S-3ASR
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AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JANUARY 6, 2020

REGISTRATION NO. 333-                

 

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

RENAISSANCERE HOLDINGS LTD.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Bermuda   98-0141974

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

RENAISSANCE HOUSE

12 CROW LANE

PEMBROKE HM 19

BERMUDA (441)

295-4513

 

 

RENAISSANCERE FINANCE INC.

140 BROADWAY

SUITE 4200

NEW YORK, NY 10005

(212) 238-9600

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)   (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

COPIES TO:

 

STEPHEN H. WEINSTEIN, ESQ.

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, GROUP GENERAL COUNSEL, CORPORATE SECRETARY AND CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER

RENAISSANCERE HOLDINGS LTD.

RENAISSANCE HOUSE

12 CROW LANE,

PEMBROKE HM 19

BERMUDA

(441) 295-4513

 

SEAN M. EWEN, ESQ.

WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER LLP

787 SEVENTH AVENUE

NEW YORK, NY 10019

(212) 728-8867

 

 

APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are to be offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box:  ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box:  ☒

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☒

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b- 2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer      Smaller reporting company  
     Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF

SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED(1)

  AMOUNT
TO BE
REGISTERED
  PROPOSED
MAXIMUM
OFFERING PRICE
PER UNIT
  PROPOSED
MAXIMUM
AGGREGATE
OFFERING PRICE
  AMOUNT OF
REGISTRATION FEE

 

Common Shares (1) (2)

  1,739,071   $194.75(3)   $338,675,381.90 (3)   $43,960.06

 

 

(1)

Represents common shares of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (“RenaissanceRe”) that may be offered and sold from time to time by the selling shareholder identified herein.

(2)

Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the common shares being registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of common shares as may be issuable with respect to the common shares being registered hereunder as a result of share splits, share dividends or similar transactions.

(3)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The proposed maximum offering price per share and proposed maximum aggregate offering price are based on the average high and low prices of our common shares on January 3, 2020 as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.

 

 

 


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PROSPECTUS

RENAISSANCERE HOLDINGS LTD.

COMMON SHARES

This prospectus relates solely to the offer and sale by the selling shareholder identified in this prospectus of up to an aggregate of 1,739,071 common shares of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. The common shares that may be offered under this prospectus by the selling shareholder consist of 1,739,071 common shares issued to Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. (“TMNF”) pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement we entered into with TMNF and, with respect to certain sections only, Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. on October 30, 2018 (the “TMR Stock Purchase Agreement”). We are registering these common shares to satisfy registration rights we have granted to the selling shareholder pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into in connection with the TMR Stock Purchase Agreement.

The selling shareholder identified in this prospectus may offer and sell the common shares from time to time as they may determine on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the common shares are traded or in private transactions, at fixed or negotiated prices, directly to purchasers or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, who may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions as described in the section entitled “Plan of Distribution.”

We are not selling any securities under this prospectus and will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the common shares by the selling shareholder. We do not know when or in what amount the selling shareholder may offer the common shares for sale.

Our common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RNR”.

INVESTING IN OUR COMMON SHARES INVOLVES CERTAIN RISKS. SEE “RISK FACTORS” ON PAGE 3 AND ANY OTHER RISK FACTORS THAT MAY BE INCLUDED IN ANY ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR IN ANY OF THE DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS.

NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

We may amend or supplement this prospectus from time to time by filing amendments or supplements as required. You should read the entire prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any amendments or supplements carefully before you make your own investment decision.

The date of this prospectus is January 6, 2020.

Consent under the Exchange Control Act 1972 (and its related regulations) has been obtained from the Bermuda Monetary Authority for the issue and transfer of the common shares to and between non-residents of Bermuda for exchange control purposes provided our common shares remain listed on an appointed stock exchange, which includes the New York Stock Exchange. In granting such consent the Bermuda Monetary Authority does not accept any responsibility for our financial soundness or the correctness of any of the statements made or opinions expressed in this prospectus.

Except as expressly provided in an underwriting agreement, no offered securities may be offered or sold in Bermuda and offers may only be accepted from persons resident in Bermuda, for Bermuda exchange control purposes, where such offers have been delivered outside of Bermuda. Persons resident in Bermuda, for Bermuda exchange control purposes, may require the prior approval of the Bermuda Monetary Authority in order to acquire any offered securities.

In this prospectus, references to “RenaissanceRe,” “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer to RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. together with its subsidiaries unless the context indicates otherwise. In addition, references in this prospectus to “dollar” and “$” are to United States currency, and the terms “United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America, its states, its territories, its possessions and all areas subject to its jurisdiction.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     1  

RENAISSANCERE HOLDINGS LTD.

     2  

RISK FACTORS

     3  

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     4  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     7  

SELLING SHAREHOLDER

     8  

DESCRIPTION OF OUR COMMON SHARES

     10  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     14  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     17  

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     18  

LEGAL OPINIONS

     19  

EXPERTS

     19  

ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES UNDER UNITED STATES FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS

     19  

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to which the selling shareholder may from time to time offer to sell our common shares in one or more offerings.

In certain circumstances, we may provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of a particular offering by the selling shareholder. You should read both this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.” The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. To the extent the information in any prospectus supplement and/or any information incorporated by reference in this prospectus is inconsistent with the information contained in this prospectus, the information in the document that was filed later shall govern.

 

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RENAISSANCERE HOLDINGS LTD.

OVERVIEW

RenaissanceRe is a Bermuda exempted company with its registered and principal executive offices located at Renaissance House, 12 Crow Lane, Pembroke HM 19 Bermuda, telephone (441) 295-4513. We are a global provider of reinsurance and insurance. We provide property, casualty and specialty reinsurance and certain insurance solutions to customers, principally through intermediaries. We aspire to be the world’s best underwriter by matching well-structured risks with efficient sources of capital and our mission is to produce superior returns for our shareholders over the long term. We seek to accomplish these goals by being a trusted, long-term partner to our customers for assessing and managing risk, delivering responsive and innovative solutions, leveraging our core capabilities of risk assessment and information management, investing in these core capabilities in order to serve our customers across the cycles that have historically characterized our markets and keeping our promises.

Our core products include property, casualty and specialty reinsurance and certain insurance products principally distributed through intermediaries, with whom we seek to cultivate strong long-term relationships. We believe we have been one of the world’s leading providers of catastrophe reinsurance since our founding. In recent years, through the strategic execution of a number of initiatives, including organic growth and acquisitions, we have expanded our casualty and specialty platform and products and believe we are a leader in certain casualty and specialty lines of business.

We also pursue a number of other opportunities through our ventures unit, which has responsibility for creating and managing our joint ventures, executing customized reinsurance transactions to assume or cede risk and managing certain strategic investments directed at classes of risk other than catastrophe reinsurance. From time to time we consider diversification into new ventures, either through organic growth, the formation of new joint ventures, or the acquisition of or the investment in other companies or books of business of other companies.

OTHER INFORMATION

For further information regarding RenaissanceRe, including financial information, you should refer to our recent filings with the Commission. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves certain risks. Before you invest in any of the common shares offered by the selling shareholder, you should carefully consider the risks involved. Accordingly, you should carefully consider:

 

   

the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including the “Risk Factors” set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018;

 

   

the information, including risk factors, in any of our subsequent current, quarterly and annual reports and other documents we file with the Commission after the date of this prospectus that are incorporated by reference herein; and

 

   

the information, including risk factors, contained in or incorporated by reference into any prospectus supplement relating to a particular offering by the selling shareholder.

Our business, results of operations or financial condition could be adversely affected by any of these risks or by additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently consider immaterial.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference herein, may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which, with respect to future business decisions, are subject to change. These uncertainties and contingencies can affect actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, us.

In particular, statements using words such as “may”, “should”, “estimate”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “believe”, “predict”, “potential”, or words of similar import generally involve forward-looking statements. In light of the risks and uncertainties inherent in all future projections, the inclusion of forward-looking statements in this prospectus should not be considered as a representation by us or any other person that our objectives or plans will be achieved. Numerous factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from those addressed by the forward-looking statements, including those contained under “Note on Forward-Looking Statements” in RenaissanceRe’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2019, June 30, 2019 and September 30, 2019, and incorporated herein by reference. We undertake no obligation to release publicly the results of any future revision we may make to forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

The inclusion of forward-looking statements in this prospectus should not be considered as a representation by us or any other person that our current objectives or plans will be achieved. Numerous factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from those addressed by the forward-looking statements, including the following:

 

   

the frequency and severity of catastrophic and other events we cover;

 

   

the effectiveness of our claims and claim expense reserving process;

 

   

the effect of climate change on our business, including the trend towards increasingly frequent and severe climate events;

 

   

our ability to maintain our financial strength ratings;

 

   

the effect of emerging claims and coverage issues;

 

   

collection on claimed retrocessional coverage, and new retrocessional reinsurance being available on acceptable terms and providing the coverage that we intended to obtain;

 

   

our reliance on a small and decreasing number of reinsurance brokers and other distribution services for the preponderance of our revenue;

 

   

our exposure to credit loss from counterparties in the normal course of business;

 

   

the effect of continued challenging economic conditions throughout the world;

 

   

soft reinsurance underwriting market conditions;

 

   

the performance of our investment portfolio;

 

   

a contention by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) that Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd. (“Renaissance Reinsurance”), or any of our other Bermuda subsidiaries, is subject to taxation in the U.S.;

 

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the effects of U.S. tax reform legislation and possible future tax reform legislation and regulations, including changes to the tax treatment of our shareholders or investors in our joint ventures or other entities we manage;

 

   

the success of any of our strategic investments or acquisitions, including our ability to manage our operations as our product and geographical diversity increases;

 

   

our ability to retain our key senior officers and to attract or retain the executives and employees necessary to manage our business;

 

   

our ability to effectively manage capital on behalf of investors in joint ventures or other entities we manage;

 

   

foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations;

 

   

changes in the method for determining LIBOR and the potential replacement of LIBOR;

 

   

losses we could face from terrorism, political unrest or war;

 

   

the effect of cybersecurity risks, including technology breaches or failure, on our business;

 

   

our ability to successfully implement our business strategies and initiatives;

 

   

our ability to determine any impairments taken on our investments;

 

   

the effects of inflation;

 

   

the ability of our ceding companies and delegated authority counterparties to accurately assess the risks they underwrite;

 

   

the effect of operational risks, including system or human failures;

 

   

our ability to raise capital if necessary;

 

   

our ability to comply with covenants in our debt agreements;

 

   

changes to the regulatory systems under which we operate, including as a result of increased global regulation of the insurance and reinsurance industries;

 

   

changes in Bermuda laws and regulations and the political environment in Bermuda;

 

   

our dependence on the ability of our operating subsidiaries to declare and pay dividends;

 

   

aspects of our corporate structure that may discourage third-party takeovers and other transactions;

 

   

difficulties investors may have in servicing process or enforcing judgments against us in the U.S.;

 

   

the cyclical nature of the reinsurance and insurance industries;

 

   

adverse legislative developments that reduce the size of the private markets we serve or impede their future growth;

 

   

consolidation of competitors, customers and insurance and reinsurance brokers;

 

   

the effect on our business of the highly competitive nature of our industry, including the effect of new entrants to, competing products for and consolidation in the (re)insurance industry;

 

   

other political, regulatory or industry initiatives adversely impacting us;

 

   

our ability to comply with applicable sanctions and foreign corrupt practices laws;

 

   

increasing barriers to free trade and the free flow of capital;

 

   

international restrictions on the writing of reinsurance by foreign companies and government intervention in the natural catastrophe market;

 

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the effect of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (the “OECD”) or European Union (“EU”) measures to increase our taxes and reporting requirements;

 

   

the effect of the vote by the United Kingdom (the “U.K.”) to leave the EU;

 

   

changes in regulatory regimes and accounting rules that may impact financial results irrespective of business operations;

 

   

our need to make many estimates and judgments in the preparation of our financial statements;

 

   

risks that the ongoing integration of the TMR Group Entities (as defined herein) disrupts or distracts from current plans and operations; and

 

   

our ability to recognize the benefits of the TMR Stock Purchase (as defined herein).

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

The proceeds from the sale of the common shares pursuant to this prospectus are solely for the account of the selling shareholder. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of these common shares by the selling shareholder.

 

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SELLING SHAREHOLDER

This prospectus relates to the offer and sale from time to time by the selling shareholder of up to 1,739,071 common shares. The common shares that may be offered under this prospectus by the selling shareholder consist of 1,739,071 common shares issued to TMNF pursuant to the TMR Stock Purchase Agreement. We are registering these common shares to satisfy registration rights we have granted to the selling shareholder pursuant to the registration rights agreement entered into in connection with the TMR Stock Purchase Agreement. The registration rights agreement also contains certain restrictions on the ability of TMNF and its controlled affiliates to transfer common shares for twelve (12) months after the closing under the TMR Stock Purchase Agreement (i.e. ending on March 22, 2020), subject to certain exceptions. On January 6, 2020, the Company granted a waiver to TMNF to enable TMNF to sell all of its shares in an underwritten offering. For further information regarding the TMR Stock Purchase Agreement and the related registration rights agreement, please see our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on November 5, 2018, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

The table below presents certain information as of January 2, 2020 regarding the ownership of our common shares by the selling shareholder, based on 44,148,116 common shares outstanding as of that date. We have prepared the table based on the information provided to us by the selling shareholder and, assuming that the selling shareholder sells all of the common shares beneficially owned by it that have been registered by us and does not acquire any additional common shares during the offering, the selling shareholder will not beneficially own any common shares other than those appearing in the column entitled “Common Shares Owned After All Shares are Sold under this Prospectus” in the table below. The selling shareholder may from time to time offer and sell any or all of the common shares set forth below pursuant to this prospectus in accordance with one or more of the methods of distribution described under the caption “Plan of Distribution.” Because the selling shareholder may offer all or some portion of the common shares registered hereunder, we cannot estimate the number of common shares that will be held by the selling shareholder upon termination of any offering. We cannot advise you as to whether the selling shareholder will in fact sell any or all of such common shares. In addition, the selling shareholder may have sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, or may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, at any time and from time to time, the common shares in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act after the date as of which the information is set forth in the table below.

Except for insurance and reinsurance transactions in the ordinary course of business, as otherwise noted in this prospectus (including in the information incorporated herein by reference) or the TMR Stock Purchase Agreement and the other agreements entered into in connection therewith, the selling shareholder does not have, or within the past three years has not had, any position, office or material relationship with us or any of our predecessors or affiliates, and the selling shareholder is not and was not affiliated with registered broker-dealers.

Except as noted in the table below, we believe based on the information provided to us that the entity named in the table below has sole voting and investment power with respect to all common shares shown as beneficially owned by it.

Any prospectus supplement may add, update, substitute, or change the information contained in this prospectus, including the identity of the selling shareholder and the number of common shares registered on its behalf. The selling shareholder may sell or otherwise transfer all, some or none of the common shares in this offering. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

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     Common Shares Owned
Prior to
any Offering under
this Prospectus (1)
    Maximum
Number
of Common
Shares Being
Sold Under this
Prospectus
     Common Shares
Owned After All
Shares are Sold
under this Prospectus
 

Name of Selling Shareholder

   Number      Percentage      Number      Percentage  

Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd.

     1,739,071        3.9     1,739,071        0        0.0

 

(1)

Beneficial ownership has been determined in accordance with Section 13d-3(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF OUR COMMON SHARES

The following is a summary of certain provisions of our Memorandum of Association (the “Memorandum”) and Bye-Laws. Because this summary is not complete, you should refer to our Memorandum and Bye-Laws for complete information regarding the provisions of these governing documents, including the definitions of some of the terms used below. Copies of these governing documents are incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Whenever we refer to particular sections or defined terms of the Memorandum or the Bye-Laws, such sections or defined terms are incorporated herein by reference and the statement in connection with such reference is made is qualified in its entirety by such reference.

Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RNR”. The common shares currently issued and outstanding are fully paid and nonassessable within the meaning of applicable Bermuda law. We have authorized the issuance of 225,000,000 common shares, and 44,148,116 shares were outstanding at January 2, 2020. Any common shares offered by a prospectus supplement, upon issuance against full consideration, will be fully paid and nonassessable within the meaning of applicable Bermuda law. There are no provisions of Bermuda law or our Memorandum and Bye-Laws which impose any limitation on the rights of shareholders to hold or vote common shares by reason of their not being residents of Bermuda.

Holders of common shares have no pre-emptive, redemption, conversion or sinking fund rights. Subject to the voting restrictions set forth below, holders of common shares are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of holders of common shares and do not have any cumulative voting rights. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up of the Company, the holders of common shares are entitled to share equally and ratably in the assets of the Company, if any, remaining after the payment of all debts and liabilities of the Company and the liquidation preference of any outstanding preference shares. Authorized but unissued common shares may be issued at any time and at the discretion of our Board of Directors without the approval of the shareholders of the Company with such rights, preferences and limitations as the Board of Directors may determine. Holders of common shares have one vote for each common share held on all matters submitted to a vote on a poll of such holders. Most matters to be approved by holders of common shares require approval by a simple majority vote. All matters relating to a liquidation or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting rights attached to all issued and outstanding capital shares of the Company entitled to vote thereon. All matters relating to an amalgamation or other reorganization of the Company with or into another company (other than “short-form” amalgamations pursuant to section 107 of the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda) shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of all issued and outstanding capital shares of the Company. All matters relating to a merger by the Company into another company (other than “short-form” mergers pursuant to section 107 of the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda) shall require the approval of the holders of three-fourths of the Company’s shares present in person or by proxy at a meeting and voting thereon.

The holders of common shares will receive such dividends, if any, as may be declared by the Board out of funds legally available for such purposes. Under Bermuda law, a company may not declare or pay a dividend, or make a distribution out of contributed surplus, if there are reasonable grounds for believing that (i) the company is, or would after the payment be, unable to pay its liabilities as they become due or (ii) the realizable value of the company’s assets would thereby be less than the aggregate of its liabilities and its issued share capital and share premium accounts.

TRANSFER AGENT

Our registrar and transfer agent for our common shares is Computershare Shareowner Services LLC.

 

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TRANSFER OF SHARES

Our Bye-Laws contain various provisions affecting the transferability of our shares. Under the Bye-Laws, the Board has absolute discretion to decline to register a transfer of shares:

(1) unless the appropriate instrument of transfer is submitted along with such evidence as the Board may reasonably require showing the right of the transferor to make the transfer; or

(2) unless all applicable consents and authorizations of any governmental body or agency in Bermuda have been obtained.

In addition, our Bye-laws provide that no Person shall be permitted to own or control shares in RenaissanceRe to the extent such ownership would result in such Person or any other any Person being considered to own or control Controlled Shares, as our Board of Directors may determine in its sole discretion, and such ownership of Controlled Shares (i) would render any Person a Ten Percent Shareholder, (ii) cause RenaissanceRe to become a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of section 957 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or (iii) cause RenaissanceRe to become a “foreign personal holding company” within the meaning of section 552 of the Code. Our Board of Directors has the right to waive these restrictions in its sole discretion and may decline to register any transfer of shares if the transfer, in the discretion of the Board, would have any of the effects described in clauses (i)-(iii) above. These limits may have the effect of deterring purchases of large blocks of common shares or proposals to acquire us, even if some or a majority of the shareholders might deem these purchases or acquisition proposals to be in their best interests. With respect to this issue, also see the provisions discussed below under “Anti-Takeover Effects of Certain Bye-Law Provisions.”

“Controlled Shares” in reference to any Person means (i) all capital shares of RenaissanceRe such Person is deemed to own directly, indirectly or by attribution (within the meaning of Section 958 of the Code) and (ii) all capital shares of RenaissanceRe directly, indirectly or beneficially owned by such Person (within the meaning of section 13(d) of the Exchange Act).

“Ten Percent Shareholder” means a Person who our Board of Directors determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, owns or controls Controlled Shares representing more than 9.9% of the total voting rights of all of our issued and outstanding capital shares.

“Person” means an individual, partnership, joint-stock company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, limited liability company, a government, agency or political subdivision thereof, an entity or arrangement treated as one of the foregoing for U.S. income tax purposes, or a “group” within the meaning of section 13(d) of the Exchange Act.

Our Bermuda counsel has advised us that, while the precise form of the restrictions on transfers contained in the Bye-Laws is untested, as a matter of general principle, restrictions on transfers are enforceable under Bermuda law and are not uncommon.

 

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ANTI-TAKEOVER EFFECTS OF CERTAIN BYE-LAW PROVISIONS

Our Bye-Laws contain certain provisions that make it more difficult to acquire control of us by means of a tender offer, open market purchase, a proxy fight or otherwise. These provisions are designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate with our directors. We believe that, as a general rule, the interests of our shareholders would be best served if any change in control results from negotiations with our directors. These provisions could have the effect of discouraging a prospective acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us. In addition, these Bye-Law provisions could prevent the removal of our current Board of Directors and management.

In addition to those provisions of the Bye-Laws discussed above under “Transfers of Shares,” set forth below is a description of certain other provisions of the Bye-Laws. Because the following description is intended as a summary only and is therefore not complete, you should refer to the Bye-Laws, which are incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, for complete information regarding these provisions.

Board of Director Provisions. Our Bye-Laws provide for a classified board, to which approximately one-third of the Board is elected each year at our annual general meeting of shareholders. Accordingly, our directors serve three-year terms rather than one-year terms. Moreover, our Bye-Laws provide that each director may be removed by the shareholders only for cause upon the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% of the voting rights attached to all issued and outstanding capital shares entitled to vote for the election of that director. Further, our Bye-Laws fix the size of the Board at eight directors although the incumbent Board may increase its size to eleven members; there are currently eleven members of the Board. In addition, shareholders may only nominate persons for election as director at an annual or special general meeting of shareholders called for the purpose of electing directors only if, among other things, a satisfactory written notice signed by not less than 20 shareholders holding in the aggregate not less than 10% of our outstanding paid-up share capital is timely submitted.

We believe that these Bye-Law provisions enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of the Board and in the policies formulated by the Board. We believe these provisions assist our Board to represent more effectively the interests of all shareholders, including taking action in response to demands or actions by a minority shareholder or group.

Our classified Board makes it more difficult for shareholders to change the composition of our Board even if some or a majority of the shareholders believe such a change would be desirable. Moreover, these Bye-Law provisions may deter changes in the composition of the Board or certain mergers, tender offers or other future takeover attempts which some or a majority of holders of our securities may deem to be in their best interest. In addition, because the classification provisions may discourage accumulations of large blocks of our shares by purchasers whose objective is to take control of RenaissanceRe and remove a majority of our Board of Directors, the classification of our Board of Directors could tend to reduce the likelihood of fluctuations in the market price of the shares that might result from accumulation of large blocks for such a purpose. Accordingly, shareholders could be deprived of certain opportunities to sell their shares at a higher price than might otherwise be the case.

Voting Rights Limitations. Our Bye-Laws provide that to the extent a Person shall be deemed by our Board of Directors in its sole discretion to own or control Controlled Shares which represent in excess of 9.9% of the voting rights attached to all of our issued and outstanding capital shares, then all such excess Controlled Shares shall carry no voting rights and the voting rights of such excess Controlled Shares shall be allocated to the other holders of shares pro rata based on the number of shares held by all such other holders of shares, subject to certain exceptions designed to avoid having such allocation cause any other shareholder to become a Ten Percent Shareholder. Our Board of Directors has the right to waive these restrictions in its sole discretion.

 

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Restrictions on Certain Shareholder Actions. Our Bye-Laws restrict the ability of our shareholders to take certain actions. These restrictions, among other things, limit the power of our shareholders to:

 

   

nominate persons to serve as directors;

 

   

submit resolutions to the vote of shareholders at an annual or special general meeting; and

 

   

requisition special general meetings.

Generally, the Bye-Laws prohibit shareholders from taking these actions unless certain requirements specified in the Bye-Laws are met. These requirements include giving written notice, specifying information that must be provided in connection with the notice or in relation to the requested action, taking specified actions within specified time periods, and requiring a minimum number of holders to act.

These requirements regulating shareholder nominations and proposals may have the effect of deterring a contest for the election of directors or the introduction of a shareholder proposal if the procedures summarized above are not followed. They may also discourage or deter a third party from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or to introduce a proposal. For a more complete description of these provisions, you should refer to the Bye-Laws, which are incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Supermajority Requirements for Certain Amendments. Our Bye-Laws require the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the voting rights attached to all of our issued and outstanding capital shares to amend, repeal or adopt any provision inconsistent with several provisions of the Bye-Laws. The provisions include, among others things, those relating to: the size of our Board and its division into classes, the removal of directors, the powers of shareholders to nominate directors, to call shareholder meetings and to propose matters to be acted on at shareholder meetings. This supermajority requirement could make it more difficult for shareholders to propose and adopt changes to the Bye-Laws intended to facilitate the acquisition or exercise of control over us.

Availability of Shares for Future Issuances; Shareholder Rights Plan. We have a large number of authorized but unissued shares available for issuance. Generally, these shares may be issued by action of our directors without further action by shareholders (except as may be required by applicable stock exchange requirements). The availability of these shares for issue could be viewed as enabling the directors to make a change in our control more difficult. For example, the directors could determine to issue warrants or rights to acquire shares. In addition, we have authorized a sufficient amount of our shares such that we could put in place a shareholder rights plan without further action by shareholders. A shareholder rights plan could serve to dilute or deter share ownership of persons seeking to obtain control of us.

Our ability to take these actions makes it more difficult for a third party to acquire us without negotiating with the Board, even if some or a majority of the shareholders desired to pursue a proposed transaction. Moreover, these powers could discourage or defeat unsolicited share accumulation programs and acquisition proposals.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Sales of common shares by the selling shareholder named in this prospectus may be made from time to time in one or more transactions, on the New York Stock Exchange, in the over-the-counter market or any other exchange or quotation system on which our common shares may be listed or quoted, in negotiated transactions or in a combination of any such methods of sale, at fixed prices that may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The common shares may be offered directly, to or through agents designated from time to time or to or through brokers or dealers, or through any combination of these methods of sale. The common shares may be sold using one or more of the following methods:

 

   

block trades (which may involve crosses) in which the broker or dealer will attempt to sell the common shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

   

purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and resales by the broker or dealer for its own account pursuant to this prospectus;

 

   

exchange distributions or secondary distributions in accordance with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange;

 

   

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker or dealer solicits purchasers;

 

   

privately negotiated transactions;

 

   

the writing or settlement of options;

 

   

a combination of any of the foregoing methods of sale; and

 

   

any other method permitted by applicable law.

An agent, broker or dealer may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling shareholder or the purchasers of the common shares for whom such brokers or dealers may act as agents or to whom they sell as principals, or both (which compensation as to a particular broker or dealer might be in excess of customary commissions). A member firm of an exchange on which our common shares is traded may be engaged to act as the selling shareholder’s agent in the sale of common shares by the selling shareholder.

In connection with distributions of the common shares offered by this prospectus or otherwise, the selling shareholder may enter into hedging transactions with brokers or dealers or other financial institutions with respect to our common shares. In connection with these transactions, the brokers or dealers or other financial institutions may engage in short sales of our common shares in the course of hedging the positions they assume with the selling shareholder. The selling shareholder may also sell our common shares short to effect its hedging transactions.

In addition, any common shares covered by this prospectus that qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this prospectus.

The aggregate proceeds to the selling shareholder from the sale of the common shares offered by it pursuant to this prospectus will be the purchase price of the common shares less discounts or commissions, if any. The selling shareholder reserves the right to accept and, together with its agents from time to time, to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of common shares to be made directly or through agents. We will not receive any of the proceeds from any offering by the selling shareholder.

To the extent required, the common shares to be sold, the name of the selling shareholder, the respective purchase prices and public offering prices, the names of any agents, dealers or underwriters, and any applicable

 

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commissions or discounts with respect to a particular offer will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement or, if appropriate, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement that includes this prospectus.

Each broker-dealer that receives our common shares for its own account pursuant to this prospectus must acknowledge that it will deliver the prospectus in connection with any sale of our common shares. If required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented on a continual basis to describe a specific plan of distribution. We will make copies of this prospectus available to the selling shareholder, brokers and dealers for purposes of satisfying the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, if applicable.

In order to comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the common shares offered by this prospectus may be sold in these jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the common shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied with as part of such sale.

The selling shareholder and any other person participating in such distribution will be subject to certain provisions of the Exchange Act. The Exchange Act rules include, without limitation, Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of our common shares by the selling shareholder and any other such person. In addition, Regulation M of the Exchange Act may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of our common shares to engage in market-making activities with respect to the common shares. In addition, the anti-manipulation rules under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of the securities in the market. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the securities and the ability of any person to engage in market-making activities with respect to the securities.

The selling shareholder and any brokers, dealers, agents or others that participate with the selling shareholder in the distribution of the common shares offered by this prospectus may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any underwriting discounts, commissions or fees received by such persons and any profit on the resale of the common shares purchased by such persons may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. If any selling shareholder is deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, it will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. We will make copies of this prospectus (as it may be supplemented or amended from time to time) available to the selling shareholder, brokers and dealers for the purpose of satisfying the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, if applicable.

There can be no assurance that the selling shareholder will sell any or all of the common shares offered hereby.

Under each of our respective registration rights agreements with each selling shareholder, we and such selling shareholder have agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In addition, we or the selling shareholder may agree to indemnify any underwriters, broker-dealers and agents against or contribute to any payments the underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may be required to make with respect to civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

We will bear all fees and expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The fees and expenses of registration to be borne by us referred to in the foregoing sentence shall include, without limitation, registration, filing and qualification fees, word processing, duplicating, printers’ and accounting fees, listing fees, messenger and delivery expenses, all fees and expenses of complying with state securities or blue sky laws, fees and disbursements of our counsel. We estimate that the total expenses payable by us in connection with the preparation and filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part will be $100,000. The selling shareholder will be required to bear any underwriting discounts and selling commissions attributable to its sale of any of its common shares under this prospectus and any fees and expenses of its own legal counsel.

 

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Any underwriters, dealers and agents engaged by the selling shareholder may engage in transactions with us or the selling shareholder, or perform services for us or the selling shareholder, in the ordinary course of business.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

GENERAL

We have filed with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act relating to the common shares described in this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of the registration statement, but the registration statement also contains additional information and exhibits.

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, we file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other reports with the Commission.

We maintain a website at www.renre.com. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We make available, free of charge through our website, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish such material to, the Commission. We also make available, free of charge from our website, our Audit Committee Charter, Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee Charter, Corporate Governance Guidelines, and Code of Ethics. Such information is also available in print for any shareholder who sends a request to RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., Attn: Office of the Corporate Secretary, P.O. Box HM 2527, Hamilton, HMGX, Bermuda.

Our filings with the Commission are also available from the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RNR”.

 

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission. The Commission allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Any statement contained in a document which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus is automatically updated and superseded if information contained in this prospectus, or information that we later file with the Commission, modifies or replaces this information. All documents we file pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the initial filing of this registration statement until the selling shareholder sells all the common shares hereunder or this registration statement is otherwise terminated shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus (other than portions of these documents that are furnished under applicable Commission rules rather than filed and exhibits furnished in connection with such items). We incorporate by reference the following previously filed documents (other than portions of these documents that are furnished under applicable Commission rules rather than filed and exhibits furnished in connection with such items):

(1) Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on November 5, 2018, January  3, 2019, February  7, 2019, March 12, 2019, March  22, 2019 (as amended on March 26, 2019 and April  18, 2019), March 25, 2019, March  26, 2019, April 2, 2019, May 17, 2019, June  24, 2019, November  12, 2019, January  3, 2020 and January 6, 2020;

(2) Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December  31, 2018 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March  31, 2019, June 30, 2019 and September 30, 2019;

(3) Our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the Commission on April 2, 2019, as supplemented on May 7, 2019; and

(4) The description of our common shares set forth in our registration statement filed under the Exchange Act on Form 8-A on July 24, 1995, including any amendment or report for the purpose of updating such description.

To receive a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus (other than exhibits), call or write us at the following address: RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., Attn: Stephen H. Weinstein, Corporate Secretary, P.O. Box HM 2527, Hamilton, HMGX, Bermuda, telephone (441) 295-4513.

 

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LEGAL OPINIONS

Certain legal matters with respect to Bermuda law with respect to the validity of the common shares will be passed upon for us by Conyers Dill & Pearman Limited, Hamilton, Bermuda. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for any underwriters, dealers or agents by counsel that will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of RenaissanceRe appearing in RenaissanceRe’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, and the effectiveness of RenaissanceRe’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018 have been audited by Ernst & Young Ltd., independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

The audited historical financial statements of Tokio Millennium Re AG included in Exhibit 99.1 of RenaissanceRe’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated March 26, 2019 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers AG, independent auditors, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

The audited historical financial statements of Tokio Millennium Re (UK) Limited included in Exhibit 99.2 of RenaissanceRe’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated March 26, 2019 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent auditors, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES UNDER

UNITED STATES FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS

We are a Bermuda company. In addition, certain of our directors and officers as well as certain of the experts named in this prospectus, reside outside the United States, and all or a substantial portion of our assets and their assets are located outside the United States. Therefore, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon those persons or to recover against us or those persons on judgments of courts in the United States, including judgments based on civil liabilities provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws. However, investors may serve us with process in the United States with respect to actions against us arising out of or in connection with the U.S. Federal securities laws relating to offers and sales of the securities covered by this prospectus by serving RenaissanceRe Finance Inc., our United States agent irrevocably appointed for that purpose.

We have been advised by Conyers Dill & Pearman Limited, our special Bermuda legal counsel, that the United States and Bermuda do not currently have a treaty providing for reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters. We also have been advised by Conyers Dill & Pearman Limited that there is doubt as to whether the courts of Bermuda would enforce (1) judgments of United States courts based on the civil liability provisions of the United States federal securities laws obtained in actions against us or our directors and officers, and (2) original actions brought in Bermuda against us or our officers and directors based solely upon the United States federal securities laws. A Bermuda court may, however, impose civil liability on us or our directors or officers in a suit brought in the Supreme Court of Bermuda provided that the facts alleged constitute or give rise to a cause of action under Bermuda law. Certain remedies available under the laws of U.S. jurisdictions, including certain remedies under the U.S. federal securities laws, would not be allowed in Bermuda courts to the extent that they are contrary to public policy.

 

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YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR ANY SUPPLEMENT. NEITHER WE NOR THE SELLING SHAREHOLDER HAVE AUTHORIZED ANYONE ELSE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH DIFFERENT INFORMATION. THE SELLING SHAREHOLDER IS OFFERING THESE SECURITIES ONLY IN STATES WHERE THE OFFER IS PERMITTED. YOU SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR ANY SUPPLEMENT IS ACCURATE AS OF ANY DATE OTHER THAN THE DATE ON THE FRONT OF THOSE DOCUMENTS. OUR BUSINESS, FINANCIAL CONDITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND PROSPECTS MAY HAVE CHANGED SINCE THAT DATE.

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

ITEM 14.

OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

The costs and expenses payable by the Registrant in connection with the sale of the securities being registered hereby are not known at this time.

 

ITEM 15.

INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Section 98 of the Companies Act of 1981 of Bermuda (the “Act”) provides generally that a Bermuda company may indemnify its directors, officers and auditors against any liability that by virtue of Bermuda law otherwise would be imposed on them, except in cases where such liability arises from the fraud or dishonesty of which such director, officer or auditor may be guilty in relation to the company. Section 98 further provides that a Bermuda company may indemnify its directors, officers and auditors against any liability incurred by them in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in which judgment is awarded in their favor or in which they are acquitted or granted relief by the Supreme Court of Bermuda in certain proceedings arising under Section 281 of the Act.

In addition, Section 98 provides that a Bermuda company may advance moneys to its directors, officers and auditors for the costs, charges and expenses incurred by them in defending any civil or criminal proceedings against them, on condition that the director, officer or auditor repay the advance if any allegation of fraud or dishonesty is proved against them.

We have adopted provisions in our Bye-Laws that provide that we shall indemnify our officers and directors to the maximum extent permitted under the Act, except where such liability arises from fraud, dishonesty, willful negligence or default.

We have entered into employment agreements with all of our executive officers which each contain provisions pursuant to which we have agreed to indemnify each executive to the fullest extent contemplated by Bermuda laws, subject to only certain exceptions, and to maintain customary insurance policies providing for indemnification. These employment agreements also provide for advancement by us to such executive officer of expenses incurred in defending any civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding, upon receipt by us of a written affirmation of such officer’s good faith belief that his or her conduct does not constitute the sort of behavior that would preclude indemnification under the employment agreement and of a written undertaking, executed personally or on his or her behalf, to repay any advances if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by us under the employment agreement.

We have purchased insurance on behalf of our directors and officers for liabilities arising out of their capacities as such.

 

ITEM 16.

EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

EXHIBIT
NUMBER

  

DESCRIPTION

  1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement*
  3.1    Memorandum of Association of RenaissanceRe (incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 33-70008, which was declared effective by the Commission on July 26, 1995))(P)
  3.2    Amended and Restated Bye-Laws of RenaissanceRe (incorporated by reference to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2002, filed with the Commission on August 14, 2002)

 

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EXHIBIT
NUMBER

  

DESCRIPTION

  3.3    Memorandum of Increase in Share Capital (incorporated by reference to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 1998, filed with the Commission on May 14, 1998)
  4.1    Specimen Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-70008) which was declared effective by the Commission on July 26, 1995) (P)
  5.1    Opinion of Conyers Dill & Pearman Limited as to the legality of the common shares
23.1    Consent of Conyers Dill & Pearman Limited (included in Exhibit 5.1)
23.2    Consent of Ernst & Young Ltd.
23.3    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers AG, Independent Auditors of Tokio Millennium Re AG
23.4    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Auditors of Tokio Millennium Re (UK) Limited
24.1    Power of Attorney (included on the signature pages hereto)

 

*

To be filed by amendment or report on Form 8-K pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K.

 

ITEM 17.

UNDERTAKINGS

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

  (1)

To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

  (i)

To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;

 

  (ii)

To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

 

  (iii)

To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

  (2)

That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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  (3)

To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

  (4)

That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 

  (i)

Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

  (ii)

Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

  (5)

That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Pembroke, Bermuda, on the 6th day of January , 2020.

 

    RENAISSANCERE HOLDINGS LTD.
   

By:

 

/s/ Kevin J. O’Donnell

      Kevin J. O’Donnell
      Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

POWER OF ATTORNEY

The undersigned officers and directors of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. hereby severally constitute and appoint Stephen H. Weinstein, Robert Qutub, James C. Fraser and Helen James, and each of them, attorneys-in-fact for the undersigned, in any and all capacities, with the power of substitution, to sign any amendments to this Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments) and any subsequent registration statement for offerings under this Registration Statement which may be filed under 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully and to all interests and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each said attorney-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons, in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

     

Title

     

Date

/s/ Kevin J. O’Donnell

Kevin J. O’Donnell

    Chief Executive Officer, President and Director (Principal Executive Officer)          January 6, 2020

/s/ Robert Qutub

Robert Qutub

    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)     January 6, 2020

/s/ James C. Fraser

James C. Fraser

    Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)     January 6, 2020

/s/ James L. Gibbons

James L. Gibbons

    Non-Executive Chair of the Board of Directors     January 6, 2020

/s/ David C. Bushnell

David C. Bushnell

    Director     January 6, 2020

/s/ Brian G. J. Gray

Brian G. J. Gray

    Director     January 6, 2020

/s/ Jean D. Hamilton

Jean D. Hamilton

    Director     January 6, 2020


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Signature

     

Title

     

Date

/s/ Duncan Hennes

Duncan Hennes

    Director     January 6, 2020

/s/ Henry Klehm, III

Henry Klehm, III

    Director     January 6, 2020

/s/ Valerie Rahmani

Valerie Rahmani

    Director     January 6, 2020

/s/ Carol P. Sanders

Carol P. Sanders

    Director     January 6, 2020

/s/ Anthony M. Santomero

Anthony M. Santomero

    Director     January 6, 2020

/s/ Cynthia Trudell

Cynthia Trudell

    Director     January 6, 2020
EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

6 January 2020

Matter No.:354198

Doc Ref: Legal – 16466769.1

+1 441 278-8054

andrew.barnes@conyers.com

RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.

Renaissance House

12 Crow Lane

Pembroke HM 19

Bermuda

Dear Sirs,

Re: RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (the “Company”)

We have acted as special Bermuda legal counsel to the Company in connection with a registration statement on Form S-3 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on 6 January 2020 (the “Registration Statement” which term does not include any other document or agreement whether or not specifically referred to therein or attached as an exhibit or schedule thereto) relating to the registration and sale under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “Securities Act”) of 1,739,071 common shares of the Company, par value US$1.00 per share (the “Common Shares”), all which are being offered for sale by Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co. Ltd. (the “Selling Shareholder”).

For the purposes of giving this opinion, we have examined a copy of the Registration Statement. We have also reviewed the memorandum of association and the bye-laws of the Company, each certified by the Secretary of the Company on 6 January 2020, certified excerpts of resolutions passed by the board of directors of the Company on 29 October 2018 (the “Resolutions”), a certified copy of the consent under the Exchange Control Act 1972 (and Regulations made thereunder) issued by the Bermuda Monetary Authority on 7 July 2000 in respect of the Company (the “Consent”), the branch register of members of the Company (the “Branch Register”) prepared by Computershare Shareowner Services LLC, the branch registrar of the Company, as of 2 January 2020 and such other documents and made such enquiries as to questions of law as we have deemed necessary in order to render the opinion set forth below.

We have assumed (a) the genuineness and authenticity of all signatures and the conformity to the originals of all copies (whether or not certified) examined by us and the authenticity and completeness of the originals from which such copies were taken, (b) that where a document has been examined by us in draft form, it will be or has been executed and/or filed


in the form of that draft, and where a number of drafts of a document have been examined by us all changes thereto have been marked or otherwise drawn to our attention, (c) the accuracy and completeness of all factual representations made in the Registration Statement and other documents reviewed by us, (d) that the Resolutions were passed at one or more duly convened, constituted and quorate meetings, or by unanimous written resolutions, remain in full force and effect and have not been rescinded or amended, (e) that there is no provision of the law of any jurisdiction, other than Bermuda, which would have any implication in relation to the opinions expressed herein and (f) that the Consent will not have been revoked or amended at the time of issuance of the Common Shares.

We have made no investigation of and express no opinion in relation to the laws of any jurisdiction other than Bermuda. This opinion is to be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Bermuda and is limited to and is given on the basis of the current law and practice in Bermuda. This opinion is issued solely for the purposes of the filing of the Registration Statement and the offering of the Common Shares by the Selling Shareholder and is not to be relied upon in respect of any other matter. Our opinion in paragraph 2 below is based solely upon a review of the Branch Register.

On the basis of and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

 

1.

The Company is duly incorporated and existing under the laws of Bermuda in good standing (meaning solely that it has not failed to make any filing with any Bermuda government authority or to pay any Bermuda government fees or tax which would make it liable to be struck off the Register of Companies and thereby cease to exist under the laws of Bermuda).

 

2.

The Common Shares are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable (which term when used herein means that no further sums are required to be paid by the holders thereof in connection with the issue thereof).

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the references to our firm under the caption “Legal Opinions” in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are experts within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act or that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Yours faithfully,

/s/ Conyers Dill & Pearman Limited

Conyers Dill & Pearman Limited

 

Page 2 of 2

EX-23.2

Exhibit 23.2

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in this Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. for the registration of 1,739,071 of its common shares and to the incorporation by reference therein of our reports dated February 7, 2019, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2018 and the financial statement schedules of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. included therein, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young Ltd.

Hamilton, Bermuda

January 06, 2020

EX-23.3

Exhibit 23.3

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. of our report dated March 14, 2019 relating to the financial statements of Tokio Millennium Re AG, which appears in Exhibit 99.1 of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated March 26, 2019. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers AG

Zurich, Switzerland

January 6, 2020

EX-23.4

Exhibit 23.4

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. of our report dated March 22, 2019, relating to the financial statements of Tokio Millennium Re (UK) Limited, which appears in Exhibit 99.2 of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated March 26, 2019. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

January 6, 2020