8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) August 26, 2008

Tower Group, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	000-50990	13-3894120
(State or other jurisdiction of	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer
incorporation)		Identification No.)

120 Broadway (31st Floor), New York, NY	10271
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (212) 655-2000

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

þ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.133-4(c))

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EX-2.1: ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

EX-2.2: LIMITED WAIVER AGREEMENT

EX-99.1: PRESS RELEASE

EX-99.2: INVESTOR PRESENTATION

ITEM 1.01 ENTRY INTO MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT

     On August 26, 2008, in connection with the proposed acquisition of HIG, Inc. (“Hermitage”) by CastlePoint Reinsurance Company, Ltd. (“CPRe”), a subsidiary of CastlePoint Holdings, Ltd. (“CastlePoint”), Tower Insurance Company of New York, Tower National Insurance Company, Preserver Insurance Company, Mountain Valley Insurance Company, Northeast Insurance Company and Tower Risk Management Corp. (collectively, the “Tower Entities”), each a subsidiary of Tower Group, Inc. (“Tower”), and CPRe entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Asset Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, following CPRe’s acquisition of Hermitage, the Tower Entities will acquire Hermitage’s operating assets, including rights to existing insurance policy renewals and producer appointments from CPRe for $16 million in cash.

     The transactions contemplated by the Asset Purchase Agreement are expected to be completed in late December of 2008, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including completion of CPRe’s acquisition of all the issued and outstanding shares of the common stock of Hermitage and receipt of customary regulatory approvals. However, Tower does not expect to consummate such transactions unless Tower’s acquisition of CastlePoint is not consummated or is delayed until after the consummation of CPRe’s acquisition of Hermitage. If the transactions contemplated by the Asset Purchase Agreement close, the Tower Entities and CPRe have also agreed to extend all of the reinsurance, management and service agreements among the companies or their respective subsidiaries for one additional year upon their expiration, currently scheduled for March 31, 2010, at commission and management fee terms which have been set to approximate current market terms, provided that, if the two year extension under the merger agreement (the “merger agreement”), dated as of August 4, 2008, among Tower, Ocean I Corporation and CastlePoint, which is attached as Exhibit 2.1 to Tower’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 6, 2008, becomes effective on the terms and conditions set forth in the merger agreement, the extension contemplated by the asset purchase agreement will be for 6 months.

     Under the Asset Purchase Agreement, the Tower Entities and CPRe agreed, subject to certain limitations, to indemnify each other for breaches of their respective representations, warranties and covenants. The parties also have the right to terminate the Asset Purchase Agreement under certain circumstances.

     In connection with CPRe’s acquisition of Hermitage and the Asset Purchase Agreement, Tower and CastlePoint entered a Limited Waiver Agreement, pursuant to which each party waived the applicability of certain sections of the merger agreement.

     The terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement and Limited Waiver Agreement were unanimously approved by the independent members of the Tower board of directors.

     Copies of the Asset Purchase Agreement and the Limited Waiver Agreement are attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 2.1 and Exhibit 2.2, respectively. The Asset Purchase Agreement and the Limited Waiver Agreement are incorporated herein by reference. The above descriptions of the Asset Purchase Agreement and the

Limited Waiver Agreement, as well as the transactions contemplated by those documents, are not complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to those exhibits.

ITEM 8.01 OTHER EVENTS

     On August 27, 2008, Tower and CastlePoint issued a joint press release entitled “Tower and CastlePoint to Acquire Hermitage Insurance Group” announcing the proposed acquisition of Hermitage by CPRe and the execution of the Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Joint Press Release”). Tower is filing as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K a copy of the Joint Press Release and as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K materials being used in connection with presentations to and conversations with investors beginning the date hereof.

ITEM 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(d)

Exhibit 2.1: Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 26, 2008, among CastlePoint Reinsurance Company, Ltd., Tower Insurance Company of New York, Tower National Insurance Company, Preserver Insurance Company, Mountain Valley Insurance Company, Northeast Insurance Company and Tower Risk Management Corp.

Exhibit 2.2. Limited Waiver Agreement, dated as of August 26, 2008, between Tower Group, Inc. and CastlePoint Holdings, Ltd.

Exhibit 99.1 Press release dated August 27, 2008 entitled “Tower and CastlePoint to Acquire Hermitage Insurance Group”

Exhibit 99.2: Investor presentation slides to be used in connection with investor presentations

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized

Date: August 27, 2008

Tower Group, Inc.
By:  /s/ Francis M. Colalucci
Name:	Francis M. Colalucci
Title:	Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Exhibit Index

Exhibit 2.1: Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 26, 2008, among CastlePoint Reinsurance Company, Ltd., Tower Insurance Company of New York, Tower National Insurance Company, Preserver Insurance Company, Mountain Valley Insurance Company, Northeast Insurance Company and Tower Risk Management Corp.

Exhibit 2.2. Limited Waiver Agreement, dated as of August 26, 2008, between Tower Group, Inc. and CastlePoint Holdings, Ltd.

Exhibit 99.1 Press release dated August 27, 2008 entitled “Tower and CastlePoint to Acquire Hermitage Insurance Group”

Exhibit 99.2: Investor presentation slides to be used in connection with investor presentations

EX-2.1

Exhibit 2.1

EXECUTION COPY

ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

     This ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of August 26, 2008, is entered into by and among CASTLEPOINT REINSURANCE COMPANY, LTD., a Bermuda corporation (“CPRE”), TOWER INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK, a New York corporation (“TICNY”), TOWER NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY, a Massachusetts corporation (“TNIC”), PRESERVER INSURANCE COMPANY, a New Jersey corporation (“PIC”), MOUNTAIN VALLEY INSURANCE COMPANY, a New Hampshire corporation (“MVIC”), and NORTHEAST INSURANCE COMPANY, a Maine corporation (“NIC” and, together with TICNY, TNIC, PIC, and MVIC, the “Purchasing Insurers”), and TOWER RISK MANAGEMENT CORP., a New York corporation (“TRM”).

RECITALS

     A. On or before the Closing Date, CPRE will have purchased from Brookfield US Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“BUSC”), 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of the common stock of HIG, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“HIG”), the ultimate parent of Hermitage Insurance Company, a New York corporation (“HIC”), and Kodiak Insurance Company, a New Jersey corporation (“KIC” and, together with HIC, the “Selling Insurers” and, together with HIG and its other direct and indirect subsidiaries, including American Resources Insurance Company, Inc., the “HIG Group”) pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement by and among CPRE, BUSC, and HIG, dated the date hereof (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”).

     B. CPRE desires to cause each member of the HIG Group, including the Selling Insurers, to sell to the Purchasing Insurers and TRM, and TRM and each Purchasing Insurer desires to acquire from the HIG Group, including the Selling Insurers, the Transferred Assets, all upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.

     C. The Purchasing Insurers and TRM each desires to make Offers of Employment to selected employees of the HIG Group, all upon the terms and subject to the conditions more fully set forth below.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS

     1.1 Definitions. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in this Section 1.1.

     “Affiliate” of any Person means another Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such first Person, where “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, as trustee or executor, or otherwise. For the avoidance of doubt, for the purposes of this Agreement, the Tower Entities and the CPRE Entities shall not be Affiliates.

     “Ancillary Agreements” means (i) the Bills of Sale and General Assignment Agreements, (ii) the Tower Guaranty; (iii) the CastlePoint Guaranty, (iv) the assignment of the Lease Agreements, (v) the assignment of the Producer Agreements, and (vi) the amendments referred to in Sections 2.5(a) and 2.5(b).

     “Applicable Law” means any applicable order, law, statute, regulation, rule, pronouncement, ordinance, bulletin, writ, injunction, directive, judgment, decree, principle of common law, constitution or treaty enacted, promulgated, issued, enforced or entered by any Governmental Authority applicable to the relevant Person, or any of such Person’s respective businesses, properties or assets.

     “Bills of Sale and General Assignment Agreements” means one or more Bills of Sale and General Assignment Agreements in a form to be mutually agreed by CPRE and TRM.

     “Books and Records” means originals or copies of the administrative records, claim records, policy forms and files, sales records and files, customer lists, Producer lists, policy information and underwriting records (in whatever form maintained, including computer generated, recording or stored) owned by, in the possession of or under the control of any member of the HIG Group, including any Selling Insurer, relating to the Business, Transferred Assets, or the Employee Group.

     “Brokerage Management Agreement” means that certain Management Agreement entered into on July 1, 2007 by and between CPIC and TRM, as may be amended from time to time.

     “Business” means all the business and operations of HIG Group and each member thereof, including each of the Selling Insurers.

     “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are permitted or obligated by Applicable Law to be closed for regular banking business.

     “CastlePoint Guaranty” means the Guaranty in the form set forth at Exhibit B by which CPH guarantees to pay all amounts due by each of the CPRE Entities under this Agreement.

     “CPH” means CastlePoint Holdings, Ltd.

     “CPIC” means CastlePoint Insurance Company.

     “CPRE” has the meaning set forth in the prefatory paragraph of this Agreement.

     “CPRE Entities” means CPH and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, but excluding the Tower Entities.

     “Closing Date” means the date on which the Closing occurs.

     “Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

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     “Extra-Contractual Obligations” means any Liabilities or obligations not covered under the express terms and conditions of, or in excess of the policy limits under, any Insurance Contract.

     “Governmental Authority” means any foreign, domestic, federal, territorial, state or local U.S. or non-U.S. governmental authority, quasi-governmental authority, instrumentality, court or government, self-regulatory organization, administrative agency, commission, tribunal or organization or any political or other subdivision, department, branch or representative of any of the foregoing.

     “HIG Extension” means the extension of the term of each of the Brokerage Management Agreement, the Master Agreement and the Intercompany Agreements for a one-year period to begin on the date that is the first day following the expiration of the term of each such agreement as in effect on the date hereof; provided that if, prior to the first day following the expiration of the term of each such agreement as in effect on the date hereof, the Merger Agreement shall have been terminated and the Two-Year Extension shall have become effective, such extension shall be for a six-month period to begin on the date that is the first day following the expiration of the term of each such agreement as in effect on the date hereof (and prior to the Two-Year Extension); and provided, further, that each such extended agreement shall be on the same terms and conditions as in effect immediately prior to such extension, except that the provisional loss ratio will be adjusted from 61% to 58% (and the actual loss ratios will be adjusted accordingly) and the provisional ceding commission and provisional management fee will be adjusted from 34% to 37% (and the actual ceding commission and management fee will be adjusted accordingly), as applicable.

     “HIG Group” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

     “Insurance Contracts” means all insurance contracts, policies, certificates, binders, slips, covers or other agreements of insurance, including all supplements, riders, endorsements, renewals and extensions thereof produced, issued, renewed, written, and/or delivered by each Selling Insurer.

     “Insurer Affiliate” means an Affiliate of such Person that is a duly licensed, eligible or otherwise authorized insurance company.

     “Intercompany Agreements” means those agreements described on Schedule 1.1(a).

     “Lease Agreement(s)” means the lease agreements to which any member of the HIG Group is a party.

     “Liability” or “Liabilities” means a liability, obligation, commitment, expense, claim or cause of action (of any kind or nature whatsoever, whether absolute, accrued, contingent or other, and whether known or unknown).

     “Litigation” means any action, cause of action (whether at law or in equity), suit, proceeding, arbitration, mediation, claim or complaint by any Person, and any administrative or other similar proceeding, criminal prosecution, or investigation by any Governmental Authority.

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     “Master Agreement” means that certain Master Agreement dated as of April 4, 2006, by and between Tower Parent, TICNY and TNIC, on the one hand, and CPH and CastlePoint Management Corp., on the other hand, as amended or as modified by addenda thereto.

     “Merger Agreement” means that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 4, 2008, by and among Tower Parent, CPH and Ocean I Corporation.

     “Non-Renewal Notice” means a written notice provided by TRM, at the sole option of TRM, at any time following the Closing, of its election to cause any of the Selling Insurers to non-renew specified Insurance Contracts.

     “Other Liabilities” means all Liabilities of any member of the HIG Group (of any kind or nature whatsoever, whether absolute, accrued, contingent or other, and whether known or unknown), as such liabilities exist as of the Closing, that would not be an Assumed Liability or Excluded Liability but for the application of this definition.

     “Party” or “Parties” shall mean a party or the parties identified in the prefatory paragraph to this Agreement.

     “Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, Governmental Authority, trust, joint venture, labor union, estate, unincorporated organization or other entity.

     “Policyholders” means each policyholder under each of the Insurance Contracts.

     “Producer Agreements” means any and all agreements, whether oral or written, between any of the Selling Insurers or any other member of the HIG Group, on the one hand, and any Producer, on the other hand, with respect to the sale or marketing of Insurance Contracts.

     “Producers” means any Person who markets, sells, solicits, negotiates, or procures, or may have marketed, sold, solicited, negotiated, or procured, any Insurance Contract by, through, or on behalf of any Selling Insurer.

     “Purchasing Insurers” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

     “Representative” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, and Affiliates, including any investment banker, financial advisor, accountant, actuary, appraiser, analyst, consultant, legal counsel, agent, representative or expert retained by or acting on behalf of such Person or its Affiliates.

     “Selling Insurers” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

     “Stock Purchase Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

     “Taxes” means all taxes, charges, duties, fees, levies, or other similar assessments or liabilities, including all net and gross income, gross receipts, ad valorem, premium, excise, real property, personal property, windfall profit, sales, use, transfer, license, withholding, employment, payroll, profit, estimated, severance, stamp, occupation, value added, registration,

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environmental, workers’ compensation, social security and franchise taxes imposed by the United States Internal Revenue Service or any taxing authority (whether domestic or foreign including any state, county, local or foreign government or any subdivision or taxing agency thereof (including a United States possession)); and such term shall include any interest, fines, penalties, assessments, or additions to tax relating to, resulting from, attributable to, or incurred in connection with any such tax or any contest or dispute thereof.

     “Tower Entities” means the Tower Parent and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, but excluding the CPRE Entities.

     “Tower Guaranty” means the Guaranty in the form set forth at Exhibit C by which Tower Parent guarantees to pay all amounts due by each of the Tower Entities under this Agreement.

     “Tower Parent” means Tower Group, Inc., the ultimate parent of TRM and the Purchasing Insurers.

     “Transfer Date” means in respect of a Transferred Employee, the date on which a Transferred Employee becomes an employee of any of the Tower Entities.

     “Transferred Assets” means the properties, assets and rights of every nature, kind and description, tangible and intangible, including the Producer Agreements and the rights of the members of the HIG Group thereunder, whether real, personal or mixed, whether accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether now existing or hereinafter acquired of any member of the HIG Group other than the Excluded Assets.

     “Two-Year Extension” shall have the meaning given to such term in the Merger Agreement.

     1.2 Terms Defined Elsewhere in this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have meanings set forth in the sections indicated:

Term	Section
Allocable Amount	2.7(d)
Allocation Schedule	2.7(d)
Assumed Liabilities	2.3
Closing	2.1
CPRE Indemnified Parties	11.3(a)
Dispute Notice	2.10(b)
Disputed Item	2.10(b)
Employee Group	7.1
Employment Agreement	7.2
Excluded Assets	2.2(b)
Excluded Liabilities	2.4
HIG Adjustment Amount	2.10(a)
HIG Adjustment Amount Statement	2.10(a)
HIG Extension Anniversary Date	2.10(a)

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Term	Section
HIG Payment Amount Approvals	2.10(e)
Indemnified Party	11.4
Indemnifying Party	11.4
Independent Accountant	2,10(d)
Loss or Losses	11.2(a)
Non-Transferred Employees	7.1
Offer of Employment	7.1
Purchase Price	2.7(a)
Purchaser Indemnified Parties	11.2(a)
Purchasing Insurer Policy	2.9(b)
Required Approvals	8.1
Resolution Period	2,10(c)
Tax Dispute Accountant	2.7(d)
Termination Date	10.1(b)
Transfer Taxes	12.9
Transferred Employees	7.1
Unresolved Items	2,10(d)
UPR Fee	2.7(c)

ARTICLE 2
TRANSFER OF ASSETS

     2.1 The Closing. The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (“Closing”) will take place as promptly as practicable following the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Articles 8 and 9 (other than conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of those conditions at such time) or at such other time and place as the Parties may agree; provided that the Parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause (i) the Closing to take place immediately following and at the same location as the closing under the Stock Purchase Agreement, but in no event later than the Termination Date, and (ii) the transactions contemplated by Article 2 of this Agreement to be deemed to be effective immediately following the effective time of the closing under the Stock Purchase Agreement.

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     2.2 The Closing Transactions.

               (a) Transferred Assets. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions and limitations set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing, CPRE shall cause each member of the HIG Group to sell, assign and transfer to TRM or any other Tower Entity, as directed by TRM, and TRM (either directly or through one or more Tower Entities, as directed by TRM) will acquire and accept, all of the respective rights, title and interest of each member of the HIG Group in and to the Transferred Assets. All sales, assignments and transfers of the Transferred Assets to TRM or any other Tower Entity, as directed by TRM, hereunder will be evidenced by one or more Bills of Sale and General Assignment Agreements, which will be executed and delivered by each member of the HIG Group, as applicable, on the Closing Date.

               (b) Excluded Assets. The Transferred Assets shall not include, or otherwise be deemed to include any of the following (collectively, the “Excluded Assets”):

                    (i) the Insurance Contracts;

                    (ii) any shares of the share capital of any member of the HIG Group or any other equity security issued by any member of the HIG Group; and

                    (iii) those other properties, assets and rights expressly identified on Exhibit A.

               (c) Offers of Employment. On or before the Closing Date, in accordance with Article 7, the Purchasing Insurers shall extend Offers of Employment to employees in the Employee Group selected by TRM and the Purchasing Insurers.

     2.3 Assumption of Liabilities. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions and limitations set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing, TRM or the applicable Tower Entity will assume from the applicable member of the HIG Group, as appropriate, any and all Liabilities of such Person of any kind or character to the extent relating to or arising from the ownership or use of the Transferred Assets or the Employee Group, including Transferred Employees and Non-Transferred Employees, as such Liabilities exist as of the Closing, but excluding all Excluded Liabilities, regardless of when such Liabilities may be discovered or reported (“Assumed Liabilities”), including the following Liabilities:

               (a) any Liability relating to any failure or alleged failure to comply with, or any violation or alleged violation of, any Applicable Law to the extent relating to the Transferred Assets, the Employee Group, including any Transferred Employees and any Non-Transferred Employees;

               (b) any Liability to the extent relating to any breach of any contract or agreement included in the Transferred Assets;

               (c) any Liability to the extent relating to any employee within the Employee Group, including any Transferred Employee or any Non-Transferred Employee, including any Liability to the extent relating to (i) any employee benefit plan or employee benefits maintained by any member of the HIG Group or any Person who was an Affiliate of the

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HIG Group on or prior to the Closing Date with respect to any employee within the Employee Group, including any Transferred Employee or any Non-Transferred Employee, (ii) the termination of any employee benefit or employee benefit plans with respect to any employee within the Employee Group, including any Transferred Employee or any Non-Transferred Employee, (iii) payroll and employee benefits accrued by any employee within the Employee Group, including any Transferred Employee or any Non-Transferred Employee, (iv) the termination of employment of any employee within the Employee Group, including any Transferred Employee or any Non-Transferred Employee, including, any termination of any such Person deemed to have occurred upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Stock Purchase Agreement, or (v) any “Success Bonus”, “Stay Bonus” or other bonus, profit sharing or incentive compensation payable to any Transferred Employee pursuant to any bonus plan of or maintained by any member of the HIG Group or any Person who was an Affiliate of the HIG Group on or prior to the Closing Date;

               (d) any Liability arising under any Producer Agreement or to the extent relating to the Producer under any such Producer Agreement or the activities of such Producer under such Producer Agreement;

               (e) 50% of any Other Liability; and

               (f) any Liability for Taxes relating to or arising from the ownership or use of the Transferred Assets, or any of the Employee Group, including the Transferred Employees and the Non-Transferred Employees prior to the Closing Date.

     2.4 Excluded Liabilities. The members of the HIG Group shall retain, and none of TRM, the Purchasing Insurers or any other Tower Entity shall assume, any Liabilities of any member of the HIG Group or any other CPRE Entity set forth in this Section 2.4, as such Liabilities exist as of the Closing and regardless of when discovered or reported (collectively, the “Excluded Liabilities”). The Excluded Liabilities shall consist of only the following Liabilities:

               (a) any Liability to the extent relating to the Excluded Assets, including Liabilities relating to any Insurance Contract, whether or not in-force at the Closing, and any Liability to the extent relating to any breach of any such Insurance Contract, and all reserves for claims, including claims incurred but not reported and claims in course of settlement, expenses or unearned premium, any loss or loss adjustment expenses, and any Extra Contractual Obligations, with respect to such Insurance Contracts;

               (b) any Liability relating to any failure or alleged failure to comply with, or any violation or alleged violation of, any Applicable Law to the extent relating to the Excluded Assets;

               (c) 50% of any Other Liability;

               (d) notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, including in Section 2.3, any Liability to the extent accrued for on the “Closing Date Balance Sheet” prepared pursuant to Section 3.3 of the Stock Purchase Agreement, including any Liabilities for Taxes and any Liabilities for any “Success Bonus”, “Stay Bonus” or other bonus, profit sharing or incentive compensation payable to any member of the Employee Group; and

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               (e) any Liability for Taxes to the extent relating to the Excluded Assets.

     2.5 Closing Deliveries.

               (a) At the Closing, TRM and the Purchasing Insurers, will deliver to the Selling Insurers the following:

                    (i) the payment of the Purchase Price in accordance with Section 2.7;

                    (ii) third party consents to the assignment(s) of the Lease Agreement(s) to the extent obtained;

                    (iii) third party consents to the assignments of the Producer Agreements to the extent obtained;

                    (iv) the Tower Guaranty in the form set forth at Exhibit C executed by Tower Parent;

                    (v) subject to any necessary regulatory approvals, an amendment to the Brokerage Management Agreement making the Selling Insurers parties thereto or subject thereto, as appropriate, to effect the intent of this Agreement and the Master Agreement, amending the definition of “Brokerage Business” (as that term is defined in the Master Agreement and used in the Brokerage Management Agreement) to include the Business of the Selling Insurers, and effecting the HIG Extension, executed by the applicable Tower Entities, or, alternatively, in the absence of regulatory approval to amend the Brokerage Management Agreement, a new management agreement between the Selling Insurers and the appropriate Tower Entities to effect the intent of this Agreement and the Master Agreement and consistent in all material respects with the Master Agreement and this Agreement;

                    (vi) subject to any necessary regulatory approvals, an amendment to the Master Agreement making the Selling Insurers parties thereto or subject thereto, as appropriate, to effect the intent of this Agreement and the Master Agreement, amending the definition of “Brokerage Business” (as that term is defined in the Master Agreement and used in the Brokerage Management Agreement) to include the Business of the Selling Insurers, and effecting the HIG Extension, executed by the applicable Tower Entities; and

                    (vii) subject to any necessary regulatory approvals, amendments to the Intercompany Agreements making the Selling Insurers parties thereto or subject thereto, as appropriate, amending the definition of Brokerage Business in any such agreements to make it consistent with the definition of Brokerage Business in the Master Agreement, as amended pursuant to the amendment referred to above in this Section 2.5(a), to effect the intent of this Agreement and the Master Agreement, and effecting the HIG Extension, executed by the applicable Tower Entities.

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               (b) At the Closing, CPRE will deliver to TRM and the Purchasing Insurers the following:

                    (i) The Bills of Sale and General Assignment Agreements executed by each member of the HIG Group, as appropriate;

                    (ii) a list of all in-force Insurance Contracts and a list of all Producers and Producer Agreements;

                    (iii) assignment(s) of the Lease Agreement(s) executed by each member of the HIG Group, as appropriate, and any consents required in connection therewith to the extent obtained;

                    (iv) assignment(s) of the Producer Agreement(s) executed by each member of the HIG Group, as appropriate, and any consents required in connection therewith to the extent obtained;

                    (v) subject to any necessary regulatory approvals, an amendment to the Brokerage Management Agreement making the Selling Insurers parties thereto or subject thereto, as appropriate, to effect the intent of this Agreement and the Master Agreement, amending the definition of “Brokerage Business” (as that term is defined in the Master Agreement and used in the Brokerage Management Agreement) to include the Business of the Selling Insurers, and effecting the HIG Extension, executed by the Selling Insurers and the applicable CPRE Entities, or, alternatively, in the absence of regulatory approval to amend the Brokerage Management Agreement, a new management agreement between the Selling Insurers and the appropriate Tower Entities to effect the intent of this Agreement and the Master Agreement and consistent in all material respects with the Master Agreement and this Agreement;

                    (vi) an amendment to the Master Agreement making the Selling Insurers parties thereto or subject thereto, as appropriate, to effect the intent of this Agreement and the Master Agreement, amending the definition of “Brokerage Business” (as that term is defined in the Master Agreement and used in the Brokerage Management Agreement) to include the Business of the Selling Insurers, and effecting the HIG Extension, executed by the Selling Insurers and the applicable CPRE Entities;

                    (vii) subject to any necessary regulatory approvals, amendments to the Intercompany Agreements making the Selling Insurers parties thereto or subject thereto, as appropriate, amending the definition of Brokerage Business in any such agreements to make it consistent with the definition of Brokerage Business in the Master Agreement, as amended pursuant to the amendment referred to above in this Section 2.5(b), to effect the intent of this Agreement and the Master Agreement, and effecting the HIG Extension, executed by the Selling Insurers and the applicable CPRE Entities;

                    (viii) copies of the Books and Records;

                    (ix) such affidavits or certifications in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to TRM as are necessary to exempt the assignment or transfer of the

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Transferred Assets pursuant to this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements from the provisions of section 1445 of the Code;

                    (x) the CastlePoint Guaranty in the form set forth at Exhibit B executed by CPH; and

                    (xi) a true and complete copy of the Stock Purchase Agreement, including all exhibits, schedules and other ancillary materials, as then in effect, executed by each of the parties thereto.

     2.6 Issuance of the Insurance Contracts Following the Closing.

               (a) From and after the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement and until the Closing, CPRE shall, and shall cause the CPRE Entities including the members of the HIG Group to, carry on the business of the members of the HIG Group in the usual, regular and ordinary course consistent with past practice and to use all commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact the business of the members of the HIG Group, including their relationships with employees, Policyholders, Producers and others having business dealings with them. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, CPRE shall, and shall cause the CPRE Entities, including the members of the HIG Group to, (i) use commercially reasonable efforts to continue to renew Insurance Contracts, and enter into new Insurance Contracts and the CPRE Entities will continue to provide the necessary capital capacity for the Selling Insurers to write the Insurance Contracts consistent with Section 2.6(b), (ii) consult and cooperate in good faith with TRM regarding the issuance of any Insurance Contracts of the types that would be managed by TRM pursuant to the Brokerage Management Agreement following the Closing, and (iii) except as required by Applicable Law, not sell, assign or transfer any Insurance Contract to any Person or grant any rights of the Selling Insurers to offer, quote and/or solicit the renewals of any of the Insurance Contracts, including the right to offer to non-renew or cancel and rewrite any of the Insurance Contracts and to solicit replacement insurance coverage, to any Person.

               (b) On and after the Closing, except as otherwise provided herein, each of the Selling Insurers shall continue to renew Insurance Contracts, and enter into new Insurance Contracts and the CPRE Entities will continue to provide the necessary capital capacity for the Selling Insurers to write the Insurance Contracts and for CPRE’s Affiliates that are authorized insurance companies to write similar agreements of insurance, all in accordance with the ordinary course of business between the Tower Entities and the CPRE Entities, consistent with their past practice, except with respect to the amount of such capital capacity, which the Parties acknowledge and agree will be increased, as necessary, in respect of the Insurance Contracts.

               (c) On or after the Closing, CPRE shall, at the option and direction of TRM, cause each of the Selling Insurers not to issue any Insurance Contracts of the types managed by TRM pursuant to the Brokerage Management Agreement, except as required by Applicable Law. Except as provided in Section 2.9, from and after the Closing, except as required by Applicable Law, CPRE shall not, and shall cause the CPRE Entities and the members of the HIG Group to not, sell, assign or transfer any Insurance Contract to any Person

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or grant any rights of the Selling Insurers to offer, quote and/or solicit the renewals of any of the Insurance Contracts, including the right to offer to non-renew or cancel and rewrite any of the Insurance Contracts and to solicit replacement insurance coverage, to any Person, in each case, without the prior written consent of TRM and the Purchasing Insurers.

     2.7 Consideration.

               (a) In consideration of the sale, assignment and transfer of the Transferred Assets and the rights and agreements under Sections 2.6 and 2.9, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, on the Closing Date, TRM or the Purchasing Insurers will pay or cause to be paid to CPRE or any Affiliate thereof, as CPRE may direct, an aggregate amount equal to $16,000,000 (the “Purchase Price”), and CPRE or any Affiliate thereof, as applicable, will accept and acknowledge receipt of the Purchase Price. The Purchase Price shall be paid by wire transfer in immediately available funds to an account(s) designated by CPRE prior to the Closing Date.

               (b) As further consideration, the Parties shall respectively deliver those closing deliveries set forth in Section 2.5 of this Agreement.

               (c) Subject to receipt of all Required Approvals, CPRE shall cause the Selling Insurers to pay, to TRM an amount equal to 2.5% of the unearned premium reserve attributable to all Insurance Contracts that were in-force as of the Closing Date (the “UPR Fee”). The UPR Fee shall be paid in four equal quarterly payments commencing at the end of the first calendar quarter following the Closing Date.

               (d) Not later than 120 days following the Closing Date, TRM shall provide to CPRE a proposed allocation of the Purchase Price and the Assumed Liabilities (collectively, the “Allocable Amount”) among the Transferred Assets. The proposed allocation shall be prepared in a manner consistent with section 1060 of the Code. For purposes of such allocation, the Assumed Liabilities included in the Allocable Amount shall be the assumed liabilities as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes. CPRE will have ten (10) Business Days from the receipt of the proposed allocation to notify TRM if CPRE disputes the proposed allocation. If TRM has not received notice of any such dispute within such ten (10) Business Day period, the proposed allocation will become final and binding on the Parties (the “Allocation Schedule”). If, however, CPRE has delivered notice of such a dispute to TRM within such ten (10) Business Day period, TRM and CPRE shall discuss their differences with respect to the proposed allocation and attempt in good faith to resolve such differences. If the Parties are unable to resolve such differences within ten (10) Business Days of the delivery of the notice of dispute, then Ernst & Young (the “Tax Dispute Accountant”) shall be engaged to resolve such dispute; provided, that such dispute shall be resolved in favor of TRM unless the Tax Dispute Accountant determines that there is no reasonable basis for TRM’s position. The allocation determined by the Tax Dispute Accountant shall become the Allocation Schedule and will be final and binding on the Parties. The fees and expenses of the Tax Dispute Accountant shall be borne equally by TRM and CPRE. CPRE, TRM and the Purchasing Insurers shall prepare and file all returns and reports with respect to Taxes, including Internal Revenue Service Form 8594 (and any replacement or successor form), in a manner consistent with the Allocation Schedule; provided that TRM’s and the Purchasing Insurers’ cost may differ from the Allocable Amount to

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reflect capitalizable costs incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, any final allocation pursuant to this Section 2.7(d) shall to the extent permitted by applicable law be determined consistently with the final allocation determined under Section 11.6(b) of the Stock Purchase Agreement.

     2.8 Consent of Third Parties. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Agreement shall not constitute an agreement to assign or transfer any approval, instrument, contract, lease, permit or other property, asset, or right included in the Transferred Assets or any claim, right or benefit arising thereunder or resulting therefrom if an assignment or transfer or an attempt to make such an assignment or transfer without the approval, authorization, consent or permit of a third party would constitute a breach or violation thereof or affect adversely the rights of any Tower Entity, any member of the HIG Group, or any CPRE Entity thereunder; and any transfer or assignment to any Tower Entity by any member of the HIG Group of any interest under any such approval, instrument, contract, lease, permit or other property, asset or right that requires the approval, authorization, consent or permit of a third party shall be made subject to the same being obtained. In the event any such approval, authorization, consent or permit is not obtained on or prior to the Closing Date, CPRE shall, and shall cause the members of the HIG Group to, continue to use all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any such approval, authorization, consent or permit after the Closing Date until such time as such approval, authorization, consent or permit has been obtained, and CPRE will cooperate, and will cause the members of the HIG Group to cooperate, with the Tower Entities in any lawful arrangement to provide that the applicable Tower Entity shall receive the interest of the members of the HIG Group in the benefits under any such approval, instrument, contract, lease or permit or other property, asset or right, including performance by CPRE and/or the member of the HIG Group as agents, provided that the applicable Tower Entity shall undertake to pay or satisfy the corresponding Liabilities for the enjoyment of such benefit to the extent such Tower Entity, would have been responsible therefor hereunder if such approval, authorization, consent or permit had been obtained. Nothing in this Section 2.8 shall be deemed a waiver by TRM or any other Tower Entity of their respective rights to have received on or before the Closing an effective assignment of all of the Transferred Assets nor shall this Section 2.8 be deemed to constitute an agreement to exclude from the Transferred Assets any properties, assets or rights described in Section 2.2(a).

     2.9 Renewal Rights.

               (a) At any time following the Closing Date, at the option of TRM, without any additional consideration and as directed by TRM by delivery pursuant to the Brokerage Management Agreement of a written Non-Renewal Notice, CPRE shall cause each Selling Insurer, as applicable, to send to each Policyholder whose Insurance Contract is indicated in the relevant Non-Renewal Notice, within 30 days following receipt of the Non-Renewal Notice, written notice in the form directed by TRM and reasonably acceptable to the applicable Selling Insurer advising such Policyholder that (i) such Selling Insurer will not renew or will cancel the Insurance Contract, and (ii) one or more of the Purchasing Insurers, their Insurer Affiliates or other duly licensed, eligible or otherwise authorized insurance companies selected by the Purchasing Insurers may issue to the Policyholder a Purchasing Insurer Policy (defined below).

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               (b) Following delivery of a Non-Renewal Notice, one or more of the Purchasing Insurers, in its own name and on its own behalf, or in the name and on behalf of any of its Insurer Affiliates or other duly licensed, eligible or otherwise authorized insurance companies selected by the Purchasing Insurers, shall be entitled to and may, in connection with the first expiration, renewal, or anniversary date of each specified Insurance Contract on or after the date of the Non-Renewal Notice, solicit, quote, bind, write and/or issue, or cause to be solicited, quoted, bound, written and/or issued to any Policyholder prior to or upon the expiration, cancellation or non-renewal of such Policyholder’s Insurance Contract(s), policies or other evidences of insurance coverage on the policy forms of the applicable Purchasing Insurer, Insurer Affiliates or other duly licensed, eligible or otherwise authorized insurance companies selected by the Purchasing Insurers (each such new policy, a “Purchasing Insurer Policy”), subject in each case to Applicable Law, and the rights of Producers and Policyholders.

               (c) Upon receipt of a Notice of Non-Renewal, the applicable Selling Insurer shall, subject to the provisions of Applicable Law, cease renewing the specified Insurance Contracts and shall promptly make all required filings with Government Authorities relating to such non-renewal.

     2.10 HIG Extension Adjustment.

               (a) If the HIG Extension shall be limited to a period of six months, pursuant to the first proviso in the definition of HIG Extension, CPRE or TRM shall be obliged to pay the HIG Adjustment Amount to the other pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.10. Within 60 days following the first anniversary of the first day of the HIG Extension (the “HIG Extension Anniversary Date”), TRM shall prepare and deliver to CPRE a statement (the “HIG Adjustment Amount Statement”) setting forth the calculation in reasonable detail of the difference (the “HIG Adjustment Amount”, which amount may be a negative or positive number) between (i) the amount actually paid by CPRE Entities to Tower Entities under the Brokerage Management Agreement, the Master Agreement and the Intercompany Agreements with respect to the period beginning on the first day following the expiration of the HIG Extension and ending on the HIG Extension Anniversary Date less (ii) the amount that would have been paid by CPRE Entities to Tower Entities under the Brokerage Management Agreement, the Master Agreement and the Intercompany Agreements with respect to the period beginning on the first day following the expiration of the HIG Extension and ending on the HIG Extension Anniversary Date, if the HIG Extension had been for a period of one year.

               (b) The HIG Adjustment Amount Statement shall become final, binding and conclusive upon the Parties on the 30^th day following CPRE’s receipt of the HIG Adjustment Amount Statement, unless prior to such 30^th day CPRE delivers to TRM a written notice (a “Dispute Notice”) stating that CPRE believes the HIG Adjustment Amount Statement contains errors and specifying in reasonable detail each item that CPRE disputes (a “Disputed Item”), the amount in dispute for each such Disputed Item and the reasons supporting CPRE’s positions.

               (c) If CPRE delivers a Dispute Notice, then CPRE and TRM shall seek in good faith to resolve the Disputed Items during the 15-day period beginning on the date TRM receives the Dispute Notice (the “Resolution Period”). If CPRE and TRM reach

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agreement with respect to any Disputed Items, TRM shall revise the HIG Adjustment Amount Statement to reflect such agreement.

               (d) If TRM and CPRE are unable to resolve all of the Disputed Items during the Resolution Period, then TRM and CPRE shall independently engage and submit the unresolved Disputed Items (the “Unresolved Items”) to KPMG LLP or such other nationally recognized public accounting firm upon whom TRM and CPRE mutually agree (the “Independent Accountant”). TRM and CPRE shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Independent Accountant to issue its written determination regarding the Unresolved Items within 30 days after such items are submitted for review. The Independent Accountant shall make a determination with respect to the Unresolved Items only and in a manner consistent with this Section 2.10, and in no event shall the Independent Accountant’s determination of the Unresolved Items be for an amount that is outside the range of TRM’s and CPRE’s disagreement with respect to each individual item. Each Party shall and shall cause its respective Affiliates to use commercially reasonable efforts to furnish to the Independent Accountant such work papers and other documents and information pertaining to the Unresolved Items as the Independent Accountant may request. The determination of the Independent Accountant shall be final, binding and conclusive on the Parties absent manifest error, and TRM shall revise the HIG Adjustment Amount Statement to reflect such determination upon receipt thereof. The fees, expenses and costs of the Independent Accountant shall be borne equally by TMR and CPRE.

               (e) Within five Business Days after the HIG Adjustment Amount Statement is finalized pursuant to this Section 2.10, each of the CPRE Entities and the Tower Entities, as applicable, will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all such approvals, authorizations, consents and permits from Governmental Authorities necessary in connection with payment of the HIG Payment Amount (collectively, the “HIG Payment Amount Approvals”). Within five Business Days following receipt of the HIG Payment Amount Approvals, (i) if the HIG Adjustment Amount is a negative number, CPRE shall pay to TRM the HIG Adjustment Amount (expressed as a positive number) and (ii) if the HIG Adjustment Amount is a positive number, TRM shall pay to CPRE the HIG Adjustment Amount. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the immediately preceding sentence, failure to obtain the HIG Adjustment Amount Approvals shall not limit the obligations of CPH or Tower Parent to pay the HIG Adjustment Amount under the CastlePoint Guaranty or Tower Guaranty, as the case may be, within five Business Days after the HIG Adjustment Amount Statement is finalized pursuant to this Section 2.10.

ARTICLE 3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF CPRE

     CPRE represents and warrants to the Purchasing Insurers that as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (or, if made as of a specified date, as of such date):

     3.1 Corporate Existence. CPRE has been duly organized, is validly existing and is in good standing under the laws of Bermuda, its country of incorporation.

     3.2 Corporate Authority. The execution, delivery and performance by CPRE of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements are within its corporate powers and have been duly

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authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of CPRE. On the Closing Date, the execution, delivery and performance by the members of the HIG Group of the Ancillary Agreements shall have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of each such Person. This Agreement constitutes, and when executed and delivered the Ancillary Agreements will constitute, valid and legally binding agreements, enforceable against CPRE and the members of the HIG Group party thereto, as applicable, in accordance with their respective terms, subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, moratorium and other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and the rights of creditors of insurance companies generally, and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).

     3.3 Governmental Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by CPRE and the members of the HIG Group party thereto of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any Governmental Authority on the part of CPRE or any Affiliate thereof (including the members of the HIG Group) other than the Required Approvals, filings and notices not required to be made or given until after the Closing Date, and any such other action or filing as to which the failure to make or obtain would not, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the contemplated benefits of the transactions contemplated hereby or by the Ancillary Agreements or the ability of the applicable Tower Entities to use the Transferred Assets in the conduct of their business following the Closing.

     3.4 Due Diligence. The CPRE Entities, including CPRE (i) have conducted on their own behalf a due diligence examination of the operations, assets, books and records of the HIG Group, including the Selling Insurers, and (ii) have determined to enter into this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements based on such due diligence examination and the representations, warranties, covenants and undertakings of TRM and the Purchasing Insurers herein and in the Ancillary Agreements. The determination to enter into this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements is in no way based on, nor have any of the CPRE Entities relied upon, any representations and warranties, whether written or oral, made by any of the Tower Entities to any of the CPRE Entities, about the business, operations, assets, books and records, including the Business, Excluded Assets, and Excluded Liabilities, of any member of the HIG Group, including the Selling Insurers, except those representations and warranties set forth herein and in the Ancillary Agreements.

     3.5 Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by CPRE and the CPRE Entities (other than members of the HIG Group) party thereto of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements does not and will not (i) violate the charter or bylaws of CPRE or any of the CPRE Entities (other than the members of the HIG Group), (ii) assuming compliance with the filings, notices, approvals and other matters referred to in Section 3.3, violate any Applicable Law, or (iii) require any consent or other action by any Person under, constitute a default under, or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any right or obligation of CPRE or any of the CPRE Entities (other than the members of the HIG Group) to a loss of any benefit to which CPRE or any of the CPRE Entities (other than the members of the HIG Group) is entitled under any Insurance Contract, material reinsurance agreement, any material agreement or any other instrument binding upon CPRE or any of the CPRE Entities (other than the members of the HIG Group), or any license, franchise, permit or other similar authorization held

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by CPRE or any of the CPRE Entities (other than the members of the HIG Group) that is material to its business or to the Transferred Assets.

     3.6 No Brokers. No broker, finder or other similar agent has represented CPRE or acted for or on behalf of CPRE in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby in such a manner as to give rise to any valid claim or demand against any Tower Entity for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other similar payment.

     3.7 Stock Purchase Agreement. CPRE has provided a true and complete copy of the Stock Purchase Agreement, including all exhibits, schedules and ancillary documents thereto, to TRM and the Purchasing Insurers and there have been no changes to the Stock Purchase Agreement (or any of such exhibits, schedules or ancillary documents) since the date so provided.

ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASING INSURERS AND TRM

     The Purchasing Insurers and TRM each represent and warrant to CPRE that as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (or, if made as of a specified date, as of such date):

     4.1 Corporate Existence. Each of the Purchasing Insurers and TRM has been duly organized, is validly existing and is in good standing under the laws of its state of incorporation.

     4.2 Corporate Authority. The execution, delivery and performance by the Purchasing Insurers and TRM of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements are within their respective corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of each Purchasing Insurer or TRM, as applicable. On the Closing Date, the execution, delivery and performance by any applicable Tower Entities of the Ancillary Agreements shall have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of each such Person. This Agreement constitutes, and when executed and delivered the Ancillary Agreements will constitute, valid and legally binding agreements, enforceable against each of the Purchasing Insurers, TRM and the Tower Entities party thereto, as applicable, in accordance with their respective terms, subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, moratorium and other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and the rights of creditors of insurance companies generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).

     4.3 Due Diligence. The Tower Entities, including TRM and each Purchasing Insurer (i) have conducted on their own behalf a due diligence examination of the operations, assets, books and records of the HIG Group, including the Selling Insurers, and (ii) have determined to enter into this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements based on such due diligence examination and the representations, warranties, covenants and undertakings of CPRE herein and in the Ancillary Agreements. The determination to enter into this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements is in no way based on, nor have any of TRM or the Purchasing Insurers relied upon, any representations and warranties, whether written or oral, made by any of the CPRE Entities to any of the Tower Entities, about the business, operations, assets, books and records, including the Business, Transferred Assets, and Books and Records, of any member of the HIG Group,

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including any of the Selling Insurers, except those representations and warranties set forth herein and in the Ancillary Agreements.

     4.4 Governmental Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by the Purchasing Insurers, TRM and the Tower Entities party thereto of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any Governmental Authority on the part of the Purchasing Insurers, TRM or any Affiliate (including the other Tower Entities) thereof (including the other Tower Entities) other than the Required Approvals, filings and notices not required to be made or given until after the Closing Date, and any such other action or filing as to which the failure to make or obtain would not, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the contemplated benefits of the transactions contemplated hereby or by the Ancillary Agreements or the ability of CPRE to conduct the business of the Selling Insurers following the Closing.

     4.5 Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the Purchasing Insurers, TRM and the Tower Entities party thereto of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements does not and will not (i) violate the charter or bylaws of the Purchasing Insurers, TRM or the Tower Entities, (ii) assuming compliance with the filings, notices, approvals and other matters referred to in Section 4.4, violate any Applicable Law, or (iii) require any consent or other action by any Person under, constitute a default under, or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any right or obligation of the Purchasing Insurers, TRM or the Tower Entity or to a loss of any benefit to which the Purchasing Insurers, TRM or the Tower Entity is entitled under any material reinsurance agreement, any material agreement or any other instrument binding upon the Purchasing Insurers, TRM or the Tower Entities, or any license, franchise, permit or other similar authorization held by the Purchasing Insurers, TRM or the Tower Entities that is material to their business.

     4.6 No Brokers. No broker, finder or other similar agent has represented the Purchasing Insurers and TRM or acted for or on behalf of the Purchasing Insurers and TRM in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby in such a manner as to give rise to any valid claim or demand against CPRE for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other similar payment.

ARTICLE 5
COVENANTS OF CPRE

     5.1 Further Assurances. CPRE shall make commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and do, or cause to be done, all things and execute, or cause to be executed, any documents necessary or advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Stock Purchase Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, in accordance with their respective terms and subject to their respective conditions, including to more effectively sell, transfer and assign to the applicable Tower Entities, and to put the applicable Tower Entities in actual possession and control of the Transferred Assets, free and clear of any and all liens and encumbrances; provided, however, that any such additional documents must be reasonably satisfactory to each of the Parties and not impose upon any Party any material Liability, risk or obligation not contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements.

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     5.2 Compliance With Law. CPRE shall, and, following the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement, shall cause each member of the HIG Group to, comply with all Applicable Laws relating to the performance by CPRE and the members of the HIG Group of their duties and obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.

     5.3 Intercompany Agreements. Subject to receipt of all Required Approvals, CPRE shall cause each of the Selling Insurers to enter into the amendments to the Brokerage Management Agreement, the Master Agreement and the Intercompany Agreements referred to in clauses (v), (vi) and (vii) of Section 2.5(a) and clauses (v), (vi) and (vii) of Section 2.5(b).

     5.4 Rights under Stock Purchase Agreement. Both before and after the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement, CPRE will not amend or modify the Stock Purchase Agreement in any respect, and will not grant any waiver thereunder or take any action, or agree, to terminate the Stock Purchase Agreement, without the prior written consent of TRM, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. CPRE shall, both before and after the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement, exercise all of its rights, perform all of its obligations and take all such actions under and in accordance with the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement, including in respect of Articles VIII, X and XI of the Stock Purchase Agreement, as may be reasonably directed by TRM or the Purchasing Insurers in order to protect the rights of TRM and the Purchasing Insurers with respect to the Transferred Assets and their other rights hereunder and under the Ancillary Agreements and to mitigate TRM’s and the Purchasing Insurers’ risks with respect to the Excluded Liabilities, the Assumed Liabilities and the obligations under Article 11 of this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, CPRE shall provide all Tax Returns required to be prepared or otherwise furnished by CPRE as described in Section 11.2(b) of the Stock Purchase Agreement to TRM for its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, prior to providing such Tax Returns to BUSC as provided in Section 11.2(c) of the Stock Purchase Agreement. All out of pocket costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney fees, incurred by CPRE in connection with exercising all such rights and taking all such actions as directed by TRM or the Purchasing Insurers shall be borne solely by TRM and the Purchasing Insurers. CPRE hereby assigns to TRM and the Purchasing Insurers its rights to enforce the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement, including in respect of Articles VIII, X and XI of the Stock Purchase Agreement, in the event that CPRE fails to exercise such rights, or to promptly take any actions, to the reasonable satisfaction of TRM and the Purchasing Insurers, and confirms that Tower Parent and its subsidiaries are permitted assignees with respect to such assignment under the Stock Purchase Agreement. CPRE shall pay over or cause to paid over promptly to TRM or another Tower Entity, at TRM’s direction, any amounts received by CPRE or any CPRE Entity under or relating to the Stock Purchase Agreement net of any Taxes incurred by any CPRE Entity by reason of the receipt by any CPRE Entity of such amounts (to the extent not offset by tax benefits resulting from the corresponding payment pursuant to the last sentence of this Section 5.4) in connection with the intents and purposes of this Section 5.4.

     5.5 Consents; Filings. Without limiting the generality of Section 5.1, CPRE will use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) obtain as promptly as practicable all approvals, authorizations, consents and permits required to be obtained by the HIG Group or any CPRE Entity in connection with the authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Stock

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Purchase Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Required Approvals hereunder and necessary consents of landlords to the assignment of the Lease Agreements and (ii) make, as promptly as practicable, all necessary filings (including for the removal of any and all liens and other encumbrances on the Transferred Assets) and thereafter make any other required submissions, with respect to this Agreement, the Stock Purchase Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, in each case, required under any Applicable Law, including using its commercially reasonable efforts to contest in good faith any Litigation challenging or seeking to prevent, enjoin, alter or materially delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Stock Purchase Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements. CPRE shall cooperate with the Tower Entities in connection with the seeking of all such approvals, authorizations, consents and permits and the making of all such filings, and will promptly notify TRM and the Purchasing Insurers in writing of any pending or, to the knowledge of CPRE, threatened Litigation by any Governmental Authority or any other Person (A) challenging or seeking material monetary damages in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Stock Purchase Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or (B) seeking to restrain or prohibit, enjoin, alter or materially delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Stock Purchase Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements.

     5.6 Full and Complete Access.

               (a) Prior to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement, CPRE shall afford TRM and the Purchasing Insurers full and complete access to all books and records; financial statements, projections, facilities, personnel, business plans and work papers; and financial and other data, in each case, relating to the members of the HIG Group, including relating to the Transferred Assets, the Assumed Liabilities and the Business to which CPRE is entitled under the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement. CPRE shall, at the sole cost and expense of TRM, furnish promptly to TRM and the Purchasing Insurers copies of such materials as they shall reasonably request.

ARTICLE 6
COVENANTS OF TRM AND THE PURCHASING INSURERS

     6.1 Further Assurances. TRM and each of the Purchasing Insurers shall make commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and do, or cause to be done, all things and execute, or cause to be executed, any documents necessary, or advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, in accordance with their respective terms and subject to their respective conditions; provided, however, that any such additional documents must be reasonably satisfactory to each of the Parties and not impose upon any Party any material Liability, risk or obligation not contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements.

     6.2 Compliance With Law. TRM and each of the Purchasing Insurers shall, and shall cause each applicable Tower Entity to, comply with all Applicable Laws relating to the performance by TRM, each of the Purchasing Insurers and each applicable Tower Entity of their respective duties and obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.

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     6.3 Consents; Filings. Without limiting the generality of Section 6.1, TRM and the Purchasing Insurers will use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) obtain as promptly as practicable all approvals, authorizations, consents and permits required to be obtained by any Tower Entity in connection with the authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Required Approvals hereunder and necessary consents of landlords to the assignment of the Lease Agreements and (ii) make, as promptly as practicable, all necessary filings and thereafter make any other required submissions, with respect to this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, in each case, required under any Applicable Law, including using its commercially reasonable efforts to contest in good faith any Litigation challenging or seeking to prevent, enjoin, alter or materially delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements. TRM and the Purchasing Insurers shall cooperate with the CPRE Entities in connection with the seeking of all such approvals, authorizations, consents and permits and the making of all such filings and will promptly notify CPRE in writing of any pending or, to the knowledge of TRM or the Purchasing Insurers, threatened Litigation by any Governmental Authority or any other Person (A) challenging or seeking material monetary damages in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or by the Ancillary Agreements or (B) seeking to restrain or prohibit, enjoin, alter or materially delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, no Tower Entity shall be required to take any action that involves divestiture of an existing business or material assets of such Person.

     6.4 Intercompany Agreements. Subject to receipt of all Required Approvals, TRM and the Purchasing Insurers shall cause each of applicable Tower Entity to enter into the amendments to the Brokerage Management Agreement, the Master Agreement and the Intercompany Agreements referred to in clauses (v), (vi) and (vii) of Section 2.5(a) and clauses (v), (vi) and (vii) of Section 2.5(b).

ARTICLE 7
EMPLOYEE MATTERS

     7.1 Offers of Employment.

          (a) On or before the Closing Date, TRM, or at TRM’s direction, another Tower Entity, may extend an offer of employment to such employees of the HIG Group (collectively, the “Employee Group”) that the Purchasing Insurers select (each such offer, an “Offer of Employment”). The employment of each employee who accepts the Offer of Employment (collectively, the “Transferred Employees”) will take effect as of the first Business Day following the Closing Date or such date thereafter as agreed between the applicable Tower Entity and Transferred Employee (the “Transfer Date”). Those employees who are not Transferred Employees will be referred to as “Non-Transferred Employees.” On the Closing Date, CPRE shall, or shall cause the appropriate members of the HIG Group to, terminate the employment of all Non-Transferred Employees. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, nothing herein shall preclude the applicable Tower Entity from terminating the employment of any Transferred Employees for any reason whatsoever.

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          (b) If any such member of the Employee Group is not offered employment, the Purchasing Insurers shall provide severance payments to those employees not offered employment, consistent with the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement.

     7.2 Termination of Employment Agreements. With respect to any Transferred Employee who is a party to an employment agreement with the HIG Group (each agreement and “Employment Agreement”), each Purchasing Insurer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, on or prior to the Transfer Date, the consent of such Transferred Employee to the termination of such Employment Agreement. On and after the Closing Date, CPRE shall cause each member of the HIG Group to release such Transferred Employees from any restrictive covenant in any employment agreement that would impede, directly or indirectly, such Transferred Employee, from accepting the Offer of Employment. Each Purchasing Insurer shall be responsible for any and all Liabilities with respect to, in connection with, or arising out of the termination of any Employment Agreement between a member of the HIG Group and any member of the Employee Group.

     7.3 Employee Benefits. As of the Closing Date, the Tower Entities will provide, or will cause to be provided, to Transferred Employees employee benefits comparable to those that CPRE has agreed to provide or cause to be provided to the Transferred Employees pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement. CPRE shall cause each member of the HIG Group to transfer to the relevant Tower Entities or, at their direction, an Affiliate thereof, assets of any employee benefit plan maintained by any member of the HIG Group covering the members of the Employee Group, including the Transferred Employees and the Non-Transferred Employees, and the relevant Tower Entities shall assume any and all Liabilities related to or arising out of such plans.

     7.4 Non-Transferred Employees. As of the Closing Date, TRM and the Purchasing Insurers will retain and be responsible for all compensation, benefit, severance and employment related obligations and Liabilities relating to each Non-Transferred Employee and each Transferred Employee in respect of any period prior to such Transferred Employee’s Transfer Date.

     7.5 Cooperation. From and after the Closing Date, CPRE shall cause the Non-Transferred Employees to provide reasonable assistance to TRM and the Purchasing Insurers, at the expense of TRM and the Purchasing Insurers, at times and locations as reasonably requested by TRM or the Purchasing Insurers that do not materially interfere with or disrupt the business and operations of the HIG Group, CPRE, or any of the Selling Insurers, in the defense of any Litigation, arbitration, claim, complaint, audit, proceeding, or investigation (whether threatened existing, initiated or contemplated prior to, on or after the Closing Date) arising out of any event that occurred on or prior to the Closing Date that involves facts or circumstances with which any such Non-Transferred Employees was involved or acquainted as a director, officer or employee or advisor of any member of the HIG Group.

ARTICLE 8
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATION OF TRM AND THE
PURCHASING INSURERS TO CLOSE

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     The obligations of TRM and the Purchasing Insurers to consummate the Closing under this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing of the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived by TRM and the Purchasing Insurers in writing:

     8.1 Governmental Approvals. All approvals, authorizations, consents and permits from Governmental Authorities necessary for consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, including any such approvals, authorizations, consents and permits from Governmental Authorities necessary in connection with the amendments referred to in clauses (v), (vi) and (vii) of Sections 2.5(a) and 2.5(b) (collectively, the “Required Approvals”), shall have been obtained and be in full force and effect and TRM and the Purchasing Insurers shall have been furnished with appropriate evidence, reasonably satisfactory to them and their counsel, of the granting of the Required Approvals.

     8.2 Representations, Warranties and Covenants. (a) CPRE shall have performed, and shall have caused the relevant CPRE Entities and, following the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement, shall have caused the relevant members of the HIG Group, to perform, in all material respects all of their respective obligations under this Agreement required to be performed by them on or prior to the Closing Date; and (b) the representations and warranties of CPRE contained in this Agreement shall be true, complete and correct in all material respects on the Closing Date as if made at and as of the Closing Date.

     8.3 Closing Deliveries. All of the closing deliveries of CPRE under Section 2.5(b) shall have been delivered to TRM and the Purchasing Insurers.

     8.4 Injunction and Litigation. There shall be no effective injunction, writ, preliminary restraining order or any other order or legal restraint or prohibition of any nature issued by a Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction or any pending Litigation that seeks to prohibit or enjoin the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements.

     8.5 Closing of the Stock Purchase Agreement. The closing of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement shall have occurred in accordance with the Stock Purchase Agreement and the related disclosure schedules and exhibits thereto.

ARTICLE 9
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATION OF CPRE TO CLOSE

     The obligations of CPRE to consummate the Closing under this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing of the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived by CPRE in writing:

     9.1 Governmental Approvals. All Required Approvals shall have been obtained and be in full force and effect and CPRE shall have been furnished with appropriate evidence, reasonably satisfactory to it and its counsel, of the granting of the Required Approvals.

     9.2 Representations, Warranties and Covenants. (a) TRM and the Purchasing Insurers shall have performed, and shall have caused the relevant Tower Entities to perform, in

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all material respects all of their respective obligations under this Agreement required to be performed by them on or prior to the Closing Date; and (b) the representations and warranties of TRM and the Purchasing Insurers contained in this Agreement shall be true, complete and correct in all material respects on the Closing Date as if made at and as of the Closing Date.

     9.3 Closing Deliveries. All of the closing deliveries of TRM and the Purchasing Insurers under Section 2.5(a) shall have been delivered to CPRE.

     9.4 Payment to CPRE. CPRE shall have received the Purchase Price in accordance with Section 2.7.

     9.5 Injunction and Litigation. There shall be no effective injunction, writ, preliminary restraining order or any other order or legal restraint or prohibition of any nature issued by a Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction or any pending Litigation that seeks to prohibit or enjoin the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements.

     9.6 Closing of the Stock Purchase Agreement. The closing of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement shall have occurred in accordance with the Stock Purchase Agreement and the related disclosure schedules and exhibits thereto.

ARTICLE 10
TERMINATION PRIOR TO CLOSING

     10.1 Termination of Agreement. This Agreement may be terminated as follows:

          (a) by CPRE, TRM or the Purchasing Insurers, by written notice to the other Parties, if there shall be in effect a final nonappealable order, writ, injunction or decree of any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction binding on any of the Parties that prohibits, restrains or enjoins any of the Parties from consummating the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 10.1(a) shall not be available to a Party if such order, writ, injunction or decree resulted from the failure of such Party to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement;

          (b) by CPRE, TRM or the Purchasing Insurers, by written notice to the other Parties, if the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have not been consummated on or prior to April 1, 2011 (the “Termination Date”); provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 10.1(b) shall not be available to a Party if the failure of the Closing to occur prior to the such date resulted from the failure of such Party to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement;

          (c) by TRM or the Purchasing Insurers, by written notice to CPRE, if a material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of CPRE, any CPRE Entity or, following the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement, any member of the HIG Group, set forth in this Agreement shall have occurred that would cause any of the conditions set forth in Article 8 not to be satisfied, and such breach is incapable of being cured or, if capable of being cured, shall not have been cured within sixty (60)

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calendar days following receipt by CPRE of notice of such breach from TRM or the Purchasing Insurers;

          (d) by CPRE, by written notice to TRM and the Purchasing Insurers, if a material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of TRM, any of the Purchasing Insurers or any Tower Entity set forth in this Agreement shall have occurred which would cause any of the conditions set forth in Article 9 not to be satisfied, and such breach is incapable of being cured or, if capable of being cured, shall not have been cured within sixty (60) calendar days following receipt by TRM and the Purchasing Insurers of notice of such breach from CPRE;

          (e) upon the termination of the Stock Purchase Agreement in accordance with the Stock Purchase Agreement and the related disclosure schedules and exhibits thereto; or

          (f) at any time prior to the Closing by mutual written consent of the Parties.

     10.2 Survival Upon Termination. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10.1 hereof, this Agreement will become null and void and of no force and effect, except for Article 12, which shall survive such termination, provided that, no Party shall be relieved or released from any Liabilities arising or resulting directly from any breach of this Agreement.

ARTICLE 11
SURVIVAL; INDEMNIFICATION

     11.1 Survival. All covenants, undertakings and agreements contained in this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements or any document, certificate, schedule or instrument delivered or executed in connection herewith or therewith to be performed or complied with after the Closing Date shall survive for the period of eighteen months following the Closing; provided that the applicable Parties’ obligation to provide indemnification under Sections 11.2(a)(ii), 11.2(a)(iii), 11.2(a)(iv), and, with respect to the foregoing, 11.2(a)(v), and Sections 11.3(a)(ii), 11.3(a)(iii), 11.3(a)(iv) and, with respect to the foregoing, 11.3(a)(v), shall survive indefinitely. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if prior to the close of business on the last day of the aforementioned eighteen month period, an Indemnified Party shall have been properly notified of a claim for indemnity hereunder and such claim shall not have been finally resolved or disposed of at such date, such claim shall continue to survive and shall remain a basis for indemnity hereunder until such claim is finally resolved or disposed of in accordance with the terms hereof.

     11.2 Indemnification by CPRE.

          (a) Indemnification. From and after the Closing, subject to the remainder of this Article 11, CPRE shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Tower Entity, including TRM and the Purchasing Insurers, and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, Representatives, successors and permitted assigns (collectively, the “Purchaser Indemnified Parties”) from and against any and all damages, losses, charges, deficiencies, liabilities, obligations, claims, judgments, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and reasonable expenses of investigation in connection with any action, suit or

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proceeding) (collectively, “Loss” or “Losses”) to which any of them become subject, arising or resulting from:

               (i) any material breach by CPRE of any representation or warranty contained in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement;

               (ii) any material breach by CPRE, any CPRE Entity or any member of the HIG Group of any covenant made by it in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement to which such Person is a party;

               (iii) any of the Excluded Assets or their use;

               (iv) any of the Excluded Liabilities or their use; and

               (v) the enforcement of their rights under this Section 11.2.

          (b) Limitation.

               (i) Notwithstanding the foregoing, CPRE shall not be liable under this Section 11.2 unless the total aggregate amount of Losses with respect to all such claims or matters exceeds $50,000 and then only to the extent of such excess. The maximum amount of CPRE’s collective and aggregate liability under Section 11.2(a) shall in no event exceed the Purchase Price. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 11.2(b), CPRE’s obligation to provide indemnification under Sections 11.2(a)(iii) and 11.2(a)(iv), and, with respect to the foregoing, 11.2(a)(v), shall not be subject to any basket, deductible, cap or other similar limitation.

               (ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 11.2, none of the Purchaser Indemnified Parties shall be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 11.2 to the extent that (i) Losses result from acts, omissions or conduct of any Purchaser Indemnified Party, unless such acts, omissions or conduct were committed at the written direction of CPRE, or (ii) such Loss is also a Loss for which the CPRE Indemnified Parties are indemnified pursuant to Section 11.3 of this Agreement. Each of TRM and the Purchaser Insurers acknowledges that none of CPRE, the Selling Insurers, or any of their Affiliates shall be deemed to have guaranteed the profitability of the Business, Transferred Assets, or any transaction contemplated under this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, or any volume of sales, and no indemnification shall arise based on an assertion of such a guarantee of profitability or volume of sales.

     11.3 Indemnification by the Purchasing Insurers.

          (a) Indemnification. From and after the Closing, subject to the remainder of this Article 11, each of TRM and the Purchasing Insurers, jointly and severally, shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless CPRE, the CPRE Entities, the members of the HIG Group, including the Selling Insurers, and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, Representatives, successors and permitted assigns (collectively, the “CPRE Indemnified Parties”) from and against any and all Losses to which any of them become subject, arising or resulting from:

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               (i) any material breach by any of TRM and the Purchasing Insurers of any representation or warranty contained in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement;

               (ii) any material breach by any Tower Entity, including TRM and the Purchasing Insurers, of any covenant made by any of them in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement to which such Person is a party;

               (iii) any of the Transferred Assets or their use;

               (iv) any of the Assumed Liabilities; and

               (v) the enforcement of their rights under this Section 11.3.

          (b) Limitation.

               (i) Notwithstanding the foregoing, TRM and the Purchasing Insurers shall not be liable under this Section 11.3 unless the total aggregate amount of Losses with respect to all such claims or matters exceeds $50,000 and then only to the extent of such excess. The maximum amount of TRM’s and the Purchasing Insurers’ collective and aggregate liability under Section 11.3(a) shall in no event exceed the Purchase Price. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 11.3(b), TRM’s and the Purchasing Insurers’ obligation to provide indemnification under Sections 11.3(a)(iii), 11.3(a)(iv) and, with respect to the foregoing, 11.3(a)(v), shall not be subject to any basket, deductible, cap or other similar limitation.

               (ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 11.3, none of the CPRE Indemnified Parties shall be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 11.3 to the extent that (a) Losses result from acts, omissions or conduct of any CPRE Indemnified Party, unless such acts, omissions or conduct were committed at the written direction of TRM or any of the Purchasing Insurers, or (b) such Loss is also a Loss for which the Purchaser Indemnified Parties are indemnified pursuant to Section 11.2 of this Agreement. CPRE acknowledges that none of TRM, the Purchasing Insurers, or any of their Affiliates shall be deemed to have guaranteed the profitability of the Excluded Assets or any volume of sales, and no indemnification shall arise based on an assertion of such a guarantee of profitability or volume of sales.

     11.4 Inter-Party Claims. Any Party seeking indemnification pursuant to this Article 11 (the “Indemnified Party”) shall notify the other Party or Parties from whom such indemnification is sought (the “Indemnifying Party”) of the Indemnified Party’s assertion of such claim for indemnification, specifying in reasonable detail the basis of such claim and including documents that evidence or support such claim or the act, omission or occurrence giving rise to such claim.

     11.5 Third Party Claims.

          (a) Each Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Indemnifying Party of the assertion by any third party of any claim with respect to which the indemnification

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set forth in this Article 11 relates (which shall also constitute the notice required by Section 11.4). Failure to timely notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve such Person from its obligations under this Article 11, except to the extent the Indemnifying Party shall have been prejudiced by such failure. The Indemnifying Party shall have the right, upon notice to the Indemnified Party within ten business days after the receipt of any such notice, to undertake the defense of such claim with counsel of the Indemnifying Party’s choice and with the cooperation of the Indemnified Parties. The Indemnifying Party shall not, without the Indemnified Party’s prior written consent (which will not be unreasonably withheld), settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim in respect of which indemnification under this Article 11 is being sought, unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each Indemnified Party from all Liability arising or resulting from such claim. The failure of the Indemnifying Party to give such notice and to undertake the defense of or to settle or compromise such a claim shall constitute a waiver of the Indemnifying Party’s rights to assume the defense of such claim under this Section 11.5(a). No Indemnified Party shall, without the Indemnifying Party’s prior written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgments in any pending or threatened claim in respect of which indemnification under this Article 11 is being sought.

          (b) The election by the Indemnifying Party, pursuant to Section 11.5(a), to undertake the defense of a third party claim shall not preclude the Party against which such claim has been made also from participating or continuing to participate in such defense, so long as such Party bears its own legal fees and expenses for so doing.

     11.6 Exclusive Remedy. The Parties hereto expressly acknowledge that (i) except as otherwise expressly provided in Sections 10.2 and 12.14, the provisions of this Article 11 shall be the sole and exclusive remedy for Losses caused as a result of any breach of any representation or warranty or any breach, nonfulfillment or default in the performance of any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, other than claims based on fraud, and (ii) no Indemnifying Party shall be liable for consequential, indirect, punitive or treble Losses in connection with any action, suit or proceeding brought by any Party, or for any Losses based on either the reduced current or future profitability or earnings of any transaction contemplated herein or in any Ancillary Agreement, including the Business, Transferred Assets, and Excluded Assets based on a multiple of such profitability, earnings or other factor, or reduction therein (it being understood that all Losses will for purposes of this Article 11 be determined and calculated on a direct, dollar-for-dollar basis), other than any such Losses paid to a third party in a third party claim. Any liability for indemnification hereunder will be determined without duplication of recovery by reason of the state of facts giving rise to such liability constituting a breach of more than one representation, warranty, covenant or agreement.

     11.7 Calculation of Losses. The amount of any Losses for which indemnification is provided under this Article 11 shall be net of any amounts actually recovered by the Indemnified Parties under insurance policies or other collateral sources (such as contractual indemnities of any Person that are outside of this Agreement, e.g., the Stock Purchase Agreement) or otherwise with respect to such Losses (net of any Tax or expenses incurred in connection with such recovery). Each Party will use its commercially reasonable efforts to recover under insurance

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policies or other collateral sources (including the Stock Purchase Agreement) for any Losses prior to seeking indemnification under this Agreement.

ARTICLE 12
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     12.1 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements constitute the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersede any and all prior oral or written understandings, agreements or negotiations, between or among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. No prior writings by or among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof may be used by any Party in connection with the interpretation of any provision of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements. In the event of a conflict between this Agreement and any Exhibit or schedule, or between the provisions of this Agreement and any Ancillary Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall control.

     12.2 Assignment; Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of the Parties except as otherwise provided in this Agreement. No Party shall assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder or, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, delegate any of their respective duties and obligations hereunder, without the prior written consent of the other Parties; provided, however, that (i) TRM and the Purchasing Insurers may assign their rights and obligations to acquire the Transferred Assets and to assume the Assumed Liabilities to any Tower Entity, and (ii) CPRE may assign its rights to receive the Purchase Price under Section 2.7(a), to any Person, in each case with prior notice to, but without obtaining the consent of, the other Parties. Any attempted assignment or delegation in violation of this Section 12.2 shall be void.

     12.3 Status of Parties.

          (a) No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements are solely among the Parties hereto, as applicable, and are not intended to create any right or legal relationship, express or implied, among the Parties or any of their respective Affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, Representatives, successors or permitted assigns, on the one hand, and any third party, including any Policyholder or Person covered under any Insurance Contract, on the other hand; provided, however, that the Purchaser Indemnified Parties and the CPRE Indemnified Parties are expressly intended to be third party beneficiaries under this Agreement.

          (b) Independent Contractors. Each of the Parties and their respective Affiliates shall be deemed to be an independent contractor as to the others for all purposes. Neither this Agreement nor the Ancillary Agreements shall be construed (i) to create the relationship of employer and employee among the Parties hereto or between any Party and any of the officers, directors, employees, or Representatives of any other Party, (ii) to create a partnership or joint venture among the Parties hereto, or (iii) to authorize any Party to act as a general or special agent of any other Party, except as may be specifically set forth herein. No Party shall in any manner be prevented or bound to refrain from engaging in any business or

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businesses of any kind or nature, or owning or dealing in securities of any entity or making any investments of any kind, or performing services for any other person, firm, or entity.

          (c) Authority to Act. None of the Parties or their respective Affiliates shall have or be deemed to have authority to act on behalf of the other Parties.

     12.4 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid, illegal, unenforceable, or in conflict with the Applicable Law of any jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect. Any provision of this Agreement held invalid or unenforceable only in part or degree will remain in full force and effect to the extent not held invalid or unenforceable.

     12.5 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and its provisions interpreted under and in accordance with the internal Laws of the state of New York, without giving effect to principles of conflict or choice of laws of that or any other jurisdiction.

     12.6 Waiver of Jury Trial. Subject to Section 12.14, each of the Parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or related to this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

     12.7 Interpretation. This Agreement shall be governed by the following rules of interpretation: (a) when a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section, or Exhibit, such reference shall be to an Article of, a Section of, Schedule to, or Exhibit to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated; (b) the headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement; (c) whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation;” (d) the words “hereof,” “herein” and “herewith” and words of similar import will, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement (including the Schedules and Exhibits) as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (e) where a word or phrase is defined herein, each of its other grammatical forms will have a corresponding meaning; (f) whenever the singular is used herein, the same shall include the plural, and whenever the plural is used herein, the same shall include the singular, where appropriate; and (g) references to currency or amounts due shall mean United States dollars.

     12.8 Construction. The Parties have participated, directly or indirectly, in the negotiations and preparation of this Agreement. In no event shall this Agreement be construed more or less stringently against any Party by reason of another Party being construed as the principal drafting Party hereto.

     12.9 Transfer Taxes. TRM and the Purchasing Insurers shall be solely responsible for and pay in a timely manner all transfer, premium, sales, use, value added, stamp, documentary, gross receipts, registration, conveyance, excise, recording, license and other similar Taxes and fees, if any, arising out of, or in connection with, or attributable to the, assignment or transfer of the Transferred Assets pursuant to this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements, but excluding the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement (“Transfer Taxes”).

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CPRE shall prepare and file, or cause to be prepared and filed, all Tax Returns and other documentation required with respect to the Transfer Taxes and shall present such Tax Returns to TRM for its consent. If required by Applicable Law, each of TRM and the Purchasing Insurers shall join in the execution of any such Tax Returns and other documentation as reasonably requested by CPRE.

     12.10 Communications. The Parties shall jointly agree upon press releases and agent communications to be distributed with respect to the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, except as may be required by Applicable Law.

     12.11 Notices. Except as set for in this paragraph, all notices hereunder shall be made in writing and shall be effective upon delivery, which shall be made (1) by hand delivery, (2) by registered or certified United States mail, postage prepaid with return receipt requested, (3) by a nationally-recognized overnight courier service, to the addresses set forth below, or to such other address as any Party may request by giving written notice to the other Parties. A Party may also provide notice by electronic means (such as email or facsimile) or telephone in cases when immediate notice is required so long as the Party giving notice delivers separate written notice to be delivered within 24 hours. Notices shall be made in each case to the following addresses:

     If to TRM or the Purchasing Insurers:

Francis M. Colalucci
c/o Tower Group, Inc.
31^st Floor
120 Broadway
New York, NY 10271

If to CPRE:

CastlePoint Reinsurance Company, Ltd.
Joel S. Weiner
Victoria Hall
11 Victoria Road
Hamilton HM 11 Bermuda

     12.12 Waiver of Compliance. The failure by any Party to insist upon strict compliance with any condition of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of such condition. Waiver by one Party to this Agreement of any obligation of another Party to this Agreement must be in writing and shall not constitute a waiver of any further or other obligation of such Party.

     12.13 Expenses. TRM and the Purchasing Insurers shall pay the first $750,000 of the legal, accounting (including tax accounting) and actuarial fees and expenses payable to third party service providers of the Tower Entities and the CPRE Entities incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements, as well as payment of such fees and expenses incurred by such Persons in drafting, negotiating, and closing the Stock Purchase Agreement and transactions contemplated therein and, thereafter, TRM and the Purchasing Insurers, on the one hand, and CPRE, on the other hand, shall bear one half of

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such fees and expenses; provided that TRM and the Purchasing Insurers shall bear 100% of any and all such expenses payable to Lazard Frères & Co. LLC, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and Swainbrook LLC and CPRE shall bear 100% of any and all such expenses payable to Goldman, Sachs & Co., Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. All other costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements, or the Stock Purchase Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be paid by the Person incurring such cost or expense.

     12.14 Arbitration.

          (a) If any dispute arises between the Parties with reference to the formation, interpretation, performance, or breach of this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements, such dispute, if not resolved by the Parties, must be submitted to non-binding mediation. If such dispute is not resolved by non-binding mediation within sixty (60) days it shall be finally settled by arbitration by a panel of three arbitrators in accordance with this Section 12.14. Notice requesting arbitration will be in accordance with Section 12.11. The arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the Rules of Arbitration of the American Arbitration Association in effect at the time of the arbitration, except as they may be modified herein or by mutual agreement of the Parties.

          (b) One arbitrator shall be chosen by each Party and the two arbitrators shall, before commencing the arbitration hearing, choose an impartial third arbitrator who shall preside at the hearing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this section 12.14(b), in the event that more than one of TRM and/or the Purchasing Insurers is involved in an arbitration, TRM and/or the Purchasing Insurers involved shall collectively be entitled to chose only one arbitrator. If either Party fails for any reason to appoint its arbitrator within thirty (30) days after being requested to do so by the other Party, the latter, after ten (10) days notice of its intention to do so, may appoint the second arbitrator. If the two arbitrators are unable to agree upon the third arbitrator within thirty (30) days of their appointment, the third arbitrator shall be selected from a list of six individuals (three named by each arbitrator) by a judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, or if that court declines to act, the state court in such area having general jurisdiction.

          (c) All arbitrators shall be active or retired disinterested officials of insurance or reinsurance companies not under the control or management of either Party to this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements and will not have personal or financial interests in the result of the arbitration.

          (d) Within thirty (30) days after notice of appointment of all arbitrators, the panel shall meet and determine timely periods for briefs, discovery procedures, and schedules for hearings.

          (e) Arbitration shall take place in New York, New York. Insofar as the arbitration panel looks to substantive law, it shall consider the law of the State of New York without giving effect to the choice of law or conflict of law provisions of that or any other jurisdiction. The decision of any two arbitrators shall be rendered in writing and shall be final and binding. The panel is empowered to grant interim relief as it may deem appropriate.

32

          (f) Judgment upon the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

          (g) Punitive damages will not be awarded. The arbitrators may, however, at their discretion award such other costs and expenses as they deem appropriate, including attorneys’ fees, the cost of arbitration, and arbitrators’ fees, to the extent permitted by law.

          (h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, including the remainder of this Section 12.14, it is understood and agreed that any breach of the terms of this Agreement would give rise to irreparable harm for which money damages would not be an adequate remedy and accordingly the Parties agree that in the event of any breach or threatened breach, a Party may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for, and shall be entitled to, injunctive relief from such court, without the requirement of posting a bond or proof of the inadequacy of monetary damages, designed to cure existing breaches and to prevent a future occurrence or threatened future occurrence of like breaches of this Agreement on the part of any other Party. It is further understood and agreed that the remedies and recourses herein provided shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other remedy or recourse which is available to a Party either at law or in equity in the absence of this paragraph, including the right to damages.

     12.15 Confidentiality. Except upon receipt of the prior written consent of the other Parties, each Party will hold, and will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause its Affiliates, and their respective Representatives to hold, in strict confidence from any Person (other than any such Affiliates or Representatives) all documents and information concerning any other Party or any of its Affiliates furnished to the other Parties or Representatives in connection with this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein or therein, except to the extent that such documents or information can be shown to have been (a) previously known by the Party receiving such documents or information, (b) in the public domain (either prior to or after the furnishing of such documents or information hereunder) through no fault of such receiving Party, (c) later acquired by the receiving Party from another source if the receiving Party is not aware that such source is under an obligation or duty to the disclosing Party to keep such documents and information confidential, (d) compelled or required to be disclosed by judicial or administrative process (including in connection with obtaining the Required Approvals) or by other requirements of Applicable Law or the rules of any securities market or exchange, or (e) disclosed in an action or proceeding brought by a Party in pursuit of its rights or in the exercise of its remedies hereunder, provided that, following the Closing, the foregoing restrictions will not apply to the use by any Tower Entity of documents and information to the extent relating to the Assumed Liabilities, the Employee Group or the Transferred Assets.

     12.16 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each Party hereto and delivered to the other Parties hereto.

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     12.17 Amendment; Modification. No amendment, modification or discharge of this Agreement shall be valid or binding unless set forth in writing and duly executed by the Party against whom enforcement of the amendment, modification or discharge is sought.

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized officers of the parties hereto as of the date first written above.

CASTLEPOINT REINSURANCE COMPANY, LTD.
By:	/s/ Joel S. Weiner
Name:	Joel S. Weiner
Title:	Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
TOWER INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
By:	/s/ Francis M. Colalucci
Name:	Francis M. Colalucci
Title:	Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
TOWER NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY
By:	/s/ Francis M. Colalucci
Name:	Francis M. Colalucci
Title:	Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
PRESERVER INSURANCE COMPANY
By:	/s/ Patrick J. Haveron
Name:	Patrick J. Haveron
Title:	Chief Executive Officer
MOUNTAIN VALLEY INSURANCE COMPANY
By:	/s/ Patrick J. Haveron
Name:	Patrick J. Haveron
Title:	Chief Executive Officer
NORTHEAST INSURANCE COMPANY
By:	/s/ Patrick J. Haveron
Name:	Patrick J. Haveron
Title:	Chief Executive Officer
TOWER RISK MANAGEMENT CORP.
By:	/s/ Francis M. Colalucci
Name:	Francis M. Colalucci
Title:	Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

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EXHIBIT A

EXCLUDED ASSETS

Cash & invested assets

All insurance certificates of authority, qualifications, licenses, permits and authorizations issued by any Governmental Authority, which certificates of authority, qualifications, licenses, permits and authorizations are held or owned by a Selling Insurer or pursuant to which a Selling Insurer is entitled to own its assets and conduct its businesses.

 

All certificates of authority, qualifications, licenses, permits and authorizations issued by any Governmental Authority (“Licenses”), which Licenses are held or owned by a member of the HIG Group other than the Selling Insurers or pursuant to which such member is entitled to own its assets and conduct its businesses; provided, however, that the Licenses shall  not include those Licenses (a)  to the extent required for TRM and the Purchasing Insurers to take title to the Transferred Assets or to use such assets in their respective businesses following Closing, (b) not required for such member to own its assets and conduct its business after giving effect to the transfer of the Transferred Assets to TRM and the Purchasing Insurers and other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (c) that may be transferred under Applicable Law.

Accrued interest income

Premiums receivable

Assumed reinsurance receivable

Deferred premiums

Reinsurance recoverable

Current federal income taxes

Deferred income tax asset

Guaranty funds receivable

Receivable from parent, subsidiaries & affiliates

     All agreements with American Resources Insurance Company or ARIC Investment, Inc., all amounts due thereunder or in connection therewith and all rights arising therefrom, including without limitation the following:

     Bulk Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement dated July 31, 2008 by and between Kodiak Insurance Company and American Resources Insurance Company.

36

     Non-Solicitation Agreement dated August 13, 2008 by and among Hermitage Insurance Company, Kodiak Insurance Company, ARIC Investment, Inc. and American Resources Insurance Company.

     Interim Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement dated December 20, 2007 by and between Hermitage Insurance Company and American Resources Insurance Company.

     Service Agreement dated as of March 27, 2008 by and between American Resources Insurance Company and American Resources Insurance Consultants, LLC.

     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Schedule, furniture and equipment; EDP equipment; software assets (including licenses); and real property leases are not Excluded Assets.

37

EXHIBIT B

FORM OF CASTLEPOINT GUARANTEE

GUARANTEE

     Guarantee, dated as of [                    ], 2008 (this “Guarantee”), by CastlePoint Holdings, Ltd., a Bermuda corporation (the “Guarantor”), in favor of Tower Insurance Company of New York, a New York corporation (“TICNY”), Tower National Insurance Company, a Massachusetts corporation (“TNIC”), Preserver Insurance Company, a New Jersey corporation (“PIC”), Mountain Valley Insurance Company, a New Hampshire corporation (“MVIC”), Northeast Insurance Company, a Maine corporation (“NIC”), and Tower Risk Management Corp., a New York corporation (“TRM,” and, together with TICNY, TNIC, PIC, MVIC and NIC, the “Companies”).

     1. Guarantee. To induce the Companies to enter into that certain Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of August ___, 2008 (the “Asset Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Companies, and CastlePoint Reinsurance Company, Ltd., a Bermuda corporation (the “Guaranteed Entity”), the Guarantor hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees the due and punctual payment of all respective amounts due and payable by the Guaranteed Entity under the Asset Purchase Agreement, if and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms of and subject to the conditions contained in the Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Obligations”). This is a guarantee of payment and not of collection. Capitalized terms used herein without definition have the meanings set forth for such terms in the Asset Purchase Agreement.

     If for any reason whatsoever the Guaranteed Entity shall fail or be unable to perform or comply with any of the Obligations, the Guarantor will promptly upon receipt of notice thereof from any of the Companies pay or cause to be paid in lawful money of the United States the unpaid Obligations then due and payable (in the amounts and to the extent required of the Guaranteed Entity under the Asset Purchase Agreement).

     2. Changes in Obligations. The Guarantor agrees that the Companies or any Person entitled to payment under the Asset Purchase Agreement (collectively, the “Beneficiaries”) may at any time and from time to time, without notice to or further consent of the Guarantor, extend the time for payment of the Obligations owed to such Beneficiary, and may also make any agreement with the Guaranteed Entity for the extension, renewal, payment, compromise, discharge or release thereof, in whole or in part, or for any modification of the terms thereof or of any agreement between such Beneficiary and the Guaranteed Entity without in any way impairing or affecting this Guarantee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Guarantee, each Beneficiary may only exercise rights hereunder with respect to Obligations owed to that Beneficiary; provided, however, that TRM may and is hereby authorized to exercise all rights under this Guarantee on behalf of each Beneficiary.

     3. Extent of Liability; Availability of Defenses. Except as provided herein or in the Asset Purchase Agreement, the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder shall not be greater than the Obligations (without giving effect to any change in such obligations as a result of any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement or other similar proceedings involving the Guaranteed Entity) and, therefore, performance by the Guarantor of the Obligations shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as would apply to performance by the Guaranteed Entity of the Obligations and the Guarantor shall be entitled to assert any defense to such

performance that the Guaranteed Entity would be entitled to so assert (other than a defense that results from any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement or other similar proceedings involving the Guaranteed Entity). Upon any default of the Guaranteed Entity under the Asset Purchase Agreement, the Beneficiaries, as applicable, may, without first proceeding against the Guaranteed Entity, proceed directly against the Guarantor after giving notice as required hereby and by the Asset Purchase Agreement to collect and recover the full amount or any portion of or to secure the performance of the Obligations and/or Guarantor’s obligations hereunder with respect to such Beneficiary.

     4. Waivers. Except for any demand and notice required hereby or by the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement, the Guarantor hereby waives and agrees not to assert or take advantage of any defenses based upon diligence, protest, notice of discharge, notice of acceptance of this Agreement, indulgences, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of receivership or bankruptcy of the Guaranteed Entity, and all other notices and demands whatsoever. The Guarantor agrees that this Guarantee will not be discharged, except by complete performance and indefeasible satisfaction and discharge in full of the Obligations. The Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive substantial direct and indirect benefits from the transactions contemplated by the Asset Purchase Agreement and that the waivers set forth in this Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

     5. Offsets. The Guarantor hereby waives and agrees not to assert or take advantage of any rights or defenses based upon any right of offset or claimed offset by the Guarantor against any obligation now or hereafter owed to the Guarantor by the Guaranteed Entity, any of the Beneficiaries, or any of the Tower Entities.

     6. Subrogation. The Guarantor hereby agrees to refrain from exercising any and all rights of subrogation, reimbursement, indemnity, exoneration, contribution or any other claim which the Guarantor may now or hereafter have against the Guaranteed Entity arising out of the existence or performance of this Guarantee for so long as any matured Obligation is outstanding and has not been indefeasibly satisfied and discharged in full.

     7. Bankruptcy. The Guarantor’s obligations hereunder shall not be altered, limited or affected by any proceeding, voluntary or involuntary, involving the bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, reorganization, liquidation or arrangement of the Guaranteed Entity, or by any defense which the Guaranteed Entity may have by reason of the order, decree or decision of any court or administrative body resulting from any such proceeding.

     8. Representations and Warranties. The Guarantor hereby represents and warrants that:

          (a) the Guarantor has full power and authority to enter into this Guarantee and to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby and the execution, delivery and performance of this Guarantee have been duly authorized by all necessary action;

          (b) all consents, approvals authorizations, permits or filings with and notifications to, any governmental or regulatory body, agency, authority or official necessary for the due execution, delivery and performance of this Guarantee by the Guarantor have been

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obtained or made and all conditions thereof have been duly complied with, and no other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental or regulatory body, agency, authority or official is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Guarantee;

          (c) this Guarantee constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor enforceable against the Guarantor in accordance with its terms, subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, except as specifically provided herein, and (ii) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);

          (d) none of the execution, delivery and performance of this Guarantee by the Guarantor will, with or without the giving of notice or the passage of time, or both, conflict with, result in a default or right to accelerate or loss of rights under, any provision of its organizational documents or any franchise, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, license, agreement, understanding, law, ordinance, rule or regulation or any order, judgment or decree to which it is a party or by which it may be bound or affected; and

          (e) there is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding pending against, or to the knowledge of the Guarantor, threatened against or affecting, the Guarantor or any of its properties before any court or arbitrator or any governmental or regulatory body, agency, authority or official which in any manner challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin or alter the transactions contemplated by this Guarantee or which would have a material and adverse effect on the ability of the Guarantor to perform its obligations hereunder.

     9. No Assignment. This Guarantee shall not be assigned by operation of Law or otherwise.

     10. Notices. Except as set forth in this paragraph, all notices hereunder shall be made in writing and shall be effective upon delivery, which shall be made (i) by hand delivery, (ii) by registered or certified United States mail, postage prepaid with return receipt requested or (iii) by a nationally-recognized overnight courier service, to the addresses set forth below, or to such other address as the Guarantor or the Companies may request by giving written notice to the other party hereto. The Guarantor or Companies may also provide notice by electronic means (such as email or facsimile) or telephone in cases when immediate notice is required so long as it delivers separate written notice to be delivered within 24 hours. Notices shall be made in each case to the following addresses:

If to the Guarantor:

CastlePoint Holdings, Ltd.
Joel S. Weiner
Victoria Hall
11 Victoria Road
Hamilton HM 11 Bermuda

If to any of the Companies:

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Francis M. Colalucci
c/o Tower Group, Inc.
31st Floor
120 Broadway
New York, NY 10271

     11. Continuing Guarantee. This Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and shall be binding on the Guarantor, its successors and assigns until the complete performance and indefeasible satisfaction and discharge in full of the Obligations and the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder.

     12. Amendments and Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Guarantee will be valid and binding unless it is in writing and signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Guarantor and the Companies, or in the case of waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective.

     13. Third Party Beneficiaries. No party other than the Companies shall have any rights under this Guarantee, and there shall be no third party beneficiaries of this Guarantee, except that the Purchaser Indemnified Parties are expressly intended as third-party beneficiaries hereunder. Recourse against the Guarantor under this Guarantee shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of the Companies, all of their subsidiaries and stockholders, and the Beneficiaries, against the Guarantor in respect of any liabilities or obligations arising under, or in connection with, the Asset Purchase Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby.

     14. Governing Law. This Guarantee shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the conflict or choice of law provisions of that or any other jurisdiction that would give rise to the application of the domestic substantive law of any other jurisdiction.

     15. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS GUARANTEE OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

     16. Arbitration.

          (a) If any dispute arises between, and is not resolved by, the Guarantor, on the one hand, and any of the Companies or any Beneficiaries, on the other, with reference to the formation, interpretation, performance, or breach of this Guarantee, such dispute, must be submitted to non-binding mediation. If such dispute is not resolved by non-binding mediation within sixty (60) days it shall be finally settled by arbitration by a panel of three arbitrators in accordance with this Section 16. Notice requesting arbitration will be in accordance with Section 10 hereof. The arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the Rules of Arbitration of the American Arbitration Association in effect at the time of the arbitration, except as they may be modified herein or by mutual agreement of the Guarantor and the applicable Companies and Beneficiaries.

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          (b) One arbitrator shall be chosen by each of the Guarantor, on the one hand, and the applicable Companies and Beneficiaries, on the other hand, and the two arbitrators shall, before commencing the arbitration hearing, choose an impartial third arbitrator who shall preside at the hearing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this section 16(b), in the event that more than one Company and/or Beneficiary is involved in an arbitration, the Companies and/or Beneficiaries involved shall collectively be entitled to chose only one arbitrator. If either the Guarantor or the applicable Companies and Beneficiaries fails for any reason to appoint its arbitrator within thirty (30) days after being requested to do so by the other, the latter, after ten (10) days notice of its intention to do so, may appoint the second arbitrator. If the two arbitrators are unable to agree upon the third arbitrator within thirty (30) days of their appointment, the third arbitrator shall be selected from a list of six individuals (three named by each arbitrator) by a judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, or if that court declines to act, the state court in such area having general jurisdiction.

          (c) All arbitrators shall be active or retired disinterested officials of insurance or reinsurance companies not under the control or management of either the Guarantor or the Companies and will not have personal or financial interests in the result of the arbitration.

          (d) Within thirty (30) days after notice of appointment of all arbitrators, the panel shall meet and determine timely periods for briefs, discovery procedures, and schedules for hearings.

          (e) Arbitration shall take place in New York, New York. Insofar as the arbitration panel looks to substantive law, it shall consider the law of the State of New York without giving effect to the choice of law or conflict of law provisions of that or any other jurisdiction. The decision of any two arbitrators shall be rendered in writing and shall be final and binding. The panel is empowered to grant interim relief as it may deem appropriate.

          (f) Judgment upon the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

          (g) Punitive damages will not be awarded. The arbitrators may, however, at their discretion award such other costs and expenses as they deem appropriate, including attorneys’ fees, the cost of arbitration, and arbitrators’ fees, to the extent permitted by law.

     17. Counterparts. This Guarantee may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

     18. Entire Agreement. This Guarantee constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes any and all prior discussions, negotiations, proposals, undertakings, understandings and agreements, whether written or oral, between the Guarantor and the Companies with respect to the subject matter hereof.

[signature pages follow]

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EXHIBIT B

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Guarantee to be executed and delivered as of the date first written above by its officer thereunto duly authorized.

CASTLEPOINT HOLDINGS, LTD.
By:
	Name:
	Title:
ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED: TOWER INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
By:
	Name:
	Title:
TOWER NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY
By:
	Name:
	Title:
PRESERVER INSURANCE COMPANY
By:
	Name:
	Title:
MOUNTAIN VALLEY INSURANCE COMPANY
By:
	Name:
	Title:
NORTHEAST INSURANCE COMPANY

[Signature Page to Guarantee, 1 of 2]

By:
	Name:
	Title:
TOWER RISK MANAGEMENT COMPANY
By:
	Name:
	Title:

[Signature Page to Guarantee, 2 of 2]
Guarantee

EXHIBIT C

FORM OF TOWER GUARANTY

GUARANTEE

     Guarantee, dated as of [                    ], 2008 (this “Guarantee”), by Tower Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Guarantor”), in favor of CastlePoint Reinsurance Company, Ltd., a Bermuda corporation (the “Company”).

     1. Guarantee. To induce the Company to enter into that certain Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of August ___, 2008 (the “Asset Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Company, Tower Insurance Company of New York, a New York corporation (“TICNY”), Tower National Insurance Company, a Massachusetts corporation (“TNIC”), Preserver Insurance Company, a New Jersey corporation (“PIC”), Mountain Valley Insurance Company, a New Hampshire corporation (“MVIC”), Northeast Insurance Company, a Maine corporation (“NIC”), and Tower Risk Management Corp., a New York corporation (“TRM,” and, together with TICNY, TNIC, PIC, MVIC and NIC, the “Guaranteed Entities”), the Guarantor hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees the due and punctual payment of all respective amounts due and payable by any of the Guaranteed Entities under the Asset Purchase Agreement, if and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms of and subject to the conditions contained in the Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Obligations”). This is a guarantee of payment and not of collection. Capitalized terms used herein without definition have the meanings set forth for such terms in the Asset Purchase Agreement.

     If for any reason whatsoever any of the Guaranteed Entities shall fail or be unable to perform or comply with any of the Obligations, the Guarantor will promptly upon receipt of notice thereof from the Company pay or cause to be paid in lawful money of the United States the unpaid Obligations then due and payable (in the amounts and to the extent required of such Guaranteed Entity under the Asset Purchase Agreement).

     2. Changes in Obligations. The Guarantor agrees that the Company or any Person entitled to payment under the Asset Purchase Agreement (collectively, the “Beneficiaries”) may at any time and from time to time, without notice to or further consent of the Guarantor, extend the time for payment of the Obligations owed to such Beneficiary, and may also make any agreement with the Guaranteed Entities for the extension, renewal, payment, compromise, discharge or release thereof, in whole or in part, or for any modification of the terms thereof or of any agreement between such Beneficiary and the Guaranteed Entities without in any way impairing or affecting this Guarantee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Guarantee, each Beneficiary may only exercise rights hereunder with respect to Obligations owed to that Beneficiary; provided, however, that the Company may and is hereby authorized to exercise all rights under this Guarantee on behalf of each Beneficiary.

     3. Extent of Liability; Availability of Defenses. Except as provided herein or in the Asset Purchase Agreement, the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder shall not be greater than the Obligations (without giving effect to any change in such obligations as a result of any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement or other similar proceedings involving any of the Guaranteed Entities) and, therefore, performance by the Guarantor of the Obligations shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as would apply to performance by the Guaranteed Entities of the Obligations and the Guarantor shall be entitled to assert any defense to such performance that the Guaranteed Entities would be entitled to so assert (other than a defense that

results from any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement or other similar proceedings involving any of the Guaranteed Entities). Upon any default by any of the Guaranteed Entities under the Asset Purchase Agreement, the Beneficiaries, as applicable, may, without first proceeding against any of the Guaranteed Entities, proceed directly against the Guarantor after giving notice as required hereby and by the Asset Purchase Agreement to collect and recover the full amount or any portion of or to secure the performance of the Obligations and/or Guarantor’s obligations hereunder with respect to such Beneficiary.

     4. Waivers. Except for any demand and notice required hereby or by the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement, the Guarantor hereby waives and agrees not to assert or take advantage of any defenses based upon diligence, protest, notice of discharge, notice of acceptance of this Agreement, indulgences, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of receivership or bankruptcy of any of the Guaranteed Entities, and all other notices and demands whatsoever. The Guarantor agrees that this Guarantee will not be discharged, except by complete performance and indefeasible satisfaction and discharge in full of the Obligations. The Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive substantial direct and indirect benefits from the transactions contemplated by the Asset Purchase Agreement and that the waivers set forth in this Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

     5. Offsets. The Guarantor hereby waives and agrees not to assert or take advantage of any rights or defenses based upon any right of offset or claimed offset by the Guarantor against any obligation now or hereafter owed to the Guarantor by any of the Guaranteed Entities, any of the Beneficiaries, or any of the CPRE Entities.

     6. Subrogation. The Guarantor hereby agrees to refrain from exercising any and all rights of subrogation, reimbursement, indemnity, exoneration, contribution or any other claim which the Guarantor may now or hereafter have against any of the Guaranteed Entities arising out of the existence or performance of this Guarantee for so long as any matured Obligation is outstanding and has not been indefeasibly satisfied and discharged in full.

     7. Bankruptcy. The Guarantor’s obligations hereunder shall not be altered, limited or affected by any proceeding, voluntary or involuntary, involving the bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, reorganization, liquidation or arrangement of any of the Guaranteed Entities, or by any defense which any of the Guaranteed Entities may have by reason of the order, decree or decision of any court or administrative body resulting from any such proceeding.

     8. Representations and Warranties. The Guarantor hereby represents and warrants that:

          (a) the Guarantor has full power and authority to enter into this Guarantee and to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby and the execution, delivery and performance of this Guarantee have been duly authorized by all necessary action;

          (b) all consents, approvals authorizations, permits or filings with and notifications to, any governmental or regulatory body, agency, authority or official necessary for the due execution, delivery and performance of this Guarantee by the Guarantor have been obtained or made and all conditions thereof have been duly complied with, and no other action

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by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental or regulatory body, agency, authority or official is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Guarantee;

          (c) this Guarantee constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor enforceable against the Guarantor in accordance with its terms, subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, except as specifically provided herein, and (ii) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);

          (d) none of the execution, delivery and performance of this Guarantee by the Guarantor will, with or without the giving of notice or the passage of time, or both, conflict with, result in a default or right to accelerate or loss of rights under, any provision of its organizational documents or any franchise, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, license, agreement, understanding, law, ordinance, rule or regulation or any order, judgment or decree to which it is a party or by which it may be bound or affected; and

          (e) there is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding pending against, or to the knowledge of the Guarantor, threatened against or affecting, the Guarantor or any of its properties before any court or arbitrator or any governmental or regulatory body, agency, authority or official which in any manner challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin or alter the transactions contemplated by this Guarantee or which would have a material and adverse effect on the ability of the Guarantor to perform its obligations hereunder.

     9. No Assignment. This Guarantee shall not be assigned by operation of Law or otherwise.

     10. Notices. Except as set forth in this paragraph, all notices hereunder shall be made in writing and shall be effective upon delivery, which shall be made (i) by hand delivery, (ii) by registered or certified United States mail, postage prepaid with return receipt requested or (iii) by a nationally-recognized overnight courier service, to the addresses set forth below, or to such other address as the Guarantor or the Company may request by giving written notice to the other party hereto. The Guarantor or Company may also provide notice by electronic means (such as email or facsimile) or telephone in cases when immediate notice is required so long as it delivers separate written notice to be delivered within 24 hours. Notices shall be made in each case to the following addresses:

If to the Guarantor:

Francis M. Colalucci
c/o Tower Group, Inc.
31st Floor
120 Broadway
New York, NY 10271

If to the Company:

CastlePoint Reinsurance Company, Ltd.
Joel S. Weiner

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Victoria Hall
11 Victoria Road
Hamilton HM 11 Bermuda

     11. Continuing Guarantee. This Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and shall be binding on the Guarantor, its successors and assigns until the complete performance and indefeasible satisfaction and discharge in full of the Obligations and the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder.

     12. Amendments and Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Guarantee will be valid and binding unless it is in writing and signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Guarantor and the Company, or in the case of waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective.

     13. Third Party Beneficiaries. No party other than the Company shall have any rights under this Guarantee, and there shall be no third party beneficiaries of this Guarantee, except that the CPRE Indemnified Parties are expressly intended as third-party beneficiaries hereunder. Recourse against the Guarantor under this Guarantee shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of the Company, all of its subsidiaries and stockholders, and the Beneficiaries, against the Guarantor in respect of any liabilities or obligations arising under, or in connection with, the Asset Purchase Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby.

     14. Governing Law. This Guarantee shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the conflict or choice of law provisions of that or any other jurisdiction that would give rise to the application of the domestic substantive law of any other jurisdiction.

     15. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS GUARANTEE OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

     16. Arbitration.

          (a) If any dispute arises between, and is not resolved by, the Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Company or any Beneficiaries, on the other, with reference to the formation, interpretation, performance, or breach of this Guarantee, such dispute, must be submitted to non-binding mediation. If such dispute is not resolved by non-binding mediation within sixty (60) days it shall be finally settled by arbitration by a panel of three arbitrators in accordance with this Section 16. Notice requesting arbitration will be in accordance with Section 10 hereof. The arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the Rules of Arbitration of the American Arbitration Association in effect at the time of the arbitration, except as they may be modified herein or by mutual agreement of the Guarantor and the Company and/or the applicable Beneficiaries.

          (b) One arbitrator shall be chosen by each of the Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Company and/or the applicable Beneficiaries, on the other hand, and the two arbitrators

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shall, before commencing the arbitration hearing, choose an impartial third arbitrator who shall preside at the hearing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this section 16(b), in the event that more than one of the Company and the Beneficiaries is involved in an arbitration, the Company and/or Beneficiaries involved shall collectively be entitled to chose only one arbitrator. If either the Guarantor or the Company and/or the applicable Beneficiaries fails for any reason to appoint its arbitrator within thirty (30) days after being requested to do so by the other, the latter, after ten (10) days notice of its intention to do so, may appoint the second arbitrator. If the two arbitrators are unable to agree upon the third arbitrator within thirty (30) days of their appointment, the third arbitrator shall be selected from a list of six individuals (three named by each arbitrator) by a judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, or if that court declines to act, the state court in such area having general jurisdiction.

          (c) All arbitrators shall be active or retired disinterested officials of insurance or reinsurance companies not under the control or management of either the Guarantor or the Company and will not have personal or financial interests in the result of the arbitration.

          (d) Within thirty (30) days after notice of appointment of all arbitrators, the panel shall meet and determine timely periods for briefs, discovery procedures, and schedules for hearings.

          (e) Arbitration shall take place in New York, New York. Insofar as the arbitration panel looks to substantive law, it shall consider the law of the State of New York without giving effect to the choice of law or conflict of law provisions of that or any other jurisdiction. The decision of any two arbitrators shall be rendered in writing and shall be final and binding. The panel is empowered to grant interim relief as it may deem appropriate.

          (f) Judgment upon the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

          (g) Punitive damages will not be awarded. The arbitrators may, however, at their discretion award such other costs and expenses as they deem appropriate, including attorneys’ fees, the cost of arbitration, and arbitrators’ fees, to the extent permitted by law.

     17. Counterparts. This Guarantee may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

     18. Entire Agreement. This Guarantee constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes any and all prior discussions, negotiations, proposals, undertakings, understandings and agreements, whether written or oral, between the Guarantor and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof.

[signature page follows]

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EXHIBIT C

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Guarantee to be executed and delivered as of the date first written above by its officer thereunto duly authorized.

TOWER GROUP, INC.
By:
	Name:
	Title:
ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED: CASTLEPOINT REINSURANCE COMPANY, LTD.
By:
	Name:
	Title:

[Signature Page to Guarantee]

Schedule 1.1(a)

• Amended and Restated Brokerage Business Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement, effective as of April 1, 2006, among TICNY, TNIC and CP Re, as amended

• Amended and Restated Traditional Program Business Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement, effective as of April 1, 2006, among TICNY, TNIC and CP Re, as amended

• Amended and Restated Specialty Program Business and Insurance Risk-Sharing Business Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement, effective as of April 1, 2006, among TICNY, TNIC and CP Re, as amended

• Aggregate Excess of Loss Agreement, dated October 1, 2007 (effective October 1, 2007), among TICNY (on behalf of itself and its pooling partner, TNIC), PIC, MVIC and NEIC and CPIC

• Aggregate Excess of Loss Agreement, dated October 1, 2007 (effective October 1, 2007), between TICNY and CPIC

• Property Quota Share Reinsurance Contract, dated October 15, 2007, between CP Re, as Reinsured, and TICNY, as Reinsurer

• First Property Excess of Loss Reinsurance Agreement, dated January 1, 2008, between TICNY and/or TNIC and/or PIC and/or MVIC and/or NEIC and/or CPIC, as Reinsured, and CP Re, as Reinsurer

• Multi-Line Excess of Loss Reinsurance Agreement, dated January 1, 2008, among TICNY and/or TNIC and/or PIC and/or MVIC and/or NEIC and/or CPIC, as Reinsured, and CP Re, as Reinsurer

• First Worker’s Compensation Excess of Loss Reinsurance Agreement, dated January 1 2008, between TICNY and/or TNIC and/or PIC and/or MVIC and/or NEIC and/or CPIC, as Reinsured, and CP Re, as Reinsurer

• Second Worker’s Compensation Excess of Loss Reinsurance Agreement, dated January 1, 2008, between TICNY and/or TNIC and/or PIC and/or MVIC and/or NEIC and/or CPIC, as Reinsured, and CP Re, as Reinsurer

• Any catastrophe premium reimbursement agreements that may be entered into between Parent and Company and/or their respective subsidiaries

• Service and Expense Sharing Agreement, dated April 10, 2006 (April 28, 2006 with respect to TNIC), among TICNY, TNIC, TRM and CPM

• Amended and Restated Program Management Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2007, between TICNY and CPM, as Manager

• Service and Expense Sharing Agreement, dated January 1, 2007, between TICNY and CPM (for provision of services by CPM)

• Service and Expense Sharing Agreement, dated January 1, 2007, between TICNY and CPM (for provision of services by TICNY)

• Service Agreement, dated May 1, 2007, between TRM and CPM

• Management Agreement, dated July 1, 2007, between CPIC and TRM

EX-2.2

Exhibit 2.2

EXECUTION COPY

LIMITED WAIVER AGREEMENT

     This LIMITED WAIVER AGREEMENT, dated as of August 26, 2008 (this “Agreement”), is made and entered into by and among Tower Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), Ocean I Corporation, a Delaware corporation and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), and CastlePoint Holdings, Ltd., a Bermuda exempted company (“Company”).

     Reference is hereby made to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 4, 2008 (the “Merger Agreement”), among Parent, Merger Sub, and Company. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement.

     1. Waivers. In accordance with the provisions of Section 7.4 of the Merger Agreement:

          (a) Parent Waiver. Parent hereby waives the applicability of the terms and conditions of Section 4.1 of the Merger Agreement to (i) entry into a stock purchase agreement between CastlePoint Reinsurance Company, Ltd. (“CPRe”), HIG, Inc. (“HIG”) and Brookfield US Corporation (“BUSC”), pursuant to which CPRe will acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of the common stock of HIG (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”), and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth therein, without waiver or amendment thereof, unless Parent and Merger Sub have consented to such waiver or amendment in writing, (ii) entry into an asset purchase agreement between CPRe and certain wholly-owned subsidiaries of Parent, pursuant to which, following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement, such wholly-owned subsidiaries of Parent will purchase certain properties, assets and rights of HIG and its subsidiaries (the “Asset Purchase Agreement”), and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Asset Purchase Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth therein and (iii) provision of a guarantee by Company in favor of the wholly-owned subsidiaries of Parent party to the Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Company Guarantee”), pursuant to which, in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Asset Purchase Agreement, Company will guarantee the payment of all amounts due and payable under the Asset Purchase Agreement by CPRe, in each case, as previously made available to the independent directors of the Board of Directors of Parent. Parent hereby acknowledges and agrees that no action or omission to act required to be taken or omitted by Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Asset Purchase Agreement or the Company Guarantee shall constitute or give rise to a breach of the representations and warranties of Company in Section 3.1 of the Merger Agreement.

          (b) Company Waiver. Company hereby waives the applicability of the terms and conditions of Section 4.2 of the Merger Agreement to (i) entry into the Asset Purchase Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Asset Purchase Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth therein and (ii) provision of a guarantee by Parent in favor of CPRe (the “Parent Guarantee”), pursuant to which Parent will

guarantee the payment of all amounts due and payable under the Asset Purchase Agreement by Parent’s wholly-owned subsidiaries party thereto, in each case, as previously made available to the independent directors of the Board of Directors of Company. Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that no action or omission to act required to be taken or omitted by Parent or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Asset Purchase Agreement or the Parent Guarantee shall constitute or give rise to a breach of the representations and warranties of Parent in Section 3.2 of the Merger Agreement.

     2. Miscellaneous. Except as expressly provided hereby, the Merger Agreement shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the law that might be applied under principles or rules of conflict of laws to the extent such principles or rules would permit or require the application of the laws of another jurisdiction, except to the extent that, in the case of Company, Bermuda law is applicable. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts (including via facsimile or other electronic means), each such counterpart shall be deemed an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute the same instrument.

[the remainder of this page has been left blank intentionally]

2

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement by their authorized representatives as of the date first above written.

TOWER GROUP, INC.

By:	/s/ Francis M. Colalucci
	Name: Francis M. Colalucci
	Title: Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
OCEAN I CORPORATION
By:	/s/ Francis M. Colalucci
	Name: Francis M. Colalucci
	Title: Treasurer
CASTLEPOINT HOLDINGS, LTD.
By:	/s/ Jan R. Van Gorder
	Name: Jan R. Van Gorder
	Title: Chairman of Special Committee

3

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Tower and CastlePoint to Acquire Hermitage Insurance Group

NEW YORK and HAMILTON, Bermuda — August 27, 2008 – Tower Group, Inc. (“Tower”; NASDAQ: TWGP) and CastlePoint Holdings, Ltd. (“CastlePoint”; NASDAQ: CPHL) have announced today that CastlePoint Reinsurance Company, Ltd., a Bermuda-based subsidiary of CastlePoint, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire HIG, Inc. (“Hermitage”).

CastlePoint will pay the seller, a subsidiary of Brookfield Asset Management Inc., $27 million in cash plus the adjusted closing book value of Hermitage. The total cash consideration is expected to be approximately $135 million with no external financing required.

On August 5, 2008, Tower entered into a definitive agreement to acquire CastlePoint and they expect to close that transaction in early December 2008. Tower and CastlePoint expect that the acquisition of Hermitage will close in late December 2008, after the closing of the Tower-CastlePoint acquisition.

Hermitage Overview

§ Hermitage is a specialty property and casualty insurance holding company offering both admitted and excess and surplus (“E&S”) products to small commercial customers throughout the eastern United States. Hermitage has two operating subsidiaries: Hermitage Insurance Company and Kodiak Insurance Company.

§ The Hermitage transaction represents the acquisition of a profitable book of business and an E&S lines platform covering 29 states and the District of Columbia. The Hermitage subsidiaries also have admitted licenses in 10 states.

§ The Hermitage transaction will provide access to 150 new retail agents in the Southeast who have no overlap with CastlePoint’s or Tower’s existing producers and will also further strengthen CastlePoint’s and Tower’s wholesale distribution in the eastern U.S.

§ Hermitage is expected to produce approximately $100 million in gross written premiums for 2008, and its net loss ratio is 52.3% through the first six months of 2008. The transaction is expected to be slightly accretive to earnings per share in 2009 for both Tower and CastlePoint on a combined or standalone basis.

Michael H. Lee, Chairman and CEO of both Tower and CastlePoint, stated, “The Hermitage acquisition reinforces the post-CastlePoint acquisition strategy that we outlined when we announced the acquisition of CastlePoint by Tower on August 5^th. Through this transaction, Tower and CastlePoint will be able to acquire a very profitable business similar to Tower’s business by utilizing CastlePoint’s capital. In addition, CastlePoint will be able to shift more of CastlePoint Reinsurance Company’s capital from reinsurance to insurance in response to current market conditions. The transaction further supports Tower’s national expansion plans by

focusing on underserved market segments through wholesale agents while expanding its retail distribution system in the Southeast.”

Tower Acquisition of Renewal Rights and Operating Assets if Tower’s Acquisition of CastlePoint is not Consummated or is Delayed:

Tower and CastlePoint also entered into a separate agreement pursuant to which, following CastlePoint’s acquisition of Hermitage as outlined above for $135 million, Tower has agreed to buy Hermitage’s operating assets including rights to policy renewals and producer appointments from CastlePoint for $16 million in cash. Tower and CastlePoint do not expect to consummate this renewal rights transaction unless Tower’s acquisition of CastlePoint is not consummated or is delayed. If this renewal rights transaction were to close, Tower and CastlePoint have also agreed to extend all of the reinsurance, management and service agreements between the two companies or their respective subsidiaries for one additional year upon their expiration, currently scheduled for March 31, 2010, at commission and management fee terms which have been set to approximate current market terms, provided that, under certain limited circumstances, the extension will be for 6 months.

Upon the sale of the operating assets to Tower, CastlePoint will retain Hermitage’s financial assets including capital in the operating insurance companies, insurance licenses, loss reserves and unearned premium reserves. In addition, Tower’s managing general agency, Tower Risk Management, will manage Hermitage’s operating insurance companies on behalf of CastlePoint based upon the terms of existing management and service agreements between Tower and CastlePoint.

If this renewal rights transaction were to be consummated, it would benefit each of Tower and CastlePoint on a standalone basis. Tower would be able to expand its wholesale and retail agency distribution and increase its management fee income from managing the Hermitage business. CastlePoint would be able to more effectively deploy its capital by shifting from reinsurance to primary insurance underwriting and by increasing business from Tower through its insurance risk sharing solution rather than its quota share reinsurance solution. Further, as noted above, CastlePoint would benefit from the one year extension of its agreements with Tower whereby Tower reinsures a substantial portion of its profitable brokerage business with CastlePoint through a quota share agreement and a risk sharing agreement.

The terms of this transaction between Tower and CastlePoint were negotiated and approved by the independent board members of both companies.

The transactions between Hermitage and CastlePoint and those between Tower and CastlePoint, including any ancillary agreements, are subject to customary regulatory approvals.

2008 and 2009 Earnings Guidance:

The Hermitage acquisition will not affect Tower’s earnings guidance for 2008. Therefore, Tower is maintaining its diluted earnings per share guidance to be in the range of $2.90 to $3.00 for the full year 2008.

Tower expects the Hermitage acquisition will be accretive to its shareholders in 2009 after Tower completes the acquisitions of CastlePoint and Hermitage. Both transactions are expected to close in December 2008. Tower is maintaining its diluted earnings per share guidance for 2009 in the range of $3.20 to $3.40 that was provided on August 5^th, but Tower expects the Hermitage acquisition to increase its earnings towards the upper end of that range.

Investor Call and Presentation

Tower and CastlePoint will jointly host a conference call today at 2:00 P.M. (Eastern Time) to discuss the transaction. The Call-in number is: 877-545-1488; international 719-325-4942. This conference call will also be broadcast live over the Internet. To access the presentation and a listen-only webcast over the Internet, please visit the Investor Information section of Tower’s website, www.twrgrp.com, or CastlePoint’s website, www.castlepoint.bm, or use these links:

http://investor.twrgrp.com/events.cfm

or

http://ir.castlepoint.bm/events.cfm

Please access the website at least 15 minutes prior to the call to register and to download any necessary audio software. If you are unable to participate during the live conference call, a listen-only webcast will be archived in the Investor Information section of both companies’ websites.

About Tower

Tower offers property and casualty insurance products and services through its operating subsidiaries. Its insurance company subsidiaries offer insurance products to individuals and small to medium-sized businesses. Tower’s insurance services subsidiaries provide underwriting, claims and reinsurance brokerage services to other insurance companies.

About CastlePoint

CastlePoint, a Bermuda-based holding company, through its subsidiaries, CastlePoint Reinsurance Company, CastlePoint Management Corp., and CastlePoint Insurance Company, provides property and casualty insurance and reinsurance business solutions, products and services to small insurance companies and program underwriting agents in the United States.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. This press release or any other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of CastlePoint and Tower may include forward-looking statements that reflect CastlePoint’s and Tower’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “plan,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe” or “continue” or their negative or variations or similar terminology. All forward-looking statements address matters that involve risks and

uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause the actual results of CastlePoint, Tower, Hermitage and the combined companies to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. The following factors, among others, could cause or contribute to such material differences: the ability to obtain governmental approvals or rulings on or regarding the Hermitage transactions or the Tower-CastlePoint merger on the proposed terms and schedule; the failure of the shareholders of CastlePoint or the stockholders of Tower to approve the Tower-CastlePoint merger; the failure to satisfy the closing conditions to the Hermitage acquisition or the Tower-CastlePoint merger; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully or that such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; the risk that the revenue opportunities, cost savings and other anticipated synergies from the Hermitage acquisition or the Tower-CastlePoint merger may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; disruption from the Hermitage acquisition or the Tower-CastlePoint merger making it difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees, brokers and managing general agents; the risk that the U.S. or Bermuda tax authorities may view the tax treatment of the Hermitage acquisition or Tower-CastlePoint merger and/or the other transactions contemplated by the Hermitage stock purchase agreement or the Tower-CastlePoint merger agreement differently from CastlePoint and Tower’s tax advisors; costs relating to the transactions; ineffectiveness or obsolescence of the business strategy due to changes in current or future market conditions; increased competition on the basis of pricing, capacity, coverage terms or other factors; greater frequency or severity of claims and loss activity, including as a result of natural or man-made catastrophic events, than the underwriting, reserving or investment practices of Hermitage, CastlePoint or Tower anticipate based on historical experience or industry data; the ability to obtain necessary governmental licenses; the ability to hire and retain executive officers and other key personnel; the effects of acts of terrorism or war; developments in the world’s financial and capital markets that adversely affect the performance of Hermitage’s, CastlePoint’s and Tower’s investments; changes in regulations or laws applicable to Hermitage, CastlePoint, Tower and their respective subsidiaries, brokers or customers, including tax laws in Bermuda and the United States; acceptance of products and services, including new products and services; changes in the availability, cost or quality of reinsurance and failure of Hermitage’s, CastlePoint’s or Tower’s reinsurers to pay claims timely or at all; decreased demand for Hermitage’s, CastlePoint’s or Tower’s insurance or reinsurance products; the effects of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures in the insurance and reinsurance sectors; changes in rating agency policies or practices; changes in legal theories of liability under Hermitage’s, CastlePoint’s and Tower’s insurance policies or the policies that it reinsures; changes in accounting policies or practices; and changes in general economic conditions, including inflation and other factors. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the assumptions underlying our pro forma projections and/or earnings guidance could prove incorrect due to, among other things, the foregoing factors, and neither CastlePoint nor Tower undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Additional Information

Although the acquisition of Hermitage by CastlePoint and sale of Hermitage operating assets by CastlePoint to Tower is not subject to approval by either Tower or CastlePoint shareholders,

information regarding the transaction will be included in the joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed Tower-CastlePoint merger.

Shareholders of Tower and CastlePoint are urged to read the joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed Tower-CastlePoint merger when it becomes available because it will contain important information. Shareholders will be able to obtain a free copy of the joint proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about Tower and CastlePoint, without charge, at the Securities Exchange Commission’s Internet site (www.sec.gov). Copies of the joint proxy statement/prospectus and the filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission that will be incorporated by reference in the joint proxy statement/prospectus can also be obtained, without charge, by accessing the companies’ websites:

http://www.twrgrp.com/ or http://www.castlepoint.bm/

Tower and CastlePoint, their respective directors and executive officers and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitations of proxies from the shareholders of Tower and/or CastlePoint in respect of the proposed Tower-CastlePoint merger. Information regarding Tower’s directors and executive officers is available in its proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Tower on April 11, 2008, and information regarding CastlePoint’s directors and executive officers is available in it proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by CastlePoint on April 29, 2008. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the joint proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a joint proxy statement/prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

For more information visit Tower’s website at

http://www.twrgrp.com/.

or CastlePoint’s website at:

http://www.castlepoint.bm/

Contact Information:
Thomas Song
Managing Vice President
Tower Group, Inc.
212-655-4789
tsong@twrgrp.com

Joel S. Weiner
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
CastlePoint Holdings, Ltd.
441-294-6400
info@castlepoint.bm

Source: Tower Group, Inc.

CPHL-F

EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

Presentation to Investors TOWER and CASTLEPOINT to Acquire Hermitage Insurance Group August 27, 2008 TOWER GROUP, INC.

Forward-Looking Statements The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. This press release or any other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of CastlePoint and Tower Group, Inc. may include forward-looking statements that reflect CastlePoint's and Tower's current views with respect to future events and financial performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "plan," "expect," "project," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe" or "continue" or their negative or variations or similar terminology. All forward-looking statements address matters that involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause the actual results of CastlePoint, Tower, Hermitage and the combined companies to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. The following factors, among others, could cause or contribute to such material differences: the ability to obtain governmental approvals or rulings on or regarding the Hermitage transactions or the Tower-CastlePoint merger on the proposed terms and schedule; the failure of the shareholders of CastlePoint or the stockholders of Tower to approve the Tower- CastlePoint merger; the failure to satisfy the closing conditions to the Hermitage acquisition or the Tower-CastlePoint merger; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully or that such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; the risk that the revenue opportunities, cost savings and other anticipated synergies from the Hermitage acquisition or the Tower-CastlePoint merger may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; disruption from the Hermitage acquisition or the Tower-CastlePoint merger making it difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees, brokers and managing general agents; the risk that the U.S. or Bermuda tax authorities may view the tax treatment of the Hermitage acquisition or Tower- CastlePoint merger and/or the other transactions contemplated by the Hermitage stock purchase agreement or the Tower-CastlePoint merger agreement differently from CastlePoint and Tower's tax advisors; costs relating to the transactions; ineffectiveness or obsolescence of the business strategy due to changes in current or future market conditions; increased competition on the basis of pricing, capacity, coverage terms or other factors; greater frequency or severity of claims and loss activity, including as a result of natural or man-made catastrophic events, than the underwriting, reserving or investment practices of Hermitage, CastlePoint or Tower anticipate based on historical experience or industry data; the ability to obtain necessary governmental licenses; the ability to hire and retain executive officers and other key personnel; the effects of acts of terrorism or war; developments in the world's financial and capital markets that adversely affect the performance of Hermitage's, CastlePoint's and Tower's investments; changes in regulations or laws applicable to Hermitage, CastlePoint, Tower and their respective subsidiaries, brokers or customers, including tax laws in Bermuda and the United States; acceptance of products and services, including new products and services; changes in the availability, cost or quality of reinsurance and failure of Hermitage's, CastlePoint's or Tower's reinsurers to pay claims timely or at all; decreased demand for Hermitage's, CastlePoint's or Tower's insurance or reinsurance products; the effects of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures in the insurance and reinsurance sectors; changes in rating agency policies or practices; changes in legal theories of liability under Hermitage's, CastlePoint's and Tower's insurance policies or the policies that it reinsures; changes in accounting policies or practices; and changes in general economic conditions, including inflation and other factors. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the assumptions underlying our pro forma projections and/or earnings guidance could prove incorrect due to, among other things, the foregoing factors, and neither CastlePoint nor Tower undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Additional Information Although the acquisition of Hermitage by CastlePoint and sale of Hermitage operating assets by CastlePoint to Tower is not subject to approval by either Tower or CastlePoint shareholders, information regarding the transaction will be included in the joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed Tower-CastlePoint merger. Shareholders of Tower and CastlePoint are urged to read the joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed Tower-CastlePoint merger when it becomes available because it will contain important information. Shareholders will be able to obtain a free copy of the joint proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about Tower and CastlePoint, without charge, at the Securities Exchange Commission's Internet site (www.sec.gov). Copies of the joint proxy statement/prospectus and the filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission that will be incorporated by reference in the joint proxy statement/prospectus can also be obtained, without charge, by accessing the companies' websites: http://www.twrgrp.com/ or http://www.castlepoint.bm/ Tower and CastlePoint, their respective directors and executive officers and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitations of proxies from the shareholders of Tower and/or CastlePoint in respect of the proposed Tower-CastlePoint merger. Information regarding Tower's directors and executive officers is available in its proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Tower on April 11, 2008, and information regarding CastlePoint's directors and executive officers is available in it proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by CastlePoint on April 29, 2008. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the joint proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a joint proxy statement/prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Overview of Hermitage Insurance Group (HIG) Specialty property and casualty insurance holding company Offers products on a both admitted and excess and surplus basis to commercial customers throughout the United States Headquartered in Westchester, NY with offices in Connecticut, Georgia and Alabama Operating insurance companies: Hermitage Insurance Company and Kodiak Insurance Company Operate in 10 states on an admitted basis and in 29 states and the District of Columbia on an E&S basis Territorial focus (each approximately 1/3 of total premium): Excess & Surplus (Wholesale agents): FL, AL, MA, other states Specialty Admitted (Wholesale agents): NY and NJ Specialty Admitted (Retail agents): Southeast

Strategic Benefits and Transaction Rationale Implements Tower's post-CastlePoint acquisition business plan to achieve higher operating diluted EPS and ROE Increases projected operating diluted EPS (excludes realized investment gains and losses) from the lower to the upper end of the $3.20 to $3.40 previously announced 2009 earnings guidance ROE for Tower in 2009 projected to increase approximately 17%, close to post-CastlePoint acquisition target between 18% to 20% Profitable, low to moderate hazard book of business with a favorable loss ratio $100M GWP projected in 2008 with a net loss ratio of approximately 52% through the first six months of 2008 Lines of Business: commercial property, general liability, CMP, commercial auto and other liability Small Commercial Segments: habitational, artisan contractors, restaurants, retail Continuation of Tower's strategy of building a national distribution platform through acquisitions Expands wholesale agency distribution nationally Access to approximately 130 wholesale agents offering products on an E&S and admitted basis Expands retail agency distribution in the Southeast Access to 150 retail agents further establishing our retail distribution system in the Southeast

Action Steps to Achieve Greater Value Allocate capital from reinsurance to insurance: Tower plans to utilize its hybrid business model and shift some of its reinsurance currently with CastlePoint Re to other reinsurers, freeing up capacity in CastlePoint Re CastlePoint Re will acquire HIG to deploy its capacity, and CastlePoint will retain the in- force HIG business Shift in capital allocation from reinsurance to primary insurance business will result in higher underwriting margin Achieve growth: Provide HIG producers with access to higher rating and larger capital base Cross-sell opportunities for HIG's agents using Tower's broader product line platform Geographical expansion through wholesale agents nationally and retail agents in the Southeast Reduction in expense ratio: Opportunities for significant reduction in reinsurance costs by utilizing Tower's stronger balance sheet Significant cost savings opportunities from accessing Tower's scale and automation capability

Transaction Structure - Tower and CastlePoint acquires HIG Tower expects to close on the CastlePoint acquisition in early December and close on the HIG acquisition in late December, 2008 In this scenario, Tower expects to acquire HIG through its acquisition of CastlePoint using CastlePoint's capital without any financing In view of the many approvals required for all the transactions, no assurance can be made that this timing sequence will occur To create underwriting capacity, CP Re is expected to reduce the amount of business that it receives from Tower and CastlePoint Insurance Company Terms: Consideration - Approximately $135 million ($27 million plus the adjusted book value at closing, or 1.25x expected closing book value) Closing - late December 2008 Conditions - customary regulatory approvals

Transaction structure - If Tower's acquisition of CastlePoint is not consummated or is delayed CastlePoint Re will acquire HIG and retain the financial assets Capital, licenses, loss reserves and unearned premium reserves will be acquired at adjusted book value (estimated to be $108 million at closing) plus $11 million net of asset sale to Tower Tower expects to acquire the operational assets of HIG (rights to policy renewals, producer appointments, staff and operating assets) from CastlePoint for $16 million Tower's managing general agency, Tower Risk Management, will manage this business under its existing management agreements Benefit to each company: Tower - Expands its wholesale and retail agency distribution and increases management fees from managing HIG business CastlePoint - Shifts more of its capital from reinsurance to insurance by increasing business from Tower through its insurance risk sharing rather than quota share reinsurance solution Agreements between Tower and CastlePoint will be extended for one year at current market terms One year extension may be reduced to 6 months under certain circumstances Renewal rights transaction negotiated and approved by independent Board members of both companies

Financial Summary for Hermitage

Summary Implements post-CastlePoint acquisition business plan to achieve higher EPS and ROE through acquisitions of small insurance companies Effectively deploys capital by shifting more of CastlePoint's capital from reinsurance to primary insurance business Acquires a profitable and low to moderate hazard book of business with a favorable loss ratio (52% net loss ratio through the first six months of 2008) Supports Tower's strategy to build national network of wholesale agents offering business on an E&S and admitted basis Expands Tower's retail agency presence in the Southeast Achieves greater value by utilizing Tower's business model and business strategy

120 Broadway, 31st Floor, New York, NY 10271 www.twrgrp.com Victoria Hall, 11 Victoria Street, Hamilton, HM 11, Bermuda www.castlepoint.bm