction of business at a meeting of the
Board shall be two Directors.
19. Meetings of the Board
(a) The Board may meet for the transaction of business, adjourn and
otherwise regulate its meetings as it sees fit.
(b) Directors may participate in any meeting of the Board by means of
such telephone, electronic or other communication facilities as permit all
persons participating in the meeting to communicate with each other
simultaneously and instantaneously, and participation in such a meeting shall
constitute presence in person at such meeting, except that Directors may not
participate in any meeting of the Board while present in the United States of
America or its territories.
(c) A resolution put to the vote at a meeting of the Board shall be
carried by the affirmative votes of a majority of the votes cast and in the case
of an equality of votes the resolution shall fail.
20. Unanimous written resolutions
A resolution in writing signed by all the Directors or, for the
avoidance of doubt, their respective Alternate Directors, if any, which may be
in counterparts, shall be as valid as if it had been passed at a meeting of the
Board duly called and
8
<PAGE>
constituted, such resolution to be effective on the date on which the last
Director or such Director's alternate signs the resolution.
21. Contracts and disclosure of Directors' interests
(a) Any Director, or any Director's firm, partner or any company with
whom any Director is associated, may act in a professional capacity for the
Company and such Director or such Director's firm, partner or such company shall
be entitled to remuneration for professional services as if such Director were
not a Director, provided that nothing herein contained shall authorize a
Director or Director's firm, partner or such company to act as Auditor of the
Company.
(b) A Director who is directly or indirectly interested in a contract or
proposed contract or arrangement with the Company shall declare the nature of
such interest as required by the Act.
(c) Following a declaration being made pursuant to this Bye-law, the
approval of a majority of disinterested Directors (as defined below) shall be
required prior to the Company entering into any transaction with a Member or an
Affiliate of any Member. For purposes of this Bye-law 21(c), a Director shall be
deemed to be disinterested in a transaction provided such Director, any entity
employing such Director and any Affiliate of such entity, is neither a party to
such transaction nor will receive any benefit as a result of such transaction
other than by virtue of his or its rights as a Member.
22. Remuneration of Directors
The remuneration, (if any) of the Directors shall be determined by the
Board and shall be deemed to accrue from day to day. The Directors may also be
paid all travel, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by them in attending
and returning from meetings of the Board, any committee appointed by the Board,
General Meetings of the Company, or in connection with the business of the
Company or their duties as Directors generally.
OFFICERS
23. Officers of the Company
The Officers of the Company shall consist of a President, one or more
Vice Presidents, a Secretary and such additional Officers as the Board may from
time to time determine all of whom shall be deemed to be Officers for the
purposes of these Bye-laws.
24. Appointment of Officers
9
<PAGE>
(a) The Board shall, as soon as possible after the statutory meeting and
after each annual General Meeting elect one of its number to be President of the
Company and another of its number to be Vice President.
(b) The Secretary and additional Officers, if any, shall be appointed by
the Board from time to time.
25. Remuneration of Officers
The Officers shall receive such remuneration as the Board may from time
to time determine in accordance with their employment contracts or otherwise.
26. Duties of Officers
The Officers shall have such powers and perform such duties in the
management, business and affairs of the Company as may be delegated to them by
the Board from time to time.
27. Chairperson of meetings
Unless otherwise agreed by a majority of those attending and entitled to
attend and vote thereat, the President shall act as chairperson at all meetings
of the Members and of the Board at which such person is present. In the absence
of the President, a Vice President, if present, shall act as chairperson and in
their absence, a chairperson shall be appointed or elected by those present at
the meeting and entitled to vote.
28. Register of Directors and Officers
(a) The Board shall cause to be kept in one or more books at its
registered office a Register of Directors and Officers and shall enter therein
the following particulars with respect to each Director and the President, each
Vice President and the Secretary, that is to say:
(i) first name and surname; and
(ii) address.
(b) The Board shall, within the period of fourteen days from the
occurrence of:
(i) any change among its Directors and in the President, any Vice
President or Secretary; or
(ii) any change in the particulars contained in the Register of
Directors and Officers, cause to be entered on the Register of
Directors and Officers the particulars of such change and the
date on which such change occurred.
10
<PAGE>
(c) The Register of Directors and Officers shall be open to inspection
at the office of the Company on every business day, subject to such reasonable
restrictions as the Board may impose, so that not less than two hours in each
business day be allowed for inspection.
MINUTES
29. Obligations of Board to keep minutes
The Board shall cause minutes to be duly entered in books provided for
the purpose:
(a) of all elections and appointments of Officers;
(b) of the names of the Directors present at each meeting of the Board
and of any committee appointed by the Board; and
(c) of all resolutions and proceedings of General Meetings of the
Members, meetings of the Board, meetings of managers and meetings of committees
appointed by the Board.
INDEMNITY
30. Indemnification of Directors and Officers of the Company
The Directors, Secretary and other Officers of the Company and the
liquidator or trustees (if any) acting in relation to any of the affairs of the
Company and every one of them, and their heirs, executors and administrators,
shall be indemnified and secured harmless out of the assets of the Company from
and against all actions, costs, charges, losses, damages and expenses which they
or any of them, their heirs, executors or administrators, shall or may incur or
sustain by or by reason of any act done, concurred in or omitted in or about the
execution of their duty, or supposed duty, or in their respective offices or
trusts, and none of them shall be answerable for the acts, receipts, neglects or
defaults of the others of them or for joining in any receipts for the sake of
conformity, or for any bankers or other persons with whom any moneys or effects
belonging to the Company shall or may be lodged or deposited for safe custody,
or for insufficiency or deficiency of any security upon which any moneys of or
belonging to the Company shall be placed out on or invested, or for any other
loss, misfortune or damage which may happen in the execution of their respective
offices or trusts, or in relation thereto, PROVIDED THAT this indemnity shall
not extend to any matter in respect of any willful negligence, willful default,
fraud or dishonesty which may attach to any of said persons.
31. Waiver of claim by Member
11
<PAGE>
Each Member agrees to waive any claim or right of action such Member
might have, whether individually or by or in the right of the Company, against
any Director or Officer on account of any action taken by such Director or
Officer, or the failure of such Director or Officer to take any action in the
performance of his duties with or for the Company, PROVIDED THAT such waiver
shall not extend to any matter in respect of any willful negligence, willful
default, fraud or dishonesty which may attach to such Director or Officer.
MEETINGS
32. Notice of annual General Meeting
The annual General Meeting of the Company shall be held in each year
other than the year of incorporation at such time and place outside the United
States or its territories as the President or any two Directors or any Director
and the Secretary or the Board shall appoint. At least 5 days' notice of such
meeting shall be given to each Member stating the date, place and time at which
the meeting is to be held, that the election of Directors will take place
thereat, and as far as practicable, the other business to be conducted at the
meeting. Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Bye-laws, in addition to
any other applicable requirements, in order for a resolution to be properly
moved by shareholders in accordance with the Act and these Bye-laws at an annual
general meeting of shareholders where such business is not brought by or at the
direction of the Board, such resolution may be introduced by such shareholders
at such meeting only if prior written notice thereof is given by such
shareholders to the Secretary of the Company at the Company's registered office
setting forth as to each matter such shareholders propose to bring before the
general meeting: (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought
before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the
annual meeting; (ii) the name and record address of such shareholder; (iii) the
class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Company which are
owned beneficially or of record by such shareholder; (iv) a description of all
arrangements or understandings between such shareholder and any other person
(including his or her name and address) in connection with the proposal of such
business by such shareholder and any material interest of such shareholder in
such business; and (v) a representation that such shareholder intends to appear
in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to bring such business before the
meeting. The Chairman of an annual general meeting may, if the facts warrant,
determine and declare that any business was not properly brought before the
meeting and such business will not be transacted.
33. Notice of Special General Meeting
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The President or any two Directors or any Director and the Secretary or
the Board may convene a special General Meeting of the Company whenever in their
judgment such a meeting is necessary, upon not less than 5 days' notice which
shall state the time, place and the general nature of the business to be
considered at the meeting.
34. Accidental omission of notice of General Meeting
The accidental omission to give notice of a General Meeting to, or the
non-receipt of notice of a General Meeting by, any person entitled to receive
notice shall not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting.
35. Meeting called on requisition of Members
Notwithstanding anything herein, the Board shall, on the requisition of
Members holding at the date of the deposit of the requisition not less than
one-tenth of such of the paid-up share capital of the Company as at the date of
the deposit carries the right to vote at General Meetings of the Company,
forthwith proceed to convene a special General Meeting of the Company and the
provisions of section 74 of the Act shall apply. Notwithstanding any other
provisions of these Bye-laws, not less than 60 nor more than 90 days notice
shall be given of any special general meeting properly requisitioned by
shareholders in accordance with the Act and these Bye-laws holding at least 10%
of the outstanding paid up share capital of the Company.
36. Short notice
A General Meeting of the Company shall, notwithstanding that it is
called by shorter notice than that specified in these Bye-laws, be deemed to
have been properly called if it is so agreed by (a) all the Members entitled to
attend and vote thereat in the case of an annual General Meeting; and (b) by a
majority in number of the Members having the right to attend and vote at the
meeting, being a majority together holding not less than 95% in nominal value of
the shares giving a right to attend and vote thereat in the case of a special
General Meeting.
37. Postponement of meetings
The Board may postpone any General Meeting called in accordance with the
provisions of these Bye-laws (other than a meeting requisitioned under Bye-law
36) provided that notice of postponement is given to each Member before the time
for such meeting. Fresh notice of the date, time and place for the postponed
meeting shall be given to each Member in accordance with the provisions of these
Bye-laws.
38. Quorum for General Meeting
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At any General Meeting of the Company, two persons present in person and
throughout the meeting representing in person or by proxy more than 50% of the
total issued shares in the Company entitled to vote on the matters to be
considered by the meeting shall form a quorum for the transaction of business.
If, within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting, a quorum is not
present, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day two weeks later, at
the same time and place or to such other day, time or place as the Board may
determine. Unless the meeting is adjourned to a specific date and time, fresh
notice of the date, time and place for the adjourned meeting shall be given to
each Member in accordance with the provisions of these Bye-laws.
39. Adjournment of meetings
The chairperson of a General Meeting may, with the consent of the
Members at any General Meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if so
directed), adjourn the meeting. Unless the meeting is adjourned to a specific
date and time, fresh notice of the date, time and place for the resumption of
the adjourned meeting shall be given to each Member in accordance with the
provisions of these Bye-laws.
40. Attendance at meetings
Members may participate in any General Meeting by means of such
telephone, electronic or other communication facilities as permit all persons
participating in the meeting to communicate with each other simultaneously and
instantaneously, and participation in such a meeting shall constitute presence
in person at such meeting except that Members may not participate in any General
Meeting while present in the United States or its territories.
41. Written resolutions
A resolution in writing signed by all of the Members, which may be in
counterparts, shall be as valid as if it had been passed by a General Meeting
duly called and constituted, such resolution to be effective on the date on
which the last Member signs the resolution.
42. Attendance of Directors
The Directors of the Company shall be entitled to receive notice of and
to attend and be heard at any General Meeting.
43. Voting at meetings
(a) Subject to the provisions of the Act and these Bye-laws, any
question proposed for the consideration of the Members at any General Meeting
shall be decided by the
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affirmative votes of a majority of the votes cast in accordance with the
provisions of these Bye-laws and in the case of an equality of votes the
resolution shall fail.
(b)(1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Bye-laws to the
contrary, the Company may authorize or effect any amalgamation or other
reorganization of the Company with or into any Person (other than an
amalgamation pursuant to Section 107 of the Act) in a General Meeting only upon
the affirmative vote of a majority of all issued and outstanding capital shares
of the Company.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Bye-laws to the
contrary, the Company may (i) authorize or effect any acquisition or disposition
of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; (ii) authorize or
effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company or (iii) amend,
alter or repeal any provision of this Bye-law 43 in a General Meeting only upon
the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting rights attached to all issued
and outstanding capital shares of the Company entitled to vote thereon in
accordance with these Bye-Laws.
(3) Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Bye-laws to the
contrary, a Director may only be removed for cause, and Bye-laws 12, 15, 32, 35,
43(b)(3) and 46A may, in each case, only be amended or repealed in a general
meeting upon the affirmative vote of 66-2/3% of the voting rights attached to
all of the issued and outstanding capital shares of the Company.
(4) Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Bye-laws to the
contrary, with respect to any matter required to be submitted to a vote of the
shareholders of Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd. ("Renaissance Reinsurance"), the
Company shall be required to submit a proposal relating to such matters to the
shareholders of the Company and shall vote all the shares of Renaissance
Reinsurance owned by the Company in accordance with and proportional to such
vote of the Company's shareholders; provided, however, that the Board shall not
be required to submit such a proposal contemplated by this Bye-law 43(b)(3) to
the shareholders of the Company at such time as Renaissance Reinsurance shall no
longer be a subsidiary of the Company or no Diluted Voting Shares shall be
outstanding.
(c) No Member shall be entitled to vote at any General Meeting unless
such Member has paid all the calls on all shares held by such Member.
44. Voting on show of hands
At any General Meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting
shall, in the first instance, be voted upon by a show of hands and, subject to
any rights or restrictions for the time being lawfully attached to any class of
shares and subject to the
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provisions of these Bye-laws, every Member present in person and every person
holding a valid proxy at such meeting shall be entitled to one vote per share
and shall cast such vote by raising his or her hand.
45. Decision of chairperson
At any General Meeting a declaration by the chairperson of the meeting
that a question proposed for consideration has, on a show of hands, been
carried, or carried unanimously, or by a particular majority, or lost, or an
entry to that effect in a book containing the minutes of the proceedings of the
Company shall, subject to the provisions of these Bye-laws, be conclusive
evidence of that fact.
46. Demand for a poll
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of the immediately preceding two
Bye-laws, at any General Meeting of the Company, in respect of any question
proposed for the consideration of the Members (whether before or on the
declaration of the result of a show of hands as provided for in these Bye-laws),
a poll may be demanded by any of the following persons:
(i) the chairperson of such meeting; or
(ii) at least three Members present in person or represented by
proxy; or
(iii) any Member or Members present in person or represented by
proxy and holding between them not less than one-tenth of the
total voting rights of all the Members having the right to
vote at such meeting; or
(iv) any Member or Members present in person or represented by
proxy holding shares in the Company conferring the right to
vote at such meeting, being shares on which an aggregate sum
has been paid up equal to not less than one-tenth of the total
sum paid up on all such shares conferring such right.
(b) Where, in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this
Bye-law, a poll is demanded, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time
being lawfully attached to any class of shares, every person present at such
meeting shall have one vote for each share of which such person is the holder or
for which such person holds a proxy and such vote shall be counted in the manner
set out in paragraph (d) of this Bye-law or in the case of a General Meeting at
which one or more Members are present by telephone in such manner as the
chairperson of the meeting may direct and the result of such poll shall be
deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded
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and shall replace any previous resolution upon the same matter which has been
the subject of a show of hands.
(c) A poll demanded in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph
(a) of this Bye-law, for the purpose of electing a chairperson or on a question
of adjournment, shall be taken forthwith and a poll demanded on any other
question shall be taken in such manner and at such time and place as the
chairperson may direct and any business other than that upon which a poll has
been demanded may be proceeded with pending the taking of the poll.
(d) Where a vote is taken by poll each person present and entitled to
vote shall be furnished with a ballot paper on which such person shall record
her or his vote in such manner as shall be determined at the meeting having
regard to the nature of the question on which the vote is taken, and each ballot
paper shall be signed or initialled or otherwise marked so as to identify the
voter and the registered holder in the case of a proxy. At the conclusion of the
poll the ballot papers shall be examined and counted by a committee of not less
than two Members or proxy holders appointed by the chairperson for the purpose
and the result of the poll shall be declared by the chairperson.
46A. Excess Shares
Notwithstanding anything else in these Bye-laws to the contrary:
(a) Other than as provided herein, no Person other than a Permitted
Person shall be permitted to own or control shares in the Company (including as
a result of the repurchase of shares by the Company) to the extent that such
holder or any other Person will be considered to own or control Controlled
Shares (as defined below), as the Board may determine in its sole discretion,
which represent in excess of 9.9% of the voting rights attached to all of the
issued and outstanding capital shares of the Company, nor shall any Person be
permitted to own or control Controlled Shares if the result thereof would be to
render such Person or any other Person other than a Permitted Person a Ten
Percent Shareholder. In accordance with the foregoing, the Company may decline
to register any transfer of its capital shares (including its public shares) if
such transfer, in the discretion of the Board, would cause the transferee or any
other Person (other than a Permitted Person) to own or control Controlled Shares
representing more than 9.9% of the voting rights attached to all of the issued
and outstanding capital shares of the Company.
(b) To the extent that, for any reason whatsoever and by any means
howsoever, a Person other
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than a Permitted Person, whether or not an existing Member of the Company, shall
be deemed by the Board in its sole discretion to own or control Controlled
Shares which represent in excess of 9.9% of the voting rights attached to all of
the issued and outstanding capital shares of the Company, then all shares which
such person may Own or Control which carry in excess of 9.9% of all of the
issued and outstanding capital shares of the Company shall carry no voting
rights whatsoever, and shall be discounted in respect of such Member for the
purpose of the calculation of any vote which may or which is required to be
taken at any general meeting of the Company for any purpose. The Controlled
Shares of such Member which represent in excess of 9.9% of the voting rights
attached to all of the issued and outstanding capital shares of the Company
shall be allocated for voting purposes to all the other Members of the Company
pro rata to the common shareholdings of such other Members; provided, however,
that no other Member other than a Permitted Person shall be allocated voting
rights pursuant to this sentence if to do so would render such other Member a
Ten Percent Shareholder. In the event that a reallocation of voting rights
pursuant to this Bye-law would result in the creation of additional Ten Percent
Shareholders, the reallocation to be made shall only be made to such Members
(other than Permitted Persons) who, after the re-allocation, would not be Ten
Percent Shareholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, after having applied the
provisions hereof as best as it considers reasonably practicable, the Board may
make such adjustments to the voting rights conferred by the Controlled Shares of
any Person (other than a Permitted Person) that the Board shall consider fair
and reasonable under all the applicable facts and circumstances to ensure that
such Controlled Shares represent no more than 9.9% of the aggregate voting
rights of all of the outstanding capital shares of the Company at any time.
(c) With respect to Bye-Law 46A(a) and (b), such provisions shall not
operate unless there are at least eleven (11) Members of the Company.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Bye-law 46A, the
Board may waive the restrictions set forth in this Bye-law 46A, on a case by
case basis, in its sole and absolute discretion. Further, the Board may
designate the Company's Chief Executive Officer to exercise its authority to
decline to register transfers or to limit voting rights as described above, or
to take any other action, for as long as such officer is also a director.
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(e) The Board may, by notice in writing, require any Member or
prospective acquiror of capital shares of the Company (including its publicly
held capital shares) to provide, within not less than ten (10) business days,
complete and accurate information to the Company's registered office or such
other place as the Board may reasonably designate, information including: (i)
the number of capital shares of the Company in which such Person is legally or
beneficially interested; (ii) the Persons who are beneficially interested in
capital shares of the Company in respect of which such Person is the registered
holder; (iii) the relationship, association or affiliation of such Person with
any other Member or Person whether by means of common control or ownership or
otherwise; or (iv) any other facts or matters which the Board may consider
relevant to the determination of the number of Controlled Shares attributable to
any Person. If any Member or prospective acquiror of capital shares of the
Company does not respond to any notice given pursuant to this Bye-law within the
time specified in such notice, or the Board shall have reason to believe that
any information provided in relation thereto is incomplete or inaccurate, the
Board may determine in its sole and absolute discretion that the votes attaching
to any capital shares of the Company registered in the name of such Member or
prospective acquiror shall be disregarded for all purposes until such time as a
response (or additional response) to such notice reasonably satisfactory to the
Board has been received as specified therein.
(f) One of the purposes of the 9.9% limitation set forth in this Bye-law
is to seek to lessen the likelihood the Company will be characterized as a
foreign personal holding company or as a controlled foreign corporation within
the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 of the United States, as
amended. Nevertheless, the Board will not be liable to the Company, its
shareholders or any other person whatsoever for any errors in judgment made by
it in interpreting or enforcing this Bye-law or in granting any waiver or
waivers to the foregoing restrictions in any case so long as the Board shall
have acted in good faith.
(g) The restrictions on transfer authorized by this Bye-law 46A shall
not be imposed in any circumstances in a way that would interfere with the
settlement of trades or transactions in the Common Shares entered into through
the facilities of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.; provided, however, that the
Company may decline to register transfers in accordance
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with these Bye-laws or resolutions of the Board after a settlement has taken
place.
(h) For purposes of this Bye-law 46A, the following terms shall have the
following respective meanings:
"Controlled Shares" in reference to any Person means: (i) all
capital shares of the Company that such Person is deemed to own
directly, indirectly or by attribution (within the meaning of
Section 958 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended) and (ii) all capital shares of the Company directly,
indirectly or beneficially owned by such person within the meaning
of section 13(d) of the United States Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") (including any shares owned by
a "group" of persons as so defined and including any capital shares
that would otherwise be excluded by section 13(d) of the Exchange
Act).
"Permitted Person" means any of (i) Warburg, Pincus Investors, L.P.,
PT Investments, Inc. or United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company,
or any of their respective affiliates; (ii) any person who directly
or indirectly shall purchase and retain Controlled Shares from a
Permitted Person representing more than 5.0% of the voting rights
attached to all of the issued and outstanding capital shares of the
Company; (iii) any person who shall purchase and retain Controlled
Shares in a single transaction from any of Warburg, Pincus
Investors, L.P., PT Investments, Inc., or United States Fidelity and
Guaranty Company, or any of their respective affiliates (or from any
combination of such Persons) representing in the aggregate more than
5.0% of the voting rights attached to all of the issued and
outstanding capital shares of the Company; or (iv) any such other
Person as the Board may designate, in its discretion, from time to
time.
"Person" means an individual, a partnership, a joint-stock company,
a corporation, a trust or unincorporated organization, a limited
liability company or a government or an agency or political
subdivision thereof.
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"Ten Percent Shareholder" means a person who the Board determines,
in its sole and absolute discretion, owns or controls Controlled
Shares representing more than 9.9% of the total voting rights of all
of the issued and outstanding capital shares of the Company."
47. Seniority of joint holders voting
In the case of joint holders the vote of the senior who tenders a vote,
whether in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes
of the other joint holders, and for this purpose seniority shall be determined
by the order in which the names stand in the Register of Members.
48. Instrument of proxy
The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing in the form, or as
near thereto as circumstances admit, of Form "A" in the Appendix hereto under
the hand of the appointor or of her or his attorney duly authorized in writing,
or if the appointor is a corporation, either under its seal, or under the hand
of a duly authorized officer or attorney. The decision of the chairperson of any
General Meeting as to the validity of any instrument of proxy shall be final.
49. Representation of corporations at meetings
A corporation which is a Member may by written instrument authorize such
person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the
Members and the person so authorized shall be entitled to exercise the same
powers on behalf of the corporation which such person represents as that
corporation could exercise if it were an individual Member. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the chairperson of the meeting may accept such assurances as she or
he thinks fit as to the right of any person to attend and vote at General
Meetings on behalf of a corporation which is a Member.
SHARE CAPITAL AND SHARES
50. Rights of shares
(a) Subject to any special rights previously conferred on the holders of
any existing shares or class of shares, the share capital of the Company shall
be divided into shares of two classes, being 225 million common shares of
US$1.00 each (the "Common Shares") and 100 million preference shares of US$1.00
each (the "Preference Shares"), which shall have the rights, terms, restrictions
and preferences set out in or determined in accordance with these Bye-laws.
(b) The Common Shares shall be divided into 206,570,583 Full Voting
Common Shares; 16,789,776 Diluted Voting Class I Common Shares; and 1,639,641
Diluted Voting Class II Common Shares. The
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Diluted Voting Class I Common Shares and the Diluted Voting Class II Common
Shares shall have the rights, terms, restrictions and preferences as set forth
in Schedule A to these Bye-laws, but otherwise the holders of Common Shares
shall:
(i) be entitled to one vote per share;
(ii) be entitled to such dividends as the Board may from time to
time declare;
(iii) in the event of a winding-up or dissolution of the Company,
whether voluntary or involuntary or for the purpose of a
reorganization or otherwise or upon any distribution of
capital, be entitled to the surplus assets of the Company; and
(iv) generally be entitled to enjoy all of the rights attaching to
shares.
(c) The Board is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by law,
to issue the Preference Shares in one or more series, and to fix the rights,
preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof, including but not limited to
dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption (including
sinking fund provisions), redemption prices and liquidation preferences, and the
number of shares constituting and the designation of any such series, without
further vote or action by the shareholders.
The authority of the Board with respect to each series shall include,
but not be limited to, determination of the following:
(i) The distinctive designation of that series and the number of
Preference Shares constituting that series, which number
(except as otherwise provided by the Board in the resolution
establishing such series) may be increased or decreased (but
not below the number of shares of such series then
outstanding) from time to time by like action of the Board;
(ii) The rights in respect of dividends, if any, of such series of
Preference Shares, the extent of the preference or relation,
if any, of such dividends to the dividends payable on any
other class or classes or any other series of the same or
other class or classes of shares of the Company, and whether
such dividends shall be cumulative or non-cumulative;
(iii) The voting powers, if any, of the holders of any series of
Preference Shares generally or with respect to any particular
matter, which may be less than, equal to or greater than one
vote per
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share, and which may, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, include the right, voting as a series by itself or
together with the holders of any other series of Preference
Shares or all series of Preference Shares as a class, or
together with the holders of any other class of the capital
stock of the Company to elect one or more directors of the
Company (which, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, may include a specified number or portion of the
then-existing number of authorized directorships of the
Company or a specified number or portion of directorships in
addition to the then-existing number of authorized
directorships of the Company), generally or under such
specific circumstances and on such conditions, as shall be
provided in the resolution or resolutions of the Board adopted
pursuant hereto;
(iv) Whether the Preference Shares may be redeemed and, if so, the
terms and conditions on which they may be redeemed (including,
without limitation, the dates upon or after which they may be
redeemed, which price or prices may be different in different
circumstances or at different redemption dates), and whether
they may be redeemed at the option of the Company, at the
option of the holder, or at the option of both the Company and
the holder;
(v) The right, if any, of the holders of such series of Preference
Shares to convert the same into, or exchange the same for,
shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of
the same or any other class or classes of shares of the
Company and the terms and conditions of such conversion or
exchange, including, without limitation, whether or not the
number of shares of such other class or series into which
shares of such series may be converted or exchanged shall be
adjusted in the event of any share split, stock dividend,
subdivision, combination, reclassification or other
transaction or series of transactions affecting the class or
series into which such series of Preference Shares may be
converted or exchanged;
(vi) The amounts, if any, payable upon the Preference Shares in the
event of voluntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
the Company in preference of shares of any other class or
series or in the event of any merger or consolidation of or
sale of assets by the Company;
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(vii) The terms of any sinking fund or redemption or purchase
account, if any, to be provided for shares of such series of
Preference Shares; and
(viii) Any other relative rights, preferences, limitations and
powers of that series.
51. Power to issue shares
(a) Subject to these Bye-laws and to any resolution of the Members to
the contrary and without prejudice to any special rights previously conferred on
the holders of any existing shares or class of shares, the Board shall have
power to issue any unissued shares of the Company on such terms and conditions
as it may determine.
(b) The Board shall, in connection with the issue of any share, have the
power to pay such commission and brokerage as may be permitted by law.
(c) The Company shall not give, whether directly or indirectly, whether
by means of loan, guarantee, provision of security or otherwise, any financial
assistance for the purpose of or in connection with a purchase or subscription
made or to be made by any person of or for any shares in the Company, but
nothing in this Bye-law shall prohibit transactions mentioned in Sections 39A,
39B and 39C of the Act.
52. Variation of rights and alteration of share capital
(a) If at any time the share capital is divided into different classes
of shares, the rights attached to any class (unless otherwise provided by the
terms of issue of the shares of that class) may, whether or not the Company is
being wound-up, be varied with the consent in writing of the holders of
three-fourths of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a
resolution passed by a majority of the votes cast at a separate General Meeting
of the holders of the shares of the class in accordance with Section 47 (7) of
the Act. The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of any class issued
with preferred or other rights shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by
the terms of issue of the shares of that class, be deemed to be varied by the
creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu therewith.
(b) The Company may from time to time by resolution of the Members
change the currency denomination of, increase, alter or reduce its share capital
in accordance with the provisions of Sections 45 and 46 of the Act. Where, on
any alteration of share capital, fractions of shares or some other difficulty
would arise, the Board may deal with or resolve the same in such manner as it
thinks fit including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
issue to Members, as appropriate, of fractions
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of shares and/or arranging for the sale or transfer of the fractions of shares
of Members.
53. Registered holder of shares
(a) The Company shall be entitled to treat the registered holder of any
share as the absolute owner thereof and accordingly shall not be bound to
recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such share on the
part of any other person.
(b) Any dividend, interest or other moneys payable in cash in respect of
shares may be paid by cheque or draft sent through the post directed to the
Member at such Member's address in the Register of Members or, in the case of
joint holders, to such address of the holder first named in the Register of
Members, or to such person and to such address as the holder or joint holders
may in writing direct. If two or more persons are registered as joint holders of
any shares any one can give an effectual receipt for any dividend paid in
respect of such shares.
54. Death of a joint holder
Where two or more persons are registered as joint holders of a share or
shares then in the event of the death of any joint holder or holders the
remaining joint holder or holders shall be absolutely entitled to the said share
or shares and the Company shall recognize no claim in respect of the estate of
any joint holder except in the case of the last survivor of such joint holders.
55. Share certificates
(a) Every Member shall be entitled to a certificate under the seal of
the Company (or a facsimile thereof) with such legends as the Board sees fit,
specifying the number and, where appropriate, the class of shares held by such
Member and whether the same are fully paid up and, if not, how much has been
paid thereon. The Board may by resolution determine, either generally or in a
particular case, that any or all signatures on certificates may be printed
thereon or affixed by mechanical means.
(b) If any such certificate shall be proved to the satisfaction of the
Board to have been worn out, lost, mislaid or destroyed the Board may cause a
new certificate to be issued and request an indemnity for the lost certificate
if it sees fit.
56. Calls on shares
(a) With respect to any shares which are not fully paid, the Board may
from time to time make such calls as it thinks fit upon the Members in respect
of any monies unpaid on
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any such shares allotted to or held by such Members and, if a call is not paid
on or before the day appointed for payment thereof, the Member may at the
discretion of the Board be liable to pay the Company interest on the amount of
such call at such rate as the Board may determine, from the date when such call
was payable up to the actual date of payment. The joint holders of any such
share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect thereof.
(b) The Board may, on the issue of shares, differentiate between the
holders as to the amount of calls to be paid and the times of payment of such
calls.
57. Forfeiture of shares
(a) If any Member fails to pay, on the day appointed for payment
thereof, any call in respect of any share allotted to or held by such Member,
the Board may, at any time thereafter during such time as the call remains
unpaid, direct the Secretary to forward to such Member a notice in the form, or
as near thereto as circumstances admit, of Form "B" in the Appendix hereto.
(b) If the requirements of such notice are not complied with, any such
share may at any time thereafter before the payment of such call and the
interest due in respect thereof be forfeited by a resolution of the Board to
that effect, and such share shall thereupon become the property of the Company
and may be disposed of as the Board shall determine.
(c) A Member whose share or shares have been forfeited as aforesaid
shall, notwithstanding such forfeiture, be liable to pay to the Company all
calls owing on such share or shares at the time of the forfeiture and all
interest due thereon.
REGISTER OF MEMBERS
58. Contents of Register of Members
The Board shall cause to be kept in one or more books a Register of
Members and shall enter therein the following particulars:
(a) the name and address of each Member, the number and, where
appropriate, the class of shares held by such Member and the amount paid or
agreed to be considered as paid on such shares;
(b) the date on which each person was entered in the Register of
Members; and
(c) the date on which any person ceased to be a Member for one year
after such person so ceased.
26
<PAGE>
59. Inspection of Register of Members
The Register of Members shall be open to inspection at the registered
office of the Company on every business day, subject to such reasonable
restrictions as the Board may impose, so that not less than two hours in each
business day be allowed for inspection.
The Register of Members may, after notice has been given by
advertisement in an appointed newspaper to that effect, be closed for any time
or times not exceeding in the whole thirty days in each year.
60. Determination of record dates
Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bye-laws, the Board may fix
any date as the record date for:
(a) determining the Members entitled to receive any dividend; and
(b) determining the Members entitled to receive notice of and to vote at
any General Meeting of the Company.
TRANSFER OF SHARES
61. Instrument of transfer
(a) An instrument of transfer shall be in the form or as near thereto as
circumstances admit of Form "C" in the Appendix hereto or in such other common
form as the Board may accept. Such instrument of transfer shall be signed by or
on behalf of the transferor and transferee provided that, in the case of a fully
paid share, the Board may accept the instrument signed by or on behalf of the
transferor alone. The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of such
share until the same has been transferred to the transferee in the Register of
Members.
(b) The Board may refuse to recognize any instrument of transfer unless
it is accompanied by the certificate in respect of the shares to which it
relates and by such other evidence as the Board may reasonably require to show
the right of the transferor to make the transfer.
62. Restriction on transfer
(a) The Board shall refuse to register a transfer unless all applicable
consents, authorizations and permissions of any governmental body or agency in
Bermuda have been obtained.
(b) If the Board refuses to register a transfer of any share the
Secretary shall, within 10 days after the date on which
27
<PAGE>
the transfer was lodged with the Company, send to the transferor and transferee
notice of the refusal.
63. Transfers by joint holders
The joint holders of any share or shares may transfer such share or
shares to one or more of such joint holders, and the surviving holder or holders
of any share or shares previously held by them jointly with a deceased Member
may transfer any such share to the executors or administrators of such deceased
Member.
TRANSMISSION OF SHARES
64. Representative of deceased Member
In the case of the death of a Member the survivor or survivors where the
deceased Member was a joint holder, and the legal personal representatives of
the deceased Member where the deceased Member was a sole holder, shall be the
only persons recognized by the Company as having any title to the deceased
Member's interest in the shares.
Nothing herein contained shall release the estate of a deceased joint
holder from any liability in respect of any share which had been jointly held by
such deceased Member with other persons. Subject to the provisions of Section 52
of the Act, for the purpose of this Bye-law, legal personal representative means
the executor or administrator of a deceased Member or such other person as the
Board may in its absolute discretion decide as being properly authorized to deal
with the shares of a deceased Member.
65. Registration on death or bankruptcy
Any person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death or
bankruptcy of any Member may be registered as a Member upon such evidence as the
Board may deem sufficient or may elect to nominate some person to be registered
as a transferee of such share, and in such case the person becoming entitled
shall execute in favour of such nominee an instrument of transfer in the form,
or as near thereto as circumstances admit, of Form "D" in the Appendix hereto.
On the presentation thereof to the Board, accompanied by such evidence
as the Board may require to prove the title of the transferor, the transferee
shall be registered as a Member but the
Board shall, in either case, have the same right to decline or suspend
registration as it would have had in the case of a transfer of the share by that
Member before such Member's death or bankruptcy, as the case may be.
28
<PAGE>
DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS
66. Declaration of dividends by the Board
Subject to these Bye-laws, the Board may, in accordance with Section 54
of the Act, declare a dividend to be paid to the Members, in proportion to the
number of shares held by them, and such dividend may be paid in cash or wholly
or partly in specie in which case the Board may fix the value for distribution
in specie of any assets.
67. Other distributions
The Board may declare and make such other distributions (in cash or in
specie) to the Members as may be lawfully made out of the assets of the Company.
68. Reserve fund
The Board may from time to time before declaring a dividend set aside,
out of the surplus or profits of the Company, such sum as it thinks proper as a
reserve fund to be used to meet contingencies or for equalizing dividends or for
any other special purpose.
69. Deduction of Amounts due to the Company
The Board may deduct from the dividends or distributions payable to any
Member all monies due from such Member to the Company on account of calls.
CAPITALIZATION
70. Issue of bonus shares
(a) The Board may resolve to capitalize any part of the amount for the
time being standing to the credit of any of the Company's share premium or other
reserve accounts or to the credit of the profit and loss account or otherwise
available for distribution by applying such sum in paying up unissued shares to
be allotted as fully paid bonus shares pro rata to the Members.
(b) The Company may capitalize any sum standing to the credit of a
reserve account or sums otherwise available for dividend or distribution by
applying such amounts in paying up in full partly paid shares of those Members
who would have been entitled to such sums if they were distributed by way of
dividend or distribution.
ACCOUNTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
71. Records of account
29
<PAGE>
The Board shall cause to be kept proper records of account with respect
to all transactions of the Company and in particular with respect to:
(a) all sums of money received and expended by the Company and the
matters in respect of which the receipt and expenditure relates;
(b) all sales and purchases of goods by the Company; and
(c) the assets and liabilities of the Company.
Such records of account shall be kept at the registered office of the
Company or, subject to Section 83 (2) of the Act, at such other place as the
Board thinks fit and shall be available for inspection by the Directors during
normal business hours.
72. Financial year end
The financial year end of the Company may be determined by resolution of
the Board and failing such resolution shall be 31st December in each year.
73. Financial statements
Subject to any rights to waive laying of accounts pursuant to Section 88
of the Act, financial statements as required by the Act shall be laid before the
Members in General Meeting.
AUDIT
74. Appointment of Auditor
Subject to Section 88 of the Act, at the annual General Meeting or at a
subsequent special General Meeting in each year, an independent representative
of the Members shall be appointed by them as Auditor of the accounts of the
Company. Such Auditor may be a Member but no Director, Officer or employee of
the Company shall, during his or her continuance in office, be eligible to act
as an Auditor of the Company.
75. Remuneration of Auditor
The remuneration of the Auditor shall be fixed by the Company in General
Meeting or in such manner as the Members may determine.
76. Vacation of office of Auditor
If the office of Auditor becomes vacant by the resignation or death of
the Auditor, or by the Auditor becoming incapable of acting by reason of illness
or other disability at a
30
<PAGE>
time when the Auditor's services are required, the Board shall, as soon as
practicable, convene a special General Meeting to fill the vacancy thereby
created.
77. Access to books of the Company
The Auditor shall at all reasonable times have access to all books kept
by the Company and to all accounts and vouchers relating thereto, and the
Auditor may call on the Directors or Officers of the Company for any information
in their possession relating to the books or affairs of the Company.
78. Report of the Auditor
(a) Subject to any rights to waive laying of accounts or appointment of
an Auditor pursuant to Section 88 of the Act, the accounts of the Company shall
be audited at least once in every year.
(b) The financial statements provided for by these Bye-laws shall be
audited by the Auditor in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
The Auditor shall make a written report thereon in accordance with generally
accepted auditing standards and the report of the Auditor shall be submitted to
the Members in General Meeting.
(c) The generally accepted auditing standards referred to in
sub-paragraph (b) of this Bye-law may be those of a country or jurisdiction
other than Bermuda as shall be determined by the Board. If so, the financial
statements and the report of the Auditor must disclose this fact and name such
country or jurisdiction.
NOTICES
79. Notices to Members of the Company
A notice may be given by the Company to any Member either by delivering
it to such Member in person or by sending it to such Member's address in the
Register of Members or to such other address given for the purpose. For the
purposes of this Bye-law, a notice may be sent by mail, courier service, cable,
telex, board, facsimile or other mode of representing words in a legible and
non-transitory form.
80. Notices to joint Members
Any notice required to be given to a Member shall, with respect to any
shares held jointly by two or more persons, be given to whichever of such
persons is named first in the Register of Members and notice so given shall be
sufficient notice to all the holders of such shares.
81. Service and delivery of notice
31
<PAGE>
Any notice shall be deemed to have been served at the time when the same
would be delivered in the ordinary course of transmission and, in proving such
service, it shall be sufficient to prove that the notice was properly addressed
and prepaid, if posted, and the time when it was posted, delivered to the
courier or to the cable company or transmitted by telex, facsimile or other
method as the case may be.
SEAL OF THE COMPANY
82. The seal
The seal of the Company shall be in such form as the Board may from time
to time determine. The Board may adopt one or more duplicate seals for use
outside Bermuda.
83. Manner in which seal is to be affixed
The seal of the Company shall not be affixed to any instrument except
attested by the signature of a Director and the Secretary or any two Directors,
provided that any Director, or Officer, may affix the seal of the Company
attested by such Director or Officer's signature only to any authenticated
copies of these Bye-laws, the incorporating documents of the Company, the
minutes of any meetings or any other documents required to be authenticated by
such Director or Officer.
WINDING-UP
84. Winding up/distribution by liquidator
If the Company shall be wound up the liquidator may, with the sanction
of a resolution of the Members, divide amongst the Members in specie or in kind
the whole or any part of the assets of the Company (whether they shall consist
of property of the same kind or not) and may, for such purpose, set such value
as he or she deems fair upon any property to be divided as aforesaid and may
determine how such division shall be carried out as between the Members or
different classes of Members. The liquidator may, with the like sanction, vest
the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trusts for the
benefit of the Members as the liquidator shall think fit, but so that no Member
shall be compelled to accept any shares or other securities or assets whereon
there is any liability.
ALTERATION OF BYE-LAWS
85. Alteration of Bye-laws
No Bye-law shall be rescinded, altered or amended and no new Bye-law
shall be made until the same has been approved by a resolution of the Board and
by a resolution of the Members.
32
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE A TO AMENDED AND RESTATED BYE-LAWS
DESIGNATIONS, NUMBER, VOTING POWERS; PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS
OF
DILUTED VOTING CLASS I COMMON SHARES
AND
DILUTED VOTING CLASS II COMMON SHARES
1. Designation and Amount.
The shares of each such series shall be designated (i) the Diluted
Voting Class I Common Shares, par value $1.00 per share (the "Diluted Voting I
Shares"), and (ii) the Diluted Voting Class II Common Shares, par value $1.00
per share (the "Diluted Voting II Shares"). The number of shares constituting
the Diluted Voting I Shares shall be 4,199,191 shares. The number of shares
constituting the Diluted Voting II Shares shall be 1,454,109 shares.
2. General.
Except as provided in items 3 and 4 below, each Diluted Voting I Share
and each Diluted Voting II Share shall be entitled to the same rights, and be
subject to the same restrictions, as the Full Voting Common Shares as set forth
in these Bye-laws.
3. Voting.
A. Diluted Voting I Shares. Except as set forth below, holders of
Diluted Voting I Shares shall be entitled to one vote for each Diluted Voting I
Share held at each meeting of shareholders of the Company with respect to any
and all matters presented to the shareholders of the Company for their action or
consideration and upon which such holder is entitled to vote in accordance with
these Bye-Laws. Except as provided by law or these Bye-laws, holders of Diluted
Voting I Shares shall vote together with the holders of Common Shares and
Diluted Voting II Shares as a single class.
Except as required by law and in respect of a vote contemplated by
Bye-law 43(b)(1), each holder of issued and outstanding Diluted Voting I Shares
shall be entitled to a fixed voting interest in the Company of up to 9.9% of all
outstanding voting rights attached to the Common Shares, inclusive of the
percentage interest in the Company represented by Controlled Common Shares (as
defined below) owned by the holder thereof from time to time, but in no event
greater than one vote for each Diluted Voting I Share so held, at each meeting
of shareholders of the Company with respect to any and all matters presented to
the shareholders of the Company for their action or consideration and upon which
such holder is entitled to vote in accordance with these Bye-laws.
<PAGE>
B. Diluted Voting II Shares. Except as required by law and in respect of
a vote contemplated by Bye-law 43(b)(1), holders of Diluted Voting II Shares
shall be entitled to one-third of a vote for each Diluted Voting II Share held,
provided, that in no event shall a holder of Diluted Voting II Shares have
greater than 9.9% of all outstanding voting rights attached to the Common
Shares, inclusive of the percentage interest in the Company represented by
Controlled Common Shares, at each meeting of shareholders of the Company with
respect to any and all matters presented to the shareholders of the Company for
their action or consideration and upon which such holder is entitled to vote in
accordance with these Bye-laws.
Except as provided by law or these Bye-laws, holders of Diluted
Voting II Shares shall vote together with the holders of Common Shares and
Diluted Voting I Shares as a single class.
C. As used herein, with respect to any holder of Diluted Voting Shares,
"Controlled Common Shares" means Common Shares owned directly, indirectly or
constructively by such holder within the meaning of Section 958 of the U.S.
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and applicable rules and regulations
thereunder.
4. Conversion.
Following a sale, transfer, exchange or other disposition of any Diluted
Voting I Shares or Diluted Voting II Shares by a holder thereof, the Diluted
Voting I Shares and Diluted Voting II Shares are convertible into an equal
number of Full Voting Common Shares on a one-for-one basis at the option of the
purchaser or transferee thereof upon two days prior written notice to the
Company.
2
<PAGE>
APPENDIX - FORM A (Bye-law 48)
P R 0 X Y
I
of
the holder of share in the above-named
Company hereby appoint .........................................................
or failing her or him...........................................................
or failing her or him...........................................................
as my proxy to vote on my behalf at the General Meeting of the Company to be
held on the [ ] day of [ ], 19 and at any adjournment thereof.
Dated this [ ] day of [ ], 19
*GIVEN under the seal of the company
*Signed by the above-named
................................................................................
................................................................................
Witness
*Delete as applicable.
A-1
<PAGE>
APPENDIX - FORM B (Bye-law 57)
NOTICE OF LIABILITY TO FORFEITURE FOR NON PAYMENT OF CALL
You have failed to pay the call of [amount of call] made on the _______ day of
______, 19__ last, in respect of the [number] share(s) [numbers in figures]
standing in your name in the Register of Members of the Company, on the ______
day of _____, 19__ last, the day appointed for payment of such call. You are
hereby notified that unless you pay such call together with interest thereon at
the rate of __________ per annum computed from the said ______ day of 19__
last, on or before the _______ day of _____________ 19__ next at the place of
business of the said Company the share(s) will be liable to be forfeited.
Dated this _______ day of ______________, 19__
[Signature of Secretary]
By order of the Board
A-2
<PAGE>
APPENDIX - FORM C (Bye-law 61)
TRANSFER OF A SHARE OR SHARES
FOR VALUE RECEIVED .................................................... [amount]
[transferor]
hereby sell assign and transfer unto ...........................................
[transferee]
of ....................................................................[address]
[number of shares]
shares of
...............................................................[name of Company]
Dated ...................
(Transferor)
In the presence of:
.........................
(Witness)
(Transferee)
In the presence of:
...........................
(Witness)
A-3
<PAGE>
APPENDIX - Form D (Bye-law 65)
TRANSFER BY A PERSON BECOMING ENTITLED ON DEATH OF A MEMBER
I/We having become entitled in consequence of the death of [name of the deceased
Member] to [number] share(s) numbered [number in figures] standing in the
register of members of [Company] in the name of the said [name of deceased
Member] instead of being registered myself/ourselves elect to have [name of
transferee] (the "Transferee") registered as a transferee of such share(s) and
I/we do hereby accordingly transfer the said share(s) to the Transferee to hold
the same unto the Transferee her or his executors administrators and assigns
subject to the conditions on which the same were held at the time of the
execution thereof; and the Transferee does hereby agree to take the said
share(s) subject to the same conditions.
WITNESS our hands this _______ day of ___________, 1998
Signed by the above-named )
[person or persons entitled] )
in the presence of: )
Signed by the above-named )
[transferee] )
in the presence of: )
A-4
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
Bye-Law
<S> <C> <C>
1. Interpretation................................................................................................1
2. Board of Directors............................................................................................3
3. Management of the Company.....................................................................................3
4. Power to appoint managing director or chief
executive officer......................................................................................3
5. Power to appoint manager......................................................................................3
6. Power to authorize specific actions...........................................................................3
7. Power to appoint attorney.....................................................................................4
8. Power to delegate to a committee..............................................................................4
9. Power to appoint and dismiss employees........................................................................4
10. Power to borrow and charge property...........................................................................4
11. Power to purchase shares of the Company.......................................................................5
12. Election of Directors.........................................................................................5
13. Defects in appointment of Directors...........................................................................6
14. Alternate Directors...........................................................................................6
15. Removal of Directors..........................................................................................7
16. Vacancies on the Board........................................................................................7
17. Notice of meetings of the Board...............................................................................8
18. Quorum at meetings of the Board...............................................................................8
19. Meetings of the Board.........................................................................................8
20. Unanimous written resolutions.................................................................................8
21. Contracts and disclosure of Directors' interests..............................................................9
22. Remuneration of Directors.....................................................................................9
23. Officers of the Company.......................................................................................9
24. Appointment of Officers.......................................................................................9
25. Remuneration of Officers.....................................................................................10
26. Duties of Officers...........................................................................................10
27. Chairperson of meetings......................................................................................10
28. Register of Directors and Officers...........................................................................10
29. Obligations of Board to keep minutes.........................................................................11
30. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
of the Company........................................................................................11
31. Waiver of claim by Member....................................................................................11
32. Notice of annual General Meeting.............................................................................12
33. Notice of Special General Meeting............................................................................12
34. Accidental omission of notice of General Meeting.............................................................13
35. Meeting called on requisition of Members.....................................................................13
36. Short notice.................................................................................................13
37. Postponement of meetings.....................................................................................13
38. Quorum for General Meeting...................................................................................13
39. Adjournment of meetings......................................................................................14
40. Attendance at meetings.......................................................................................14
41. Written resolutions..........................................................................................14
42. Attendance of Directors......................................................................................14
43. Voting at meetings...........................................................................................14
44. Voting on show of hands......................................................................................15
45. Decision of chairperson......................................................................................16
46. Demand for a poll............................................................................................16
(i)
<PAGE>
47. Seniority of joint holders voting............................................................................21
48. Instrument of proxy..........................................................................................21
49. Representation of corporations at meetings...................................................................21
50. Rights of shares.............................................................................................21
51. Power to issue shares........................................................................................24
52. Variation of rights and alteration of share capital..........................................................24
53. Registered holder of shares..................................................................................25
54. Death of a joint holder......................................................................................25
55. Share certificates...........................................................................................25
56. Calls on shares..............................................................................................25
57. Forfeiture of shares.........................................................................................26
58. Contents of Register of Members..............................................................................26
59. Inspection of Register of Members............................................................................27
60. Determination of record dates................................................................................27
61. Instrument of transfer.......................................................................................27
62. Restriction on transfer......................................................................................27
63. Transfers by joint holders...................................................................................28
64. Representative of deceased Member............................................................................28
65. Registration on death or bankruptcy..........................................................................28
66. Declaration of dividends by the Board........................................................................29
67. Other distributions..........................................................................................29
68. Reserve fund.................................................................................................29
69. Deduction of Amounts due to the Company......................................................................29
70. Issue of bonus shares........................................................................................29
71. Records of account...........................................................................................29
72. Financial year end...........................................................................................30
73. Financial statements.........................................................................................30
74. Appointment of Auditor.......................................................................................30
75. Remuneration of Auditor......................................................................................30
76. Vacation of office of Auditor................................................................................30
77. Access to books of the Company...............................................................................31
78. Report of the Auditor........................................................................................31
79. Notices to Members of the Company............................................................................31
80. Notices to joint Members.....................................................................................31
81. Service and delivery of notice...............................................................................31
82. The seal.....................................................................................................32
83. Manner in which seal is to be affixed........................................................................32
84. Winding up/distribution by liquidator........................................................................32
85. Alteration of Bye-laws.......................................................................................32
</TABLE>
Schedule A to Amended and Restated Bye-Laws
(ii)
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 7
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 710,435
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0
<EQUITIES> 0
<MORTGAGE> 0
<REAL-ESTATE> 0
<TOTAL-INVEST> 710,435
<CASH> 199,618
<RECOVER-REINSURE> 0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 12,423
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,058,223
<POLICY-LOSSES> 110,931
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 122,354
<POLICY-OTHER> 0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0
<NOTES-PAYABLE> 50,000
100,000
0
<COMMON> 22,547
<OTHER-SE> 609,059
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,058,223
46,097
<INVESTMENT-INCOME> 13,629
<INVESTMENT-GAINS> 1,236
<OTHER-INCOME> (24)
<BENEFITS> 7,876
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 6,392
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 6,375
<INCOME-PRETAX> 36,186
<INCOME-TAX> (512)
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 35,674
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> 35,674
<EPS-PRIMARY> 1.60
<EPS-DILUTED> 1.57
<RESERVE-OPEN> 0
<PROVISION-CURRENT> 0
<PROVISION-PRIOR> 0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0
<RESERVE-CLOSE> 0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0
</TABLE>
