-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
Unn73PjI1p1IN/uy5V6Nu3wUClQRsqZnw2OAyLLzpZYUauguNWUrwTSb+A68hpOz
/AJ0dBdtbnewdQBc1m6B2w==
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION CURRENT REPORT PartnerRe
Ltd. Chesney House,
96 Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke, Bermuda HM 08
Item 5. Other Events
On
May 6, 2003, PartnerRe Ltd. (the Company) entered into an underwriting
agreement with SwissRe Capital Management (Bermuda) Ltd. (the Selling Shareholder),
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Swiss Reinsurance Company, Swiss Reinsurance Company and
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. in which Citigroup Global Markets Inc. agreed to purchase
all of the 8,340,731 common shares from the Selling Shareholder at a purchase price of
$52.50 per share ($437,888,378 aggregate proceeds to the Selling Shareholder). The
Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares by the Selling
Shareholder.
A
copy of the Underwriting Agreement dated May 6, 2003 relating to the offering by the
Selling Shareholder, filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1, is
incorporated herein by reference. Item 7. Exhibits 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 thereunto
duly authorized. Date: May 8, 2003 INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EXECUTION COPY
PartnerRe Ltd.
8,340,731
Common Shares
Underwriting Agreement
New York,
New York Citigroup Global Markets
Inc.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
SwissRe
Capital Management (Bermuda) Ltd., a company organized under the laws of Bermuda
(the Selling Shareholder) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Swiss
Reinsurance Company, a company organized under the laws of Switzerland (Swiss
Re), proposes to sell to Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (the Underwriter)
8,340,731 common shares, par value $1.00 per share (Common Stock),
of PartnerRe Ltd., a company organized under the laws of Bermuda (the Company)
(said shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholder being hereinafter called
the Securities). Any reference herein to the Registration Statement,
the Basic Prospectus, or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and
include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12
of Form S-3 which were filed under the Exchange Act on or before the Effective
Date of the Registration Statement (other than the Companys current report
on Form 8-K dated January 17, 2003, which has been superceded by the Companys
Annual Report on Form 10-K) or the issue date of the Basic Prospectus, or the
Final Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference herein to the terms
amend, amendment or supplement with respect
to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, or the Final Prospectus
shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the
Exchange Act after the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the issue
date of the Basic Prospectus, or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed
to be incorporated therein by reference. Certain terms used herein are defined
in Section 19 hereof. 1.
Representations
and Warranties of the Company.
The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Underwriter, Swiss
Re and the Selling Shareholder as set forth below in this Section 1.
(a)
The Company
and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement meet the requirements
for using Form S-3 under the Act. The Registration Statement (registration
No. 333-104876) has become effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose
are pending before or, to the knowledge of the Company, contemplated by the
Commission.
1202412.7
2 (b)
(i) The
Registration Statement, when it became effective, did not contain and, as
amended or supplemented, will not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Registration Statement
and the Final Prospectus comply and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable,
will comply in all material respects with the Act and the applicable rules
and regulations of the Commission thereunder and (iii) the Final Prospectus
does not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations
and warranties set forth in this paragraph 1(b) do not apply to statements
or omissions in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus made in
reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Underwriter
furnished to the Company in writing by the Underwriter through you expressly
for use therein. Each document filed or to be filed pursuant to the Exchange
Act, and incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus, did not contain
or will not contain when so filed any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading, and complied or will comply
when so filed in all material respects with the Exchange Act and the rules
and regulations of the Commission thereunder. No order preventing or suspending
the use of any Final Prospectus has been issued by the Commission and no proceedings
for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened or contemplated by the Commission. (c)
The Company
has been duly organized, is validly existing as a company in good standing
(including as an exempted company) under the laws of Bermuda, has the power
and authority to own, lease and operate its property and to conduct its business
as described in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus and is
duly registered, qualified and authorized to transact business and is in good
standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its
ownership, leasing or operation of property requires such registration, qualification
or authorization, except to the extent that the failure to be so registered,
qualified or authorized or be in good standing would not have a material adverse
effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or on the earnings, business
or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a Material
Adverse Effect). (d)
Partner
Reinsurance Company Ltd., a Bermuda company (Partner Reinsurance),
PartnerRe Reinsurance Company of the U.S. (PartnerRe U.S.) and
PartnerRe S.A., a French société
anonyme
(and, collectively with Partner Reinsurance and PartnerRe U.S., the Subsidiaries),
are each wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, except in the
case of PartnerRe S.A. for directors qualifying shares, and are the
only significant subsidiaries of the Company within the meaning
of Rule 405 under the Act. Each of the Subsidiaries has been duly organized,
is validly existing as a company, corporation or other legal entity, as the
case may be, in good standing (including, in the case of Partner Reinsurance,
as an exempted company) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization,
has the power and authority to own, lease and operate its property and to
conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement 1202412.7
3
and the Final Prospectus
and is duly registered, qualified and authorized to transact business and
is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business
or its ownership, leasing or operation of property requires such registration,
qualification or authorization, except to the extent that the failure to be
so registered, qualified or authorized or be in good standing would not have
a Material Adverse Effect; and all of the issued and outstanding shares of
capital stock of each Subsidiary have been duly authorized and are validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable and are, except in the case of PartnerRe
S.A. for directors qualifying shares, owned directly or indirectly by
the Company, free and clear of all security interests, liens, encumbrances,
equities or claims. (e)
All of
the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company (including the Securities)
have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable,
conform to the descriptions thereof contained in the Final Prospectus and
are not and will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.
(f)
This Agreement
has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. (g)
The Securities
have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange; and the Securities
have been registered under the Exchange Act. (h)
None of the
Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its certificate
of incorporation, memorandum of association or bye-laws or other organizational
documents, (ii) in violation of any law, ordinance, administrative or governmental
rule or regulation applicable to any of them or any of their respective properties
(except where any such violation or violations individually or in the aggregate
would not have a Material Adverse Effect), (iii) in violation of any judgment,
injunction, restraining order, decree or order of any nature (collectively,
any Order) of any court, tribunal, regulatory body, administrative
agency or other governmental body, commission, agency, or official, or any
arbitrator or self-regulatory organization (including, without limitation,
any insurance regulatory agency or body) (collectively, a Regulatory
Authority) having jurisdiction over any of them (except where any such
violation or violations individually or in the aggregate would not have a
Material Adverse Effect), or (iv) in default in the performance or observance
of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any bond,
debenture, note or any other evidence of indebtedness or in any contract,
agreement, indenture, lease or other instrument to which any of the Company
or the Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound or to which
any of their respective properties or assets is subject, and no condition
or state of facts exists which, with the passage of time or the giving of
notice or both, would constitute such a default (except where any such default
or defaults individually or in the aggregate would not have a Material Adverse
Effect). (i)
Neither the
execution and delivery by the Company of, or the performance by it of its
obligations under this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby will (A) conflict with or contravene any provision of
(i) any applicable statute, law, regulation, ruling or filing, (ii) the memorandum
of association,
1202412.7
4 certificate of incorporation,
bye-laws or other organizational documents of any of the Company or the Subsidiaries,
(iii) any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness or any agreement,
indenture, lease or other instrument to which any of the Company or the Subsidiaries
is a party or by which any of them is or may be bound or to which any of their
respective properties or assets is or may be subject, or (iv) any Order of
any Regulatory Authority that is applicable to any of the Company or the Subsidiaries
or any of their respective properties, except, with respect to the foregoing
clauses (i), (iii), and (iv), to the extent such conflict or contravention
would not have a Material Adverse Effect, or (B) result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets
of any of the Company or the Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of any agreement
or instrument to which any of them is a party or by which any of them is bound
or to which any of the property or assets of any of them is subject (except
where any such lien, charge or encumbrance would not have a Material Adverse
Effect). (j)
No consent,
approval, authorization or order of, qualification with, or registration or
filing with any Regulatory Authority applicable to the Company or any of its
properties is required for the performance by the Company of its obligations
under this Agreement, except such as may be required (1) for registrations
and filings under the Act or the Exchange Act, (2) under the Insurance Laws
(as defined below) or under the Investment Business Act 1998 of Bermuda, (3)
under the securities or Blue Sky or insurance securities laws of the various
states in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities and (4) Bermuda
Monetary Authority approval, all of which have been or will be effected on
or prior to the Closing Date. (k)
The consolidated
financial statements of the Company (together with related schedules and notes)
included in the Registration Statement and Final Prospectus comply as to form
in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the applicable
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and present fairly the
consolidated financial position of the Company as at the dates indicated and
the results of its operations and its cash flows for the periods specified;
such financial statements and related schedules and notes have been prepared
in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles
applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved. (l)
There has not
occurred any material adverse change or any development involving a prospective
material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings,
business, operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
from that set forth in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus
(exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date
of this Agreement). (m)
There
are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of any
of the Company or the Subsidiaries, threatened to which any of them is a party
or to which any of their respective properties is subject that are required
to be described in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus and
are not so described or any statutes, regulations, agreements, contracts,
indentures, leases, or other instruments or documents that are required to
be described in the Registration Statement or the Final 1202412.7
5
Prospectus or to
be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or to any documents incorporated
by reference therein that are not described or filed as required.
(n)
Each of the
Company and the Subsidiaries (i) is in compliance with the applicable requirements
of the insurance statutes, including the statutes relating to companies which
control insurance companies, and the rules, regulations and interpretations
of the insurance regulatory authorities thereunder (Insurance Laws)
of its jurisdiction of incorporation, and (ii) has filed all reports, information
statements, documents, and other information required to be filed thereunder,
except in the case of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) where the failure
to comply would not have a Material Adverse Effect; each of the Company and
its Subsidiaries (as applicable) maintains its books and records in accordance
with and is in compliance with the Insurance Laws of other jurisdictions which
are applicable to any of them, except where the failure to comply would not
have a Material Adverse Effect. (o)
Each of the
Company and the Subsidiaries possesses such consents, authorizations, approvals,
orders, franchises, licenses, certificates (including certificates of authority),
or permits issued by any regulatory agencies or bodies (collectively, Permits)
of and from, and has made all declarations and filings with, all Regulatory
Authorities which are necessary to conduct the business as described in the
Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus, except where the failure
to possess such Permits or to make such declarations or filings would not
have a Material Adverse Effect; all of such Permits are in full force and
effect, and neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries has received any notification
from any Regulatory Authority, in the United States, its jurisdiction of organization
or elsewhere concerning any alleged violation of the terms of, or proposed
proceeding to revoke or that could reasonably be expected to lead to the revocation,
modification, termination, suspension or any other material impairment of
the rights of the holder of any Permit or to the effect that any additional
Permit from such authority, commission or body is needed to be obtained by
any of them or that any of them is not in compliance with any applicable Insurance
Laws; and no insurance regulatory agency or body has issued any order or decree
impairing, restricting or prohibiting the payment of any dividends by either
of the Company or the Subsidiaries or the continuation of the business of
any of them as currently conducted. (p)
The Company
is not an investment company within the meaning of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended. (q)
There
are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any
person granting such person the right to require the Company to include any
securities of the Company with the Securities registered pursuant to the Registration
Statement or, except as described in the Final Prospectus and Registration
Statement, to file a registration statement under the Act with respect to
any securities of the Company, in each case, other than such rights as have
been waived. (r)
Each of
the Subsidiaries is duly registered as an insurer or reinsurer where it is
required to be so registered to conduct its business as described in the Registration
Statement and the Final Prospectus (except where the failure to be so registered
would
1202412.7
6 not have a Material
Adverse Effect) and is subject to regulation and supervision in its jurisdiction
of organization, and the Company is not required to be so registered. Each
of the Company and the Subsidiaries is duly licensed or admitted as an insurer,
reinsurer or an insurance holding company, as applicable, in each jurisdiction
where it is required to be so licensed or admitted to conduct its business
as described in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus, except
for where the failure to be so licensed or admitted would not have a Material
Adverse Effect. (s)
Any tax
returns required to be filed by either the Company or any of the Subsidiaries
in any jurisdiction have been filed, and any material taxes, including franchise
taxes and similar fees and any withholding taxes, penalties and interest,
assessments and fees and other charges due or claimed to be due from such
entities have been paid, other than any of those being contested in good faith
and for which adequate reserves have been provided or any of those currently
payable without penalty or interest. (t)
The statements
in the Final Prospectus under the headings Material Bermuda and United
States Federal Income Tax Consequences and Enforcement of Civil
Liabilities Under United States Federal Securities Laws insofar as such
statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed
therein, are accurate and fair summaries of such legal matters, agreements,
documents or proceedings. (u)
The Company
and Partner Reinsurance have each received from the Bermuda Minister of Finance
an assurance under The Exempted Undertakings Tax Protection Act, 1966 of Bermuda
to the effect set forth in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2002 under the caption BusinessTaxation
of the Company and its SubsidiariesBermuda, and neither the Company
nor Partner Reinsurance has received any notification to the effect (or is
otherwise aware) that such assurance may be revoked or otherwise not honored
by the Bermuda government. (v)
There
are no currency exchange control laws or withholding taxes of Bermuda that
would be applicable to the payment of dividends (i) on the Securities by the
Company, or (ii) by Partner Reinsurance to the Company. (w)
Deloitte
& Touche, who reported on the consolidated financial statements and supporting
schedules of the Company included or to be included in the Registration Statement
and the Final Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), is an independent
public accountant with respect to the Company as required by the Act.
(x)
The Company
maintains, and each of the Subsidiaries maintain, a system of internal accounting
controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions
are executed in accordance with managements general or specific authorization;
(ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting
principles and with statutory accounting principles, as the case may be, and
to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted
only in accordance with 1202412.7
7
managements
general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for
assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate
action is taken with respect to any differences. (y)
The Company
has duly, validly and irrevocably appointed PartnerRe U.S. Corporation as
its agent for the purposes described in Section 15 of this Agreement and to
receive service of process in actions against it arising out of or in connection
with violations of the U.S. Federal securities laws in any Federal court or
state court in the United States relating to the transactions covered by the
Final Prospectus. (z)
None of
the Company nor the Subsidiaries or any employee or agent thereof has made
any payment of funds or received or retained any funds in violation of any
law, rule or regulation, which payment, receipt or retention of funds is of
a character required to be disclosed in the Final Prospectus, except where
such payment, receipt or retention of funds would not have a Material Adverse
Effect. (aa)
Consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including but not limited
to any actions taken pursuant to the indemnification and contribution provisions
set forth herein, will not constitute unlawful financial assistance under
Bermuda law. Any
certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Underwriter
or counsel for the Underwriter in connection with the offering of the Securities
shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters
covered thereby, to the Underwriter. 2.
Representations
and Warranties of the Selling Shareholder and Swiss Re.
The Selling
Shareholder and Swiss Re jointly and severally represent and warrant to, and
agree with, the Underwriter and the Company as set forth below in this Section
2. (a)
The Selling
Shareholder is the record and beneficial owner of the Securities to be sold
by it hereunder
free and
clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities and claims and has duly endorsed
such Securities in blank or will deliver such Securities with stock powers
duly executed in blank, and, assuming that the Underwriter has no notice of
any adverse claims within the meaning of Section 8-105 of the Uniform Commercial
Code as in effect on the Closing Date in the State of New York (the "New York
UCC") with respect to the certificates representing the Securities, then,
upon delivery to the Underwriter of such certificates endorsed in blank by
an effective endorsement or stock powers duly executed in blank, the Underwriter
will acquire such certificates (and the shares represented thereby) free of
any adverse claims under Section 8-303 of the New York UCC. (b) Neither
Swiss Re nor the Selling Shareholder has taken, directly or indirectly, any
action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected
to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization
or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate
the sale or resale of the Securities.
1202412.7
8 (c)
No consent,
approval, authorization or order of qualification with, or registration or
filing with any Regulatory Authority applicable to the Selling Shareholder
or Swiss Re is required for the performance by the Selling Shareholder or
Swiss Re of its obligations under this Agreement, except such as may have
been obtained under the Act or the Exchange Act and such as may be required
under the Blue Sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the offer and
sale of the Securities by the Underwriter and such other approvals as have
been obtained. (d)
Neither the
sale of the Securities being sold by the Selling Shareholder nor the consummation
of any other of the transactions herein contemplated by the Selling Shareholder
or Swiss Re or the performance of its obligations hereunder by the Selling
Shareholder or Swiss Re will conflict with, result in a breach or violation
of, or constitute a default under (i) any applicable law, (ii) the charter
or bye-laws (or similar charter documents) of the Selling Shareholder or Swiss
Re, (iii) the terms of any indenture or other agreement or instrument to which
the Selling Shareholder or Swiss Re or any of its subsidiaries is a party
or bound, or (iv) any Order of any Regulatory Authority having jurisdiction
over the Selling Shareholder or Swiss Re or any of its subsidiaries, except
with respect to the foregoing clauses (i), (iii) and (iv), to the extent that
such conflict, breach, violation or default would not have a material adverse
effect on the ability of the Selling Shareholder or Swiss Re to perform its
obligations hereunder. (e)
The information
contained in the Schedule 13D of Swiss Re and the Selling Shareholder with
respect to the shares of Common Stock of the Company is true and correct in
all material respects as of the date hereof, as modified by Amendment No.
11 thereto, which amendment shall be substantially in the form provided to
the Underwriter and which shall be filed with the Commission on or before
May 8, 2003. (f)
This
Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the
Selling Shareholder and Swiss Re. (g)
Neither
the Underwriter nor any subsequent purchasers of the Securities (other than
purchasers resident in Bermuda for Bermuda exchange control purposes) is subject
to any stamp duty, excise or similar tax imposed in Bermuda in connection
with the offering, sale or purchase of the Securities. (h)
In
respect of any statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement
or the Final Prospectus or any supplements thereto made in reliance upon and
in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by the
Selling Shareholder specifically for use in connection with the preparation
thereof, the Selling Shareholder and Swiss Re hereby jointly and severally
make the same representations and warranties to the Underwriter as the Company
makes to the Underwriter under Section 1(b). The Company and the Underwriter
acknowledge that the only written information furnished to the Company by
the Selling Shareholder expressly for use in the Registration Statement and
the Final Prospectus is the information set forth in the table found under
the caption The Selling Shareholder therein (but not the percentages
set forth therein). 1202412.7
9
Any
certificate signed by any officer of the Selling Shareholder or Swiss Re and
delivered to the Underwriter or counsel for the Underwriter in connection with
the offering of the Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty
by the Selling Shareholder or Swiss Re, as the case may be, as to matters covered
thereby, to the Underwriter. 3.
Purchase and
Sale. Subject to the terms and conditions
and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the
Selling Shareholder agrees to sell to the Underwriter, and the Underwriter agrees
to purchase the Securities from the Selling Shareholder at a purchase price
of $52.50 per share. 4.
Delivery and
Payment. Delivery of and payment for
the Securities shall be made at 10:00 AM, New York City time, on May 9, 2003,
or at such time on such later date not more than three Business Days after the
foregoing date as the Underwriter shall designate, which date and time may be
postponed by agreement between the Underwriter, the Selling Shareholder and
Swiss Re (such date and time of delivery and payment for the Securities being
herein called the Closing Date). Delivery of the Securities shall
be made to the Underwriter for the account of the Underwriter against payment
by the Underwriter of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the
Selling Shareholder by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to an account
specified by the Selling Shareholder. Delivery of the Securities shall be made
through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Underwriter
shall otherwise instruct. The
Selling Shareholder shall pay all applicable state or Bermuda transfer taxes,
if any, involved in the transfer to the Underwriter of the Securities purchased
by it from the Selling Shareholder and the Underwriter shall pay any additional
stock transfer taxes involved in further transfers. 5.
Offering by
the Underwriter.
It is understood that the Underwriter proposes to offer the Securities for sale
to the public as set forth in the Final Prospectus. 6.
Agreements. (a)
The Company
agrees with the Underwriter that: (i)
The Company
will use its best efforts to cause any amendment to the Registration Statement,
if any, if not effective at the Execution Time, to become effective. Prior
to the termination of the offering of the Securities, the Company will not
file any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement (including
the Final Prospectus) to the Basic Prospectus or any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement unless the Company has furnished you a copy for your review prior
to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to
which you reasonably object. Subject to the foregoing sentence, if the Registration
Statement has become or becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430A, or filing
of the Final Prospectus is otherwise required under Rule 424(b), the Company
will cause the Final Prospectus, properly completed, and any supplement
thereto to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph
of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed and will
1202412.7
10 provide evidence
satisfactory to the Underwriter of such timely filing. The Company will
promptly advise the Underwriter (1) when any amendment to the Registration
Statement, if any, if not effective at the Execution Time, shall have become
effective, (2) when the Final Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall
have been filed (if required) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)
or when any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have been filed with
the Commission, (3) when, prior to termination of the offering of the Securities,
any amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed or become
effective, (4) of any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment
of the Registration Statement, or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement,
or for any supplement to the Final Prospectus or for any additional information,
(5) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement or the institution or threatening of any proceeding
for that purpose and (6) of the receipt by the Company of any notification
with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for
sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding
for such purpose. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance
of any such stop order or the suspension of any such qualification and,
if issued, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.
(ii)
If,
at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required to
be delivered under the Act, any event occurs as a result of which the Final
Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make
the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend the Registration
Statement or supplement the Final Prospectus to comply with the Act or the
Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder, the Company promptly will
(1) notify the Underwriter of such event, (2) prepare and file with the
Commission, subject to the second sentence of paragraph (a)(i) of this Section
6, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission
or effect such compliance and (3) supply any supplemented Final Prospectus
to you in such quantities as you may reasonably request. (iii)
As
soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its security
holders and to the Underwriter an earnings statement or statements of the
Company and its subsidiaries which will satisfy the provisions of Section
11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 under the Act. (iv)
The
Company will furnish to the Underwriter and counsel for the Underwriter,
without charge, conformed copies of the Registration Statement (including
exhibits thereto) and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by the Underwriter
or dealer may be required by the Act, as many copies of the Final Prospectus
and any supplement thereto as the Underwriter may reasonably request. The
Company will pay the expenses of printing or other production of all documents
relating to the offering. 1202412.7
11
(v)
The
Company will arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Securities
for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriter may designate,
will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the
distribution of the Securities; provided that in no event shall the Company
be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not
now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to material
taxation or service of process in suits, other than those arising out of
the offering or sale of the Securities, in any jurisdiction where it is
not now so subject. (vi)
The Company
will not, without the prior written consent of the Underwriter, offer, sell,
contract to sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of, (or enter into any transaction
which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the
disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition
due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Company or any Subsidiary) directly
or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of
a registration statement with the Commission in respect of, or establish
or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent
position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, any other
shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into, or exercisable,
or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock, or publicly announce an intention
to effect any such transaction, for a period of 45 days after the date of
this Agreement; provided, however,
that the Company may issue and sell Common Stock pursuant to any employee
stock option plan, stock ownership plan or dividend reinvestment plan of
the Company in effect at the Execution Time and the Company may issue Common
Stock issuable upon the conversion of securities, the exercise of warrants
outstanding at the Execution Time or the early settlement of the stock purchase
contracts related to the Companys PEPS Units. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Company shall be permitted to file a universal shelf registration
statement for securities to be issued by the Company from time to time thereunder,
provided that no shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities
convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for such capital stock
shall be offered or sold under such universal shelf registration statement
during the 45-day period referred to herein. (vii)
The
Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or
that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result
in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of
the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale
of the Securities. (b)
The
Selling Shareholder and Swiss Re jointly and severally agree with the Underwriter
that: (i)
Swiss Re will
not, without the prior written consent of the Underwriter, offer, sell,
contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any transaction
which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the
disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic
1202412.7
12 disposition due
to cash settlement or otherwise) by Swiss Re or any subsidiary of Swiss
Re, directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the
filing), or the exercise by or on behalf of Swiss Re of any registration
rights to effect the filing of, a registration statement with the Securities
and Exchange Commission in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent
position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the
meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to, any shares of
capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into, or exercisable
or exchangeable for such capital stock, or publicly announce an intention
to effect any such transaction, for a period of 45 days after the date of
this Agreement; provided, however, that (x) such consent shall not be required
with respect to transactions by subsidiaries of Swiss Re on behalf of their
third-party customers in the ordinary course of their business and (y) Swiss
Re and its affiliates may dispose of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
in connection with any redemption of Series A Preferred Stock by the Company.
(ii)
The Selling
Shareholder and Swiss Re will not take, directly or indirectly, any action
designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected
to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization
or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate
the sale or resale of the Securities. (c) The
Selling Shareholder will advise you promptly, and if requested by you, will
confirm such advice in writing, so long as a delivery of a prospectus relating
to the Securities by an underwriter or dealer may be required under the Act,
of any change in information in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus
relating to the Selling Shareholder. The Company and the Underwriter acknowledge
that the only written information furnished to the Company by the Selling
Shareholder expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Final
Prospectus is the information set forth in the table found under the caption
The Selling Shareholder therein (but not the percentages set forth
therein). 7.
Conditions
to the Obligations of the Underwriter.
The obligations of the Underwriter to purchase the Securities shall be subject
to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company,
Swiss Re and the Selling Shareholder contained herein as of the Execution Time
and the Closing Date, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company, Swiss
Re and the Selling Shareholder made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions
hereof, to the performance by the Company, Swiss Re and the Selling Shareholder
of their obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:
(a)
The
Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to the Securities
shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the
applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations
under the Act and in accordance with Section 6(a)(i) hereof; no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been
instituted or shall be pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, shall
be contemplated by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission
for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable
satisfaction of the Underwriter. 1202412.7
13
(b)
Subsequent to
the Execution Time and prior to the Closing Date: (i)
there shall
not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given
of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible
change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the
rating accorded the Companys securities which are rated as of the
date of this Agreement by A.M. Best & Co., Standard & Poors
Rating Services or Moodys Investor Services, Inc.; and (ii)
there shall
not have occurred any change, or any development involving a prospective
change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business
or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from
that set forth in the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or supplements
thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement) that, in your judgment,
is material and adverse and that makes it, in your judgment, impracticable
to market the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in
the Final Prospectus. (c)
The Underwriter
shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date
and signed by an executive officer of the Company, to the effect set forth
in Section 7(b)(i) above and to the effect that (A) the representations and
warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement are true and correct
as of the Closing Date and that the Company has complied with all of the agreements
and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied
hereunder on or before the Closing Date; and (B) there shall not have occurred
any change, or any development involving a prospective change in the condition,
financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the
Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the
Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto subsequent
to the date of this Agreement). (d)
The Underwriter
shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate dated the Closing Date
signed by an executive officer of each of the Selling Shareholder and Swiss
Re to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Selling Shareholder
or Swiss Re, as the case may be, in this Agreement are true and correct in
all material respects on and as of the Closing Date to the same effect as
if made on the Closing Date and that the Selling Shareholder or Swiss Re,
as the case may be, has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied
all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on
or before the Closing Date.
(e)
The Underwriter
shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell,
United States counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date and addressed
to you in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriter,
to the effect that: (i)
PartnerRe
U.S. is a company validly existing in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of organization and has full power and authority
1202412.7
14 to own or lease
its property and to conduct its business as described in the Final Prospectus;
(ii)
neither
the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of its obligations
under this Agreement, nor the compliance by the Company with the provisions
hereof, nor the consummation by the Company of any of the transactions contemplated
hereby will (A) conflict with or contravene any provision of (i) any applicable
statute, law, regulation, ruling or filing (assuming compliance by the Underwriter
with all applicable securities and Blue Sky laws) of any United States Federal
or New York Regulatory Authority (excluding insurance statutes, laws and
regulations and any rulings or filings of, by or with any insurance regulatory
authority), except to the extent that such conflict or contravention would
not have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) to the best of such counsels
knowledge, any agreement, indenture, lease or instrument to which any of
the Company or the Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound
or to which any of their respective properties or assets is subject, which
agreement, indenture, lease or instrument is, in each case, included as
an exhibit to the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2002, or (iii) to such counsels knowledge (and
based solely on review and discussion with the Companys general counsel),
any Order of any United States or New York Regulatory Authority (excluding
any rulings or filings of, by or with any insurance regulatory authority)
that is applicable to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any of their
respective properties except to the extent such conflict or contravention
would not have a Material Adverse Effect, or (B) to the best of such counsels
knowledge, result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance
upon any property or assets of any of the Company or the Subsidiaries pursuant
to the terms of any agreement or instrument to which any of them is a party
or by which any of them is bound or to which any of the property or assets
of any of them is subject, which agreement or instrument is, in each case,
included as an exhibit to the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2002; (iii)
no
consent, approval, authorization or order of, qualification with, or registration
or filing with any United States Federal or New York Regulatory Authority
(excluding any rulings or filings of, by or with any insurance regulatory
authority), is required for the performance by the Company of its obligations
under this Agreement, except for such consent, approvals, authorizations
and orders (1) as have been obtained and (2) as may be required under state
securities, Blue Sky or insurance laws of the various states in connection
with the offer and sale of the Securities; (iv)
the discussion
of United States tax matters set forth under the heading Material
Bermuda and United States Federal Income Tax Consequences in the Final
Prospectus accurately reflects such counsels opinion as to such tax
laws (subject to the qualifications and assumptions set forth in such discussion);
1202412.7
15
(v)
to
such counsels knowledge (and based solely on review and discussion
with the Companys general counsel), there are no legal or governmental
proceedings before or by any U.S. or New York Regulatory Authority (excluding
any insurance regulatory authority), now pending, contemplated or threatened
to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or to which any
of their respective properties is subject that is required to be described
in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus or any statutes, regulations
or orders that have been enacted, adopted or issued by any U.S. Federal
or New York Regulatory Authority (excluding any insurance regulatory authority)
or Orders by a U.S. Federal or New York court of competent jurisdiction
that have been issued, or any contracts, agreements, indentures, leases
or other documents or instruments, any of which are required to be described
in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus or to be filed as
exhibits to the Registration Statement or to any document incorporated by
reference therein that are not described or filed as required; (vi)
such
counsel have not themselves checked the accuracy, completeness or fairness
of, or otherwise verified, the information furnished with respect to matters
addressed in documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement
or the Final Prospectus. Such counsel have generally reviewed and discussed
with certain officers and employees of, and counsel and independent public
accountants for, the Company the information furnished, whether or not subject
to such counsels check and verification. On the basis of such consideration,
review and discussion, but without independent check or verification, nothing
has come to such counsels attention that causes them to believe that
any document incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and
the Final Prospectus (except for financial statements and the notes thereto
and schedules and other financial and statistical data included therein,
as to which such counsel need express no belief) did not comply as to form
in all material respects with the Exchange Act and the applicable rules
and regulations of the Commission thereunder when filed with the Commission;
(vii)
to the extent
that the laws of the State of New York are applicable, the Company has validly
and irrevocably submitted to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any United
States Federal or New York State court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan,
the City of New York, New York, over any suit, action or proceeding arising
out of or relating to this Agreement or the Securities, has validly and
irrevocably waived and agreed not to assert, to the fullest extent, it may
effectively do so under applicable law, by way of motion, as a defense or
otherwise, any claim that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of any such
court, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of
venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and
any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court
has been brought in an inconvenient forum; (viii)
the Company,
as provided in the Registration Statement, has duly and irrevocably appointed
PartnerRe U.S. Corporation, as its agent for the
1202412.7
16 purposes described
in Section 15 of this Agreement and to receive service of process in actions
against it arising out of or in connection with violations of the U.S. Federal
securities laws in any Federal court or state court in the United States
relating to transactions covered by the Final Prospectus; and (ix)
the Company
is not required to register as an investment company as such
term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
In addition, such
counsel shall state that, although they have not checked the accuracy, completeness
or fairness of, or otherwise verified, the information furnished with respect
to other matters in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus, such
counsel has participated in a general review and discussion with your representatives,
and with certain officers and employees of, and counsel and independent public
accountants for, the Company of the information furnished, whether or not
subject to such counsels check and verification, and on the basis of
such consideration, review and discussion, but without independent check or
verification except as stated above, nothing has come to such counsels
attention that causes them to believe that (i) the Registration Statement
or the Final Prospectus (except for the financial statements and financial
schedules and other financial and statistical data included therein, as to
which such counsel need express no belief) do not comply as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Act and the applicable rules
and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (ii) the Registration Statement
or the Basic Prospectus included therein (except for the financial statements
and financial schedules and other financial and statistical data included
therein, as to which such counsel need express no belief ) as of the date
of the Final Prospectus contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading or (iii) the Final Prospectus
(except as stated) as of its date or as of the Closing Date contained or contains
an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material
fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. In rendering their
opinion as aforesaid, counsel may, as to factual matters, rely upon written
certificates of officers of the Company and, as to matters of Bermuda law,
may rely upon the opinion of Christine Patton, the Companys general
counsel, referred to below and upon any other opinion or opinions, each dated
the Closing Date, of other counsel retained by the Company as to laws of any
jurisdiction other than the United States or the State of New York, provided
that (i) you are notified in advance of such counsels intention to rely
on local counsel and each such counsel is acceptable to you, (ii) such reliance
is expressly authorized by each opinion so relied upon and a copy of each
such opinion is delivered to you and is, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to you and to counsel for the Underwriter, and (iii) counsel
shall state in their opinion that they believe that they and the Underwriter
are justified in relying on such local counsel opinion. Such counsel may also
make such assumptions, and express their opinion to be subject to such reservations,
as shall be reasonably satisfactory to your counsel. 1202412.7
17
(f)
The
Underwriter shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Stroock
& Stroock & Lavan, LLP, special insurance regulatory counsel to the
Company, dated the Closing Date and addressed to you in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriter, to the effect that:
(i)
neither
the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of its obligations
under this Agreement, nor the compliance by the Company with the provisions
hereof, nor the consummation by the Company of any of the transactions contemplated
hereby will conflict with or contravene any provision of any applicable
insurance statute, law or regulation, or any ruling or filing of or with
any United States federal or New York State insurance regulatory authority,
except to the extent that such conflict or contravention would not have
a Material Adverse Effect; (ii)
no
consent, approval, authorization or order of, qualification with, or registration
or filing with any United States federal or New York State insurance regulatory
authority is required for the performance by the Company of its obligations
under this Agreement, except for such consent, approvals, authorizations
and orders as have been obtained; (iii)
to
such counsels knowledge (and based solely on review and discussion
with the Companys general counsel), there are no legal or governmental
proceedings before or by any United States federal or New York insurance
regulatory authority now pending, contemplated or threatened to which any
of the Company or the Subsidiaries is a party or to which any of their respective
properties is subject that is required to be described in the Registration
Statement or the Final Prospectus; and (iv)
to the best
of such counsels knowledge, there are no United States federal or
New York insurance statutes or regulations or orders that have been enacted,
adopted or issued by any U.S. or New York insurance regulatory authority
that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Final
Prospectus that are not described as required. (g)
The Underwriter
shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Bredin Prat, French
counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date and addressed to you in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriter, to the
effect that: (i)
PartnerRe
S.A. is a société
anonyme
duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the Republic of France
and has full power and authority to own or lease its property and to conduct
its business as described in the Final Prospectus; (ii)
neither
the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of its obligations
under this Agreement, nor the compliance by the Company with the provisions
hereof, nor the consummation by the Company of any of the
1202412.7
18 transactions contemplated
hereby will conflict with or contravene any provision of (A) any applicable
statute, law, regulation, ruling or filing (assuming compliance by the Underwriter
with all applicable securities laws) of any French Regulatory Authority,
except to the extent that such conflict or contravention would not have
a Material Adverse Effect or (B) to such counsels knowledge (based
solely on review and discussion with the Companys general counsel),
any Order of any French Regulatory Authority that is applicable to any of
the Company or the Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties except
to the extent such conflict or contravention would not have a Material Adverse
Effect; In rendering their
opinion as aforesaid, counsel may, as to factual matters, rely upon written
certificates of officers of the Company and, as to matters of law, may rely
upon the opinion of Christine Patton, the Companys general counsel,
referred to below and upon any other opinion or opinions, each dated the Closing
Date, of other counsel retained by the Company as to laws of any jurisdiction
other than the Republic of France, provided that (i) you are notified in advance
of such counsels intention to rely on local counsel and each such counsel
is acceptable to you, (ii) such reliance is expressly authorized by each opinion
so relied upon and a copy of each such opinion is delivered to you and is,
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to you and to counsel for the
Underwriter, and (iii) counsel shall state in their opinion that they believe
that they and the Underwriter are justified in relying on such local counsel
opinion. Such counsel may also make such assumptions, and express their opinion
to be subject to such reservations, as shall be reasonably satisfactory to
your counsel. (h)
The
Underwriter shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Christine
Patton, general counsel to the Company, dated the Closing Date, and addressed
to you in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriter,
to the effect that: (i)
each of the
Company and Partner Reinsurance is a company duly organized and validly
existing in good standing (including as an exempted company) under the laws
of Bermuda, has requisite power and authority and such Permits of any Regulatory
Authority in Bermuda (a Bermuda Regulatory Authority) necessary
to own, lease and operate its property and to conduct its business as described
in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus, which remain in
full force and effect, except to the extent that the failure to be in good
standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii)
the Company
has the power and authority to enter into this Agreement; the execution,
delivery and performance of its obligations under this Agreement by the
Company have been duly and validly authorized by the Company; this Agreement
has been duly executed and delivered by the Company; (iii)
the
authorized shares of capital stock of the Company is as set forth under
the caption Capitalization in the Final Prospectus and conforms
in all material respects as to Bermuda legal matters to the description
thereof contained in the Final Prospectus; and the shares of capital stock
of the Company 1202412.7
19
(including the
Securities) have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid
and non-assessable (meaning that no further sums are required to be paid
by the holders thereof in connection with the issue of such shares) and
all such shares of the Subsidiaries are registered in the name of the Company
or a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, except in the case of PartnerRe
S.A. for directors qualifying shares; based solely on a search of
the Register of Charges maintained by the Registrar of Companies pursuant
to Sections 55 and 61 of the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda, as amended (the
Companies Act), there are no registered liens, encumbrances,
equities or claims in the Register of Charges in respect of the issued shares
of the Company or Partner Reinsurance; (iv)
neither
the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of its obligations
under this Agreement nor the compliance by the Company with the provisions
hereof, nor the consummation by the Company of any of the transactions contemplated
hereby will (A) conflict with or contravene any provision of (i) any applicable
statute, law, regulation or published ruling or Order of any Bermuda Regulatory
Authority in any material respect that is applicable to the Company or Partner
Reinsurance or any of their respective properties or (ii) the memorandum
of association, certificate of incorporation, bye-laws or other organizational
documents of the Company or Partner Reinsurance or (B) result in the imposition
of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company
or Partner Reinsurance in Bermuda; (v)
no
consent, approval, authorization or order of, qualification with, or registration
or filing with any Bermuda Regulatory Authority is required for the performance
by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement that has not been
obtained or effected; (vi)
Partner Reinsurance
is duly registered as a Class 4 insurer under the Bermuda Insurance Act
1978, as amended, and any applicable rules and regulations thereunder (the
Bermuda Insurance Act), and is subject to regulation and supervision
in Bermuda and the Company is not required to be registered as an insurance
company under the Bermuda Insurance Act; (vii)
the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including but not limited
to any actions taken pursuant to the indemnification and contribution provisions
contained herein) will not, subject to Section 39A(2A) of the Companies
Act, constitute unlawful financial assistance by the Company or Partner
Reinsurance under Bermuda law; (viii)
all statements
made (A) in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus (including
the documents incorporated therein by reference) with respect to (1) the
Securities (insofar as such statements relate to matters of Bermuda law),
(2) the memorandum of association, bye-laws or other organizational documents
of the Company or Partner Reinsurance, (3) statutes, regulations, rules,
treaties and other laws of Bermuda (including, but not limited to, statements
made with respect to insurance, regulatory and tax matters and to
1202412.7
20 the Bermuda Insurance
Act), (4) enforcement of judgments in Bermuda and (5) the statements related
to Bermuda or the documents governed by Bermuda law made under the headings
Description of our Capital Shares, and Material Bermuda
and United States Federal Income Tax Consequences (B) in the Registration
Statement in Item 15 with respect to the Company and (C) in the descriptions
of the Common Stock incorporated by reference into the Final Prospectus,
in each case insofar as such statements constitute summaries of documents
referred to therein, fairly and accurately present the information set forth
therein and such counsels opinion as to such matter; (ix)
the Company
and Partner Reinsurance have each received from the Bermuda Minister of
Finance an assurance of tax exemption under The Exempted Undertakings Tax
Protection Act 1966 of Bermuda to the effect set forth in the Companys
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 under the
caption BusinessRegulationTaxation of the Company and
its SubsidiariesBermuda; (x)
there
are no currency exchange control laws or withholding taxes of Bermuda that
would be applicable to the payment of dividends on the Securities by the
Company or by Partner Reinsurance to the Company; (xi)
the
Company, as provided in the Registration Statement, has duly and irrevocably
appointed PartnerRe U.S. Corporation as its agent for the purposes described
in Section 15 of this Agreement and to receive service of process in actions
against it arising out of or in connection with violations of the U.S. Federal
securities laws in any Federal court or state court in the United States
relating to transactions covered by the Final Prospectus and such appointment
is valid under Bermuda law; (xii)
under
the laws of Bermuda, the submission by the Company to the non-exclusive
jurisdiction of any United States Federal or New York State court sitting
in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, over any suit,
action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the
Securities, its waiver and agreement not to assert by way of motion, as
a defense or otherwise, any claim that it is not subject to the jurisdiction
of any such court, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the
laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such
court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in
any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum and the appointment
of PartnerRe U.S. Corporation as its authorized agent for the purposes described
in Section 15 of this Agreement are valid and binding; and service of process
effected in the manner set forth in Section 15 of this Agreement will be
effective under the laws of Bermuda to confer personal jurisdiction over
each of the Company and the Subsidiaries, assuming this to be the case under
the laws of the State of New York; (xiii)
the choice
of the laws of New York as the governing law of this Agreement is a valid
and effective choice of law; the Underwriter would be 1202412.7
21
permitted to commence
proceeding in a court of competent jurisdiction in Bermuda based on or arising
under this Agreement; and the laws of New York would be recognized and applied
by such court as the laws governing this Agreement; (xiv)
in order to
ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence
of the Final Prospectus and this Agreement, it is not necessary that any
document be filed, recorded or enrolled with any Bermuda Regulatory Authority
or that any stamp duties, registration or similar tax or charge be paid
in Bermuda; (xv)
a final and
conclusive judgment of a New York State or a Federal Court against the Company
or any Subsidiary based upon this Agreement, under which a sum of money
is payable (not being a sum payable in respect of taxes or other charges
of a like nature or in respect of a fine or other penalty or in respect
of multiple damages as defined in the Protection of Trading Interest Act,
1981) may be the subject of enforcement proceedings in the Supreme Court
of Bermuda under the common law doctrine of Obligation and by action for
the debt evidenced by the foreign Courts judgment. A final opinion
as to the availability of this remedy should be sought when the facts surrounding
the United States court s judgment are known, but, on general principles
such counsel would expect such proceedings to be successful provided that:
(1)
the
court that gave the judgment was competent to hear the action in accordance
with private international law principles as applied by the courts in
Bermuda (and, as at the date hereof, we believe that a Court in Bermuda
would determine that any New York State or Federal Court sitting in the
City of New York is so competent); and (2)
the judgment
is not contrary to public policy in Bermuda and was not obtained by fraud
or in proceedings contrary to the rules of natural justice of Bermuda.
Such counsel does not believe that any provisions of this Agreement would
be so contrary; (xvi)
there
are no legal or governmental proceedings of any Bermuda Regulatory Authority
pending or, to the best of such counsels knowledge, threatened against
any of the Company or Partner Reinsurance or to which any of them or any
of their respective properties is subject, based solely on (i) a certificate
given by a director of the Company and (ii) a search of the public records
of the Company and Partner Reinsurance, maintained by the Registrar of Companies
and the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Bermuda; and (xvii)
except
as disclosed in the Final Prospectus, there are no preemptive or other rights
to subscribe for or to purchase or any restriction upon the voting or transfer
of, any shares of capital stock of the Company or Partner Reinsurance pursuant
to the Companys or Partner Reinsurances memorandum
1202412.7
22 of association,
certificate of incorporation, bye-laws or other organizational documents,
respectively. In rendering her
opinion as aforesaid, counsel may, as to factual matters, rely upon written
certificates of officers of the Company or the Subsidiaries and, as to matters
of law, may rely upon an opinion or opinions, each dated the Closing Date,
of other counsel retained by the Company as to laws of any jurisdiction other
than Bermuda, provided that (i) you are notified in advance of such counsels
intention to rely on local counsel and each such local counsel is acceptable
to you, (ii) such reliance is expressly authorized by each opinion so relied
upon and a copy of each such opinion is delivered to you and is, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to you and to counsel for the Underwriter,
and (iii) counsel shall state in her opinion that she believes that she and
the Underwriter are justified in relying on such local counsel opinion. Such
counsel may also make such assumptions, and express her opinion to be subject
to such reservations, as shall be reasonably satisfactory to your counsel.
In her opinion, counsel shall expressly authorize Davis Polk & Wardwell
and Willkie Farr & Gallagher to rely on said opinion. (i)
The
Underwriter shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Skadden,
Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, United States counsel for the Selling
Shareholder, dated the Closing Date, and addressed to you in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriter, to the effect that:
(i)
assuming
that the Underwriter has no notice of any adverse claims with respect to
the certificates set forth on an annex to such opinion, each registered
in the name of the Selling Shareholder
and evidencing an aggregate of
8,340,731 common shares of
the Company,
then, upon delivery to the Underwriter of such certificates indorsed in
blank by an effective indorsement, the Underwriter will acquire such certificates
(and the shares represented thereby) free of any adverse claims under Section
8-303 of the New York UCC. As used in such opinion, "notice of adverse claim"
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8-105 of the
New York UCC, and includes, without limitation, any claim which
the Underwriter would discover upon any investigation which such person
has a duty, imposed by statute or regulation, to investigate; (ii)
no
Governmental Approval which has not been obtained or made, and is not in
full force and effect, is required for the sale of the Securities by the
Selling Shareholder pursuant to this Agreement; and (iii)
the execution
and delivery by the Selling Shareholder of this Agreement, and the consummation
by the Selling Shareholder of the transactions contemplated hereby, including
the sale and delivery of the Securities being sold by the Selling Shareholder,
will not violate or conflict with, or result in any contravention of, any
Applicable Law or any Applicable Order. As used in such opinion, (i) "Applicable
Laws" shall mean those laws, rules and regulations of the State of New York
and the federal laws of the United States of America, in each case, which,
in such counsel's experience, are normally applicable to transactions of
the type contemplated by this Agreement (other than the United States state
1202412.7
23
and foreign securities
or blue sky laws and the rules and regulations of the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc.), without such counsel having made any special
investigation as to the applicability of any specific law, rule or regulation;
(ii) "Governmental Authorities" means any court, regulatory body, administrative
agency or governmental body of the State of New York or the United States
of America having jurisdiction over the Selling Shareholder under Applicable
Laws; (iii) "Governmental Approval" means any consent, approval, license,
authorization or validation of, or filing, qualification or registration
with, any Governmental Authority required to be made or obtained by the
Selling Shareholder pursuant to Applicable Laws, other than any consent,
approval, license, authorization, validation, filing, qualification or registration
which may have become applicable as a result of the involvement of any other
party (other than the Selling Shareholder) in the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement or because of such parties' legal or regulatory status
or because of any other facts specifically pertaining to such parties; and
(iv) "Applicable Orders" means those judgments, orders or decrees, if any,
to be identified on a schedule to such counsel's opinion. In
rendering their opinion as aforesaid, counsel may, as to factual matters, rely
upon written certificates of officers of the Selling Shareholder and, as to
matters of Bermuda law, may rely upon the opinion of Appleby Spurling &
Kempe referred to below and upon any other opinion or opinions, each dated the
Closing Date, of other counsel retained by the Selling Shareholder as to laws
of any jurisdiction other than the United States or the State of New York, provided
that (i) you are notified in advance of such counsels intention to rely
on local counsel and each such counsel is acceptable to you, (ii) such reliance
is expressly authorized by each opinion so relied upon and a copy of each such
opinion is delivered to you and is, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to you and to counsel for the Underwriter, and (iii) counsel shall state in
their opinion that they believe that they and the Underwriter are justified
in relying on such local counsel opinion. Such counsel may also make such assumptions,
and express their opinion to be subject to such reservations, as shall be reasonably
satisfactory to your counsel. (j)
The
Underwriter shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Appleby
Spurling & Kempe, Bermuda counsel for the Selling Shareholder, dated the
Closing Date, and addressed to you in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to counsel for the Underwriter, to the effect that: (i) this
Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Selling
Shareholder and the Selling Shareholder has full legal right and authority
to sell, transfer and deliver in the manner provided in this Agreement the
Securities being sold by the Selling Shareholder hereunder; (ii)
no consent,
approval, authorization or order of qualification with, or registration
or filing with any Bermuda Regulatory Authority applicable to the Selling
Shareholder is required for the performance by the Selling Shareholder of
its obligations under this Agreement, except such approvals as have been
obtained;
1202412.7
24 (iii)
neither
the sale of the Securities being sold by the Selling Shareholder nor the
consummation of any other of the transactions herein contemplated by the
Selling Shareholder or the fulfillment of the terms hereof by the Selling
Shareholder will conflict with or contravene any provisions of (A) any applicable
statute, law, regulation or published ruling or Order of any Bermuda Regulatory
Authority in any material respect that is applicable to the Company or (B)
the charter or bye-laws of the Selling Shareholder; and (iv)
neither the
Underwriter nor any subsequent purchasers of the Securities are subject
to any stamp duty, excise or similar tax imposed in Bermuda in connection
with the offering, sale or purchase of the Securities. In
rendering their opinion as aforesaid, counsel may, as to factual matters, rely
upon written certificates of officers of the Selling Shareholder and, as to
matters of U.S. Federal of New York law, may rely upon the opinion of Skadden,
Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, referred to above and upon any other opinion
or opinions, each dated the Closing Date, of other counsel retained by the Selling
Shareholder as to laws of any jurisdiction other than Bermuda, provided that
(i) you are notified in advance of such counsels intention to rely on
local counsel and each such counsel is acceptable to you, (ii) such reliance
is expressly authorized by each opinion so relied upon and a copy of each such
opinion is delivered to you and is, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to you and to counsel for the Underwriter, and (iii) counsel shall state in
their opinion that they believe that they and the Underwriter are justified
in relying on such local counsel opinion. Such counsel may also make such assumptions,
and express their opinion to be subject to such reservations, as shall be reasonably
satisfactory to your counsel. (k)
The Underwriter
shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Markus U. Diethelm,
Chief Legal Officer of Swiss Re, dated the Closing Date, and addressed to
you in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriter,
to the effect that: (i)
Swiss
Re has the power and authority to enter into this Agreement, and this Agreement
has been duly executed and delivered by Swiss Re; and (ii)
To
the best of his knowledge, neither the sale of the Securities being sold
by the Selling Shareholder, nor the consummation of any other of the transactions
herein contemplated by Swiss Re or the Selling Shareholder, will in any
material respect conflict with, result in a breach or violation of, or constitute
a default under (A) any material Swiss statute, law, regulation, published
ruling or Order of any Regulatory Authority in Switzerland (assuming compliance
by the Underwriter with all applicable securities law) that is applicable
to Swiss Re; (B) the articles of association of Swiss Re; or (C) the terms
of any material indenture or other agreement or instrument known to such
counsel and to which Swiss Re or the Selling Shareholder is a party or bound,
except to the extent that any such conflict, breach, violation or default
as set forth in clause (A) or (C) would not have a material adverse effect
on the ability of Swiss Re to perform its obligations hereunder.
1202412.7
25
(l)
The Underwriter
shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Willkie Farr & Gallagher,
counsel for the Underwriter, dated the Closing Date in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriter. The
opinions of Davis Polk & Wardwell described in paragraph 7(e), of Stroock
& Stroock & Lavan, LLP described in paragraph 7(f), of Bredin Prat described
in paragraph 7(g), and of Christine Patton described in paragraph 7(h) above
shall be rendered to the Underwriter at the request of the Company and shall
so state therein. The opinions of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
described in paragraph 7(i), Appleby Spurling & Kempe described in paragraph
7(j) above and Markus U. Diethelm described in paragraph 7(k), shall be rendered
to the Underwriter at the request of Swiss Re and the Selling Shareholder and
shall so state therein. (m)
The Underwriter
shall have received, on each of the date hereof and on the Closing Date, a
letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form
and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter, from Deloitte & Touche,
independent chartered accountants, containing statements and information of
the type ordinarily included in accountants comfort letters
to underwriters with respect to the financial statement and certain financial
information contained in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus.
(n)
The
Securities shall have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange.
(o)
The
lock-up agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit
A hereto, between you and certain executive officers and directors of the
Company relating to sales and certain other dispositions of shares of Common
Stock or certain other securities, delivered to you on or before the date
hereof, shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date.
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):
May 6, 2003
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Bermuda
0-2253
Not Applicable
(State or Other
Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)(Commission File
Number)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
(441) 292-0888
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
99.1
Underwriting
Agreement relating to the offering by the Selling Shareholder of 8,340,731 of the Companys
common shares, par value $1.00 per share, dated May 6, 2003, among the Company, the
Selling Shareholder, Swiss Reinsurance Company and Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
PartnerRe
Ltd.
(Registrant)
By:
/s/ Christine
Patton
Name:
Christine Patton
Title: General Counsel
Exhibit
No. Description
99.1
Underwriting Agreement relating to the offering by the Selling Shareholder of 8,340,731 of the Companys
common shares, par value $1.00 per share, dated May 6, 2003, among the Company, the
Selling Shareholder, Swiss Reinsurance Company and Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
($1.00 par value)
May 6, 2003
388 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10013
(p) The Company, the Selling Shareholder and Swiss Re shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to you such further certificates and documents as you shall have reasonably requested.
If any of the conditions specified in this Section 7 shall not have been fulfilled in all material respects when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be in all material respects reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Underwriter and counsel for the Underwriter, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriter hereunder may be canceled on the Closing Date by the Underwriter (or any date subsequent to the last date designated as a Closing Date in Section 4 hereof). Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company, Swiss Re and the Selling Shareholder in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.
The documents required to be delivered by this Section 7 shall be delivered at the office of Willkie Farr & Gallagher, counsel for the Underwriter, at 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York, on the Closing Date.
1202412.7
26
8. Reimbursement of Underwriters Expenses. If the sale of the Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriter set forth in Section 7 hereof is not satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 10 hereof or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company, Swiss Re or the Selling Shareholder to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriter, the Company will reimburse the Underwriter on demand for all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriter) that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Securities; provided, however, that all fees and expenses related to the review of the offering by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. will be for the account of Swiss Re and the Selling Shareholder.
9. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees and agents of the Underwriter and each person who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the registration statement for the registration of the Securities at the time it became effective or in any amendment thereof, or in the Basic Prospectus, or the Final Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein; provided, further, that the foregoing indemnity agreement with respect to the Basic Prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of the Underwriter, or any person controlling such Underwriter, if a copy of the Final Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendment or supplement thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of the Underwriter to such person, if required by law to have been so delivered, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of the Securities sold by the Company to such person, and if the Final Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such losses, claims, damages or liabilities. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.
(b) The Selling Shareholder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement, the Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees and agents of the Underwriter and each person who controls the Company or the Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Underwriter, but only with reference to the information set forth in the
1202412.7
27
table found under the caption The Selling Shareholder therein (but not the percentages set forth therein). This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Selling Shareholder may otherwise have.
(c) The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and the Selling Shareholder and Swiss Re, each of their directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls either the Selling Shareholder or Swiss Re within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Underwriter, but only with reference to written information relating to the Underwriter furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriter specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Underwriter may otherwise have. The Company acknowledges that the statements set forth in the last paragraph of the cover page regarding delivery of the Securities and, under the heading Underwriting, the paragraphs related to stabilization, and syndicate covering transactions in the Final Prospectus constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Underwriter for inclusion in the Final Prospectus.
(d) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 9 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 9, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure materially prejudices substantial rights or defenses of the indemnifying party and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying partys choice at the indemnifying partys expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying partys election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at
1202412.7
28
the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party or parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.
(e) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) (b) or (c) of this Section 9 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, the Company, the Selling Shareholder and the Underwriter agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending same) (collectively Losses) to which the Company, the Selling Shareholder and the Underwriter may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Shareholder on the one hand and by the Underwriter on the other from the offering of the Securities; provided, however, that in no case shall the Underwriter be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount or commission applicable to the Securities purchased by the Underwriter under this Agreement. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company, the Selling Shareholder and the Underwriter shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company and the Selling Shareholder on the one hand and of the Underwriter on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company and by the Selling Shareholder shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by them, and benefits received by the Underwriter shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, in each case as set forth on the cover page of the Final Prospectus. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Company and the Selling Shareholder on the one hand or the Underwriter on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company, the Selling Shareholder and the Underwriter agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (e), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 9, each person who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of the Underwriter shall have the same rights to contribution as the Underwriter, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration
1202412.7
29
Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (e).
(f) The liability of the Selling Shareholder and Swiss Re under the representations and warranties of the Selling Shareholder and Swiss Re contained in Section 2 hereof and under the indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 9 shall be limited to an amount equal to the net proceeds received by the Selling Shareholder from the sale of the Securities to the Underwriter. The Company and the Selling Shareholder may agree, as among themselves and without limiting the rights of the Underwriter under this Agreement, as to the respective amounts of such liability for which they each shall be responsible.
10. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Underwriter, by notice given to the Company, the Selling Shareholder and Swiss Re prior to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if at any time prior to such time (i) trading in the Common Stock shall have been suspended by the Commission or the New York Stock Exchange or trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such Exchange, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by Federal or New York State authorities or (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Underwriter, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).
11. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company, Swiss Re and the Selling Shareholder or their officers and of the Underwriter set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriter, Swiss Re, the Selling Shareholder or the Company or any of the officers, directors, employees, agents or controlling persons referred to in Section 9 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. The provisions of Sections 8 and 9 hereof shall survive the termination or cancelation of this Agreement.
12. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Underwriter, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to the General Counsel (fax no.: (212) 816-7912) and confirmed to it at Citigroup Global Markets Inc., 388 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013, Attention: General Counsel; or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to the General Counsel (441-292-7010) and confirmed to it at PartnerRe Ltd., 96 Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke HM 08, Bermuda, Attention: General Counsel; or if sent to the Selling Shareholder, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed and confirmed to it at SwissRe Capital Management (Bermuda) Ltd., (fax no.: (___) _____ ), Mint Flower Place 8, Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton HM GX, Bermuda, Attention: General Counsel; or if sent to Swiss Re, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed and confirmed to it at Swiss Reinsurance Company, (fax no.: (___) _____ ), 50/60 Mythenquai, CH-8022 Zurich, Switzerland, Attention: General Counsel.
1202412.7
30
13. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers, directors, employees, agents and controlling persons referred to in Section 9 hereof, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.
14. Applicable Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York.
15. Judicial Proceedings. (a) Each of the Company, the Selling Shareholder and Swiss Re expressly accepts and irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the United States Federal or New York State court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, New York, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Securities. To the fullest extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, each of the Company, the Selling Shareholder and Swiss Re irrevocably waives and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, any claim that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
(b) Each of the Company, the Selling Shareholder and Swiss Re agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that a judgment in any suit, action or proceeding of the nature referred to in Section 15(a) brought in any such court shall be conclusive and binding upon it, subject to rights of appeal and may be enforced in the courts of the United States of America or the State of New York (or any other court the jurisdiction to which the Company is or may be subject) by a suit upon such judgment.
(c) The Company irrevocably designates and appoints PartnerRe U.S. Corporation, and each of the Selling Shareholder and Swiss Re irrevocably designates and appoints Swiss Re Financial Services Corporation (55 East 52nd Street, 41st Floor, New York, New York 10055, (fax no.: (___)_____)), as its authorized agent, upon whom process may be served in any suit, action or proceeding of the nature referred to in Section 15(a) by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the agent at the addresses specified herein or in Section 12. Each of the Company, the Selling Shareholder and Swiss Re agrees that such service (i) shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon it in every suit, action or proceeding and (ii) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be taken and held to be valid personal service upon and personal delivery to it. Notices hereunder shall be conclusively presumed received as evidenced by a delivery receipt furnished by the United States Postal Service or any commercial delivery service.
(d) Nothing in this Section 15 shall affect the right of the Underwriter to serve process in any manner permitted by law, or limit any right to bring proceedings against any of the Company, the Selling Shareholder or Swiss Re in the courts of any jurisdiction
1202412.7
31
or to enforce in any lawful manner a judgment obtained in one jurisdiction in any other jurisdiction.
16. Undertaking by Swiss Re. Swiss Re shall cause the Selling Shareholder to perform when due all of its obligations under this Agreement.
17. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
18. Headings. The section headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
19. Definitions. The terms which follow, when used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated.
Act shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Basic Prospectus shall mean the prospectus referred to in paragraph 1(a) above contained in the Registration Statement at the Effective Date.
Business Day shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City.
Commission shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Effective Date shall mean each date and time that the Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement became or become effective.
Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Execution Time shall mean the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto.
Final Prospectus shall mean the prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that was first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the Execution Time, together with the Basic Prospectus.
Registration Statement shall mean the registration statement referred to in paragraph 1(a) above, including exhibits and financial statements, as amended at the Execution Time (or, if not effective at the Execution Time, in the form in which it shall become effective) and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement becomes effective prior to the Closing Date, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended or such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, as the case may be. Such
1202412.7
32
term shall include any Rule 430A Information deemed to be included therein at the Effective Date as provided by Rule 430A.
Rule 415, Rule 424, Rule 430A and Rule 462 refer to such rules under the Act.
Rule 430A Information shall mean information with respect to the Securities and the offering thereof permitted to be omitted from the Registration Statement when it becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430A.
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall mean a registration statement and any amendments thereto filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) relating to the offering covered by the registration statement referred to in Section 1(a) hereof.
1202412.7
33
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company, the Selling Shareholder, Swiss Re and the Underwriter.
Very truly yours, |
PARTNERRE LTD. |
By: | Albert Benchimol |
Name: Albert Benchimol Title: Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer |
SWISSRE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT (BERMUDA) LTD. |
||
By: | /s/ Helmut Brechot
|
|
Name:
Helmut Brechot Title: Member of the Board of Directors |
||
By: | /s/ Ulrich Ackermann
|
|
Name:
Ulrich Ackermann Title: CFO & Vice President |
||
SWISS REINSURANCE COMPANY | ||
By: | /s/ Peter Gujer
|
|
Name:
Peter Gujer Title: Managing Director |
||
By: | /s/ Andre Pfanner
|
|
Name:
Andre Pfanner Title: Member of Senior Management |
1202412.7
34
The foregoing
Agreement is hereby
confirmed and accepted as of the date first
above written.
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
By: | /s/ Gautam Chawla |
Name: Gautam Chawla Title: Director |
35
[Form of Lock-Up Agreement] | EXHIBIT A |
Lockup Agreement
PartnerRe Ltd.
Public Offering of Common Stock
May __, 2003
Citigroup Global Markets
Inc.
388 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10013
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter is being delivered to you in connection with the proposed Underwriting Agreement (the Underwriting Agreement) to be entered into on or shortly following the date hereof among PartnerRe Ltd., a Bermuda company (the Company), SwissRe Capital Management (Bermuda) Ltd., a Bermuda company (the Selling Shareholder) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Swiss Reinsurance Company, a Swiss company (Swiss Re), and Swiss Re and you as the Underwriter, relating to an underwritten public offering of Common Shares, $1.00 par value (the Common Stock), of the Company beneficially owned by the Selling Shareholder.
In order to induce you to enter into the Underwriting Agreement, the undersigned will not, without your prior written consent, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the undersigned or any affiliate of the undersigned) directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing), or the exercise by or on behalf of the undersigned of any registration rights to effect the filing of, a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder with respect to, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for such capital stock, or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, for a period of 45 days after the date of the Underwriting Agreement.
The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (a) transactions relating to shares of Common Stock or other securities acquired in open market transactions after the completion of
1202412.7
36
the public offering contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, (b) sales or surrenders of options or securities to the Company in payment of the exercise price of options granted pursuant to the Companys stock option or stock purchase plans, (c) transfers to an affiliate of the undersigned (provided that any such affiliate agrees to be bound by the terms of this Lock-Up Agreement) or (d) dispositions of Common Stock or other securities of the Company by gift to members of the undersigneds immediate family, to trusts established for the benefit of members of the undersigneds immediate family, or to charitable organizations (provided that any such person, trust, or charitable organization agrees as a condition to receiving such gifts to be bound by the terms of this Lock-Up Agreement).1
1 | Carveout to be added for dispositions in the aggregate not to exceed 60,000 shares and 67,000 shares for Albert Benchimol and Scott Moore, respectively. |
1202412.7
37
If for any reason the Underwriting Agreement shall be terminated prior to the Closing Date (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement), the agreement set forth above shall likewise be terminated.
Yours very truly, | |
Name: | |
Title: | |
Address: | |
1202412.7