EX-99.1 2 d909852dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

AXIS Capital Reiterates Commitment to Amalgamation Agreement with PartnerRe

Pembroke, Bermuda, April 14, 2015 – AXIS Capital Holdings Limited (“AXIS Capital”) (NYSE: AXS) today acknowledged that EXOR (EXO IM) made an unsolicited proposal for PartnerRe Ltd. (NYSE:PRE).

“AXIS Capital is fully committed to its combination with PartnerRe Ltd.,” said Albert Benchimol, President and CEO of AXIS Capital. “Our transaction with PartnerRe brings together two independently strong companies to create one broadly diversified global specialty insurance and reinsurance company whose scale, capital and enhanced market presence will form a powerhouse within the industry.”

Mr. Benchimol concluded: “The combined company will have a strong capital position, significant financial strength, a combined world-class management team and industry-leading talent. As such, it will deliver significant operating and capital synergies, as well as an expanded solution set and product offering for clients and partners. We are confident that the combined company is positioned to deliver superior and sustainable value to all shareholders.”

AXIS Capital said that it will have no further comment on the EXOR proposal at this time.

AXIS Capital and PartnerRe Ltd. entered into a definitive amalgamation agreement on January 25, 2015.

 

AXIS Capital Holdings Limited 92 Pitts Bay Road Pembroke, Bermuda HM08

Tel. 441.496.2600 Fax 441.405.2600

www.axiscapital.com


On March 25, 2015, AXIS Capital and PartnerRe Ltd. announced that they had received early termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 with respect to their definitive amalgamation agreement.

About AXIS Capital

AXIS Capital is a Bermuda-based global provider of specialty lines insurance and treaty reinsurance with total shareholders’ equity attributable to AXIS Capital at December 31, 2014 of $5.8 billion and locations in Bermuda, the United States, Europe, Singapore, Canada, Australia and Latin America. Its operating subsidiaries have been assigned a rating of “A+” (“Strong”) by Standard & Poor’s and “A+” (“Superior”) by A.M. Best. For more information about AXIS Capital, visit our website at www.axiscapital.com.

Important Information For Investors And Stockholders

This communication does not constitute an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. This communication relates to a proposed business combination between PartnerRe Ltd. (“PartnerRe”) and AXIS Capital Holdings Limited (“AXIS”). In connection with this proposed business combination, PartnerRe and/or AXIS may file one or more proxy statements, registration statements, proxy statement/prospectus or other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). This communication is not a substitute for any proxy statement, registration statement, proxy statement/prospectus or other document PartnerRe and/or AXIS may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF PARTNERRE AND AXIS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT(S), REGISTRATION STATEMENT(S), PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Any definitive proxy statement(s) (if and when available) will be mailed to stockholders of PartnerRe and/or AXIS, as applicable. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of these documents (if and when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by PartnerRe and/or AXIS through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by PartnerRe will be available free of charge on PartnerRe’s internet website at http://www.partnerre.com or by contacting PartnerRe’s Investor Relations Director by email at robin.sidders@partnerre.com or by phone at 1-441-294-5216. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by AXIS will be available free of charge on AXIS’ internet website at http://www.axiscapital.com or by contacting AXIS’ Investor Relations Contact by email at linda.ventresca@axiscapital.com or by phone at 1-441-405-2727.

 

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Participants in Solicitation

PartnerRe, AXIS, their respective directors and certain of their respective executive officers may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of PartnerRe is set forth in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, which was filed with the SEC on February 26, 2015, its proxy statement for its 2014 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 1, 2014, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, which was filed with the SEC on October 31, 2014 and its Current Reports on Form 8-K, which were filed with the SEC on March 27, 2014, May 16, 2014 and January 29, 2015. Information about the directors and executive officers of AXIS is set forth in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, which was filed with the SEC on February 23, 2015, its proxy statement for its 2014 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 28, 2014, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, which was filed with the SEC on October 31, 2014 and its Current Reports on Form 8-K, which were filed with the SEC on March 11, 2015, January 29, 2015, August 7, 2014, June 26, 2014, March 27, 2014 and February 26, 2014.

These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitations and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this communication regarding the proposed transaction between PartnerRe and AXIS are “forward-looking” statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,”


“ensure,” “expect,” “if,” “intend,” “estimate,” “probable,” “project,” “forecasts,” “predict,” “outlook,” “aim,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “potential,” “may,” “might,” “anticipate,” “likely,” “plan,” “positioned,” “strategy,” and similar expressions, and the negative thereof, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about PartnerRe and AXIS, may include projections of their respective future financial performance, their respective anticipated growth strategies and anticipated trends in their respective businesses. These statements are only predictions based on current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including the risk factors set forth in PartnerRe’s and AXIS’ most recent reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and other documents on file with the SEC and the factors given below:

 

  the failure to obtain the approval of shareholders of PartnerRe or AXIS in connection with the proposed transaction;

 

  the failure to consummate or delay in consummating the proposed transaction for other reasons;

 

  the timing to consummate the proposed transaction;

 

  the risk that a condition to closing of the proposed transaction may not be satisfied;

 

  the risk that a regulatory approval that may be required for the proposed transaction is delayed, is not obtained, or is obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated;

 

  AXIS’ or PartnerRe’s ability to achieve the synergies and value creation contemplated by the proposed transaction;

 

  the ability of either PartnerRe or AXIS to effectively integrate their businesses; and

 

  the diversion of management time on transaction-related issues.

PartnerRe’s forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that PartnerRe believes to be reasonable but that may not prove to be accurate. AXIS’ forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that AXIS believes to be reasonable but that may not prove to be accurate. Neither PartnerRe nor AXIS can guarantee future results, level of activity, performance or achievements. Moreover, neither PartnerRe nor AXIS assumes responsibility

 

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for the accuracy and completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. PartnerRe and AXIS assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof.

Investor Contact

AXIS Capital Holdings Limited

Linda Ventresca, (441) 405-2727

info@axiscapital.com

Media Contact

Kekst and Company

Michael Herley, (212) 521-4897

michael-herley@kekst.com

Source: AXIS Capital Holdings Limited