UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 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) May 15, 2014
Tower Group International, Ltd. |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) |
Bermuda |
001-35834 |
N/A |
||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
Bermuda Commercial Bank Building |
19 Par-La-Ville Road |
Hamilton, HM 11, Bermuda |
(Address of principal executive office) |
(441) 279-6610 |
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) |
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):
⃞ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
⊠ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
⃞ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
⃞ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 8.01. Other Events
On May 15, 2014, Tower Group International, Ltd. (“Tower”) issued a press release regarding a proposal from Euroins Insurance Group. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference to this Item 8.01 as if fully set forth herein.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
This communication is not a solicitation of a proxy from any shareholder of Tower. In connection with the merger agreement, Tower filed a preliminary proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 13, 2014 and intends to file a definitive proxy statement with the SEC and to mail such definitive proxy statement and a form of proxy to Tower’s shareholders when they are completed. Investors and shareholders are urged to read the preliminary proxy statement, the definitive proxy statement and other relevant materials filed with the SEC when they become available because they contain or will contain important information about Tower, ACP Re and the proposed transaction. The preliminary proxy statement, the definitive proxy statement and other relevant materials (when they become available), and any other documents filed by Tower or ACP Re with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and shareholders may obtain free copies of the documents filed by Tower with the SEC by directing a written request to “Investor Relations,” Tower Group International, Ltd., Bermuda Commercial Bank Building, 2nd Floor, 19 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton, HM 11, Bermuda, or by email to William E. Hitselberger, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at bhitselberger@twrgrp.com.
Participants in the Solicitation
The directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees of Tower may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from its shareholders in favor of the proposed transaction. Information concerning persons who may be considered participants in the solicitation of Tower’s shareholders under the rules of the SEC is set forth in public filings filed by Tower with the SEC and will be set forth in the definitive proxy statement when it is filed with the SEC. Information concerning Tower’s participants in the solicitation is contained in Tower’s Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on March 25, 2013.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward–Looking Statements
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. This press release and any other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of Tower may include forward-looking statements that reflect 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” and “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 Tower to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. Please refer to Tower’s filings with the SEC, including among others Tower’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, for a description of the important factors that could cause the actual results of Tower to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and Tower undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
Risks that could adversely affect the proposed merger include, but are not limited to, the following:
The following important factors are among those that could affect the actual outcome of other future events:
Additional risk factors that may cause outcomes that differ from our
expectations or projections are described in various documents filed by
Tower with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as current
reports on Form 8–K, and regular reports on Forms 10–K and 10–Q,
particularly in “Item 1A, Risk Factors.”Item 9.01.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
The following exhibits are filed as part of this report.
Number |
Description |
99.1 |
Copy of press release issued by Tower Group International, Ltd. dated May 15, 2014 |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Tower Group International, Ltd. |
||
Registrant |
||
Date: |
May 15, 2014 |
/s/ Elliot S. Orol |
Elliot S. Orol |
||
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
5
Exhibit 99.1
Tower Group International, Ltd. Issues Statement Regarding Proposal from Euroins Insurance Group
HAMILTON, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 2014--Tower Group International, Ltd. (NASDAQ:TWGP) (“Tower”) acknowledges receipt of an unsolicited letter, dated May 12, 2014, from Eurohold Group and Euroins Insurance Group (“EIG”) outlining a proposed stock-for-stock transaction pursuant to which EIG would acquire Tower, and announces that Tower’s board of directors has unanimously determined that such proposal does not constitute and could not reasonably be expected to lead to a “Superior Proposal” as defined in the merger agreement, dated as of January 3, 2014 and amended as of May 8, 2014, among Tower, ACP Re, LTD. (“ACP Re”) and London Acquisition Company Limited. As a result of such determination, Tower will not pursue the proposal contained in the letter from EIG. Tower continues to be bound by the terms of the merger agreement with ACP Re.
The unanimous decision by Tower’s board of directors comes after careful consideration and consultation with Tower’s management and with its financial advisers and outside legal counsel. Tower’s board of directors continues to believe that the consummation of the transaction contemplated by the merger agreement with ACP Re is in the best interest of Tower and its shareholders. Tower’s board of directors believes that the transaction proposed by EIG is inferior to the transaction contemplated by the merger agreement with ACP Re and that it is less certain, is riskier for Tower and its shareholders and would take longer to complete as compared to the transaction contemplated by the merger agreement with ACP Re.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
This communication is not a solicitation of a proxy from any shareholder of Tower. In connection with the merger agreement, Tower filed a preliminary proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 13, 2014 and intends to file a definitive proxy statement with the SEC and to mail such definitive proxy statement and a form of proxy to Tower’s shareholders when they are completed. Investors and shareholders are urged to read the preliminary proxy statement, the definitive proxy statement and other relevant materials filed with the SEC when they become available because they contain or will contain important information about Tower, ACP Re and the proposed transaction. The preliminary proxy statement, the definitive proxy statement and other relevant materials (when they become available), and any other documents filed by Tower or ACP Re with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and shareholders may obtain free copies of the documents filed by Tower with the SEC by directing a written request to “Investor Relations,” Tower Group International, Ltd., Bermuda Commercial Bank Building, 2nd Floor, 19 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton, HM 11, Bermuda, or by email to William E. Hitselberger, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at bhitselberger@twrgrp.com.
Participants in the Solicitation
The directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees of Tower may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from its shareholders in favor of the proposed transaction. Information concerning persons who may be considered participants in the solicitation of Tower’s shareholders under the rules of the SEC is set forth in public filings filed by Tower with the SEC and will be set forth in the definitive proxy statement when it is filed with the SEC. Information concerning Tower’s participants in the solicitation is contained in Tower’s Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on March 25, 2013.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward–Looking Statements
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. This press release and any other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of Tower may include forward-looking statements that reflect 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” and “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 Tower to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. Please refer to Tower’s filings with the SEC, including among others Tower’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, for a description of the important factors that could cause the actual results of Tower to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and Tower undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
Risks that could adversely affect the proposed merger include, but are not limited to, the following:
The following important factors are among those that could affect the actual outcome of other future events:
Additional risk factors that may cause outcomes that differ from our expectations or projections are described in various documents filed by Tower with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as current reports on Form 8–K, and regular reports on Forms 10–K and 10–Q, particularly in “Item 1A, Risk Factors.”
CONTACT:
Investors:
Tower Group International, Ltd.
William E.
Hitselberger, 212-655-2110
Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
bhitselberger@twrgrp.com