UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): April 1, 2015 (March 31, 2015)
PartnerRe Ltd.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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Bermuda
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
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001-14536
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Not Applicable
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(Commission File Number)
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(IRS Employer Identification No.)
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Wellesley House, 90 Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke, Bermuda
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HM 08
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
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(Zip Code)
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Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (441) 292-0888
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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
Third Amendment to the Amalgamation Agreement
On March 31, 2015, PartnerRe Ltd. (“PartnerRe” or the “Company”), a Bermuda exempted company, and AXIS Capital Holdings Limited, a Bermuda exempted company (“AXIS”), entered into the Third Amendment to the Agreement and Plan of Amalgamation (the “Third Amendment”), further amending the Agreement and Plan of Amalgamation previously entered into by and between PartnerRe and AXIS, dated as of January 25, 2015 (the “Amalgamation Agreement”). The Amalgamation Agreement had previously been amended by the First Amendment to the Agreement and Plan of Amalgamation, dated as of February 17, 2015 (the “First Amendment”) and the Second Amendment to the Agreement and Plan of Amalgamation, dated as of March 10, 2015 (the “Second Amendment”). Pursuant to the Amalgamation Agreement, as amended by the First Amendment, the Second Amendment and the Third Amendment, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, PartnerRe will amalgamate with AXIS (the “Amalgamation”) and the combined company will continue as a Bermuda exempted company (the “Amalgamated Company”). The Third Amendment makes an administrative clarification to the Amalgamation Agreement.
The foregoing description of the Third Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Third Amendment, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1 and incorporated by reference herein, the Amalgamation Agreement, which was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to PartnerRe’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 29, 2015 and is incorporated by reference herein, the First Amendment, which was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to PartnerRe’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 17, 2015 and is incorporated by reference herein, and the Second Amendment, which was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to PartnerRe’s Current Report on Form 8-K on March 11, 2015 and is also incorporated by reference herein.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits
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2.1
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Third Amendment to the Agreement and Plan of Amalgamation, dated as of March 31, 2015, by and between PartnerRe Ltd. and AXIS Capital Holdings Limited
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Important Information For Investors And Shareholders
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.
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 January 29, 2015, May 16, 2014 and March 27, 2014. 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 Report on Form 8-K, which was 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:
• 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 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.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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PartnerRe Ltd.
(Registrant)
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Date:
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April 1, 2015
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By:
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/s/ Marc Wetherhill
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Name:
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Marc Wetherhill
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Title:
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Chief Legal Counsel
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Exhibit Index
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2.1
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Third Amendment to the Agreement and Plan of Amalgamation, dated as of March 31, 2015, by and between PartnerRe Ltd. and AXIS Capital Holdings Limited
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THIRD AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF AMALGAMATION
This Third Amendment to the Agreement and Plan of Amalgamation, is made and entered into as of March 31, 2015 (this “Amendment”), by and between AXIS Capital Holdings Limited, a Bermuda exempted company (“Axis”) and PartnerRe Ltd., a Bermuda exempted company (“PRE” and, together with Axis, the “parties”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the parties to this Amendment are parties to that certain Agreement and Plan of Amalgamation, dated as of January 25, 2015, as amended by that certain First Amendment to the Agreement and Plan of Amalgamation, dated as of February 17, 2015 and that certain Second Amendment to the Agreement and Plan of Amalgamation, dated as of March 10, 2015 (the “Amalgamation Agreement”);
WHEREAS, the parties to this Amendment may amend the Amalgamation Agreement in accordance with Section 7.3 of the Amalgamation Agreement;
WHEREAS, the parties to the Amalgamation Agreement desire to amend certain provisions of the Amalgamation Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the board of directors of each of Axis and PRE has approved and authorized the execution of this Amendment.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained taken as a whole, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Section 1. Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used, but not defined, herein shall have the meanings specified in the Amalgamation Agreement.
Section 2. Amendments to the Amalgamation Agreement.
(a) The definition of the term “Axis Preferred Shares” in Section 8.13 of the Amalgamation Agreement shall hereby be amended and replaced in its entirety by the definition of such term given below:
“Axis Preferred Shares” shall mean each of Axis’s 7.50% Series B preferred shares, 6.875% Series C preferred shares and 5.50% Series D preferred shares.
Section 3. General Provisions.
(a) Effectiveness. The amendments set forth in this Amendment shall be effective as of the date set forth in the preamble to this Amendment.
(b) Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Amendment by facsimile or electronic-mail shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of any such Agreement.
(c) Governing Law; Disputes. Sections 8.8 and 8.9 of the Amalgamation Agreement shall apply to this Amendment mutatis mutandis.
(d) Except as specifically amended by this Amendment, all provisions of the Amalgamation Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Amendment to be executed on the date first written above.
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AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
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By:
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/s/ Joseph C. Henry |
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Name: Joseph C. Henry |
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Title: EVP and CFO |
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By:
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/s/ David Zwiener |
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Name: David Zwiener |
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Title: President and Chief Executive Officer |
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[Signature Page to Third Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Amalgamation]