<PAGE>




                      FORM OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED INDENTURE




                       RENAISSANCERE HOLDINGS LTD., ISSUER

                                       TO

                         BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE



                                    INDENTURE



                         DATED AS OF ____________, 2001

                       JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES







<PAGE>


832071.10



                         RECONCILIATION AND TIE BETWEEN
             TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 (THE "TRUST INDENTURE ACT")
                                  AND INDENTURE



Trust Indenture                                                       Indenture
  Act Section                                                          Section

ss.ss.310(a)(1)........................................................  6.7
(a)(2).................................................................  6.7
(b)....................................................................  6.8
ss.ss.312(a)...........................................................  7.1
(b)....................................................................  7.2
(c)....................................................................  7.2
ss.ss..313(a)..........................................................  7.3
(b)(2).................................................................  7.3
(c)....................................................................  7.3
(d)....................................................................  7.3
ss.ss..314(a)..........................................................  7.4
(c)(1).................................................................  1.2
(c)(2).................................................................  1.2
(e)....................................................................  1.2
(f)....................................................................  1.2
ss.ss..316(a) (last sentence)..........................................  1.1
(a)(1)(A)........................................................  5.2, 5.12
(a)(1)(B).............................................................. 5.13
(b)....................................................................  5.8
ss.ss..317(a)(1).......................................................  5.3
(a)(2).................................................................  5.4
(b).................................................................... 10.3
ss.ss..318(a).......................................................... 10.8

Note:     This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to
          be part of the Indenture.



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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

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                                                                                                           Page No.


                                   ARTICLE I.

             DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
<S>               <C>                                                                                        <C>
Section 1.1.      Definitions.....................................................................................1
Section 1.2.      Compliance Certificates and Opinions...........................................................13
Section 1.3.      Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.........................................................14
Section 1.4.      Acts of Holders................................................................................14
Section 1.5.      Notices, etc. to Trustee and Company...........................................................16
Section 1.6.      Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver........................................................17
Section 1.7.      Language of Notices............................................................................18
Section 1.8.      Conflict with Trust Indenture Act..............................................................18
Section 1.9.      Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.......................................................18
Section 1.10.     Successors and Assigns.........................................................................18
Section 1.11.     Separability Clause............................................................................18
Section 1.12.     Holders of Preferred Securities as Third Party Beneficiaries...................................18
Section 1.13.     Benefits of Indenture..........................................................................18
Section 1.14.     Governing Law..................................................................................19
Section 1.15.     Legal Holidays.................................................................................19
Section 1.16.     Counterparts...................................................................................19
Section 1.17.     Judgment Currency..............................................................................19
Section 1.18.     No Security Interest Created...................................................................20
Section 1.19.     Limitation on Individual Liability.............................................................20
Section 1.20.     Submission to Jurisdiction.....................................................................20

                                                    ARTICLE II.

                                SECURITIES FORMS
Section 2.1.      Forms Generally................................................................................21
Section 2.2.      Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication................................................22
Section 2.3.      Securities in Global Form......................................................................22

                                  ARTICLE III.

                                 THE SECURITIES
Section 3.1.      Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series...........................................................23
Section 3.2.      Currency; Denominations........................................................................27
Section 3.3.      Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.................................................27
Section 3.4.      Temporary Securities...........................................................................29
Section 3.5.      Registration, Transfer and Exchange............................................................30
Section 3.6.      Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities...............................................33
Section 3.7.      Payment of Interest and Certain Additional Amounts; Rights to Interest and Certain Additional
                  Amounts Preserved..............................................................................34
Section 3.8.      Persons Deemed Owners..........................................................................36
Section 3.9.      Cancellation...................................................................................37


                                       i
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Section 3.10.     Computation of Interest........................................................................37
Section 3.11.     Extension of Interest Payment Period...........................................................37
Section 3.12.     Right of Set-Off...............................................................................38
Section 3.13.     Agreed Tax Treatment...........................................................................38
Section 3.14.     Extension of Stated Maturity; Adjustment of Stated Maturity Upon an Exchange...................38
Section 3.15.     CUSIP Numbers..................................................................................39

                                   ARTICLE IV.

                     SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
Section 4.1.      Satisfaction and Discharge.....................................................................39
Section 4.2.      Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance.............................................................41
Section 4.3.      Application of Trust Money.....................................................................45

                                   ARTICLE V.

                                    REMEDIES
Section 5.1.      Events of Default..............................................................................46
Section 5.2.      Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.............................................48
Section 5.3.      Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee................................49
Section 5.4.      Trustee May File Proofs of Claim...............................................................50
Section 5.5.      Trustee May Enforce Claims without Possession of Securities or Coupons.........................51
Section 5.6.      Application of Money Collected.................................................................51
Section 5.7.      Limitations on Suits...........................................................................52
Section 5.8.      Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and any Premium, Interest and Additional
                  Amounts........................................................................................52
Section 5.9.      Restoration of Rights and Remedies.............................................................53
Section 5.10.     Rights and Remedies Cumulative.................................................................53
Section 5.11.     Delay or Omission Not Waiver...................................................................53
Section 5.12.     Control by Holders of Securities...............................................................54
Section 5.13.     Waiver of Past Defaults........................................................................54
Section 5.14.     Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws........................................................54
Section 5.15.     Undertaking for Costs..........................................................................55

                                   ARTICLE VI.

                                   THE TRUSTEE
Section 6.1.      Certain Rights of Trustee......................................................................55
Section 6.2.      Notice of Defaults.............................................................................57
Section 6.3.      Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.........................................58
Section 6.4.      May Hold Securities............................................................................58
Section 6.5.      Money Held in Trust............................................................................58
Section 6.6.      Compensation and Reimbursement.................................................................58
Section 6.7.      Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility........................................................59
Section 6.8.      Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor..............................................59
Section 6.9.      Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.........................................................61
Section 6.10.     Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business....................................62
Section 6.11.     Appointment of Authenticating Agent............................................................63



                                       ii
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                                  ARTICLE VII.

                            HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE, GUARANTOR AND COMPANY
Section 7.1.      Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders......................................64
Section 7.2.      Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.........................................65
Section 7.3.      Reports by Trustee.............................................................................65
Section 7.4.      Reports by Company and Guarantor...............................................................65

                                  ARTICLE VIII.

                 CONSOLIDATION, AMALGAMATIONS, MERGER AND SALES
Section 8.1.      Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms...........................................66
Section 8.2.      Successor Person Substituted for Company.......................................................67
Section 8.3.      [RESERVED].....................................................................................67
Section 8.4.      [RESERVED].....................................................................................67

                                   ARTICLE IX.

                             SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 9.1.      Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders.............................................68
Section 9.2.      Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders................................................69
Section 9.3.      Execution of Supplemental Indentures...........................................................71
Section 9.4.      Effect of Supplemental Indentures..............................................................71
Section 9.5.      Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.............................................71
Section 9.6.      Conformity with Trust Indenture Act............................................................71
Section 9.7.      Effect on Senior Indebtedness..................................................................72
Section 9.8.      Notice of Supplemental Indenture...............................................................72

                                   ARTICLE X.

                                    COVENANTS
Section 10.1.     Payment of Principal, any Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts.............................72
Section 10.2.     Maintenance of Office or Agency................................................................72
Section 10.3.     Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust..............................................74
Section 10.4.     Additional Amounts.............................................................................75
Section 10.5.     Corporate Existence............................................................................76
Section 10.6.     Waiver of Certain Covenants....................................................................76
Section 10.7.     Company Statement as to Compliance; Notice of Certain Defaults.................................76
Section 10.8.     [RESERVED].....................................................................................77
Section 10.9.     Additional Sums................................................................................77
Section 10.10.    Prohibition Against Dividends, etc.............................................................78
Section 10.11.    Payment of Expenses of Each RenaissanceRe Trust................................................78
Section 10.12.    Ownership of Common Securities.................................................................78
Section 10.13.    Calculation of Original Issue Discount.........................................................79

                                   ARTICLE XI.

                            REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
Section 11.1.     Applicability of Article.......................................................................79


                                      iii
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Section 11.2.     Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee..........................................................79
Section 11.3.     Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed..............................................79
Section 11.4.     Notice of Redemption...........................................................................80
Section 11.5.     Deposit of Redemption Price....................................................................81
Section 11.6.     Securities Payable on Redemption Date..........................................................82
Section 11.7.     Securities Redeemed in Part....................................................................83
Section 11.8.     Right of Redemption of Securities Issued to a RenaissanceRe Trust..............................83

                                  ARTICLE XII.

                                  SINKING FUNDS
Section 12.1.     Applicability of Article.......................................................................83
Section 12.2.     Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities..........................................84
Section 12.3.     Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund......................................................84

                                  ARTICLE XIII.

                       REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS
Section 13.1.     Applicability of Article.......................................................................85

                                  ARTICLE XIV.

                        SECURITIES IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES
Section 14.1.     Applicability of Article.......................................................................85

                                   ARTICLE XV.

                        MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
Section 15.1.     Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called......................................................86
Section 15.2.     Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.............................................................86
Section 15.3.     Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings...........................................................86
Section 15.4.     Quorum; Action.................................................................................87
Section 15.5.     Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings............................87
Section 15.6.     Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings................................................88

                                  ARTICLE XVI.

                           SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES
Section 16.1.     Agreement to Subordinate.......................................................................89
Section 16.2.     Default on Company Senior Indebtedness.........................................................89
Section 16.3.     Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy...........................................................90
Section 16.4.     Subrogation....................................................................................91
Section 16.5.     Trustee to Effectuate Subordination............................................................92
Section 16.6.     Notice by the Company..........................................................................92
Section 16.7.     Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Company Senior Indebtedness..................................93
Section 16.8.     Subordination May Not Be Impaired..............................................................94
Section 16.9.     Application by Trustee of Assets Deposited with It.............................................94


                                       iv
<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE XVII.

                                   [RESERVED]
Section 17.1.     [RESERVED].....................................................................................95
Section 17.2.      Net Payments..................................................................................95
Section 17.3.     [RESERVED].....................................................................................95
Section 17.4.     [RESERVED.]....................................................................................95
Section 17.5.     [RESERVED.]....................................................................................95
Section 17.6.     [RESERVED.]....................................................................................95

                                 ARTICLE XVIII.

                                   [RESERVED.]
Section 18.1.     [RESERVED.]....................................................................................95
Section 18.2.     [RESERVED.]....................................................................................95
Section 18.3.     [RESERVED.]....................................................................................95
Section 18.4.     [RESERVED.]....................................................................................95
Section 18.5.     [RESERVED.]....................................................................................95
Section 18.6.     [RESERVED.]....................................................................................95
Section 18.7.     [RESERVED.]....................................................................................95
Section 18.8.     [RESERVED.]....................................................................................95

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                                       v
<PAGE>

                  INDENTURE, dated as of __________, 2000 (the "Indenture"),
among RENAISSANCERE HOLDINGS LTD., a company duly organized and existing under
the laws of Bermuda (hereinafter called the "Company"), having its principal
executive office located at Renaissance House, 8-12 East Broadway, Pembroke HM
19 Bermuda and Bankers Trust Company, a New York banking corporation
(hereinafter called the "Trustee"), having its Corporate Trust Office located at
Four Albany Street, New York, New York 10006.

                                    RECITALS

                  The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of
this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its subordinated
unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (hereinafter
called the "Securities"), including, without limitation, Securities issued to
evidence loans made to the Company of the proceeds from the issuance from time
to time by one or more RenaissanceRe Trusts (as defined herein) of preferred
beneficial interests in the assets of such Trusts (the "Preferred Securities")
and common beneficial interests in the assets of such Trusts (the "Common
Securities" and, collectively with the Preferred Securities, the "Trust
Securities"), unlimited as to principal amount, to bear such rates of interest,
to mature at such time or times, to be issued in one or more series and to have
such other provisions as shall be fixed as hereinafter provided.

                  The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of
this Indenture. All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of
the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

                  This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder that are required to
be part of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, shall be governed by
such provisions.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

                  For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of
the Securities by the Holders (as herein defined) thereof, it is mutually
covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of
the Securities or of any series thereof and any Coupons (as herein defined), as
follows:

                                   ARTICLE I

             DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

     Section 1.1. Definitions.

                  Except as otherwise expressly provided in or pursuant to this
Indenture or unless the context otherwise requires, for all purposes of this
Indenture:

                           (1) the terms defined in this Article have the
         meanings assigned to them in this Article, and include the plural as
         well as the singular;


<PAGE>

                           (2) all other terms used herein which are defined in
         the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have
         the meanings assigned to them therein;

                           (3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein
         have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally
         accepted accounting principles in the United States of America and,
         except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the terms "generally
         accepted accounting principles" or "GAAP" with respect to any
         computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting
         principles as are generally accepted in the United States of America at
         the date or time of such computation;

                           (4) the words "herein," "hereof," "hereto" and
         "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture
         as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other
         subdivision; and

                           (5) the word "or" is always used inclusively (for
         example, the phrase "A or B" means "A or B or both," not "either A or B
         but not both").

                  Certain terms used principally in certain Articles hereof are
defined in those Articles.

                  "Act," when used with respect to any Holders, has the meaning
specified in Section 1.4.

                  "Additional Amounts" means any additional amounts which are
required hereby or by any Security, under circumstances specified herein or
therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes, assessments or
other governmental charges imposed on Holders specified therein and which are
owing to such Holders.

                  "Additional Interest" means the interest, if any, that shall
accrue on any interest on the Securities of any series the payment of which has
not been made on the applicable Interest Payment Date and which shall accrue at
the rate per annum specified or determined as specified in such Security.

                  "Additional Sums" has the meaning specified in Section 10.9.

                  "Additional Taxes" means the sum of any additional taxes,
duties and other governmental charges to which a RenaissanceRe Trust has become
subject from time to time as a result of a Tax Event.

                  "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person
directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect
common control with such specified Person; provided, however, that an Affiliate
of the Company shall not be deemed to include any RenaissanceRe Trust to which
Securities in respect thereof have been issued. For the purposes of this
definition, "control," when used with respect to any specified Person, means the
power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or
indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have the meanings
correlative to the foregoing.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

                  "Authenticating Agent" means any Person authorized by the
Trustee pursuant to Section 6.11 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate
Securities of one or more series.

                  "Authorized Newspaper" means a newspaper, in an official
language of the place of publication or in the English language, customarily
published on each day that is a Business Day in the place of publication,
whether or not published on days that are Legal Holidays in the place of
publication, and of general circulation in each place in connection with which
the term is used or in the financial community of each such place. Where
successive publications are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the
successive publications may be made in the same or in different newspapers in
the same city meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any day
that is a Business Day in the place of publication.

                  "Authorized Officer" means, when used with respect to the
Company, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, a Vice Chairman, the President,
the Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, an Assistant
Treasurer, the Chief Investment Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer, the
General Counsel, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company.

                  "Bearer Security" means any Security in the form established
pursuant to Section 2.1 which is payable to bearer. "Board of Directors" means
the board of directors of the Company or any committee of that board duly
authorized to act generally or in any particular respect for the Company
hereunder.

                  "Board Resolution" means a copy of one or more resolutions,
certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been
duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the
date of such certification, delivered to the Trustee.

                  "Business Day," with respect to any Place of Payment or other
location, means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities
pursuant to Section 3.1, any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on
which banking institutions in such Place of Payment or other location are
authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.

                  "Capital Stock" of any Person means any and all shares,
interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other
equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person,
including Preferred Stock, but excluding any debt securities convertible into
such equity.

                  "Capitalized Lease Obligation" means an obligation under a
lease that is required to be capitalized for financial reporting purposes in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and the amount of
Indebtedness represented by such obligation shall be the capitalized amount of
such obligation determined in accordance with such principles.

                  "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

                  "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as
from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, or, if at any time after the execution of this Indenture such
Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under
the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

                  "Common Securities" has the meaning specified in the first
recital of this Indenture.

                  "Common Stock" in respect of any Corporation means Capital
Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which has no preference as to
the payment of dividends, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary
or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Corporation, and which is not
subject to redemption by such Corporation.

                  "Company" means the Person named as the "Company" in the first
paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such
pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter
"Company" shall mean such successor Person, and any other obligor upon the
Securities.

                  "Company Request" and "Company Order" mean, respectively, a
written request or order, as the case may be, signed in the name of the Company
by an Authorized Officer, and delivered to the Trustee.

                  "Company Senior Indebtedness" means, with respect to the
Securities of any particular series, all Indebtedness of the Company outstanding
at any time, except (a) the Securities of such series, (b) Indebtedness as to
which, by the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing the same, it is
provided that such Indebtedness is subordinated to or pari passu with the
Securities of such series, (c) Indebtedness of the Company to, or guaranteed on
behalf of, a Subsidiary of the Company or any officer, director or employee of
the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (d) interest accruing after the
filing of a petition initiating any proceeding relating to the Company referred
to in Section 5.1(7) and 5.1(8) unless such interest is an allowed claim
enforceable against the Company in a proceeding under federal or state
bankruptcy laws, (e) trade accounts payable, (f) any liability for income,
franchise, real estate or other taxes owed or owing and (g) any Indebtedness,
including all other debt securities and guarantees in respect of those debt
securities, initially issued to (x) any RenaissanceRe Trust or (y) any trust,
partnership or other entity affiliated with the Company which is a financing
vehicle of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company in connection with the
issuance by such entity of Preferred Securities or other securities which are
similar to Preferred Securities that are guaranteed by the Company pursuant to
an instrument that ranks pari passu with or junior in right of payment to the
Preferred Securities Guarantees.

                  "Conversion Event" means the cessation of use of (i) a Foreign
Currency both by the government of the country or the confederation which issued
such Foreign Currency and for the settlement of transactions by a central bank
or other public institutions of or within the international banking community or
(ii) any currency unit or composite currency for the purposes for which it was
established.



                                      -4-
<PAGE>

                  "Corporate Trust Office" means the principal corporate trust
office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust
business shall be administered, which office at the date of original execution
of this Indenture is located at located at Bankers Trust Company, Four Albany
Street, New York, New York 10006, Attention: Corporate Trust and Agency Services
or at any other time at such other address as the Trustee may designate from
time to time by notice to the parties hereto or at the principal corporate trust
office of any successor trustee as to which such successor trustee may notify
the parties hereto in writing.

                  "Corporation" includes corporations, limited liability
companies, incorporated associations, companies and business trusts.

                  "Coupon" means any interest coupon appertaining to a Bearer
Security.

                  "Currency," with respect to any payment, deposit or other
transfer in respect of the principal of or any premium or interest on or any
Additional Amounts with respect to any Security, means Dollars or the Foreign
Currency, as the case may be, in which such payment, deposit or other transfer
is required to be made by or pursuant to the terms hereof or such Security and,
with respect to any other payment, deposit or transfer pursuant to or
contemplated by the terms hereof or such Security, means Dollars.

                  "CUSIP number" means the alphanumeric designation assigned to
a Security by Standard & Poor's Ratings Service, CUSIP Service Bureau.

                  "Defaulted Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.

                  "Direct Action" has the meaning specified in Section 5.8.

                  "Distributions," with respect to any ReniassanceRe Trust, has
the meaning specified in the applicable Trust Agreement of such RenaissanceRe
Trust.

                  "Dollars" or "$" means a dollar or other equivalent unit of
legal tender for payment of public or private debts in the United States of
America.

                  "Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 5.1.

                  "Extension Period" has the meaning specified in Section 3.11.

                  "Foreign Currency" means any currency, currency unit or
composite currency, including, without limitation, the euro, issued by the
government of one or more countries other than the United States of America or
by any recognized confederation or association of such governments.

                  "Government Obligations" means securities which are (i) direct
obligations of the United States of America or the other government or
governments or confederation or association of governments which issued the
Foreign Currency in which the principal of or any premium or interest on such
Security or any Additional Amounts in respect thereof shall be payable, in each
case where the payment or payments thereunder are supported by the full faith
and credit of such government or governments or confederation or association of
governments or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and
acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America or such
other government or governments or confederation or association of governments,
in each case where the timely payment or payments thereunder are unconditionally
guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America


                                      -5-
<PAGE>

or such other government or governments or confederation or association of
governments, and which, in the case of (i) or (ii), are not callable or
redeemable at the option of the issuer or issuers thereof, and shall also
include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with
respect to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on
or principal of or other amount with respect to any such Government Obligation
held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt,
provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to
make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository
receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government
Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of or other
amount with respect to the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository
receipt.

                  "Guarantee Agreement" means the Guarantee Agreement with
respect to the Preferred Securities of a RenaissanceRe Trust, substantially in
such form as may be specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to the
Securities of any series, in each case as amended from time to time.

                  "Holder," in the case of any Registered Security, means the
Person in whose name such Security is registered in the Security Register and,
in the case of any Bearer Security, means the bearer thereof and, in the case of
any Coupon, means the bearer thereof.

                  "Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person, (i) the
principal of and any premium and interest on (a) indebtedness of such Person for
money borrowed and (b) indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or
other similar instruments for the payment of which such Person is responsible or
liable; (ii) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person; (iii) all
obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of
property, all conditional sale obligations and all obligations under any title
retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the
ordinary course of business); (iv) all obligations of such Person for the
reimbursement of any obligor on any letter of credit, banker's acceptance or
similar credit transaction (other than obligations with respect to letters of
credit securing obligations (other than obligations described in (i) through
(iii) above) entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person to
the extent such letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if and to the extent
drawn upon, such drawing is reimbursed no later than the third Business Day
following receipt by such Person of a demand for reimbursement following payment
on the letter of credit); (v) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses
(i) through (iv) of other Persons and all dividends of other Persons for the
payment of which, in either case, such Person is responsible or liable as
obligor, guarantor or otherwise, the amount thereof being deemed to be the
lesser of the stated recourse, if limited, and the amount of the obligation or
dividends of the other Person; (vi) all obligations of the type referred to in
clauses (i) through (v) of other Persons secured by any Lien on any property or
asset of such Person (whether or not such obligation is assumed by such Person),
the amount of such obligation being deemed to be the lesser of the value of such
property or assets or the amount of the obligation so secured; and (vii) any
amendments, modifications, refundings, renewals or extensions of any
indebtedness or obligation described as Indebtedness in clauses (i) through (vi)
above.



                                      -6-
<PAGE>

                  "Indenture" means this instrument as it may from time to time
be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered
into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and, with respect to any
Security, by the terms and provisions of such Security and any Coupon
appertaining thereto established pursuant to Section 3.1 (as such terms and
provisions may be amended pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof).

                  "Independent Public Accountants" means accountants or a firm
of accountants that, with respect to the Company and any other obligor under the
Securities or the Coupons, are independent public accountants within the meaning
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated by the Commission thereunder, who may be the independent public
accountants regularly retained by the Company or who may be other independent
public accountants. Such accountants or firm shall be entitled to rely upon any
Opinion of Counsel as to the interpretation of any legal matters relating to
this Indenture or certificates required to be provided hereunder.

                  "Indexed Security" means a Security the terms of which provide
that the principal amount thereof payable at Stated Maturity or upon
acceleration pursuant to Section 5.2 may be more or less than the principal face
amount thereof at original issuance.

                  "interest", with respect to any Original Issue Discount
Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest
payable after Maturity and, when used with respect to a Security which provides
for the payment of Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 10.4 or 17.2, includes
such Additional Amounts.

                  "Interest Payment Date," with respect to any Security, means
the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

                  "Investment Company Event" means, in respect of a
RenaissanceRe Trust, the receipt by such RenaissanceRe Trust of an Opinion of
Counsel, rendered by an independent law firm experienced in such matters, to the
effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or a
change in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative
body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority (a "Change in 1940 Act
Law"), such RenaissanceRe Trust is or will be considered an investment company
that is required to be registered under the 1940 Act, which Change in 1940 Act
Law becomes effective on or after the date of original issuance of the Preferred
Securities of such RenaissanceRe Trust.

                  "Judgment Currency" has the meaning specified in Section 1.17.

                  "Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or
other encumbrance.

                  "Maturity", with respect to any Security, means the date on
which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due
and payable as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, whether at the Stated
Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, notice of redemption or repurchase,
notice of option to elect repayment or otherwise, and includes any Redemption
Date and the date of any required repurchase or repayment.

                  "New York Banking Day" has the meaning specified in Section
1.16.



                                      -7-
<PAGE>

                  "1940 Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended.

                  "Office" or "Agency," with respect to any Securities, means an
office or agency of the Company and the Guarantor maintained or designated as a
Place of Payment for such Securities pursuant to Section 10.2 or any other
office or agency of the Company and the Guarantor maintained or designated for
such Securities pursuant to Section 10.2 or, to the extent designated or
required by Section 10.2 in lieu of such office or agency, the Corporate Trust
Office of the Trustee.

                  "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by an
Authorized Officer, at least one of which is a principal executive, principal
financial or principal accounting officer, that complies with the requirements
of Section 314(e) of the Trust Indenture Act and is delivered to the Trustee.

                  "Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who
may be an employee of or counsel for the Company, as the case may be, or other
counsel who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that, if required by
the Trust Indenture Act, complies with the requirements of Section 314(e) of the
Trust Indenture Act.

                  "Original Issue Discount Security" means a Security issued
pursuant to this Indenture which provides for declaration of an amount less than
the principal face amount thereof to be due and payable upon acceleration
pursuant to Section 5.2.

                  "Outstanding," when used with respect to any Securities,
means, as of the date of determination, all such Securities theretofore
authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

         (a)      any such Security theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or the
                  Security Registrar or delivered to the Trustee or the Security
                  Registrar for cancellation;

         (b)      any such Security for whose payment at the Maturity thereof
                  money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited
                  pursuant hereto (other than pursuant to Section 4.2) with the
                  Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company or the
                  Guarantor) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by
                  the Company or the Guarantor (if the Company shall act as its
                  own, or authorize the Guarantor to act as, Paying Agent) for
                  the Holders of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining
                  thereto, provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed,
                  notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this
                  Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee
                  has been made;

         (c)      any such Security with respect to which the Company or the
                  Guarantor has effected defeasance pursuant to the terms
                  hereof, except to the extent provided in Section 4.2;

         (d)      any such Security which has been paid pursuant to Section 3.6
                  or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have
                  been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture,
                  unless there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof
                  satisfactory to it that such Security is held by a protected
                  purchaser in whose hands such Security is a valid obligation
                  of the Company; and



                                      -8-
<PAGE>

         (e)      any such Security converted or exchanged as contemplated by
                  this Indenture into securities of the Company or the Guarantor
                  or another issuer, if the terms of such Security provide for
                  such conversion or exchange pursuant to Section 3.1;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
principal amount of Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or are present at
a meeting of Holders of Securities for quorum purposes, (i) the principal amount
of any Indexed Security that may be counted in making such determination and
that shall be deemed Outstanding for such purposes shall be equal to the
principal amount of such Indexed Security at original issuance, unless otherwise
provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the related Series Authorization,
and (ii) the principal amount of a Security denominated in a Foreign Currency
shall be the Dollar equivalent, determined on the date of original issuance of
such Security, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue
Discount Security, the Dollar equivalent on the date of original issuance of
such Security of the then current principal amount) of such Security, unless
otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the related Series
Authorization, and (iii) Securities owned by the Company, the Guarantor or any
other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company, the Guarantor
or such other obligor, shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding,
except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making any
such determination or relying upon any such request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which a Responsible
Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded.
Securities so owned which shall have been pledged in good faith may be regarded
as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee (A)
the pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Securities and (B) that the
pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any
Coupons appertaining thereto or an Affiliate of the Company or such other
obligor.

                  "Paying Agent" means any Person authorized by the Company to
pay the principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts
with respect to, any Security or any Coupon on behalf of the Company.

                  "Person" means any individual, Corporation, partnership, joint
venture, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government
or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

                  "Place of Payment," with respect to any Security, means the
place or places where the principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any
Additional Amounts with respect to such Security are payable as provided in or
pursuant to this Indenture or the related Series Authorization.

                  "Preferred Securities" has the meaning specified in the first
recital of this Indenture.



                                      -9-
<PAGE>

                  "Preferred Securities Guarantee" means the guarantee by
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., in its capacity as guarantor with respect to the
Preferred Securities of a RenaissanceRe Trust, of distributions on such
Preferred Securities to the extent provided in the Guarantee Agreement.

                  "Predecessor Security" of any particular Security means every
previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same Indebtedness as that
evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition,
any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.6 in exchange for or in
lieu of a lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen Security or any Security to which
a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon appertains shall be deemed to
evidence the same Indebtedness as the lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen
Security or the Security to which a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon
appertains.

                  "Preferred Stock" in respect of any Corporation means Capital
Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as to the
payment of dividends, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or
involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Corporation, over shares of
Capital Stock of any other class of such Corporation.

                  "principal" means as of any date of determination with respect
to the Securities of any series, (i) in the case of an Original Issue Discount
Security or an Indexed Security, the amount due and payable with respect to
principal upon an acceleration thereof pursuant to Section 5.2 at such time and
(ii) in all other cases, par or the stated face amount of the related Security.

                  "Property Trustee," with respect to any ReniassanceRe Trust,
means the entity acting in the capacity of Property Trustee pursuant to the
related Trust Agreement.

                  "Redemption Date," with respect to any Security or portion
thereof to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant
to this Indenture or the related Series Authorization.

                  "Redemption Price," with respect to any Security or portion
thereof to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed as
determined by or pursuant to this Indenture or the related Series Authorization,
exclusive of accrued interest and any Additional Amounts with respect to accrued
interest.

                  "Registered Security" means any Security established pursuant
to Section 2.1 which is registered in a Security Register.

                  "Regular Record Date" for the interest payable on any
Registered Security on any Interest Payment Date therefor means the date, if
any, specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or the related Series
Authorization as the "Regular Record Date".

                  "RenaissanceRe Trusts" means, collectively, RenaissanceRe
Capital Trust, RenaissanceRe Capital Trust II, each a statutory business trust
formed under the laws of the State of Delaware, and any other similar trust
created to issue Trust Securities and to use the proceeds from the sale thereof
to purchase Securities issued under this Indenture.



                                      -10-
<PAGE>

                  "Required Currency" has the meaning specified in Section 1.17.

                  "Responsible Officer" means any officer within the Corporate
Trust Office of the Trustee, including any vice president, any assistant vice
president, director, managing director, associate, or any trust officer or any
other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those
performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect
to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is
referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular
subject.

                  "Security" or "Securities" means any note or notes, bond or
bonds, debenture or debentures, or any other evidences of Indebtedness, as the
case may be, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture; provided,
however, that, if at any time there is more than one Person acting as Trustee
under this Indenture, "Securities," with respect to any such Person, shall mean
Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, exclusive, however,
of Securities of any series as to which such Person is not Trustee.

                  "Security Register" and "Security Registrar" have the
respective meanings specified in Section 3.5.

                  "Senior Indebtedness," with respect to the Securities of any
particular series, means Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to the
Securities of such series.

                  "Series Authorization" means, with respect to any series or
class of Securities, (i) a Board Resolution and Officer's Certificate or (ii)
one or more indentures supplemental hereto, establishing such series or class of
Securities and setting forth the terms thereof, including, in either case, a
form of note or notes representing such Securities.

                  "Special Event" means an Investment Company Event or a Tax
Event.

                  "Special Record Date" for the payment of any Defaulted
Interest on any Registered Security means a date fixed by the Company pursuant
to Section 3.7.

                  "Stated Maturity," with respect to any Security or any
installment of principal thereof or interest thereon or any Additional Amounts
with respect thereto, means the date established by or pursuant to this
Indenture or the related Series Authorization as the fixed date on which the
principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is, or
such Additional Amounts are, due and payable.

                  "Subsidiary" means, in respect of any Person, any Corporation,
limited or general partnership or other business entity of which at the time of
determination more than 50% of the voting power of the shares of its Capital
Stock or other interests (including partnership interests) entitled (without
regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of
directors, managers or trustees thereof is owned or controlled, directly or
indirectly, by (i) such Person, (ii) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of
such Person or (iii) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.

                  "Tax Event" means, in respect of a RenaissanceRe Trust, the
receipt by such RenaissanceRe Trust or the Company of an Opinion of Counsel,
rendered by an independent law firm experienced in such matters, to the effect
that, as a result of any amendment to, or change (including any announced
prospective change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United
States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or


                                      -11-
<PAGE>

as a result of any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision
interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is
effective or which pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date
of original issuance of the Preferred Securities of such RenaissanceRe Trust,
there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) such RenaissanceRe Trust is,
or will be within 90 days of the date of such Opinion of Counsel, subject to
United States Federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on
the corresponding series of Securities, (ii) interest payable by the Company on
the corresponding series of Securities is not, or within 90 days of the date of
such Opinion of Counsel will not be, deductible by the Company, in whole or in
part, for United States Federal income tax purposes or (iii) such RenaissanceRe
Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such Opinion of Counsel,
subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other
governmental charges.

                  "Trust Agreement" means the Trust Agreement substantially in
the form attached hereto as Annex A, as amended by an Amended and Restated Trust
Agreement substantially in such form as may be specified as contemplated by
Section 3.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, in each case as
amended from time to time.

                  "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939,
as amended, and any reference herein to the Trust Indenture Act or a particular
provision thereof shall mean such Act or provision, as the case may be, as
amended or replaced from time to time or as supplemented from time to time by
rules or regulations adopted by the Commission under or in furtherance of the
purposes of such Act or provision, as the case may be.

                  "Trust Securities," with respect to any ReniassanceRe Trust,
means, collectively, the Common Securities and Preferred Securities issued by
such RenaissanceRe Trust.

                  "Trustee" means the Person named as the "Trustee" in the first
paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such
with respect to one or more series of Securities pursuant to the applicable
provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Trustee" shall mean each Person
who is then a Trustee hereunder; provided, however, that if at any time there is
more than one such Person, "Trustee" shall mean each such Person and as used
with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect
to the Securities of such series.

                  "United States," except as otherwise provided in or pursuant
to this Indenture or any Series Authorization, means the United States of
America (including the states thereof and the District of Columbia), its
territories and possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

                  "United States Alien," except as otherwise provided in or
pursuant to this Indenture or any Series Authorization, means any Person who,
for United States Federal income tax purposes, is a foreign corporation, a
non-resident alien individual, a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign
estate or trust, or a foreign partnership one or more of the members of which
is, for United States Federal income tax purposes, a foreign corporation, a
non-resident alien individual or a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign
estate or trust.



                                      -12-
<PAGE>

                  "U.S. Depository" or "Depository" means, with respect to any
Security issuable or issued in the form of one or more global Securities, the
Person designated as U.S. Depository or Depository by the Company in or pursuant
to this Indenture or the related Series Authorization, which Person must be, to
the extent required by applicable law or regulation, a clearing agency
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, if so
provided with respect to any Security, any successor to such Person. If at any
time there is more than one such Person, "U.S. Depository" or "Depository" shall
mean, with respect to any Securities, the qualifying entity which has been
appointed with respect to such Securities.

                  "Vice President," when used with respect to the Company or the
Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a
word or words added before or after the title "Vice President".

     Section 1.2.      Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

                  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture, upon
any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action
under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee
an Officers' Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided
for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with
and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such
conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case
of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents
or any of them is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture
relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or
opinion need be furnished.

                  Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a
condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:

                           (a) a statement that the individual signing such
                  certificate or opinion has read such condition or covenant and
                  the definitions herein relating thereto;

                           (b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of
                  the examination or investigation upon which the statements or
                  opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

                           (c) a statement that, in the opinion of such
                  individual, he has made such examination or investigation as
                  is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as
                  to whether or not such condition or covenant has been complied
                  with; and

                           (d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of such
                  individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.



                                     -13-
<PAGE>

     Section 1.3.      Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

                  In any case where several matters are required to be certified
by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that
all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such
Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one
such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one
or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify
or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

                  Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company,
insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon an Opinion of Counsel, provided
that such officer, after reasonable inquiry, has no reason to believe and does
not believe that the Opinion of Counsel with respect to the matters upon which
his certificate or opinion is based is erroneous. Any such Opinion of Counsel
may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or
opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating
that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession
of the Company provided that such counsel, after reasonable inquiry, has no
reason to believe and does not believe that the certificate or opinion or
representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

                  Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or
more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or
other instruments under this Indenture or any Security, they may, but need not,
be consolidated and form one instrument.

     Section 1.4.      Acts of Holders.

                  (1) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
         consent, waiver or other action provided by or pursuant to this
         Indenture to be given or taken by Holders or by holders of Preferred
         Securities may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments
         of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders or holders of
         Preferred Securities, as applicable, in person or by an agent duly
         appointed in writing. If, but only if, Securities of a series are
         issuable as Bearer Securities, any request, demand, authorization,
         direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in or
         pursuant to this Indenture or the related Series Authorization to be
         given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series may,
         alternatively, be embodied in and evidenced by the record of Holders of
         Securities of such series voting in favor thereof, either in person or
         by proxies duly appointed in writing, at any meeting of Holders of
         Securities of such series duly called and held in accordance with the
         provisions of Article 15, or a combination of such instruments and any
         such record. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action
         shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or
         both are received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee and, where it
         is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or
         instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and
         evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the
         Holders or holders of Preferred Securities signing such instrument or
         instruments or so voting at any such meeting. Proof of execution of any


                                     -14-
<PAGE>

         such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the
         holding by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any
         purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 315 of the Trust
         Indenture Act) conclusive in favor of the Trustee, the Company and any
         agent of the Trustee or the Company, if made in the manner provided in
         this Section. The record of any meeting of Holders of Securities shall
         be proved in the manner provided in Section 15.6.

                  (2) Without limiting the generality of this Section 1.4,
         unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the
         related Series Authorization, a Holder, including a U.S. Depository
         that is a Holder of a global Security, may make, give or take, by a
         proxy or proxies, duly appointed in writing, any request, demand,
         authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided
         in or pursuant to this Indenture or the related Series Authorization to
         be made, given or taken by Holders, and a U.S. Depository that is a
         Holder of a global Security may provide its proxy or proxies to the
         beneficial owners of interests in any such global Security through such
         U.S. Depository's standing instructions and customary practices.

                  (3) The Company shall fix a record date for the purpose of
         determining the Persons who are beneficial owners of interest in any
         permanent global Security held by a U.S. Depository entitled under the
         procedures of such U.S. Depository to make, give or take, by a proxy or
         proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization,
         direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided in or pursuant
         to this Indenture or the related Series Authorization to be made, given
         or taken by Holders. If such a record date is fixed, the Holders on
         such record date or their duly appointed proxy or proxies, and only
         such Persons, shall be entitled to make, give or take such request,
         demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act,
         whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date. No
         such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
         or other Act shall be valid or effective if made, given or taken more
         than 90 days after such record date.

                  (4) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any
         such instrument or writing referred to in this Section 1.4 may be
         proved in any reasonable manner; and the Trustee may in any instance
         require further proof, including written proof, with respect to any of
         the matters referred to in this Section.

                  (5) The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of
         Registered Securities held by any Person, and the date of the
         commencement and the date of the termination of holding the same, shall
         be proved by the Security Register.

                  (6) The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of
         Bearer Securities held by any Person, and the date of the commencement
         and the date of the termination of holding the same, may be proved by
         the production of such Bearer Securities or by a certificate executed,
         as depositary, by any trust company, bank, banker or other depositary
         reasonably acceptable to the Company, wherever situated, if such
         certificate shall be deemed by the Company and the Trustee to be
         satisfactory, showing that at the date therein mentioned such Person
         had on deposit with such depositary, or exhibited to it, the Bearer
         Securities therein described; or such facts may be proved by the
         certificate or affidavit of the Person holding such Bearer Securities,
         if such certificate or affidavit is deemed by the Trustee to be
         satisfactory. The Trustee and the Company may assume that such
         ownership of any Bearer Security continues until (i) another
         certificate or affidavit bearing a later date issued in respect of the
         same Bearer Security is produced, or (ii) such Bearer Security is
         produced to the Trustee by some other Person, or (iii) such Bearer


                                     -15-
<PAGE>

         Security is surrendered in exchange for a Registered Security, or (iv)
         such Bearer Security is no longer Outstanding. The ownership, principal
         amount and serial numbers of Bearer Securities held by the Person so
         executing such instrument or writing and the date of the commencement
         and the date of the termination of holding the same may also be proved
         in any other manner which the Company and the Trustee deem sufficient.

                  (7) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of any
         Registered Securities any request, demand, authorization, direction,
         notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company may at its option
         (but is not obligated to), by Board Resolution fix in advance a record
         date for the determination of Holders of Registered Securities entitled
         to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
         consent, waiver or other Act. If such a record date is fixed, such
         request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or
         other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the
         Holders of Registered Securities of record at the close of business on
         such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purpose of
         determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding
         Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request,
         demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act,
         and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of
         such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or
         consent by the Holders of Registered Securities shall be deemed
         effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions
         of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.

                  (8) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
         consent, waiver or other Act by the Holder of any Security shall bind
         every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every
         Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in
         exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done or
         suffered to be done by the Trustee, any Security Registrar, any Paying
         Agent or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of
         such Act is made upon such Security.

     Section 1.5.      Notices, etc. to Trustee and Company.

                  Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent, waiver or other Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted
by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

                  (1) the Trustee by any Holder or the Company shall be
         sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or
         filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office,
         or

                  (2) the Company by the Trustee or any Holder shall be
         sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein
         expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage
         prepaid, to the Company addressed to the attention of its Treasurer,
         with a copy to the attention of its General Counsel, at the address of
         its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this
         instrument or at any other address previously furnished in writing to
         the Trustee by the Company.



                                     -16-
<PAGE>

     Section 1.6.      Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver.

                  Except as otherwise expressly provided in or pursuant to this
Indenture or the related Series Authorization, where this Indenture provides for
notice to Holders of Securities of any event,

                  (1) such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of
         Registered Securities if in writing and mailed, first-class postage
         prepaid, to each Holder of a Registered Security affected by such
         event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later
         than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date,
         prescribed for the giving of such notice; and

                  (2) such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of
         Bearer Securities, if any, if published in an Authorized Newspaper in
         The City of New York and, if such Securities are then listed on any
         stock exchange outside the United States, in an Authorized Newspaper in
         such city as the Company shall advise the Trustee in writing that such
         stock exchange so requires, on a Business Day at least twice, the first
         such publication to be not earlier than the earliest date and the
         second such publication not later than the latest date prescribed for
         the giving of such notice.

                  In any case where notice to Holders of Registered Securities
is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any
notice so mailed, to any particular Holder of a Registered Security shall affect
the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Registered
Securities or the sufficiency of any notice to Holders of Bearer Securities
given as provided herein. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein
provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given or provided. In
the case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any
other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such
notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute
a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

                  In case by reason of the suspension of publication of any
Authorized Newspaper or Authorized Newspapers or by reason of any other cause it
shall be impracticable to publish any notice to Holders of Bearers Securities as
provided above, then such notification to Holders of Bearer Securities as shall
be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice to
such Holders for every purpose hereunder. Neither failure to give notice by
publication to Holders of Bearer Securities as provided above, nor any defect in
any notice so published, shall affect the sufficiency of any notice mailed to
Holders of Registered Securities as provided above.

                  Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such
notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice,
either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of
such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders of Securities shall be filed in
writing with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to
the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.



                                     -17-
<PAGE>

     Section 1.7.      Language of Notices.

                  Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent, election or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be
in the English language, except that, if the Company or the Guarantor, as the
case may be, so elects, any published notice may be in an official language of
the country of publication.

     Section 1.8.      Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

                  If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with
any duties under any required provision of the Trust Indenture Act imposed
hereon by Section 318(c) thereof, such required provision shall control.

     Section 1.9.      Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

                  The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of
Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

     Section 1.10.     Successors and Assigns.

                  All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company
shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not. All
covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Guarantor shall bind its
successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

     Section 1.11.     Separability Clause.

                  In case any provision in this Indenture, any Security or any
Coupon shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and
enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or
impaired thereby.

     Section 1.12.     Holders of Preferred Securities as Third Party
                       Beneficiaries.

                  The Company hereby acknowledges that, to the extent
specifically set forth herein, the holders of the Preferred Securities of a
RenaissanceRe Trust shall expressly be third party beneficiaries of this
Indenture. The Company further acknowledges that, if an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing and is attributable to the failure of the Company to
pay the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on or Additional Amounts
with respect to the Securities of the series held by such RenaissanceRe Trust,
any holder of the Preferred Securities of such RenaissanceRe Trust may institute
a Direct Action against the Company.

     Section 1.13.     Benefits of Indenture.

                  Except as other expressly provided herein with respect to
holders of Preferred Securities, nothing in this Indenture, any Security or any
Coupon, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties
hereto and the holders of Senior Indebtedness, any Security Registrar, any
Paying Agent, any Authenticating Agent and their successors hereunder and the
Holders of Securities or Coupons, any benefit or any legal or equitable right,
remedy or claim under this Indenture.



                                     -18-
<PAGE>

     Section 1.14.     Governing Law.

                  This Indenture, the Securities and any Coupons shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York
applicable to agreements made or instruments entered into and, in each case,
performed in said state.

     Section 1.15.     Legal Holidays.

                  Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or
the related Series Authorization, in any case where any Interest Payment Date,
Stated Maturity or Maturity of any Security, or the last date on which a Holder
has the right to convert or exchange Securities of a series that are convertible
or exchangeable, shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then
(notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, any Security or any
Coupon other than a provision in any Security or Coupon that specifically states
that such provision shall apply in lieu hereof) payment need not be made at such
Place of Payment on such date, and such Securities need not be converted or
exchanged on such date, but such payment may be made, and such Securities may be
converted or exchanged, on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day at
such Place of Payment, and no interest shall accrue on the amount payable on
such date or at such time for the period from and after such Interest Payment
Date, Stated Maturity, Maturity or last day for conversion or exchange, as the
case may be, to such next succeeding Business Day, except that if such next
succeeding Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment
may be made, and such Securities may be converted or exchanged, on the
immediately preceding Business Day (in the case of each of the foregoing, with
the same force and effect as if made on such Interest Payment Date or at such
Stated Maturity or Maturity or on such last day for conversion or exchange, as
the case may be).

     Section 1.16.     Counterparts.

                  This Indenture may be executed in several counterparts, each
of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the
same instrument.

     Section 1.17.     Judgment Currency.

                  The Company agrees, to the fullest extent that it may
effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining
judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the
principal of, or premium or interest, if any, or Additional Amounts on the
Securities of any series (the "Required Currency") into a currency in which a
judgment will be rendered (the "Judgment Currency"), the rate of exchange used
shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the
Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the requisite amount of the
Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day
preceding the day on which a final unappealable judgment is given and (b) its
obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i)
shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, or any recovery pursuant to
any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with clause (a)), in any
currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender
or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount
of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments,
(ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for


                                     -19-
<PAGE>

the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which
such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency
so expressed to be payable and (iii)shall not be affected by judgment being
obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture. For purposes of the
foregoing, "New York Banking Day" means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a
legal holiday in The City of New York or a day on which banking institutions in
The City of New York are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive
order to be closed.

     Section 1.18.     No Security Interest Created.

                  Nothing in this Indenture or in any Securities, express or
implied, shall be construed to constitute a security interest under the Uniform
Commercial Code or similar legislation, as now or hereafter enacted and in
effect in any jurisdiction where property of the Company or its Subsidiaries is
or may be located.

     Section 1.19.     Limitation on Individual Liability.

                  No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or
agreement contained in this Indenture or in any Security, or for any claim based
thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator,
shareholder (except in a shareholder's corporate capacity as Guarantor), officer
or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company, either directly
or through the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule
of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it
being expressly understood that this Indenture and the obligations issued
hereunder are solely corporate obligations, and that no such personal liability
whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators,
shareholders, officers or directors, as such, of the Company, or any of them,
because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by
reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture
or in any Security or implied therefrom; and that any and all such personal
liability of every name and nature, either at common law or in equity or by
constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims against,
every such incorporator, shareholder, officer or director, as such, because of
the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the
obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any
Security or implied therefrom, are hereby expressly waived and released as a
condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and
the issuance of such Security.

     Section 1.20.     Submission to Jurisdiction.

                  The Company agrees that any judicial proceedings instituted in
relation to any matter arising under this Indenture, the Securities or any
Coupons appertaining thereto may be brought in any United States Federal or New
York State court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New
York to the extent that such court has subject matter jurisdiction over the
controversy, and, by execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company
hereby irrevocably accepts, generally and unconditionally, the jurisdiction of
the aforesaid courts, acknowledges their competence and irrevocably agrees to be
bound by any judgment rendered in such proceeding. The Company also irrevocably
and unconditionally waives for the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders of the
Securities and Coupons any immunity from jurisdiction and any immunity from
legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment,
attachment in the aid of execution, execution or otherwise) in respect of this
Indenture. The Company hereby irrevocably designates and appoints for the
benefit of the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and Coupons for the
term of this Indenture [Name of Agent & Agent Address], as its agent to receive


                                     -20-
<PAGE>

on its behalf service of all process (with a copy of all such service of process
to be delivered to [___________________]) brought against it with respect to any
such proceeding in any such court in The City of New York, such service being
hereby acknowledged by the Company to be effective and binding service on it in
every respect whether or not the Company shall then be doing or shall have at
any time done business in New York. Such appointment shall be irrevocable so
long as any of the Securities or Coupons or the respective obligations of the
Company hereunder remain outstanding, or until the appointment of a successor by
the Company and such successor's acceptance of such appointment. Upon such
acceptance, the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and
address of such successor. The Company further agrees for the benefit of the
Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and the Coupons to take any and all
action, including the execution and filing of any and all such documents and
instruments, as may be necessary to continue such designation and appointment of
said [Agent Name] in full force and effect so long as any of the Securities or
Coupons or the respective obligations of the Company hereunder shall be
outstanding. The Trustee shall not be obligated and shall have no responsibility
with respect to any failure by the Company to take any such action. Nothing
herein shall affect the right to serve process in any other manner permitted by
any law or limit the right of the Trustee or any Holder to institute proceedings
against the Company in the courts of any other jurisdiction or jurisdictions.

                                  ARTICLE II.

                                SECURITIES FORMS

     Section 2.1.      Forms Generally.

                  Each Registered Security, Bearer Security, Coupon and
temporary or permanent global Security issued pursuant to this Indenture shall
be in the form established by or pursuant to the related Series Authorization,
shall have such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other
variations as are required or permitted by or pursuant to this Indenture or the
related Series Authorization or any indenture supplemental hereto and may have
such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or
endorsements placed thereon as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the
officers executing such Security or Coupon as evidenced by their execution of
such Security or Coupon.

                  Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to the related Series
Authorization, the Securities shall be issuable in registered form without
Coupons and shall not be issuable upon the exercise of warrants.

                  Definitive Securities and definitive Coupons shall be printed,
lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods on a
steel engraved border or steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other
manner, all as determined by the officers of the Company executing such
Securities or Coupons, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities or
Coupons.



                                     -21-
<PAGE>

     Section 2.2.      Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.

                  Subject to Section 6.11, the Trustee's certificate of
authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

                  This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein
                  referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

                                       BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
                                                         as Trustee

                                       By___________________________________
                                       Authorized Officer

     Section 2.3.      Securities in Global Form.

                  Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to the related Series
Authorization, the Securities of a series shall not be issuable in temporary or
permanent global form. If Securities of a series shall be issuable in global
form, any such Security may provide that it or any number of such Securities
shall represent the aggregate amount of all Outstanding Securities of such
series (or such lesser amount as is permitted by the terms thereof) from time to
time endorsed thereon and may also provide that the aggregate amount of
Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be increased or
reduced to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of any Security in global form to
reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, or changes in the
rights of Holders, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made
in such manner and by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in
the Company Order to be delivered pursuant to Section 3.3 or 3.4 with respect
thereto. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.3 and, if applicable, Section
3.4, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver, in each case at the Company's
expense, any Security in permanent global form in the manner and upon written
instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the
applicable Company Order. If a Company Order pursuant to Section 3.3 or 3.4 has
been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with
respect to a Security in global form shall be in writing and, with respect to
matters set forth in this Section 2.3, need not be accompanied by or contained
in an Officers' Certificate and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of
Counsel.

                  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.7, unless
otherwise specified in or pursuant to the related Series Authorization, payment
of principal of, any premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts in
respect of, any Security in temporary or permanent global form shall be made to
the Person or Persons specified therein.

                  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.8 and except as
provided in the preceding paragraph, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of
the Company or the Trustee shall treat as the Holder of such principal amount of
Outstanding Securities represented by a global Security (i) in the case of a
global Security in registered form, the Holder of such global Security in
registered form, or (ii) in the case of a global Security in bearer form, the
Person or Persons specified pursuant to Section 3.1.



                                     -22-
<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE III.

                                 THE SECURITIES

     Section 3.1.      Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

                  The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be
authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities
may be issued in one or more series. The Securities of each series shall be
subordinated in right of payment to all Company Senior Indebtedness with respect
to such series as provided in Article 16.

                  With respect to any Securities to be authenticated and
delivered hereunder, there shall be established in the related Series
Authorization the following:

                           (1) the title of such Securities and the series in
         which such Securities shall be included;

                           (2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of
         the Securities of such title or the Securities of such series which may
         be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for
         Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer
         of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of such series
         pursuant to Section 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 9.5 or 11.7, upon repayment in part
         of any Registered Security of such series pursuant to Article 13, upon
         surrender in part of any Registered Security for conversion into other
         securities of the Company or exchange for securities of the Guarantor
         or another issuer pursuant to its terms, or pursuant to or as
         contemplated by the terms of such Securities);

                           (3) if such Securities are to be issuable as
         Registered Securities, as Bearer Securities or alternatively as Bearer
         Securities and Registered Securities, and whether the Bearer Securities
         are to be issuable with Coupons, without Coupons or both, and any
         restrictions applicable to the offer, sale or delivery of the Bearer
         Securities and the terms, if any, upon which Bearer Securities may be
         exchanged for Registered Securities and vice versa;

                           (4) if any of such Securities are to be issuable in
         global form, when any of such Securities are to be issuable in global
         form and (i) whether such Securities are to be issued in temporary or
         permanent global form or both, (ii) whether beneficial owners of
         interests in any such global Security may exchange such interests for
         definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor and of any
         authorized form and denomination, and the circumstances under which any
         such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner specified in
         Section 3.5, and (iii) the name of the Depository or the U.S.
         Depository, as the case may be, with respect to any such global
         Security;

                           (5) if any of such Securities are to be issuable as
         Bearer Securities or in global form, the date as of which any such
         Bearer Security or global Security shall be dated (if other than the
         date of original issuance of the first of such Securities to be
         issued);



                                     -23-
<PAGE>

                           (6) if any of such Securities are to be issuable as
         Bearer Securities, whether interest in respect of any portion of a
         temporary Bearer Security in global form payable in respect of an
         Interest Payment Date therefor prior to the exchange, if any, of such
         temporary Bearer Security for definitive Securities shall be paid to
         any clearing organization with respect to the portion of such temporary
         Bearer Security held for its account and, in such event, the terms and
         conditions (including any certification requirements) upon which any
         such interest payment received by a clearing organization will be
         credited to the Persons entitled to interest payable on such Interest
         Payment Date;

                           (7) the date or dates, or the method or methods, if
         any, by which such date or dates shall be determined, on which the
         principal of such Securities is payable;

                           (8) the rate or rates at which such Securities shall
         bear interest, if any, or the method or methods, if any, by which such
         rate or rates are to be determined, the rate or rates and the extent to
         which Additional Interest, if any, shall be payable in respect of such
         Securities, the date or dates, if any, from which such interest shall
         accrue or the method or methods, if any, by which such date or dates
         are to be determined, the Interest Payment Dates, if any, on which such
         interest shall be payable on a cash basis and the Regular Record Date,
         if any, for the interest payable on Registered Securities on any
         Interest Payment Date, the right, pursuant to Section 3.11 hereof or as
         otherwise set forth therein, of the Company to defer or extend an
         interest payment period and the duration of any such Extension Period,
         including the maximum consecutive period during which interest payment
         periods may be extended, whether and under what circumstances
         Additional Amounts on such Securities or any of them shall be payable,
         the notice, if any, to Holders regarding the determination of interest
         on a floating rate Security and the manner of giving such notice, and
         the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of
         a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

                           (9) if in addition to or other than the Borough of
         Manhattan, The City of New York, the place or places where the
         principal of, any premium and interest on or any Additional Amounts
         with respect to such Securities shall be payable, any of such
         Securities that are Registered Securities may be surrendered for
         registration of transfer or exchange, any of such Securities may be
         surrendered for conversion or exchange and notices or demands to or
         upon the Company or the Guarantor in respect of such Securities and
         this Indenture may be served, the extent to which, or the manner in
         which, any interest payment or Additional Amounts on a global Security
         on an Interest Payment Date, will be paid and the manner in which any
         principal of or premium, if any, on any global Security will be paid;

                           (10) whether any of such Securities are to be
         redeemable at the option of the Company and, if so, the date or dates
         on which, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at
         which and the other terms and conditions upon which such Securities may
         be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;

                           (11) whether the Company is obligated to redeem or
         purchase any of such Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or
         analogous provision or at the option of any Holder thereof and, if so,
         the date or dates on which, the period or periods within which, the
         price or prices at which and the other terms and conditions upon which
         such Securities shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part,
         pursuant to such obligation, and any provisions for the remarketing of
         such Securities so redeemed or purchased;



                                     -24-
<PAGE>

                           (12) the denominations in which any of such
         Securities that are Registered Securities shall be issuable if other
         than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, and the
         denominations in which any of such Securities that are Bearer
         Securities shall be issuable if other than the denomination of $5,000;

                           (13) whether the Securities of the series will be
         convertible into other securities of the Company and/or exchangeable
         for securities of the Guarantor or another issuer, and if so, the terms
         and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or
         exchangeable, and any deletions from or modifications or additions to
         this Indenture to permit or to facilitate the issuance of such
         convertible or exchangeable Securities or the administration thereof;

                           (14) if other than the principal face amount thereof,
         the portion of the par or stated face amount of any of such Securities
         that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity
         thereof pursuant to Section 5.2 or the method by which such portion is
         to be determined or, in the case of Indexed Securities, the portion of
         the principal face amount that shall be payable upon Stated Maturity or
         the method by which such portion is to be determined;

                           (15) if other than Dollars, the Foreign Currency in
         which payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on or any
         Additional Amounts with respect to any of such Securities shall be
         payable;

                           (16) if the principal of, any premium or interest on
         or any Additional Amounts with respect to any of such Securities are to
         be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof or
         otherwise, in Dollars or in a Foreign Currency other than that in which
         such Securities are stated to be payable, the date or dates on which,
         the period or periods within which, and the other terms and conditions
         upon which, such election may be made, and the time and manner of
         determining the exchange rate between the Currency in which such
         Securities are stated to be payable and the Currency in which such
         Securities or any of them are to be paid pursuant to such election, and
         any deletions from or modifications of or additions to the terms of
         this Indenture to provide for or to facilitate the issuance of
         Securities denominated or payable, at the election of the Company or a
         Holder thereof or otherwise, in a Foreign Currency;

                           (17) whether the amount of payments of principal of,
         any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to
         such Securities may be determined with reference to an index, formula
         or other method or methods (which index, formula or method or methods
         may be based, without limitation, on one or more Currencies,
         commodities, equity securities, equity indices or other indices), and,
         if so, the terms and conditions upon which and the manner in which such
         amounts shall be determined and paid or payable;



                                     -25-
<PAGE>

                           (18) the relative degree, if any, to which Securities
         of such series and the Guarantee in respect thereof shall be senior to
         or be subordinated to other series of Securities and the Guarantee in
         respect thereof or other Indebtedness of the Company or the Guarantor,
         as the case may be, in right of payment, whether such other series of
         Securities or other Indebtedness is outstanding or not;

                           (19) any deletions from, modifications of or
         additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the Company or the
         Guarantor with respect to any of such Securities, whether or not such
         Events of Default or covenants are consistent with the Events of
         Default or covenants set forth herein;

                           (20) whether either or both of Section 4.2(2)
         relating to defeasance or Section 4.2(3) relating to covenant
         defeasance shall not be applicable to the Securities of such series, or
         any covenants in addition to those specified in Section 4.2(3) relating
         to the Securities of such series which shall be subject to covenant
         defeasance, and any deletions from, or modifications or additions to,
         the provisions of Article 4 in respect of the Securities of such
         series;

                           (21) the form or forms of the Trust Agreement (if
         different from the form attached hereto as Annex A), Amended and
         Restated Trust Agreement and Guarantee Agreement;

                           (22) whether any of such Securities are to be
         issuable upon the exercise of warrants, and the time, manner and place
         for such Securities to be authenticated and delivered;

                           (23) if any of such Securities are to be issuable in
         global form and are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon
         original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security) only upon
         receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of
         other conditions, then the form and terms of such certificates,
         documents or conditions;

                           (24) if there is more than one Trustee, the identity
         of the Trustee and, if not the Trustee, the identity of each Security
         Registrar, Paying Agent or Authenticating Agent with respect to such
         Securities; and

                           (25) any other terms of such Securities and any other
         deletions from or modifications or additions to this Indenture in
         respect of such Securities.

                  All Securities of any one series and all Coupons, if any,
appertaining to Bearer Securities of such series shall be substantially
identical except as to Currency of payments due thereunder, denomination and the
rate of interest thereon, or method of determining the rate of interest, if any,
Maturity, and the date from which interest, if any, shall accrue and except as
may otherwise be provided by the Company in or pursuant to the Board Resolution
and set forth in the Officers' Certificate or in any indenture or indentures
supplemental hereto pertaining to such series of Securities. The terms of the
Securities of any series may provide, without limitation, that the Securities
shall be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee on original issue from time
to time upon written order of persons designated in the Officers' Certificate or
supplemental indenture and that such persons are authorized to determine,
consistent with such Officers' Certificate or any applicable supplemental
indenture, such terms and conditions of the Securities of such series as are
specified in such Officers' Certificate or supplemental indenture. All
Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless
otherwise so provided, a series may be reopened for issuances of additional
Securities of such series or to establish additional terms of such series of
Securities.

                                     -26-
<PAGE>

                  If any of the terms of the Securities of any series shall be
established by action taken by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, the Board
Resolution shall be delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the
Officers' Certificate setting forth the terms of such series.

     Section 3.2.      Currency; Denominations.

                  Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or
the related Series Authorization, the principal of, any premium and interest on
and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities shall be payable in
Dollars. Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the
related Series Authorization, Registered Securities denominated in Dollars shall
be issuable in registered form without Coupons in denominations of $1,000 and
any integral multiple thereof, and the Bearer Securities denominated in Dollars
shall be issuable in the denomination of $5,000. Securities not denominated in
Dollars shall be issuable in such denominations as are established with respect
to such Securities in or pursuant to this Indenture or the related Series
Authorization.

     Section 3.3.      Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

                  Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its
Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman, its President, its Treasurer or a Vice
President under its corporate seal reproduced thereon and attested by its
Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. Coupons shall be executed on
behalf of the Company by the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the
Company. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities or any Coupons
appertaining thereto may be manual or facsimile.

                  Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto bearing the
manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper
officers of the Company shall bind the Company and the Guarantor,
notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such
offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities and Coupons
or did not hold such offices at the date of original issuance of such Securities
or Coupons.

                  At any time and from time to time after the execution and
delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities, together with
any Coupons appertaining thereto, executed by the Company, to the Trustee for
authentication and, provided that the Board Resolution and Officers' Certificate
or supplemental indenture or indentures with respect to such Securities referred
to in Section 3.1 and a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of
such Securities have been delivered to the Trustee, the Trustee in accordance
with the Company Order and subject to the provisions hereof and of such
Securities shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. In authenticating
such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this
Indenture in relation to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto,
the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Sections 315(a)


                                     -27-
<PAGE>

through 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be fully protected in, and may
conclusively rely upon,

                           (1) an Opinion or Opinions of Counsel to the effect
                  that:

                                    (a) the form or forms and terms of such
                           Securities and Coupons, if any, have been established
                           in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

                                    (b) all conditions precedent to the
                           authentication and delivery of such Securities and
                           Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto, have been
                           complied with and that such Securities and Coupons,
                           when completed by appropriate insertions, executed
                           under the Company's corporate seal and attested by
                           duly authorized officers of the Company, delivered by
                           duly authorized officers of the Company to the
                           Trustee for authentication pursuant to this
                           Indenture, and authenticated and delivered by the
                           Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and
                           subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion
                           of Counsel, will constitute legal, valid and binding
                           obligations of the Company, enforceable against the
                           Company in accordance with their terms, except as
                           enforcement thereof may be subject to or limited by
                           bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
                           arrangement, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent
                           transfer or other similar laws relating to or
                           affecting creditors' rights generally, and subject to
                           general principles of equity (regardless of whether
                           enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at
                           law) and will entitle the Holders thereof to the
                           benefits of this Indenture, including the Guarantee;
                           such Opinion of Counsel need express no opinion as to
                           the availability of equitable remedies;

                                    (c) all laws and requirements in respect of
                           the execution and delivery by the Company of such
                           Securities and Coupons, if any, have been complied
                           with; and

                                    (d) this Indenture has been qualified under
                           the Trust Indenture Act; and

                           (2) an Officers' Certificate and a Guarantor's
         Officers' Certificate, in each case stating that, to the best knowledge
         of the Persons executing such certificate, all conditions precedent to
         the execution, authentication and delivery of such Securities and
         Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto, have been complied with, and no
         event which is, or after notice or lapse of time would become, an Event
         of Default with respect to any of the Securities shall have occurred
         and be continuing.

                  If all the Securities of any series are not to be issued at
one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver an Opinion of Counsel and an
Officers' Certificate and Guarantor's Officers' Certificate at the time of
issuance of each Security, but such opinion and certificates, with appropriate
modifications, shall be delivered at or before the time of issuance of the first
Security of such series. After any such first delivery, any separate written
request by an Authorized Officer of the Company or any person designated in


                                     -28-
<PAGE>

writing by an Authorized Officer that the Trustee authenticate and deliver
Securities of such series for original issue will be deemed to be a
certification by the Company and the Guarantor that all conditions precedent
provided for in this Indenture relating to authentication and delivery of such
Securities continue to have been complied with and that no Event of Default with
respect to any of the Securities has occurred or is continuing.

                  The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate or to cause
an Authenticating Agent to authenticate any Securities, nor will it be liable
for its refusal to authenticate or cause an Authenticating Agent to authenticate
any Securities, if the issue of such Securities will affect the Trustee's own
rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or
otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee or if
the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not
lawfully be taken.

                  Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its
authentication. Each Bearer Security and any Bearer Security in global form
shall be dated as of the date specified in or pursuant to the related Series
Authorization.

                  No Security or Coupon appertaining thereto shall be entitled
to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose,
unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication
substantially in the form provided for in Section 2.2 or 6.11 executed by or on
behalf of the Trustee or by the Authenticating Agent by the manual signature of
one of its authorized officers. Such certificate upon any Security shall be
conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly
authenticated and delivered hereunder. Except as permitted by Section 3.6 or
3.7, the Trustee shall not authenticate and deliver any Bearer Security unless
all Coupons appertaining thereto then matured have been detached and cancelled.

     Section 3.4.      Temporary Securities.

                  Pending the preparation of definitive Securities, the Company
may execute and deliver to the Trustee and, upon Company Order, the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver, in the manner provided in Section 3.3, temporary
Securities in lieu thereof which are printed, lithographed, typewritten,
mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination,
substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they
are issued, in registered form or, if authorized in or pursuant to this
Indenture or the related Series Authorization, in bearer form with one or more
Coupons or without Coupons and with such appropriate insertions, omissions,
substitutions and other variations as the officers of the Company executing such
Securities may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such
Securities. Such temporary Securities may be in global form.

                  Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form,
which shall be exchanged in accordance with the provisions thereof, if temporary
Securities are issued, the Company shall cause definitive Securities to be
prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive
Securities of the same series and containing terms and provisions that are
identical to those of any temporary Securities, such temporary Securities shall
be exchangeable for such definitive Securities upon surrender of such temporary
Securities at an Office or Agency for such Securities, without charge to any
Holder thereof. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary
Securities (accompanied by any unmatured Coupons appertaining thereto), the
Company shall execute and the Trustee upon Company Order shall authenticate and
deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of


                                     -29-
<PAGE>

authorized denominations of the same series and containing identical terms and
provisions; provided, however, that no definitive Bearer Security, except as
provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the related Series Authorization,
shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary Registered Security; and
provided, further, that a definitive Bearer Security shall be delivered in
exchange for a temporary Bearer Security only in compliance with the conditions
set forth in or pursuant to this Indenture or the related Series Authorization.
Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the related Series
Authorization with respect to a temporary global Security, until so exchanged
the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the
same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.

     Section 3.5.      Registration, Transfer and Exchange.

                  With respect to the Registered Securities of each series, if
any, the Company shall cause to be kept a register (each such register being
herein sometimes referred to as the "Security Register") at an Office or Agency
for such series in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may
prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of the Registered
Securities of such series and of transfers of the Registered Securities of such
series. Such Office or Agency shall be the "Security Registrar" for that series
of Securities. Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or
the related Series Authorization, the Trustee shall be the initial Security
Registrar for each series of Securities. The Company shall have the right to
remove and replace from time to time the Security Registrar for any series of
Securities; provided that no such removal or replacement shall be effective
until a successor Security Registrar with respect to such series of Securities
shall have been appointed by the Company and shall have accepted such
appointment by the Company. In the event that the Trustee shall not be or shall
cease to be Security Registrar with respect to a series of Securities, it shall
have the right to examine the Security Register for such series at all
reasonable times. There shall be only one Security Register for each series of
Securities.

                  Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered
Security of any series at any Office or Agency for such series, the Company
shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of
the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Registered Securities
of the same series denominated as authorized in or pursuant to this Indenture or
the related Series Authorization, of a like aggregate principal amount bearing a
number not contemporaneously outstanding and containing identical terms and
provisions.

                  At the option of the Holder, Registered Securities of any
series may be exchanged for other Registered Securities of the same series
containing identical terms and provisions, in any authorized denominations, and
of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be
exchanged at any Office or Agency for such series. Whenever any Registered
Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Registered Securities which the
Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.



                                     -30-
<PAGE>

                  If provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the related
Series Authorization, with respect to Securities of any series, at the option of
the Holder, Bearer Securities of such series may be exchanged for Registered
Securities of such series containing identical terms, denominated as authorized
in or pursuant to this Indenture or the related Series Authorization and in the
same aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Bearer Securities to be
exchanged at any Office or Agency for such series, with all unmatured Coupons
and all matured Coupons in default thereto appertaining. If the Holder of a
Bearer Security is unable to produce any such unmatured Coupon or Coupons or
matured Coupon or Coupons in default, such exchange may be effected if the
Bearer Securities are accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Company,
the Guarantor and the Trustee in an amount equal to the face amount of such
missing Coupon or Coupons, or the surrender of such missing Coupon or Coupons
may be waived by the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee if there is
furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of
them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Bearer
Security shall surrender to any Paying Agent any such missing Coupon in respect
of which such a payment shall have been made, such Holder shall be entitled to
receive the amount of such payment; provided, however, that, except as otherwise
provided in Section 10.2, interest represented by Coupons shall be payable only
upon presentation and surrender of those Coupons at an Office or Agency for such
series located outside the United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case
a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered at any such Office or Agency for
such series in exchange for a Registered Security of such series and like tenor
after the close of business at such Office or Agency on (i) any Regular Record
Date and before the opening of business at such Office or Agency on the next
succeeding Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the
opening of business at such Office or Agency on the related date for payment of
Defaulted Interest, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the Coupon
relating to such Interest Payment Date or proposed date of payment, as the case
may be (or, if such Coupon is so surrendered with such Bearer Security, such
Coupon shall be returned to the Person so surrendering the Bearer Security), and
interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, shall not be payable on such
Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in
respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security,
but shall be payable only to the Holder of such Coupon when due in accordance
with the provisions of this Indenture.

                  If provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the related
Series Authorization, at the option of the Holder, Registered Securities of such
series may be exchanged for Bearer Securities upon such terms and conditions as
may be provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the related Series
Authorization.

                  Whenever any Securities are surrendered for exchange as
contemplated by the immediately preceding two paragraphs, the Company shall
execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which
the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise provided in
or pursuant to this Indenture or the related Series Authorization, any global
Security shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities only if (i) the
Depository is at any time unwilling, unable or ineligible to continue as
depository and a successor depository is not appointed by the Company within 90
days of the date the Company is so informed in writing, (ii) the Company
executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order to the effect that such
global Security shall be so exchangeable, or (iii) an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing with respect to the Securities. If the beneficial


                                     -31-
<PAGE>

owners of interests in a global Security are entitled to exchange such interests
for definitive Securities as the result of an event described in clause (i),
(ii) or (iii) of the preceding sentence, then without unnecessary delay but in
any event not later than the earliest date on which such interests may be so
exchanged, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities in
such form and denominations as are required by or pursuant to this Indenture or
the related Series Authorization, and of the same series, containing identical
terms and in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such
global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the earliest date on which
such interests may be so exchanged, such global Security shall be surrendered
from time to time by the U.S. Depository or such other Depository as shall be
specified in the Company Order with respect thereto, and in accordance with
instructions given to the Trustee and the U.S. Depository or such other
Depository, as the case may be (which instructions shall be in writing but need
not be contained in or accompanied by an Officers' Certificate or be accompanied
by an Opinion of Counsel), as shall be specified in the Company Order with
respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Company's agent for such purpose, to be
exchanged, in whole or in part, for definitive Securities as described above
without charge. The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery,
in exchange for each portion of such surrendered global Security, a like
aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of
authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such global
Security to be exchanged, which (unless such Securities are not issuable both as
Bearer Securities and as Registered Securities, in which case the definitive
Securities exchanged for the global Security shall be issuable only in the form
in which the Securities are issuable, as provided in or pursuant to this
Indenture or the related Series Authorization) shall be in the form of Bearer
Securities or Registered Securities, or any combination thereof, as shall be
specified by the beneficial owner thereof, but subject to the satisfaction of
any certification or other requirements to the issuance of Bearer Securities;
provided, however, that no such exchanges may occur during a period beginning at
the opening of business 15 days before any selection of Securities of the same
series to be redeemed and ending on the relevant Redemption Date; and provided,
further, that (unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the
related Series Authorization) no Bearer Security delivered in exchange for a
portion of a global Security shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to any
location in the United States. Promptly following any such exchange in part,
such global Security shall be returned by the Trustee to such Depository or the
U.S. Depository, as the case may be, or such other Depository or U.S. Depository
referred to above in accordance with the instructions of the Company referred to
above. If a Registered Security is issued in exchange for any portion of a
global Security after the close of business at the Office or Agency for such
Security where such exchange occurs on or after (i) any Regular Record Date for
such Security and before the opening of business at such Office or Agency on the
next succeeding Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date for such
Security and before the opening of business at such Office or Agency on the
related proposed date for payment of interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case
may be, interest shall not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed
date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of such Registered Security,
but shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment,
as the case may be, only to the Person to whom interest in respect of such
portion of such global Security shall be payable in accordance with the
provisions of this Indenture.



                                     -32-
<PAGE>

                  All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or
exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company and the
Guarantor, respectively, evidencing the same debt and entitling the Holders
thereof to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Securities surrendered
upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

                  Every Registered Security presented or surrendered for
registration of transfer or for exchange or redemption shall (if so required by
the Company or the Security Registrar for such Security) be duly endorsed, or be
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Company and the Security Registrar for such Security duly executed by the Holder
thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

                  No service charge shall be made for any registration of
transfer or exchange, or redemption of Securities, but the Company may require
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge and
any other expenses (including fees and expenses of the Trustee) that may be
imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of
Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.4, 9.5 or 11.7 not
involving any transfer.

                  Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture
or the related Series Authorization, the Company shall not be required (i) to
issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities during a period
beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a
notice of redemption of Securities of like tenor and the same series under
Section 11.4 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or
(ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Registered Security selected
for redemption in whole or in part, except in the case of any Security to be
redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed, or (iii) to exchange
any Bearer Security selected for redemption except, to the extent provided with
respect to such Bearer Security, that such Bearer Security may be exchanged for
a Registered Security of like tenor and the same series, provided that such
Registered Security shall be immediately surrendered for redemption with written
instruction for payment consistent with the provisions of this Indenture or (iv)
to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security which, in accordance
with its terms, has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the Holder,
except the portion, if any, of such Security not to be so repaid.

     Section 3.6.      Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

                  If any mutilated Security or a Security with a mutilated
Coupon appertaining to it is surrendered to the Trustee, subject to the
provisions of this Section 3.6, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series
containing identical terms and of like principal amount and bearing a number not
contemporaneously outstanding, with Coupons appertaining thereto corresponding
to the Coupons, if any, appertaining to the surrendered Security.

                  If there be delivered to the Company, the Guarantor and the
Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of
any Security or Coupon, and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required
by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in
the absence of notice to the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee that such
Security or Coupon has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company shall
execute and, upon the Company's request the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or
stolen Security or in exchange for the Security to which a destroyed, lost or
stolen Coupon appertains with all appurtenant Coupons not destroyed, lost or


                                     -33-
<PAGE>

stolen, a new Security of the same series containing identical terms and of like
principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, with
Coupons appertaining thereto corresponding to the Coupons, if any, appertaining
to such destroyed, lost or stolen Security or to the Security to which such
destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon appertains.

                  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.6,
in case any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or Coupon has become
or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may,
instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security or Coupon; provided,
however, that payment of principal of, any premium or interest on or any
Additional Amounts with respect to any Bearer Securities shall, except as
otherwise provided in Section 10.2, be payable only at an Office or Agency for
such Securities located outside the United States and, unless otherwise provided
in or pursuant to this Indenture or the related Series Authorization, any
interest on Bearer Securities and any Additional Amounts with respect to such
interest shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the Coupons
appertaining thereto.

                  Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section 3.6,
the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or
other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other
expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee and the fees and
expenses of the Trustee's counsel) connected therewith.

                  Every new Security, with any Coupons appertaining thereto
issued pursuant to this Section 3.6 in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen
Security, or in exchange for a Security to which a destroyed, lost or stolen
Coupon appertains shall constitute a separate obligation of the Company and the
Guarantor, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security and Coupons
appertaining thereto or the destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon shall be at any
time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this
Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of such
series and any Coupons, if any, duly issued hereunder.

                  The provisions of this Section 3.6, as amended or supplemented
pursuant to this Indenture with respect to particular Securities or generally,
shall be exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights
and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed,
lost or stolen Securities or Coupons.

     Section 3.7.     Payment of Interest and Certain Additional Amounts; Rights
                      to Interest and Certain Additional Amounts Preserved.

                  Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or
the related Series Authorization, any interest on and any Additional Amounts
with respect to any Registered Security which shall be payable, and are
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid
to the Person in whose name such Security (or one or more Predecessor
Securities) is registered as of the close of business on the Regular Record Date
for such interest.



                                     -34-
<PAGE>

                  Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or
the related Series Authorization, any interest on and any Additional Amounts
with respect to any Registered Security which shall be payable, but shall not be
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for such
Registered Security (herein called "Defaulted Interest") shall forthwith cease
to be payable to the Holder thereof on the relevant Regular Record Date by
virtue of having been such Holder; and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by
the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2)
below:

                           (1) The Company may elect to make payment of any
         Defaulted Interest to the Person in whose name such Registered Security
         (or a Predecessor Security thereof) shall be registered at the close of
         business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted
         Interest, which shall be fixed by the Company in the following manner.
         The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of
         Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on such Registered Security, the
         Special Record Date therefor and the date of the proposed payment, and
         at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount
         of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect
         of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to
         the Trustee for such deposit on or prior to the date of the proposed
         payment, such money when so deposited to be held in trust in a
         segregated trust account pursuant to express written instructions of
         the Company for the benefit of the Person entitled to such Defaulted
         Interest as in this Clause provided. The Special Record Date for the
         payment of such Defaulted Interest shall be not more than 15 days and
         not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not
         less than 10 days after notification to the Trustee of the proposed
         payment. The Trustee shall, in the name and at the expense of the
         Company, cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted
         Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class
         postage prepaid, to the Holder of such Registered Security (or a
         Predecessor Security thereof) at his address as it appears in the
         Security Register not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record
         Date. The Trustee shall, in the name and at the expense of the Company,
         cause a similar notice to be published at least once in an Authorized
         Newspaper of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City
         of New York, but such publication shall not be a condition precedent to
         the establishment of such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed
         payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor
         having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid
         to the Person in whose name such Registered Security (or a Predecessor
         Security thereof) shall be registered at the close of business on such
         Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the
         following clause (2).

                           (2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted
         Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the
         requirements of any securities exchange on which such Security may be
         listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if,
         after written notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the
         proposed payment pursuant to this Clause, such payment shall be deemed
         practicable by the Trustee.



                                     -35-
<PAGE>

                  Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or
the related Series Authorization of any particular series pursuant to the
provisions of this Indenture, at the option of the Company, interest on
Registered Securities that bear interest may be paid by mailing a check to the
address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the
Security Register or by wire transfer to an account maintained by the payee with
a bank located in the United States.

                  Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section and
Section 3.5, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of
transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the
rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such
other Security.

                  In the case of any Registered Security of any series that is
convertible into other securities of the Company or exchangeable for securities
of another issuer, which Registered Security is converted or exchanged after any
Regular Record Date and on or prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date
(other than any Registered Security with respect to which the Stated Maturity is
prior to such Interest Payment Date), interest with respect to which the Stated
Maturity is on such Interest Payment Date shall be payable on such Interest
Payment Date notwithstanding such conversion or exchange, and such interest
(whether or not punctually paid or duly provided for) shall be paid to the
Person in whose name that Registered Security (or one or more predecessor
Registered Securities) is registered at the close of business on such Regular
Record Date. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the immediately preceding
sentence, in the case of any Registered Security which is converted or
exchanged, interest with respect to which the Stated Maturity is after the date
of conversion or exchange of such Registered Security shall not be payable.

     Section 3.8.      Persons Deemed Owners.

                  Prior to due presentment of a Registered Security for
registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company
or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Registered Security is
registered in the Security Register as the owner of such Registered Security for
the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, any premium and (subject to
Sections 3.5 and 3.7) interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to
such Registered Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not
any payment with respect to such Registered Security shall be overdue, and none
of the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be
affected by notice to the contrary.

                  The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the
Trustee may treat the bearer of any Bearer Security or the bearer of any Coupon
as the absolute owner of such Security or Coupon for the purpose of receiving
payment thereof or on account thereof and for all other purposes whatsoever,
whether or not any payment with respect to such Security or Coupon shall be
overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the
Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

                  No Holder of any beneficial interest in any global Security
held on its behalf by a Depository shall have any rights under this Indenture
with respect to such global Security, and such Depository may be treated by the
Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the owner


                                     -36-
<PAGE>

of such global Security for all purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, the
Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility
or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on
account of beneficial ownership interests of a global Security or for
maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial
ownership interests.

     Section 3.9.      Cancellation.

                  All Securities and Coupons surrendered for payment,
redemption, registration of transfer, exchange or conversion or for credit
against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than
the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee, and any such Securities and Coupons,
as well as Securities and Coupons surrendered directly to the Trustee for any
such purpose, shall be cancelled promptly by the Trustee. The Company may at any
time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously
authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any
manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be cancelled promptly
by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange
for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly
permitted by or pursuant to this Indenture or the related Series Authorization.
All cancelled Securities and Coupons held by the Trustee shall be destroyed by
the Trustee, unless by a Company Order directs their return to it.

     Section 3.10.     Computation of Interest.

                  Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture
or the related Series Authorization, interest on the Securities shall be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

     Section 3.11.     Extension of Interest Payment Period.

                  If specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to
the Securities of a particular series and subject to the terms, conditions and
covenants, if any, so specified, the Company shall have the right, at any time
and from time to time during the term of such series, to defer the payment of
interest on such Securities for such period or periods as may be specified as
contemplated by Section 3.1 (each, an "Extension Period"), during which
Extension Periods the Company shall have the right to make partial payments of
interest on any Interest Payment Date. No Extension Period shall end on a day
other than an Interest Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period,
the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Securities
(together with Additional Interest thereon, if any, at the rate specified for
the Securities of such series to the extent permitted by applicable law). Prior
to the termination of any such Extension Period, the Company may further extend
the interest payment period, provided that no Extension Period shall exceed the
period or periods specified in such Securities or extend beyond the Stated
Maturity of the principal of such Securities. Upon termination of any Extension
Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and any
Additional Interest then due on any Interest Payment Date, the Company may elect
to begin a new Extension Period, subject to the above requirements. No interest
shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof.



                                     -37-
<PAGE>

                  The Company shall give the Holders of the Securities of such
series and the Trustee written notice of its election to begin any such
Extension Period at least one Business Day prior to the Interest Payment Date
or, with respect to the Securities of a series issued to a RenaissanceRe Trust,
prior to the earlier of (i) the date the Distributions on the Preferred
Securities of such RenaissanceRe Trust are payable or (ii) the date the trustees
of such RenaissanceRe Trust are required to give notice to any securities
exchange or other applicable self-regulatory organization or to holders of such
Preferred Securities of the record date or the date such Distributions are
payable, but in any event not less than one Business Day prior to such record
date.

                  The Trustee shall promptly give notice of the Company's
election to begin any such Extension Period to the Holders of the outstanding
Securities of such series.

     Section 3.12.     Right of Set-Off.

                  With respect to the Securities of a series issued to a
RenaissanceRe Trust, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture,
the Company shall have the right to set-off any payment it is otherwise required
to make thereunder in respect of any such Security to the extent the Company, as
applicable, has theretofore made, or is concurrently on the date of such payment
making, a payment under the Preferred Securities Guarantee relating to such
Security or under Section 5.8 hereof, as applicable.

     Section 3.13.     Agreed Tax Treatment.

                  Each Security issued hereunder shall provide that the Company
and by its acceptance of a Security or a beneficial interest therein, the Holder
of, and any Person that acquires a beneficial interest in, such Security agree
that for United States Federal, state and local tax purposes it is intended that
such Security constitute indebtedness.

     Section 3.14.     Extension of Stated Maturity; Adjustment of Stated
                       Maturity Upon an Exchange.

                  If specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to
the Securities of a particular series, the Company shall have the right to (a)
change the Stated Maturity of the principal of the Securities of such series
upon the liquidation of the applicable RenaissanceRe Trust and the exchange of
such Securities for the Preferred Securities of such RenaissanceRe Trust, or (b)
extend the Stated Maturity of the principal of the Securities of such series;
provided that, at the time any election to extend such Stated Maturity is made
and at the time of such extension, (i) the Company is not in bankruptcy,
otherwise insolvent or in liquidation, (ii) the Company is not in default in the
payment of any interest or principal or Additional Amounts on the Securities of
such series and no deferred interest payments thereon have accrued, (iii) the
applicable RenaissanceRe Trust is not in arrears on payments of Distributions on
its Preferred Securities and no deferred Distributions thereon have accumulated,
(iv) the Securities of such series are rated not less than BBB- by Standard &
Poor's Ratings Services or Baa3 by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or the


                                     -38-
<PAGE>

equivalent by any other nationally recognized statistical rating organization
and (v) the extended Stated Maturity is no later than the 49th anniversary of
the initial issuance of the Preferred Securities of the applicable RenaissanceRe
Trust; provided, further, that, if the Company exercises its right to liquidate
the applicable RenaissanceRe Trust and exchange the Securities of such series
for the Preferred Securities of such RenaissanceRe Trust as specified in clause
(a) above, any changed Stated Maturity of the principal of the Securities of
such series shall be no earlier than the date that is five years after the
initial issue date of the Preferred Securities and no later than the date 30
years (plus an extended term of up to an additional 19 years if the
above-referenced conditions are satisfied) after the initial issue date of the
Preferred Securities of the applicable RenaissanceRe Trust.

     Section 3.15.     CUSIP Numbers.

                  The Company in issuing the Securities may use "CUSIP," "CINS"
and "ISIN" numbers (if then generally in use), and the Trustee shall use CUSIP,
CINS or ISIN numbers, as the case may be, in notices of redemption or exchange
as a convenience to Holders and no representation shall be made as to the
correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained
in any notice of redemption or exchange.

                                  ARTICLE IV.

                     SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

     Section 4.1.      Satisfaction and Discharge.

                  Upon the direction of the Company by a Company Order, this
Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of
Securities specified in such Company Order and any Coupons appertaining thereto,
and the Trustee, on receipt of a Company Order, at the expense of the Company,
shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of
this Indenture as to such series, when

                  (1)      either

                                    (a) all Securities of such series
                  theretofore authenticated and delivered and all Coupons
                  appertaining thereto (other than (i) Coupons appertaining to
                  Bearer Securities of such series surrendered in exchange for
                  Registered Securities of such series and maturing after such
                  exchange whose surrender is not required or has been waived as
                  provided in Section 3.5, (ii) Securities and Coupons of such
                  series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which
                  have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.6, (iii)
                  Coupons appertaining to Securities of such series called for
                  redemption and maturing after the relevant Redemption Date
                  whose surrender has been waived as provided in Section 11.7,
                  and (iv) Securities and Coupons of such series for whose
                  payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or
                  segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter
                  repaid to the Company, or discharged from such trust, as
                  provided in Section 10.3) have been delivered to the Trustee
                  for cancellation; or

                                    (b) all Securities of such series and, in
                  the case of (i) or (ii) below, any Coupons appertaining
                  thereto not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for
                  cancellation



                                     -39-
<PAGE>

                                             (i) have become due and payable,

                                             (ii) will become due and payable at
                           their Stated Maturity within one year, or

                                             (iii) if redeemable at the option
                           of the Company or pursuant to the operation of a
                           sinking fund, are to be called for redemption within
                           one year under arrangements satisfactory to the
                           Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the
                           Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the
                           Company,

and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or
caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such
purpose, money in the Currency in which such Securities are payable in an amount
sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities and
any Coupons appertaining thereto not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation, including the principal of, any premium and interest (including
any Additional Interest) on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to such
Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto (based upon applicable law as in
effect on the date of such deposit), to the date of such deposit (in the case of
Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Maturity thereof, as the
case may be;

                           (2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all
         other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to the
         Outstanding Securities of such series and any Coupons appertaining
         thereto; and

                           (3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an
         Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all
         conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction
         and discharge of this Indenture as to such series have been complied
         with.

                  In the event there are Securities of two or more series
hereunder, the Trustee shall be required to execute an instrument acknowledging
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture only if requested to do so with
respect to Securities of such series as to which it is Trustee and if the other
conditions thereto are met.

                  Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this
Indenture with respect to any series of Securities, the obligations of the
Company to the Trustee under Section 6.6 and, if money shall have been deposited
with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (1) of this Section, the
obligations of the Company and the Trustee with respect to the Securities of
such series under Sections 3.5, 3.6, 4.3, 10.2 and 10.3, with respect to the
payment of Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to such Securities as
contemplated by Sections 10.4 and 17.2 (but only to the extent that the
Additional Amounts payable with respect to such Securities exceed the amount
deposited in respect of such Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 4.1(1)(b)),
and with respect to any rights to convert or exchange such Securities into
securities of the Company or another issuer shall survive.



                                     -40-
<PAGE>

     Section 4.2.      Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance.

                           (1) Unless pursuant to Section 3.1, either or both of
         (i) defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under clause (2)
         of this Section 4.2 shall not be applicable with respect to the
         Securities of such series or (ii) covenant defeasance of the Securities
         of or within a series under clause (3) of this Section 4.2 shall not be
         applicable with respect to the Securities of such series, then such
         provisions, together with the other provisions of this Section 4.2
         (with such modifications thereto as may be specified pursuant to
         Section 3.1 with respect to any Securities), shall be applicable to
         such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, and the Company
         may at its option by Board Resolution, at any time, with respect to
         such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, elect to have
         Section 4.2(2) or Section 4.2(3) be applied to such Outstanding
         Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto upon compliance with
         the conditions set forth below in this Section 4.2.

                           (2) Upon the Company's exercise of the above option
         applicable to this Section 4.2(2) with respect to any Securities of or
         within a series, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged
         from its obligations with respect to such Outstanding Securities and
         any Coupons appertaining thereto on the date the conditions set forth
         in clause (4) of this Section 4.2 are satisfied (hereinafter,
         "defeasance"). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company
         shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness
         represented by such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining
         thereto, and under the Guarantee in respect thereof, which shall
         thereafter be deemed to be "Outstanding" only for the purposes of
         clause (5) of this Section 4.2 and the other Sections of this Indenture
         referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) below, and to have satisfied all of
         its other obligations under such Securities and any Coupons
         appertaining thereto, and this Indenture insofar as such Securities and
         any Coupons appertaining thereto are concerned (and the Trustee, at the
         expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging
         the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise
         terminated or discharged hereunder: (i) the rights of Holders of such
         Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto to receive,
         solely from the trust fund described in clause (4) of this Section 4.2
         and as more fully set forth in such clause, payments in respect of the
         principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including any
         Additional Interest), if any, on, and Additional Amounts, if any, with
         respect to, such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto when
         such payments are due, and any rights of such Holder to convert such
         Securities into other securities of the Company or exchange such
         Securities for securities of another issuer, (ii) the obligations of
         the Company and the Trustee with respect to such Securities under
         Sections 3.5, 3.6, 10.2 and 10.3 and with respect to the payment of
         Additional Amounts, if any, on such Securities as contemplated by
         Sections 10.4 and 17.2 (but only to the extent that the Additional
         Amounts payable with respect to such Securities exceed the amount
         deposited in respect of such Additional Amounts pursuant to Section
         4.2(4)(a) below), and with respect to any rights to convert such
         Securities into other securities of the Company or exchange such


                                     -41-
<PAGE>

         Securities for securities of another issuer, (iii) the rights, powers,
         trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder including,
         without limitation, the compensation, reimbursement and indemnities
         provided in Section 6.6 herein and (iv) this Section 4.2. The Company
         may exercise its option under this Section 4.2(2) notwithstanding the
         prior exercise of its option under clause (3) of this Section 4.2 with
         respect to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto.

                           (3) Upon the Company's exercise of the option to have
         this Section 4.2(3) apply with respect to any Securities of or within a
         series, the Company shall be released from their obligations under any
         covenant applicable to such Securities specified pursuant to Section
         3.1(20), including any obligation to redeem or repurchase such
         securities at the option of the Holder thereof, with respect to such
         Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, on and
         after the date the conditions set forth in clause (4) of this Section
         4.2 are satisfied (hereinafter, "covenant defeasance"), and such
         Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto shall thereafter be
         deemed to be not "Outstanding" for the purposes of any direction,
         waiver, consent or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences
         of any thereof) in connection with any such covenant or obligation, but
         shall continue to be deemed "Outstanding" for all other purposes
         hereunder. For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with
         respect to such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining
         thereto, the Company may omit to comply with, and shall have no
         liability in respect of, any term, condition or limitation set forth in
         any such Section or such other covenant or obligation, whether directly
         or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such
         Section or such other covenant or by reason of reference in any such
         Section or such other covenant or obligation to any other provision
         herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not
         constitute a default or an Event of Default under Section 5.1 but,
         except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such
         Securities and Coupons appertaining thereto shall be unaffected
         thereby.

                           (4) The following shall be the conditions to
         application of clause (2) or (3) of this Section 4.2 to any Outstanding
         Securities of or within a series and any Coupons appertaining thereto:

                                    (a) The Company shall irrevocably have
                  deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or
                  another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 6.7 who
                  shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Section 4.2
                  applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of
                  making the following payments, specifically pledged as
                  security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the
                  Holders of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining
                  thereto, (1) an amount in Dollars or in such Foreign Currency
                  in which such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto
                  are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity, or (2)
                  Government Obligations applicable to such Securities and
                  Coupons appertaining thereto (determined on the basis of the
                  Currency in which such Securities and Coupons appertaining
                  thereto are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity)
                  which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest
                  in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will
                  provide, not later than one day before the due date of any
                  payment with respect to such Securities and any Coupons
                  appertaining thereto, money in an amount, or (3) a combination
                  thereof, in any case, in an amount, sufficient, without
                  consideration of any reinvestment of such principal and
                  interest, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of
                  independent public accountants expressed in a written
                  certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and
                  discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other
                  qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, (y) the principal of


                                     -42-
<PAGE>

                  (and premium, if any) and interest (including any Additional
                  Interest), if any, on, and any Additional Amounts with respect
                  to such Securities and Coupons appertaining thereto (based
                  upon applicable law as in effect on the date of such deposit),
                  such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining
                  thereto at the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date of such
                  principal or installment of principal or premium or interest
                  and (z) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous
                  payments applicable to such Outstanding Securities and any
                  Coupons appertaining thereto on the days on which such
                  payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of
                  this Indenture and of such Securities and any Coupons
                  appertaining thereto, and, if applicable, shall have made
                  irrevocable arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the
                  redemption of any Securities to be redeemed at the option of
                  the Company in connection with such deposit.

                                    (b) No Event of Default or event which with
                  notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of
                  Default with respect to such Securities and any Coupons
                  appertaining thereto shall have occurred and be continuing on
                  the date of such deposit (after giving effect thereto) and,
                  with respect to defeasance only, no event described in Section
                  5.1(7) or (8) at any time during the period ending on the 91st
                  day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that
                  this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the
                  expiration of such period).

                                    (c) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance
                  shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a
                  default under, any material agreement or instrument (other
                  than this Indenture) to which the Company is a party or by
                  which it is bound.

                                    (d) In the case of an election under clause
                  (2) of this Section 4.2, with respect to Registered Securities
                  and any Bearer Securities for which the Place of Payment is
                  within the United States, the Company shall have delivered to
                  the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (i) the Company
                  has received from the Internal Revenue Service a letter
                  ruling, or there has been published by the Internal Revenue
                  Service a Revenue Ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution
                  of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable
                  Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and
                  based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of
                  such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining
                  thereto will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal
                  income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be
                  subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same
                  manner and at the same times as would have been the case if
                  such defeasance had not occurred.



                                     -43-
<PAGE>

                                    (e) In the case of an election under clause
                  (3) of this Section 4.2 with respect to Registered Securities
                  and any Bearer Securities for which the Place of Payment is
                  within the United States, the Company shall have delivered to
                  the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the
                  Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons
                  appertaining thereto will not recognize income, gain or loss
                  for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant
                  defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the
                  same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as
                  would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not
                  occurred.

                                    (f) With respect to defeasance only, the
                  Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of
                  Counsel to the effect that, after the 91st day after the date
                  of deposit, all money and Government Obligations (or other
                  property as may be provided pursuant to Section 3.1)
                  (including the proceeds thereof) deposited or caused to be
                  deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee)
                  pursuant to this clause (4) to be held in trust will not be
                  subject to recapture or avoidance as a preference in any case
                  or proceeding (whether voluntary or involuntary) in respect of
                  the Company under any Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency,
                  reorganization or other similar law, or any decree or order
                  for relief in respect of the Company issued in connection
                  therewith (for which purpose such Opinion of Counsel may
                  assume that no Holder is an "insider").

                                    (g) With respect to defeasance only, the
                  Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
                  Certificate as to solvency and the absence of any intent of
                  preferring the Holders over any other creditors of the
                  Company.

                                    (h) The Company and the Guarantor shall have
                  delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and the
                  Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of
                  Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the
                  defeasance or covenant defeasance under clause (2) or (3) of
                  this Section 4.2 (as the case may be) have been complied with.

                                    (i) Notwithstanding any other provisions of
                  this Section 4.2(4), such defeasance or covenant defeasance
                  shall be effected in compliance with any additional or
                  substitute terms, conditions or limitations which may be
                  imposed on the Company in connection therewith pursuant to
                  Section 3.1.

                  (5) Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this
Indenture or any Series Authorization, if, after a deposit referred to in
Section 4.2(4)(a) has been made, (a) the Holder of a Security in respect of
which such deposit was made is entitled to, and does, elect pursuant to Section
3.1 or the terms of such Security to receive payment in a Currency other than
that in which the deposit pursuant to Section 4.2(4)(a) has been made in respect
of such Security, or (b) a Conversion Event occurs in respect of the Foreign
Currency in which the deposit pursuant to Section 4.2(4)(a) has been made, the
indebtedness represented by such Security and any Coupons appertaining thereto
shall be deemed to have been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied


                                     -44-
<PAGE>

through the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any), and interest
(including any Additional Interest), if any, on, and Additional Amounts, if any,
with respect to, such Security as the same becomes due out of the proceeds
yielded by converting (from time to time as specified below in the case of any
such election) the amount or other property deposited in respect of such
Security into the Currency in which such Security becomes payable as a result of
such election or Conversion Event based on (x) in the case of payments made
pursuant to clause (a) above, the applicable market exchange rate for such
Currency in effect on the second Business Day prior to each payment date, or (y)
with respect to a Conversion Event, the applicable market exchange rate for such
Foreign Currency in effect (as nearly as feasible) at the time of the Conversion
Event.

                  The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee (or other
qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 4.2(5) and Section
4.3, the "Trustee") against any tax, fee or other charge, imposed on or assessed
against the Government Obligations deposited pursuant to this Section 4.2 or the
principal or interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee
or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of such
Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto.

                  Anything in this Section 4.2 to the contrary notwithstanding,
the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company
Request any money or Government Obligations (or other property and any proceeds
therefrom) held by it as provided in clause (4) of this Section 4.2 which, in
the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants
expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in
excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to
effect a defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with
this Section 4.2.

     Section 4.3.      Application of Trust Money.

                  Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section
10.3, all money and Government Obligations (or other property as may be provided
pursuant to Section 3.1) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the
Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1 or 4.2 in respect of any Outstanding Securities
of any series and any Coupons appertaining thereto shall be held in trust and
applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and
any Coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture, to the payment, either
directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own
Paying Agent or the Guarantor acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may
determine, to the Holders of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining
thereto of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and
premium, if any) and interest (including any Additional Interest) and Additional
Amounts, if any; but such money and Government Obligations need not be
segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.



                                     -45-
<PAGE>



                                   ARTICLE V.

                                    REMEDIES

     Section 5.1.      Events of Default.

                  "Event of Default," wherever used herein with respect to
Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the
reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or
involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment,
decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any
administrative or governmental body), unless such event is specifically deleted
or modified in or pursuant to the related Series Authorization:

                           (1) default in the payment of any interest on any
         Security of such series, including any Additional Interest in respect
         thereof, or any Additional Amounts payable with respect thereto, when
         such interest becomes or such Additional Amounts become due and
         payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days
         (subject to any deferral of any due date in the case of an Extension
         Period); or

                           (2) default in the payment of the principal of or any
         premium on any Security of such series, or any Additional Amounts
         payable with respect thereto, when such principal or premium becomes or
         such Additional Amounts become due and payable at their Maturity; or

                           (3) default in the performance, or breach, of any
         covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture or the Securities
         (other than a covenant or warranty a default in the performance or the
         breach of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or
         which has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the
         benefit of a series of Securities other than such series), and
         continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after
         there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company
         by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at
         least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such
         series or, if that series of Securities is held by a RenaissanceRe
         Trust, the holders of at least 25% in liquidation amount of the
         Preferred Securities of that RenaissanceRe Trust then outstanding, a
         written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be
         remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default"
         hereunder; or

                           (4) if any event of default as defined in any
         mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued, or
         by which there may be secured or evidenced, any Indebtedness of the
         Company for borrowed money (other than Indebtedness which is
         non-recourse to the Company) shall happen and shall consist of default
         in the payment of more than $100,000,000 in principal amount of such
         Indebtedness when due (after giving effect to any applicable grace
         period), and such default shall not be cured or such


                                     -46-
<PAGE>

         acceleration shall not be rescinded or annulled within a period of 30
         days after there shall have been given, by registered or certified
         mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee
         by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding
         Securities of such series or, if that series of Securities is held by a
         RenaissanceRe Trust, the holders of at least 25% in liquidation amount
         of the Preferred Securities of that RenaissanceRe Trust then
         outstanding, a written notice specifying such event of default and
         requiring the Company to cause such acceleration to be rescinded or
         annulled or to cause such Indebtedness to be discharged and stating
         that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder; or

                           (5) the Company shall fail within 60 days to pay,
         bond or otherwise discharge any uninsured judgment or court order for
         the payment of money in excess of $100,000,000, which is not stayed on
         appeal or is not otherwise being appropriately contested in good faith;
         or

                           (6) the entry by a court having competent
         jurisdiction of:

                                    (a) a decree or order for relief in respect
                  of the Company in an involuntary proceeding under any
                  applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization (other than
                  a reorganization under a foreign law that does not relate to
                  insolvency) or other similar law and such decree or order
                  shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60
                  consecutive days; or

                                    (b) a decree or order adjudging the Company
                  or the Guarantor to be insolvent, or approving a petition
                  seeking reorganization (other than a reorganization under a
                  foreign law that does not relate to insolvency), arrangement,
                  adjustment or composition of the Company and such decree or
                  order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60
                  consecutive days; or

                                    (c) a final and non-appealable order
                  appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee,
                  trustee or other similar official of the Company of any
                  substantial part of the property of the Company or ordering
                  the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Company;
                  or

                           (7) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary
         proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization
         (other than a reorganization under a foreign law that does not relate
         to insolvency) or other similar law or of a voluntary proceeding
         seeking to be adjudicated insolvent or the consent by the Company to
         the entry of a decree or order for relief in an involuntary proceeding
         under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other
         similar law or to the commencement of any insolvency proceedings
         against it, or the filing by the Company of a petition or answer or
         consent seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition
         of the Company or relief under any applicable law, or the consent by
         the Company to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or
         taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee,
         trustee or similar official of the Company or any substantial part of
         the property of the Company or the making by the Company of an
         assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the taking of corporate
         action by the Company in furtherance of any such action; or



                                     -47-
<PAGE>

                           (8) any other or substitute Event of Default provided
         in or pursuant to this Indenture or the related Series Authorization
         with respect to Securities of such series.

     Section 5.2.      Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

                  If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any
series at the time Outstanding (other than an Event of Default specified in
clause (7) or (8) of Section 5.1) occurs and is continuing, then the Trustee or
the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of such series may declare the principal of all the Securities of
such series, be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the
Company (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders), and upon any such
declaration such principal shall become immediately due and payable; provided
that, in the case of Securities of a series issued to a RenaissanceRe Trust, if,
upon an Event of Default, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series fail to declare
the principal of all the Securities of such series, to be immediately due and
payable, the holders of at least 25% in liquidation amount of the Preferred
Securities of such RenaissanceRe Trust then outstanding shall have such right by
a notice in writing to the Company, the Trustee and the Property Trustee; and
upon any such declaration such principal or such lesser amount and all accrued
and unpaid interest (including any Additional Interest) thereon shall become
immediately due and payable, provided that the payment of principal and interest
and all other amounts due with respect to such Securities shall remain
subordinated to the extent provided in Article 16.

                  If an Event of Default specified in clause (7) or (8) of
Section 5.1 occurs, all unpaid principal of and accrued interest (including any
Additional Interest) on the Outstanding Securities of that series shall ipso
facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other
act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder of any Security of that series.

                  At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect
to the Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree
for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in
this Article provided, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series (subject to, in the case of
any series of Securities held as assets of a RenaissanceRe Trust, such consent
of the holders of the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities of such
RenaissanceRe Trust as may be required under the Trust Agreement of such
RenaissanceRe Trust), by written notice to the Company, the Guarantor and the
Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if

                           (1) the Company has paid or deposited with the
         Trustee a sum of money sufficient to pay



                                     -48-
<PAGE>

                                     (a) all overdue installments of any
                           interest (including any Additional Interest) on and
                           Additional Amounts with respect to all Securities of
                           such series and any Coupon appertaining thereto,

                                     (b) the principal of and any premium on any
                           Securities of such series which have become due
                           otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration
                           and interest thereon and any Additional Amounts with
                           respect thereto at the rate or rates borne by or
                           provided for in such Securities,

                                     (c) to the extent that payment of such
                           interest or Additional Amounts is lawful, interest
                           upon overdue installments of any interest and
                           Additional Amounts at the rate or rates borne by or
                           provided for in such Securities, and

                                     (d) all sums paid or advanced by the
                           Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation,
                           expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee,
                           its agents and counsel and all other amounts due the
                           Trustee under Section 6.6; and

                           (2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities
         of such series, other than the non-payment of the principal of, any
         premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to
         Securities of such series which shall have become due solely by such
         declaration of acceleration, shall have been cured or waived as
         provided in Section 5.13.

                  In the case of Securities of a series issued to a
RenaissanceRe Trust, should the Holders of such Securities fail to rescind and
annul such declaration and its consequences, the holders of a majority in
liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such RenaissanceRe Trust then
outstanding shall have such right by written notice to the Company, the Trustee
and the Property Trustee, subject to satisfaction of the conditions set forth in
clauses (1) and (2) above of this Section 5.2.

                  No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or
impair any right consequent thereon.

     Section 5.3. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by
                  Trustee.

                  The Company covenants that if

                           (1) default is made in the payment of any installment
         of interest (including any Additional Interest) on or any Additional
         Amounts with respect to any Security or any Coupon appertaining thereto
         when such interest or Additional Amounts shall have become due and
         payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

                           (2) default is made in the payment of the principal
         of or any premium on any Security or any Additional Amounts with
         respect thereto at their Maturity,



                                     -49-
<PAGE>

the Company shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the
benefit of the Holders of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto,
the whole amount of money then due and payable with respect to such Securities
and any Coupons appertaining thereto, with interest (including any Additional
Interest) upon the overdue principal, any premium and (to the extent that
payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable and, if the Securities are
held by a RenaissanceRe Trust, without duplication of any other amounts paid to
such RenaissanceRe Trust in respect thereof) upon any overdue installments of
interest and Additional Amounts at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in
such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount of money as shall
be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the
reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee,
its agents and counsel and all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section
6.6.

                  If the Company or the Guarantor fails to pay the money it is
required to pay the Trustee pursuant to the preceding paragraph forthwith upon
the demand of the Trustee, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an
express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the
money so due and unpaid, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final
decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon
such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto and collect the monies
adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the
property of the Company or the Guarantor or any other obligor upon such
Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, wherever situated.

                  If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any
series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to
protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of
such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto by such appropriate judicial
proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any
such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement
in this Indenture or such Securities or in aid of the exercise of any power
granted herein or therein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

     Section 5.4.      Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

                  In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency,
liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or
other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the
Securities of any series or the property of the Company or such other obligor or
their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the
Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration
or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand
on the Company or the Guarantor for the payment of any overdue principal,
premium, interest (including any Additional Interest) or Additional Amounts)
shall be entitled and empowered, to the extent permitted by applicable law by
intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

                                    (1) to file and prove a claim for the whole
         amount, or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities
         of any applicable series, of the principal and any premium, interest
         (including any Additional Interest) and Additional Amounts owing and
         unpaid in respect of the Securities and any Coupons appertaining
         thereto and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary
         or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any
         claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and
         advances of the Trustee, its agents or counsel) and of the Holders of


                                     -50-
<PAGE>

         Securities or any Coupons appertaining thereto allowed in such judicial
         proceeding, and

                           (2) to collect and receive any monies or other
         property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute
         the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator,
         sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding
         is hereby authorized by each Holder of Securities or any Coupons to
         make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee
         shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders of
         Securities or any Coupons, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it
         for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances
         of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any other amounts due the
         Trustee under Section 6.6.

                  Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the
Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of
a Security or any Coupon any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or
composition affecting the Securities or Coupons or the rights of any Holder
thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any
Holder of a Security or any Coupon in any such proceeding.

     Section 5.5.      Trustee May Enforce Claims without Possession of
                       Securities or Coupons.

                  All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or any of
the Securities or Coupons may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without
the possession of any of the Securities or Coupons or the production thereof in
any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the
Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any
recovery or judgment, after provision for the payment of the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents
and counsel, shall be for the ratable benefit of each and every Holder of the
Securities or Coupons in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

     Section 5.6.      Application of Money Collected.

                  Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article
shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the
Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal,
or any premium, interest (including any Additional Interest) or Additional
Amounts, upon presentation of the Securities or Coupons, or both, as the case
may be, and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon
surrender thereof if fully paid:

                  FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee and any
predecessor Trustee under Section 6.6;

                  SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon
the Securities and any Coupons for principal and any premium, interest and
Additional Amounts in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money
has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind,
according to the aggregate amounts due and payable on such Securities and
Coupons for principal and any premium, interest (including any Additional
Interest) and Additional Amounts, respectively;



                                     -51-
<PAGE>

                  THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Person or Persons entitled
thereto.

     Section 5.7.      Limitations on Suits.

                  No Holder of any Security of any series or any Coupons
appertaining thereto shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial
or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a
receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

                           (1) such Holder has previously given written notice
         to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the
         Securities of such series;

                           (2) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal
         amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall have made
         written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of
         such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

                           (3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the
         Trustee such indemnity as is reasonably satisfactory to it against the
         costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such
         request;

                           (4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such
         notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such
         proceeding; and

                           (5) no direction inconsistent with such written
         request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the
         Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities
         of such series; it being understood and intended that no one or more of
         such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of,
         or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture or any Security to
         affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other such Holders or
         Holders of Securities of any other series, or to obtain or to seek to
         obtain priority or preference over any other Holders or to enforce any
         right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and
         for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders.

     Section 5.8. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and any
                  Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts.

                  Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the
Holder of any Security or Coupon shall have the right, which is absolute and
unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of, any premium and (subject
to Sections 3.5, 3.7 and 3.11) interest (including any Additional Interest) on,
and any Additional Amounts with respect to such Security or payment of such
Coupon, as the case may be, on the respective Stated Maturity or Maturities
therefor specified in such Security or Coupon (or, in the case of redemption, on
the Redemption Date or, in the case of repayment at the option of such Holder if
provided with respect to such Security, on the date such repayment is due) and
to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such right shall


                                     -52-
<PAGE>

not be impaired without the consent of such Holder. In the case of Securities of
a series issued to a RenaissanceRe Trust, any holder of Preferred Securities
issued by such RenaissanceRe Trust shall have the right, upon the occurrence of
an Event of Default described in Section 5.1(1) or 5.1(2) hereof, to institute
directly a proceeding against the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be,
for enforcement of payment to such holder of principal of, and any premium and
(subject to Sections 3.5, 3.7 and 3.11) interest (including any Additional
Interest) on, and Additional Amounts with respect to, such Securities having a
principal amount equal to the liquidation amount of such Preferred Securities
held by such holder (a "Direct Action").

                  Notwithstanding any payments made to a holder of Preferred
Securities by the Company in connection with a Direct Action, the Company shall
remain obligated to pay the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on and
Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to the related Securities, and the
Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the holder of such Preferred
Securities with respect to payments on the Preferred Securities to the extent of
any payments made by the Company to such holder in any Direct Action.

     Section 5.9.      Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

                  If the Trustee or any Holder of a Security or a Coupon has, or
the holders of Preferred Securities have, instituted any proceeding to enforce
any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been
discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to
the Trustee, to such Holder or to the holders of such Preferred Securities, then
and in every such case the Company the Trustee and each such Holder or the
holders of such Preferred Securities shall, subject to any determination in such
proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former positions
hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and each such
Holder or the holders of such Preferred Securities shall continue as though no
such proceeding had been instituted.

     Section 5.10.     Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

                  Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement
or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or Coupons in the
last paragraph of Section 3.6, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or
reserved to the Trustee, to each and every Holder of a Security or a Coupon or
to the holders of Preferred Securities is intended to be exclusive of any other
right or remedy, and every right and remedy, to the extent permitted by law,
shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given
hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The
assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall
not, to the extent permitted by law, prevent the concurrent assertion or
employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

     Section 5.11.     Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

                  No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any
Security or Coupon or of the holders of Preferred Securities to exercise any
right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right
or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence
therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee
or to any Holder of a Security or a Coupon or to the holders of Preferred
Securities may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed
expedient, by the Trustee, by such Holder or by such holders of Preferred
Securities, as the case may be.



                                     -53-
<PAGE>

     Section 5.12.     Control by Holders of Securities.

                  The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect
to the Securities of such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto, provided
that

                  (1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of
         law or with this Indenture or with the Securities of such series,

                  (2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the
         Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction, and

                  (3) such direction is not unduly prejudicial to the rights of
         the other Holders of Securities of such series not joining in such
         action.

     Section 5.13. Waiver of Past Defaults.

                  The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of
the Outstanding Securities of any series on behalf of the Holders of all the
Securities of such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto and, in the case
of any Securities issued to a RenaissanceRe Trust, the holders of not less than
a majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities issued by such
RenaissanceRe Trust then outstanding, may waive any past default hereunder with
respect to such series and its consequences, except a default

                  (1) in the payment of the principal of, any premium or
         interest (including any Additional Interest) on, or any Additional
         Amounts with respect to, any Security of such series or any Coupons
         appertaining thereto, or

                  (2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under
         Article 9 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the
         Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

                  Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and
any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for
every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any
subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

     Section 5.14.     Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.

                  The Company and the Guarantor each covenants that (to the
extent that it may lawfully do so) it will not at any time insist upon, or
plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of,
any usury, stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter
in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture;
and the Company expressly waives (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) all


                                     -54-
<PAGE>

benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder,
delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but
will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law
had been enacted.

     Section 5.15.     Undertaking for Costs.

                  All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any
Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any
court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any
right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any
action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in
such suit of any undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court
may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys'
fees, against any party litigant in such suit having due regard to the merits
and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the
provisions of this Section 5.15 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the
Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in
the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of Outstanding Securities of any
series or, if a series of Securities is held by a RenaissanceRe Trust, the
holders of more than 10% in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of
that RenaissanceRe Trust then outstanding, or to any suit instituted by any
Holder or any holder of Preferred Securities for the enforcement of the payment
of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest (including any Additional
Interest), if any, on or Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to any
Security on or after the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security
(or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date, and, in the
case of repayment or repurchase, on or after the date for repayment or
repurchase) or for the enforcement of the right, if any, to convert or exchange
any Security into other securities in accordance with its terms.

                                  ARTICLE VI.

                                   THE TRUSTEE

     Section 6.1.      Certain Rights of Trustee.

                  Subject to Sections 315(a) through 315(d) of the Trust
Indenture Act:

                  (1) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully
         protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution,
         certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request,
         direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, coupon or other paper
         or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been
         signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

                  (2) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein
         shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or a Company
         Order, as the case may be (in each case, other than delivery of any
         Security, together with any Coupons appertaining thereto, to the
         Trustee for authentication and delivery pursuant to Section 3.3 which
         shall be sufficiently evidenced as provided therein) and any resolution
         of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board
         Resolution, as the case may be;



                                     -55-
<PAGE>

                  (3) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the
         Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established
         prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the
         Trustee (unless other evidence shall be herein specifically prescribed)
         may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officers'
         Certificate;

                  (4) the Trustee may consult with counsel and the written
         advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and
         complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken,
         suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance
         thereon;

                  (5) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any
         of the rights or powers vested in it by or pursuant to this Indenture
         or the related Series Authorization at the request or direction of any
         of the Holders of Securities of any series or any Coupons appertaining
         thereto pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have
         offered to the Trustee such security or indemnity as is reasonably
         satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which
         might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

                  (6) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation
         into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate,
         statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction,
         consent, order, bond, debenture, coupon or other paper or document, but
         the Trustee, in its discretion, may, but shall not be obligated to make
         such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it
         may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further
         inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine, during
         business hours and upon reasonable notice, the books, records and
         premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;

                  (7) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers
         hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or
         through agents, attorneys, custodians or nominees and the Trustee shall
         not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any
         agent, attorney, custodian or nominee appointed with due care by it
         hereunder;

                  (8) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or
         error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or
         Responsible Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the
         Trustee was negligent, acted in bad faith or engaged in willful
         misconduct;

                  (9) the Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, and Security
         Registrar shall have the same protections as the Trustee set forth
         hereunder;

                  (10) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any
         action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in
         accordance with an Act of the Holders hereunder, and, to the extent not
         so provided herein, with respect to any act requiring the Trustee to
         exercise its own discretion, relating to the time, method and place of
         conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or


                                     -56-
<PAGE>

         exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this
         Indenture or any Securities, unless it shall be proved that, in
         connection with any such action taken, suffered or omitted or any such
         act, the Trustee was negligent, acted in bad faith or engaged in
         willful misconduct;

                  (11) the Trustee is not responsible to see that the Company or
         any other Person is maintaining any insurance required by the
         Indenture;

                  (12) the Trustee shall not be responsible for the recording,
         rerecording, filing of UCC Statements or UCC Continuation Statements;

                  (13) In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may
         conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the
         correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or
         opinions furnished to the Trustee which conform to the requirements of
         the Indenture;

                  (14) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default, the
         Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are
         specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or
         obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee;

                  (15) Except as expressly required by the terms of this
         Indenture, none of the provisions of this Indenture shall require the
         Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any
         liability, financial or otherwise, in the performance of any of its
         duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if
         it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such
         funds or indemnity satisfactory to it against such risk or liability is
         not assured to it; and

                  (16) In case an Event of Default has occurred and is
         continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers
         vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and
         skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use
         under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

     Section 6.2.      Notice of Defaults.

                  Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder
with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail
to all Holders of Securities of such series entitled to receive reports pursuant
to Section 7.3(3), notice of such default hereunder actually known to a
Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or
waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment
of the principal of (or premium, if any), or interest (including any Additional
Interest), if any, on, or Additional Amounts or any sinking fund or purchase
fund installment with respect to, any Security of such series, the Trustee shall
be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of
directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or
Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding
of such notice is in the best interest of the Holders of Securities and Coupons


                                     -57-
<PAGE>

of such series; and provided, further, that in the case of any default of the
character specified in Section 5.1(5) with respect to Securities of such series,
no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the
occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term "default" means
any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an
Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

     Section 6.3.      Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

                  The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except
the Trustee's certificate of authentication, and in any Coupons shall be taken
as the statements of the Company and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating
Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no
representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the
Securities or the Coupons, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly
authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities
and perform its obligations hereunder and that the statements made by it in a
Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 supplied to the Company are true and
accurate, subject to the qualifications set forth therein. Neither the Trustee
nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by
the Company of the Securities or the proceeds thereof.

     Section 6.4.      May Hold Securities.

                  The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any
Security Registrar or any other Person that may be an agent of the Trustee or
the Guarantor or the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may
become the owner or pledgee of Securities or Coupons and, subject to Sections
310(b) and 311 of the Trust Indenture Act, may otherwise deal with the Company
or the Guarantor with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee,
Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other Person.

     Section 6.5.      Money Held in Trust.

                  Except as provided in Section 4.3 and Section 10.3, money held
by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except
to the extent required by law and shall be held uninvested. The Trustee shall be
under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as
otherwise agreed to in writing with the Company.

     Section 6.6.      Compensation and Reimbursement.

                  The Company agrees:

                  (1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable
         compensation for all services rendered by the Trustee hereunder as
         agreed in writing between the Company and the Trustee (which
         compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to
         the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

                  (2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to
         reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses,
         disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in
         accordance with any provision of this Indenture or arising out of or in
         connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts
         hereunder (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and
         disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense,
         disbursement or advance as may be attributable to the Trustee's
         negligence or bad faith; and



                                     -58-
<PAGE>

                  (3) to indemnify the Trustee and its agents, officers,
         directors and employees for, and to hold them harmless against, any
         loss, liability or expense incurred, arising out of or in connection
         with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder,
         including the costs and expenses of defending themselves against any
         claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of
         any of their powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent that any
         such loss, liability or expense was due to the Trustee's negligence or
         bad faith.

                  As security for the performance of the obligations of the
Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the
Securities of any series upon all property and funds held or collected by the
Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of, and
premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on or any Additional
Amounts with respect to Securities or any Coupons appertaining thereto.

                  To the extent permitted by law, any compensation or expense
incurred by the Trustee after a default specified in or pursuant to Section 5.1
is intended to constitute an expense of administration under any then applicable
bankruptcy or insolvency law. "Trustee" for purposes of this Section 6.6 shall
include any predecessor Trustee but the negligence or bad faith of any Trustee
shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee under this Section 6.6.

                  The provisions of this Section 6.6 shall survive the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the earlier resignation or
removal of the Trustee and shall apply with equal force and effect to the
Trustee in its capacity as Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent or Security
Registrar.

     Section 6.7.      Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

                  There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a
Corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of
America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, that is eligible under
Section 310(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act to act as trustee under an
indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and that has a combined
capital and surplus (computed in accordance with Section 310(a)(2) of the Trust
Indenture Act) of at least $50,000,000, and that is subject to supervision or
examination by Federal or state authority. If at any time the Trustee shall
cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall
resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in
this Article.

     Section 6.8.      Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

                  (1) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no
         appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall
         become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor
         Trustee pursuant to Section 6.9.

                  (2) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the
         Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to
         the Company and the Guarantor. If the instrument of acceptance by a
         successor Trustee required by Section 6.9 shall not have been delivered
         to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of
         resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent
         jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to
         such series.



                                     -59-
<PAGE>

                  (3) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the
         Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in
         principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series,
         delivered to the Trustee, the Company and the Guarantor.

                  (4) If at any time:

                           (a) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the
                  obligations imposed upon it under Section 310(b) of the Trust
                  Indenture Act with respect to Securities of any series after
                  written request therefor by the Company or any Holder of a
                  Security of such series who has been a bona fide Holder of a
                  Security of such series for at least six months, or

                           (b) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under
                  Section 6.7 and shall fail to resign after written request
                  therefor by the Company or any such Holder, or

                           (c) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or
                  shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the
                  Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public
                  officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its
                  property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation,
                  conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case, (i) the
                  Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, may remove the
                  Trustee with respect to all Securities or the Securities of
                  such series, or (ii) subject to Section 315(e) of the Trust
                  Indenture Act, any Holder of a Security who has been a bona
                  fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six
                  months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly
                  situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the
                  removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities of such
                  series and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

                  (5) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become
         incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of
         Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more
         series, the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, shall
         promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the
         Securities of such series (it being understood that any such successor
         Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more
         or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one
         Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and
         shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 6.9. If,
         within one year after such resignation, removal or incapacity, or the
         occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the
         Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a
         majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such
         series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor
         Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such
         appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section
         6.9, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of
         such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee
         appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the


                                     -60-
<PAGE>

         Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or
         the Holders of Securities and accepted appointment in the manner
         required by Section 6.9, any Holder of a Security who has been a bona
         fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may,
         on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any
         court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor
         Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

                  (6) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each
         removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and
         each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities
         of any series by mailing written notice of such event by first-class
         mail, postage prepaid, to the Holders of Registered Securities, if any,
         of such series as their names and addresses appear in the Security
         Register and, if Securities of such series are issued as Bearer
         Securities, by publishing notice of such event once in an Authorized
         Newspaper in each Place of Payment located outside the United States.
         Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with
         respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its
         Corporate Trust Office.

                  (7) In no event shall any retiring Trustee be liable for the
         acts or omissions of any successor Trustee hereunder.

     Section 6.9.      Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

                  (1) Upon the appointment hereunder of any successor Trustee
         with respect to all Securities, such successor Trustee so appointed
         shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company, the Guarantor
         and the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and
         thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall
         become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act,
         deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers,
         trusts and duties hereunder of the retiring Trustee; but, on the
         written request of the Company or such successor Trustee, such retiring
         Trustee, upon payment of its charges, shall execute and deliver an
         instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights,
         powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and, subject to Section 10.3,
         shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all
         property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject
         nevertheless to its claim, if any, provided for in Section 6.6.

                  (2) Upon the appointment hereunder of any successor Trustee
         with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the
         Company, the retiring Trustee and such successor Trustee shall execute
         and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor
         Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such
         provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm
         to, and to vest in, such successor Trustee all the rights, powers,
         trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the
         Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such
         successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring
         with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall
         be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights,
         powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the
         Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is
         not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and
         (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as
         shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of
         the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that
         nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such
         Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, that each such Trustee shall be
         trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any
         trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee and
         that no Trustee shall be responsible for any notice given to, or
         received by, or any act or failure to act on the part of any other
         Trustee hereunder, and, upon the execution and delivery of such


                                     -61-
<PAGE>

         supplemental indenture, the resignation or removal of the retiring
         Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein, such
         retiring Trustee shall have no further responsibility for the exercise
         of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and
         obligations vested in the Trustee under this Indenture with respect to
         the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such
         successor Trustee relates other than as hereinafter expressly set
         forth, and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or
         conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and
         duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that
         or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee
         relates; but, on written request of the Company, the Guarantor or such
         successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee, upon payment of its charges
         with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the
         appointment of such successor Trustee relates and subject to Section
         10.3 shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee,
         to the extent contemplated by such supplemental indenture, the property
         and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the
         Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such
         successor Trustee relates, subject to its claim, if any, provided for
         in Section 6.6.

                  (3) Upon request of any Person appointed hereunder as a
         successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments
         for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such
         successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in
         paragraph (1) or (2) of this Section, as the case may be.

                  (4) No Person shall accept its appointment hereunder as a
         successor Trustee unless at the time of such acceptance such successor
         Person shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.

     Section 6.10.  Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

                  Any Corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or
converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Corporation resulting
from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a
party, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, without the execution or
filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto.
In case any Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered by the
Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to
such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the
Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee
had itself authenticated such Securities.



                                     -62-
<PAGE>

     Section 6.11.     Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

                  The Trustee may appoint one or more Authenticating Agents
acceptable to the Company with respect to one or more series of Securities which
shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities
of that or those series issued upon original issue, exchange, registration of
transfer, partial redemption or partial repayment or pursuant to Section 3.6,
and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this
Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated
by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the
authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee's
certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include
authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent
and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an
Authenticating Agent.

                  Each Authenticating Agent must be acceptable to the Company
and, except as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the related Series
Authorization, shall at all times be a corporation that would be permitted by
the Trust Indenture Act to act as trustee under an indenture qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act, is authorized under applicable law and by its charter to
act as an Authenticating Agent and has a combined capital and surplus (computed
in accordance with Section 310(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act) of at least
$50,000,000. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible
in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately
in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

                  Any Corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be
merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Corporation
resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such
Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any Corporation succeeding to all or
substantially all of the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an
Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor of such Authenticating Agent
hereunder, provided such Corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this
Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the
part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

                  An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving
written notice thereof to the Trustee and the Guarantor. The Trustee may at any
time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice
thereof to such Authenticating Agent and the Company. Upon receiving such a
notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such
Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating
Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and the Guarantor and shall (i)
mail written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to
all Holders of Registered Securities, if any, of the series with respect to
which such Authenticating Agent shall serve, as their names and addresses appear
in the Security Register, and (ii) if Securities of the series are issued as
Bearer Securities, publish notice of such appointment at least once in an
Authorized Newspaper in the place where such successor Authenticating Agent has
its principal office if such office is located outside the United States. Any
successor Authenticating Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder,
shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor
hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent.
No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the
provisions of this Section.



                                     -63-
<PAGE>

                  The Company agrees to pay each Authenticating Agent from time
to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section. If the
Trustee makes such payments, it shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such
payments, subject to the provisions of Section 6.6.

                  The provisions of Sections 3.8, 6.3 and 6.4 shall be
applicable to each Authenticating Agent.

                  If an Authenticating Agent is appointed with respect to one or
more series of Securities pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such
series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to or in lieu of the Trustee's
certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in
substantially the following form:

                  This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein
referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

                                        BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee

                                        By_____________________________________
                                                 as Authenticating Agent

                                        By_____________________________________
                                                 Authorized Officer

                  If all of the Securities of any series may not be originally
issued at one time, and if the Trustee does not have an office capable of
authenticating Securities upon original issuance located in a Place of Payment
where the Company wishes to have Securities of such series authenticated upon
original issuance, the Trustee, if so requested in writing (which writing need
not be accompanied by or contained in an Officers' Certificate by the Company),
shall appoint in accordance with this Section an Authenticating Agent having an
office in a Place of Payment designated by the Company with respect to such
series of Securities.

                                  ARTICLE VII.

           HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE, GUARANTOR AND COMPANY

     Section 7.1.     Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

                  In accordance with Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act,
the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee

                  (1) semi-annually with respect to Securities of each series
         not later than May 1 and November 1 of the year or upon such other
         dates as are set forth in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or
         indenture supplemental hereto authorizing such series, a list, in each
         case in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names
         and addresses of Holders as of the applicable date, and



                                     -64-
<PAGE>

                  (2) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing,
         within 30 days after the receipt by the Company or the Guarantor of any
         such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more
         than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished, provided,
         however, that so long as the Trustee is the Security Registrar no such
         list shall be required to be furnished.

     Section 7.2.      Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

                  The Trustee shall comply with the obligations imposed upon it
pursuant to Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act.

                  Every Holder of Securities or Coupons, by receiving and
holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that none of the
Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or any Security Registrar shall be held
accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names
and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with Section 312(c) of
the Trust Indenture Act, regardless of the source from which such information
was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of
mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 312(b) of the
Trust Indenture Act.

     Section 7.3.      Reports by Trustee.

                  (1) Within 60 days after September 15 of each year commencing
         with the first pursuant to Section 3.1, if required by Section 313(a)
         of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall transmit, pursuant to
         Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, a brief report dated as of
         such September 15 with respect to any of the events specified in said
         Section 313(a) which may have occurred since the later of the
         immediately preceding September 15 and the date of this Indenture.

                  (2) The Trustee shall transmit the reports required by Section
         313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act at the times specified therein.

                  (3) September 15 following the first issuance of Securities
         Reports pursuant to this Section shall be transmitted in the manner and
         to the Persons required by Sections 313(c) and 313(d) of the Trust
         Indenture Act.

     Section 7.4.      Reports by Company and Guarantor.

                  The Company, pursuant to Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture
Act, shall:

                  (1) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company is
         required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual
         reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies
         of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from
         time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may
         be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or
         Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; or,
         if the Company is not required to file information, documents or
         reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it shall file with
         the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and
         regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the
         supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may
         be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of
         1934, as amended, in respect of a security listed and registered on a
         national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in
         such rules and regulations;



                                     -65-
<PAGE>

                  (2) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance
         with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the
         Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with
         respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants
         of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules
         and regulations; and

                  (3) transmit within 30 days after the filing thereof with the
         Trustee, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of
         the Trust Indenture Act, such summaries of any information, documents
         and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraphs
         (1) and (2) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations
         prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

                                 ARTICLE VIII.

                 CONSOLIDATION, AMALGAMATIONS, MERGER AND SALES

     Section 8.1.      Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

                  The Company shall not consolidate or amalgamate with or merge
into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company), or convey,
transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as
an entirety to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company),
and the Company shall not permit any other Person (whether or not affiliated
with the Company) to consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into the Company or
convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or
substantially as an entirety to the Company; unless:

                  (1) in case the Company shall consolidate or amalgamate with
         or merge into another Person or convey, transfer or lease its
         properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to
         any Person, the Person formed by such consolidation or amalgamation or
         into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by
         conveyance or transfer, or which leases, the properties and assets of
         the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety shall be a
         Corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States
         of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, Bermuda,
         or any other country which is on the date of this Indenture a member of
         the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, and shall
         expressly assume, by an indenture (or indentures, if at such time there
         is more than one Trustee) supplemental hereto, executed by the
         successor Person and delivered to the Trustee the due and punctual
         payment of the principal of, any premium and interest (including any
         Additional Interest) on and any Additional Amounts with respect to all
         the Securities and the performance of every obligation in this
         Indenture and the Outstanding Securities on the part of the Company to
         be performed or observed and shall provide for conversion or exchange
         rights in accordance with the provisions of the Securities of any
         series that are convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock or other
         securities;



                                     -66-
<PAGE>

                  (2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and
         treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Company or
         as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Company
         at the time of such transaction, no Event of Default or event which,
         after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of
         Default, shall have occurred and be continuing;

                  (3) in the case of the Securities of a series issued to a
         RenaissanceRe Trust, such transaction is permitted under the related
         Trust Agreement and does not give rise to any breach or violation of
         such Trust Agreement; and

                  (4) either the Company or the successor Person shall have
         delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of
         Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance,
         transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in
         connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply
         with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for
         relating to such transaction have been complied with.

     Section 8.2.      Successor Person Substituted for Company.

                  Upon any consolidation or amalgamation by the Company with or
merger of the Company into any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease
of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety to any
Person in accordance with Section 8.1, the successor Person formed by such
consolidation or amalgamation or into which the Company is merged or to which
such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted
for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture
with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company
herein; and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person
shall be released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture, the
Securities and the Coupons.

     Section 8.3.      [RESERVED]

     Section 8.4.      [RESERVED]



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<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE IX.

                             SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

     Section 9.1.      Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders.

                  Without the consent of any Holders of Securities or Coupons,
the Company (when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution) and the
Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more
indentures supplemental hereto, for any of the following purposes:

                           (1) to evidence the succession of another Person to
         the Company, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants
         of the Company contained herein and in the Securities; or

                           (2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the
         benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (as shall be
         specified in such supplemental indenture or indentures) or to surrender
         any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or

                           (3) to add to or change any of the provisions of this
         Indenture to provide that Bearer Securities may be registrable as to
         principal, to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of
         principal of, any premium or interest (including any Additional
         Interest) on or any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities, to
         permit Bearer Securities to be issued in exchange for Registered
         Securities, to permit Bearer Securities to be exchanged for Bearer
         Securities of other authorized denominations or to permit or facilitate
         the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form, provided any such
         action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of
         Outstanding Securities of any series or any Coupons appertaining
         thereto in any material respect; or

                           (4) to establish the forms or terms of Securities of
         any series and any Coupons appertaining thereto as permitted by
         Sections 2.1 and 3.1; or

                           (5) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of
         appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the
         Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the
         provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or
         facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one
         Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.9; or

                           (6) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement
         any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any
         other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to
         matters or questions arising under this Indenture which shall not
         adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any
         series then Outstanding or any Coupons appertaining thereto or, in the
         case of Securities of a series issued to a RenaissanceRe Trust and for
         so long as any of the Preferred Securities issued by such RenaissanceRe
         Trust shall remain outstanding, the holders of such Preferred
         Securities, in any material respect; or



                                     -68-
<PAGE>

                           (7) to add to, delete from or revise the conditions,
         limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or
         purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of Securities, as herein
         set forth; or

                           (8) to add any additional Events of Default with
         respect to all or any series of Securities (as shall be specified in
         such supplemental indenture); or

                           (9) to supplement any of the provisions of this
         Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate
         the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to
         Article 4, provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the
         interests of any Holder of an Outstanding Security of such series and
         any Coupons appertaining thereto or any other Outstanding Security or
         Coupon or, in the case of Securities of a series issued to a
         RenaissanceRe Trust and for so long as any of the Preferred Securities
         issued by such RenaissanceRe Trust shall remain outstanding, the
         holders of such Preferred Securities, in any material respect; or

                           (10) to secure the Securities; or

                           (11) to make provisions with respect to conversion or
         exchange rights of Holders of Securities of any series; or

                           (12) to amend or supplement any provision contained
         herein or in any supplemental indenture, provided that no such
         amendment or supplement shall materially adversely affect the interests
         of the Holders of any Securities then Outstanding.

     Section 9.2.      Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.

                  With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such
supplemental indenture (and, in the case of any series of Securities held as
assets of a RenaissanceRe Trust, such consent of holders of the Preferred
Securities and the Common Securities of such RenaissanceRe Trust as may be
required under the Trust Agreement of such RenaissanceRe Trust), by Act of said
Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company (when authorized
by or pursuant to a Company's Board Resolution) and the Trustee may enter into
an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any
provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of
this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of
Securities of such series under this Indenture or of the Securities of such
series; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture, without the
consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby, shall

                                    (1) change the Stated Maturity of the
                  principal of, or any premium or installment of interest
                  (including any Additional Interest) on or any Additional
                  Amounts with respect to, any Security, or reduce the principal
                  amount thereof (or modify the calculation of such principal
                  amount) or the rate (or modify the calculation of such rate)
                  of interest (including any Additional Interest) thereon or any
                  Additional Amounts with respect thereto, or any premium
                  payable upon the redemption thereof or otherwise, or change
                  the obligation of the Company to pay Additional Amounts
                  pursuant to the terms hereof (except as contemplated by
                  Section 8.1(1) and permitted by Section 9.1(1)), or change the
                  redemption provisions or adversely affect the right of
                  repayment at the option of any Holder as contemplated by
                  Article 13, or change the Place of Payment, Currency in which


                                     -69-
<PAGE>

                  the principal of, any premium or interest (including any
                  Additional Interest) on, or any Additional Amounts with
                  respect to any Security is payable, or impair the right to
                  institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or
                  after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of
                  redemption, on or after the Redemption Date or, in the case of
                  repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the date
                  for repayment), or

                                    (2) reduce the percentage in principal
                  amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the
                  consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental
                  indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any
                  waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this
                  Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their
                  consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or reduce the
                  requirements of Section 15.4 for quorum or voting, or

                                    (3) modify any of the provisions of this
                  Indenture relating to the subordination of the Securities in
                  respect thereof in a manner adverse to Holders of Securities,
                  or

                                    (4) modify any of the provisions of this
                  Section, Section 5.13 or Section 10.6, except to increase any
                  such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of
                  this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the
                  consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected
                  thereby, or

                                    (5) make any change that adversely affects
                  the right to convert or exchange any Security into or for
                  securities of the Company or other securities (whether or not
                  issued by the Company), cash or property in accordance with
                  its terms, provided that, in the case of the Securities of a
                  series issued to a RenaissanceRe Trust, so long as any of the
                  Preferred Securities of such RenaissanceRe Trust remain
                  outstanding, no such amendment shall be made that adversely
                  affects the holders of such Preferred Securities, and no
                  termination of this Indenture shall occur, and no waiver of
                  any Event of Default or compliance with any covenant under
                  this Indenture shall be effective, without the prior consent
                  of the holders of at least a majority of the liquidation
                  amount of such Preferred Securities then outstanding unless
                  and until the principal of, any premium or, subject to Section
                  3.7, interest (including any Additional Interest) on, and any
                  Additional Amounts with respect to, the Securities of such
                  series have been paid in full; and provided further that in
                  the case of the Securities of a series issued to a
                  RenaissanceRe Trust, so long as any of the Preferred
                  Securities of such RenaissanceRe Trust remain outstanding, no
                  amendment shall be made to Section 5.8 of this Indenture
                  without the prior consent of the holder of each Preferred
                  Security then outstanding unless and until the principal of,
                  any premium or, subject to Section 3.7, interest (including
                  any Additional Interest) on, and any Additional Amounts with
                  respect to, the Securities of such series have been paid in
                  full.

                  A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any
covenant or other provision of this Indenture which shall have been included
expressly and solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of
Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such
series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to
affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other
series.



                                     -70-
<PAGE>

                  It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders of Securities
or holders of Preferred Securities under this Section to approve the particular
form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such
Act shall approve the substance thereof.

     Section 9.3.      Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

                  As a condition to executing, or accepting the additional
trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the
modifications thereby of the trust created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall
be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act)
shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the
execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this
Indenture and an Officers' Certificate stating that all conditions precedent to
the execution of such supplemental indenture have been fulfilled. The Trustee
may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture
which affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this
Indenture or otherwise.

     Section 9.4.      Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

                  Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this
Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such
supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and
every Holder of a Security theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered
hereunder and of any Coupon appertaining thereto shall be bound thereby.

     Section 9.5.      Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

                  Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the
execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall
if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as
to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall
so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the
opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may
be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.

     Section 9.6.      Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

                  Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article
shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.



                                     -71-
<PAGE>

     Section 9.7.      Effect on Senior Indebtedness.

                  No supplemental indenture shall directly or indirectly modify
or eliminate the provisions of Article 16 or Article 18, as the case may be, in
any manner which might terminate or impair the subordination of the Securities
of any series to Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to such series without
the prior written consent of the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness.

     Section 9.8.      Notice of Supplemental Indenture.

                  Promptly after the execution by the Company, the Guarantor and
the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 9.1(2), the
Company shall transmit to the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series
affected thereby a notice setting forth the substance of such supplemental
indenture.

                                   ARTICLE X.

                                    COVENANTS

     Section 10.1.    Payment of Principal, any Premium, Interest and Additional
                      Amounts.

                  The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the
Holders of the Securities of each series that it will duly and punctually pay
the principal of, any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest)
on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of such series in
accordance with the terms thereof, any Coupons appertaining thereto and this
Indenture. Any interest due on any Bearer Security on or before the Maturity
thereof, and any Additional Amounts payable with respect to such interest, shall
be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the Coupons appertaining
thereto for such interest as they severally mature.

     Section 10.2.     Maintenance of Office or Agency.

                  The Company shall maintain in each Place of Payment for any
series of Securities an Office or Agency where Securities of such series (but
not Bearer Securities, except as otherwise provided below, unless such Place of
Payment is located outside the United States) may be presented or surrendered
for payment, where Securities of such series may be surrendered for registration
of transfer or exchange, where Securities of such series that are convertible or
exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, and where notices
and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such series
relating thereto and this Indenture may be served. If Securities of a series are
issuable as Bearer Securities, the Company except as otherwise permitted or
required in or pursuant to this Indenture or the related Series Authorization
shall maintain, subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto, an Office
or Agency in a Place of Payment for such series which is located outside the
United States where Securities of such series and any Coupons appertaining
thereto may be presented and surrendered for payment; provided, however, that if
the Securities of such series are listed on The Stock Exchange of the United
Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland or the Luxembourg Stock Exchange or any
other stock exchange located outside the United States and such stock exchange


                                     -72-
<PAGE>

shall so require, the Company shall maintain a Paying Agent in London,
Luxembourg or any other required city located outside the United States, as the
case may be, so long as the Securities of such series are listed on such
exchange. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the
location, and any change in the location, of such Office or Agency. If at any
time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Office or Agency or
shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations,
surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust
Office of the Trustee, except that Bearer Securities of such series and any
Coupons appertaining thereto may be presented and surrendered for payment at the
place specified for the purpose with respect to such Securities as provided in
or pursuant to this Indenture or the related Series Authorization, and the
Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such
presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

                  Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture
or the related Series Authorization, no payment of principal, premium, interest
or Additional Amounts with respect to Bearer Securities shall be made at any
Office or Agency in the United States or by check mailed to any address in the
United States or by wire transfer to an account maintained with a bank located
in the United States; provided, however, if amounts owing with respect to any
Bearer Securities shall be payable in Dollars, payment of principal of, any
premium or interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to any such
Security may be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or any Office
or Agency designated by the Company and the Guarantor in the Borough of
Manhattan, The City of New York, if (but only if) payment of the full amount of
such principal, premium, interest or Additional Amounts at all offices outside
the United States maintained for such purpose by the Company in accordance with
this Indenture is illegal or effectively precluded by exchange controls or other
similar restrictions.

                  The Company may also from time to time designate one or more
other Offices or Agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be
presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time
rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or
rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain
an Office or Agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for
such purposes. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of
any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such
other Office or Agency. Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this
Indenture or the related Series Authorization, the Company hereby designates as
the Place of Payment for each series of Securities the Borough of Manhattan, The
City of New York, and initially appoints the Corporate Trust Office of the
Trustee as the Office or Agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The
City of New York for such purpose. The Company may subsequently appoint a
different Office or Agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for
the Securities of any series.

                  Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities
pursuant to Section 3.1, if and so long as the Securities of any series (i) are
denominated in a Foreign Currency or (ii) may be payable in a Foreign Currency,
or so long as it is required under any other provision of this Indenture, then
the Company will maintain with respect to each such series of Securities, or as
so required, at least one exchange rate agent.



                                     -73-
<PAGE>

     Section 10.3.     Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.

                  If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent,
or if the Guarantor shall act as Paying Agent, with respect to any series of
Securities, it shall, on or before each due date of the principal of, any
premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on or Additional Amounts
with respect to any of the Securities of such series, segregate and hold in
trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum in the currency or
currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies in which
the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified
pursuant to Section 3.1 for the Securities of such series) sufficient to pay the
principal or any premium, interest (including any Additional Interest) or
Additional Amounts so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons
or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and shall promptly notify the
Trustee in writing of its action or failure so to act.

                  Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for
any series of Securities, it shall, on or prior to each due date of the
principal of, any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on or
any Additional Amounts with respect to any Securities of such series, deposit
with any Paying Agent a sum (in the currency or currencies, currency unit or
units or composite currency or currencies described in the preceding paragraph)
sufficient to pay the principal and any premium, interest (including any
Additional Interest) or Additional Amounts so becoming due, such sum to be held
in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto, and (unless such
Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee in
writing of its action or failure so to act.

                  The Company shall cause each Paying Agent for any series of
Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an
instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to
the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent shall:

                           (1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the
         principal of, any premium or interest (including any Additional
         Interest) on or any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities of
         such series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto
         until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of
         as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the related Series
         Authorization;

                           (2) give the Trustee notice of any default by the
         Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series) in
         the making of any payment of principal of, any premium or interest
         (including any Additional Interest) on or any Additional Amounts with
         respect to the Securities of such series; and

                           (3) at any time during the continuance of any such
         default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the
         Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.



                                     -74-
<PAGE>

                  The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or
by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in
trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee
upon the same terms as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or
such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee,
such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to
such sums.

                  Except as otherwise provided herein or pursuant hereto, any
money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the
Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest
(including any Additional Interest) on or any Additional Amounts with respect to
any Security of any series or any Coupon appertaining thereto and remaining
unclaimed for two years after such principal or any such premium or interest or
any such Additional Amounts shall have become due and payable shall be paid to
the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be
discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security or any Coupon
appertaining thereto shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look
only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or
such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the
Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the
Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment,
at the expense of the Company may cause to be published once, in an Authorized
Newspaper in each Place of Payment for such series or to be mailed to Holders of
Registered Securities of such series, or both, notice that such money remains
unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than
30 days from the date of such publication or mailing nor shall it be later than
two years after such principal or any premium or interest or Additional Amounts
shall have become due and payable, any unclaimed balance of such money then
remaining will be repaid to the Company.

     Section 10.4.     Additional Amounts.

                  If any Securities of a series provide for the payment of
Additional Amounts, the Company agrees to pay to the Holder of any such Security
or any Coupon appertaining thereto Additional Amounts as provided in or pursuant
to this Indenture or such Securities. Whenever in this Indenture there is
mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of or any premium or
interest on, or in respect of, any Security of any series or any Coupon or the
net proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Security of any series,
such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional
Amounts provided by the terms of such series established hereby or pursuant
hereto to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or
would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to such terms, and express mention
of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provision hereof
shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those provisions
hereof where such express mention is not made.

                  Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture
or the Securities of the applicable series, if the Securities of a series
provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, at least 10 days prior to the
first Interest Payment Date with respect to such series of Securities (or if the
Securities of such series shall not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first
day on which a payment of principal is made), and at least 10 days prior to each
date of payment of principal or interest if there has been any change with
respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officers' Certificate,
the Company shall furnish to the Trustee and the principal Paying Agent or
Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, an Officers' Certificate instructing
the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of
principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of such series
shall be made to Holders of Securities of such series or the Coupons
appertaining thereto who are United States Aliens without withholding for or on
account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the


                                     -75-
<PAGE>

Securities of such series. If any such withholding shall be required, then such
Officers' Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to
be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities or Coupons, and the
Company agrees to pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the Additional Amounts
required by the terms of such Securities. The Company covenants to indemnify the
Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss,
liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence or bad faith on
their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any
of them in reliance on any Officers' Certificate furnished pursuant to this
Section 10.4.

     Section 10.5.     Corporate Existence.

                  Subject to Article 8, the Company shall do or cause to be done
all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate
existence and rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, however,
that the foregoing shall not obligate the Company to preserve any such right or
franchise if the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no
longer desirable in the conduct of its business and that the loss thereof is not
disadvantageous in any material respect to any Holder.

     Section 10.6.     Waiver of Certain Covenants.

                  The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with
any term, provision or condition set forth in Section 10.5 with respect to the
Securities of any series if before the time for such compliance the Holders of
at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such
series, by Act of such Holders, either shall waive such compliance in such
instance or generally shall have waived compliance with such term, provision or
condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or
condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall
become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee
in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force
and effect.

     Section 10.7.     Company Statement as to Compliance; Notice of Certain
                       Defaults.

                           (1) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within
         120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a written statement (which
         need not be contained in or accompanied by an Officers' Certificate)
         signed by the principal executive officer, the principal financial
         officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, stating
         that

                                    (a) a review of the activities of the
                           Company during such year and of its performance under
                           this Indenture has been made under his or her
                           supervision, and



                                     -76-
<PAGE>

                                    (b) to the best of his or her knowledge,
                           based on such review, (a) the Company has complied
                           with all the conditions and covenants imposed on it
                           under this Indenture throughout such year, or, if
                           there has been a default in the fulfillment of any
                           such condition or covenant, specifying each such
                           default known to him or her and the nature and status
                           thereof, and (b) no event has occurred and is
                           continuing which is, or after notice or lapse of time
                           or both would become, an Event of Default, or, if
                           such an event has occurred and is continuing,
                           specifying each such event known to him and the
                           nature and status thereof.

                           (2) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within
                  five days after the occurrence thereof, written notice of any
                  Event of Default or any event which after notice or lapse of
                  time or both would become an Event of Default pursuant to
                  clause (4) of Section 5.1.

                           (3) The Trustee shall have no duty to monitor the
                  Company's compliance with the covenants contained in this
                  Article 10 other than as specifically set forth in this
                  Section 10.7.

     Section 10.8.     [RESERVED]

     Section 10.9.     Additional Sums.

                  In the case of Securities of a series issued to a
RenaissanceRe Trust, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section
3.1, in the event that (i) such RenaissanceRe Trust is the Holder of all of the
Outstanding Securities of such series, (ii) a Tax Event in respect of such
RenaissanceRe Trust shall have occurred and be continuing and (iii) the Company
shall not have (i) redeemed the Securities of such series pursuant to Section
11.8 or (ii) terminated such RenaissanceRe Trust pursuant to Section 9.2(b) of
the related Trust Agreement, the Company shall pay to such RenaissanceRe Trust
(and its permitted successors or assigns under the related Trust Agreement), for
so long as such RenaissanceRe Trust (or its permitted successor or assignee) is
the registered holder of any Securities of such series, such additional amounts
as may be necessary in order that the amount of Distributions then due and
payable by such RenaissanceRe Trust on the related Preferred Securities and
Common Securities that at any time remain outstanding in accordance with the
terms thereof shall not be reduced as a result of any Additional Taxes (the
"Additional Sums"). Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any
context, the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on, or in
respect of, any Security of any series or any Coupon or the net proceeds
received on the sale or exchange of any Security of any series, such mention
shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Sums provided by
the terms of such series established hereby or pursuant hereto to the extent
that, in such context, Additional Sums are, were or would be payable in respect
thereof pursuant to such terms, and express mention of the payment of Additional
Sums (if applicable) in any provision hereof shall not be construed as excluding
Additional Sums in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not
made, provided, however, that the extension of an interest payment period
pursuant to Section 3.11 or the terms of the applicable Securities shall not
extend the payment of any Additional Sums that may be due and payable during
such interest payment period.



                                     -77-
<PAGE>

     Section 10.10.    Prohibition Against Dividends, etc.

                  Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1,
the Company covenants and agrees with each Holder of Securities of a series
issued to a RenaissanceRe Trust that it will not, and will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, (a) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or
redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of
the outstanding capital stock of the Company or (b) make any payment of
principal of, interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any
debt security of the Company that ranks junior in interest to the Securities of
such series or make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by the
Company of the debt securities of any Subsidiary of the Company if such
guarantee ranks junior in interest to the Securities of such series (other than
(i) dividends or distributions in Common Stock of the Company, (ii) redemptions
or purchases of any rights outstanding under a shareholder rights plan of the
Company or the declaration of a dividend of such rights or the issuance of stock
under such plans in the future, (iii) payments under any Preferred Securities
Guarantee, and (iv) purchases of Common Stock related to the issuance of Common
Stock under any benefit plans of the Company for its directors, officers or
employees) if at such time (1) there shall have occurred any event of which the
Company has actual knowledge that (A) with the giving of notice or the lapse of
time or both, would constitute an Event of Default hereunder and (B) in respect
of which the Company shall not have taken reasonable steps to cure, (2) the
Guarantor shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations
under the related Preferred Securities Guarantee or (3) the Company shall have
given notice of its election to begin an Extension Period as provided herein
with respect to the Securities of such series and shall not have rescinded such
notice, or such Extension Period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing.

     Section 10.11.    Payment of Expenses of Each RenaissanceRe Trust.

                  The Company covenants for the benefit of the Holders of each
series of Securities to pay or cause to be paid all of the obligations, costs
and expenses of each RenaissanceRe Trust (other than payments in respect of
Trust Securities) in accordance with the provisions of its Trust Agreement and
to pay the taxes of such RenaissanceRe Trust in accordance with the provisions
of its Trust Agreement in order to permit such RenaissanceRe Trust to make
distributions on and redemptions of its Preferred Securities in accordance with
such Trust Agreement.

     Section 10.12.    Ownership of Common Securities.

                  The Company covenants, as to each series of Securities issued
to a RenaissanceRe Trust in connection with the issuance of Preferred Securities
and Common Securities by that RenaissanceRe Trust, (a) to maintain directly or
indirectly 100% ownership of the Common Securities of such RenaissanceRe Trust;
provided, however, that any permitted successor of the Company hereunder may
succeed to the Company's ownership of such Common Securities, (b) not to
voluntarily dissolve, wind-up or liquidate such RenaissanceRe Trust, except in
connection with (i) a distribution of the Securities of such series to the
holders of Preferred Securities and Common Securities in liquidation of such
RenaissanceRe Trust, (ii) the redemption of all of the Preferred Securities and
Common Securities of such RenaissanceRe Trust or (iii) certain mergers,
consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Trust Agreement of


                                     -78-
<PAGE>

such RenaissanceRe Trust and (c) to use its reasonable efforts, consistent with
the terms and provisions of the related Trust Agreement, to cause such
RenaissanceRe Trust to remain classified as a grantor trust and not an
association taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax
purposes.

     Section 10.13.    Calculation of Original Issue Discount.

                  The Company shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of
each calendar year (i) a written notice specifying the amount of original issue
discount (including daily rates and accrual periods) accrued on any Outstanding
Original Issue Discount Securities as of the end of such year and (ii) such
other specific information relating to such original issue discount as may then
be relevant under the Code, as amended from time to time.

                                  ARTICLE XI.

                            REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

     Section 11.1.     Applicability of Article.

                  Redemption of Securities of any series as permitted or
required by the terms of such Securities shall be made in accordance with the
terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise provided herein or pursuant
hereto) this Article.

     Section 11.2.     Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

                  The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be
evidenced by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the
election of the Company of (a) less than all of the Securities of any series or
(b) all of the Securities of any series, with the same issue date, interest rate
or formula, Stated Maturity and other terms, the Company shall, at least 60 days
prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall
be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee in writing of such
Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be
redeemed. If the Securities of a series are held by a RenaissanceRe Trust, the
Company shall also deliver a copy of such notice to the Property Trustee of such
RenaissanceRe Trust.

     Section 11.3.     Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed.

                  If less than all of the Securities of any series with the same
issue date, interest rate or formula, Stated Maturity and other terms are to be
redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more
than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee from the Outstanding
Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method
as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the
selection for redemption of portions of the principal amount of Registered
Securities of such series; provided, however, that no such partial redemption
shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Registered Security of
such series not redeemed to less than the minimum denomination for a Security of
such series established herein or pursuant hereto.



                                     -79-
<PAGE>

                  The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and the Security
Registrar (if other than itself) in writing of the Securities selected for
redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption,
the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

                  For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context
otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities
shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in
part, to the portion of the principal of such Securities which has been or is to
be redeemed.

                  Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or
the related Series Authorization of any series, if any Security selected for
partial redemption is converted into other securities of the Company or
exchanged for securities of another issuer in part before termination of the
conversion or exchange right with respect to the portion of the Security so
selected, the converted portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may
be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities which have been
converted or exchanged during a selection of Securities to be redeemed shall be
treated by the Trustee as Outstanding for the purpose of such selection.

     Section 11.4.     Notice of Redemption.

                  Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in
Section 1.6, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption
Date, unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed, to
the Holders of Securities to be redeemed. Failure to give notice by mailing in
the manner herein provided to the Holder of any Registered Securities designated
for redemption as a whole or in part, or any defect in the notice to any such
Holder, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of
any other Securities or portion thereof.

                  Any notice that is mailed to the Holder of any Registered
Securities in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have
been duly given, whether or not such Holder receives the notice.

                  All notices of redemption shall state:

                           (1) the Redemption Date,

                           (2) the Redemption Price,

                           (3) if less than all Outstanding Securities of any
                  series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the
                  case of partial redemption, the principal amount) of the
                  particular Security or Securities to be redeemed,

                           (4) in case any Security is to be redeemed in part
                  only, the notice which relates to such Security shall state
                  that on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such
                  Security, the Holder of such Security will receive, without
                  charge, a new Security or Securities of authorized
                  denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining
                  unredeemed,



                                     -80-
<PAGE>

                           (5) that, on the Redemption Date, the Redemption
                  Price shall become due and payable upon each such Security or
                  portion thereof to be redeemed, in the case of a Registered
                  Security, together with any accrued interest and Additional
                  Amounts pertaining thereto, and that unless the Company shall
                  default in the payment of the Redemption Price and other
                  amounts then due, interest thereon, if applicable, shall cease
                  to accrue on and after said date,

                           (6) the place or places where such Securities,
                  together (in the case of Bearer Securities) with all Coupons
                  appertaining thereto, if any, maturing on or after the
                  Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of the
                  Redemption Price and any accrued interest and Additional
                  Amounts pertaining thereto,

                           (7) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if
                  such is the case,

                           (8) that, unless otherwise specified in such notice,
                  Bearer Securities of any series, if any, surrendered for
                  redemption must be accompanied by all Coupons maturing
                  subsequent to the date fixed for redemption or the amount of
                  any such missing Coupon or Coupons will be deducted from the
                  Redemption Price, unless security or indemnity satisfactory to
                  the Company, the Trustee and any Paying Agent is furnished,

                           (9) if Bearer Securities of any series are to be
                  redeemed and no Registered Securities of such series are to be
                  redeemed, and if such Bearer Securities may be exchanged for
                  Registered Securities not subject to redemption on the
                  Redemption Date pursuant to Section 3.5 or otherwise, the last
                  date, as determined by the Company, on which such exchanges
                  may be made,

                           (10) in the case of Securities of any series that are
                  convertible into Common Stock of the Company or exchangeable
                  for other securities, the conversion or exchange price or
                  rate, the date or dates on which the right to convert or
                  exchange the principal of the Securities of such series to be
                  redeemed will commence or terminate and the place or places
                  where such Securities may be surrendered for conversion or
                  exchange, and

                           (11) the CUSIP number or the Euroclear or the Cedel
                  reference numbers of such Securities, if any (or any other
                  numbers used by a Depository to identify such Securities).

                  A notice of redemption published as contemplated by Section
1.6 need not identify particular Registered Securities to be redeemed.

                  Notice of redemption of Securities shall be given by the
Company or, at the Company's request, by the Trustee in the name and at the
expense of the Company.

     Section 11.5.     Deposit of Redemption Price.

                  On or prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit,
with respect to the Securities of any series called for redemption, with the
Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying
Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.3) an amount of
money in the applicable Currency sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and


                                     -81-
<PAGE>

(except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date, unless
otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.1 or in the Securities of such series)
any accrued interest (including any Additional Interest) on and Additional
Amounts with respect thereto, all such Securities or portions thereof which are
to be redeemed on that date.

     Section 11.6.     Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

                  Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the
Securities so to be redeemed shall, become due and payable on the Redemption
Date, at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date
(unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and any
accrued interest or Additional Amounts) such Securities shall cease to bear
interest and the Coupons for such interest appertaining to any Bearer Securities
so to be redeemed, except to the extent provided below, shall be void. Upon
surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice,
together with all Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto maturing after the
Redemption Date, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption
Price, together with any accrued interest and Additional Amounts to the
Redemption Date; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in or
pursuant to the related Series Authorization and the Coupons, installments of
interest on Bearer Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the
Redemption Date shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of Coupons
for such interest (at an Office or Agency located outside the United States
except as otherwise provided in Section 10.2), and provided, further, that,
except as otherwise specified in or pursuant to the related Series
Authorization, installments of interest on Registered Securities whose Stated
Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders
of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at
the close of business on the Regular Record Dates therefor according to their
terms and the provisions of Section 3.7 and installments of interest on
Registered Securities for which the Redemption Date is after a Regular Record
Date and on or before the following Interest Payment Date shall be payable to
the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities,
registered as such at the close of business on the Regular Record Dates therefor
according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.7.

                  If any Bearer Security surrendered for redemption shall not be
accompanied by all appurtenant Coupons maturing after the Redemption Date, such
Security may be paid after deducting from the Redemption Price an amount equal
to the face amount of all such missing Coupons, or the surrender of such missing
Coupon or Coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there be
furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of
them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security
shall surrender to the Trustee or any Paying Agent any such missing Coupon in
respect of which a deduction shall have been made from the Redemption Price,
such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted; provided,
however, that any interest or Additional Amounts represented by Coupons shall be
payable only upon presentation and surrender of those Coupons at an Office or
Agency for such Security located outside of the United States except as
otherwise provided in Section 10.2.



                                     -82-
<PAGE>

                  If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid
upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium, until
paid, shall bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed
therefor in the Security.

     Section 11.7.     Securities Redeemed in Part.

                  Any Registered Security which is to be redeemed only in part
shall be surrendered at any Office or Agency for such Security (with, if the
Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument
of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed
by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing) and the
Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the
Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Registered Security or
Securities of the same series, containing identical terms and provisions, of any
authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal
amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of
the Security so surrendered. If a Security in global form is so surrendered, the
Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the
U.S. Depository or other Depository for such Security in global form as shall be
specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, without
service charge, a new Security in global form in a denomination equal to and in
exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security in global
form so surrendered.

     Section 11.8.     Right of Redemption of Securities Issued to
                       a RenaissanceRe Trust.

                  In the case of the Securities of a series issued to a
RenaissanceRe Trust, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section
3.1, if a Special Event in respect of such RenaissanceRe Trust shall occur and
be continuing, the Company may, at its option, redeem the Securities of such
series within 90 days of the occurrence of such Special Event, in whole but not
in part, subject to the provisions of this Section 11.8 and the other provisions
of this Article 11. Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture
or the Securities of such series, the redemption price for any Security so
redeemed pursuant to this Section 11.8 shall be equal to 100% of the principal
amount of such Securities then Outstanding plus accrued and unpaid interest,
including any Additional Interest, to the date fixed for redemption.

                                  ARTICLE XII.

                                  SINKING FUNDS

     Section 12.1.     Applicability of Article.

                  The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any
sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise
permitted or required in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Security of such
series issued pursuant to this Indenture or the related Series Authorization.

                  The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by
the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a "mandatory
sinking fund payment," and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided
for by the terms of Securities of such series is herein referred to as an
"optional sinking fund payment". If provided for by the terms of Securities of


                                     -83-
<PAGE>

any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to
reduction as provided in Section 12.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be
applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the
terms of Securities of such series and this Indenture.

     Section 12.2.     Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

                  The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any
sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any series to be made
pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver Outstanding Securities of
such series (other than any of such Securities previously called for redemption
or any of such Securities in respect of which cash shall have been released to
the Company), together in the case of any Bearer Securities of such series with
all unmatured Coupons appertaining thereto, and (2) apply as a credit Securities
of such series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company
pursuant to the terms of such series of Securities or through the application of
permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such
Securities, provided that such series of Securities have not been previously so
credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the
Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption
through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund
payment shall be reduced accordingly. If, as a result of the delivery or credit
of Securities of any series in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section
12.2, the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed in order
to satisfy the remaining sinking fund payment shall be less than $100,000, the
Trustee need not call Securities of such series for redemption, except upon
Company Request, and such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying
Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided,
however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall at the written request of
the Company from time to time pay over and deliver to the Company any cash
payment so being held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the
Company to the Trustee of Securities of that series purchased by the Company
having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment requested to be
released to the Company.

     Section 12.3.     Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

                  Not less than 75 days prior to each sinking fund payment date
for any series of Securities, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an
Officers' Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory
sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the
portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the
portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of
Securities of that series pursuant to Section 12.2, and the optional amount, if
any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and
will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so credited and not
theretofore delivered. If such Officers' Certificate shall specify an optional
amount to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment,
the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified.
Not less than 60 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee
shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date
in the manner specified in Section 11.3 and cause notice of the redemption
thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the
manner provided in Section 11.4. Such notice having been duly given, the
redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner
stated in Sections 11.6 and 11.7.



                                     -84-
<PAGE>

                                 ARTICLE XIII.

                       REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

     Section 13.1.     Applicability of Article.

                  Securities of any series which are repayable at the option of
the Holders thereof before their Stated Maturity shall be repaid in accordance
with the terms of the Securities of such series. The repayment of any principal
amount of Securities pursuant to such option of the Holder to require repayment
of Securities before their Stated Maturity, for purposes of Section 3.9, shall
not operate as a payment, redemption or satisfaction of the Indebtedness
represented by such Securities unless and until the Company, at its option,
shall deliver or surrender the same to the Trustee with a written directive that
such Securities be cancelled. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
in this Section 13.1, in connection with any repayment of Securities, the
Company may arrange for the purchase of any Securities by an agreement with one
or more investment bankers or other purchasers to purchase such Securities by
paying to the Holders of such Securities on or before the close of business on
the repayment date an amount not less than the repayment price payable by the
Company on repayment of such Securities, and the obligation of the Company to
pay the repayment price of such Securities shall be satisfied and discharged to
the extent such payment is so paid by such purchasers.

                                  ARTICLE XIV.

                        SECURITIES IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES

     Section 14.1.     Applicability of Article.

                  Whenever this Indenture provides for (i) any action by, or the
determination of any of the rights of, Holders of Securities of any series in
which not all of such Securities are denominated in the same Currency, or (ii)
any distribution to Holders of Securities, in the absence of any provision to
the contrary in the form of Security of any particular series or pursuant to
this Indenture or the related Series Authorization, any amount in respect of any
Security denominated in a Currency other than Dollars shall be treated for any
such action or distribution as that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for
such amount on such reasonable basis of exchange and as of the record date with
respect to Registered Securities of such series (if any) for such action,
determination of rights or distribution (or, if there shall be no applicable
record date, such other date reasonably proximate to the date of such action,
determination of rights or distribution) as the Company may specify in a written
notice to the Trustee.



                                     -85-
<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE XV.

                        MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

     Section 15.1.     Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.

                  A meeting of Holders of Securities of any series may be called
at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article to make, give or take
any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other
Act provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of
Securities of such series.

     Section 15.2.     Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.

                           (1) The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of
         Holders of Securities of any series for any purpose specified in
         Section 15.1, to be held at such time and at such place in the Borough
         of Manhattan, The City of New York, or, if Securities of such series
         have been issued in whole or in part as Bearer Securities, in London or
         in such place outside the United States as the Trustee shall determine.
         Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, setting
         forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the
         action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the
         manner provided in Section 1.6, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days
         prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

                           (2) In case at any time the Company (by or pursuant
         to a Board Resolution) or the Holders of at least 10% in principal
         amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have requested
         the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders of Securities of such
         series for any purpose specified in Section 15.1, by written request
         setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at
         the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed notice of or made
         the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 21 days
         after receipt of such request (whichever shall be required pursuant to
         Section 1.6) or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be
         held as provided herein, then the Company or the Holders of Securities
         of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may
         determine the time and the place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City
         of New York, or, if Securities of such series are to be issued as
         Bearer Securities, in London for such meeting and may call such meeting
         for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in clause (1) of
         this Section.

     Section 15.3.     Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings.

                  To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Securities
of any series, a Person shall be (1) a Holder of one or more Outstanding
Securities of such series, or (2) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing
as proxy for a Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding Securities of such
series by such Holder or Holders. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be
present or to speak at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall
be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any
representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the
Company and its counsel.



                                     -86-
<PAGE>

     Section 15.4.     Quorum; Action.

                  The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of
the Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for any meeting
of Holders of Securities of such series. In the absence of a quorum within 30
minutes after the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if
convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved.
In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10
days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of
such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any reconvened meeting, such
reconvened meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10
days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of
such reconvened meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting
shall be given as provided in Section 15.2(1), except that such notice need be
given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting
is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting
shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount
of the Outstanding Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum.

                  Except as limited by the proviso to Section 9.2, any
resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which
a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted only by the affirmative vote of
the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of
that series; provided, however, that, except as limited by the proviso to
Section 9.2, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act which this Indenture expressly
provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage,
which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities
of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened
and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the
Holders of such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of such series.

                  Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of
Holders of Securities of any series duly held in accordance with this Section
shall be binding on all the Holders of Securities of such series and the Coupons
appertaining thereto, whether or not such Holders were present or represented at
the meeting.

     Section 15.5.    Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of
                      Meetings.

                           (1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
         Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may
         deem advisable for any meeting of Holders of Securities of such series
         in regard to proof of the holding of Securities of such series and of
         the appointment of proxies and in regard to the appointment and duties
         of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies,
         certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other
         matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall deem
         appropriate. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such
         regulations, the holding of Securities shall be proved in the manner
         specified in Section 1.4 and the appointment of any proxy shall be
         proved in the manner specified in Section 1.4 or by having the
         signature of the person executing the proxy witnessed or guaranteed by
         any trust company, bank or banker authorized by Section 1.4 to certify
         to the holding of Bearer Securities. Such regulations may provide that
         written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be
         presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 1.4
         or other proof.



                                     -87-
<PAGE>

                           (2) The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing,
         appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall
         have been called by the Company or by Holders of Securities as provided
         in Section 15.2(2), in which case the Company or the Holders of
         Securities of the series calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall
         in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a
         permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the
         Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the
         Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting.

                           (3) At any meeting, each Holder of a Security of such
         series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal
         amount of Securities of such series held or represented by him;
         provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting
         in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by
         the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the
         meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security
         of such series or proxy.

                           (4) Any meeting of Holders of Securities of any
         series duly called pursuant to Section 15.2 at which a quorum is
         present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote
         a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such
         series represented at the meeting; and the meeting may be held as so
         adjourned without further notice.

     Section 15.6.     Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.

                  The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of
Holders of Securities of any series shall be by written ballots on which shall
be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of
their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of
the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by them. The
permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who
shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who
shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written
reports of all votes cast at the meeting. A record of the proceedings of each
meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be prepared by the
secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original
reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and
affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a
copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as
provided in Section 15.2 and, if applicable, Section 15.4. Each copy shall be
signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of
the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company and the
Guarantor, and another to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter
to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed
and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.



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<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE XVI.
                           SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

     Section 16.1.     Agreement to Subordinate.

                  The Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of
Securities issued hereunder and under any indenture supplemental hereto or
pursuant to a Board Resolution and Officers' Certificate ("Additional
Provisions") by such Holder's acceptance thereof likewise covenants and agrees,
that all Securities shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article
16; and each Holder of a Security, whether upon original issue or upon transfer
or assignment thereof, accepts and agrees to be bound by such provisions.

                  The payment by the Company of the principal of, any premium
and interest (including any Additional Interest) on and any Additional Amounts
with respect to all Securities of each series issued hereunder and under any
Additional Provisions shall, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set
forth and subject to the provisions of the related Series Authorization, be
subordinate in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Company
Senior Indebtedness with respect to such series, whether outstanding at the date
of this Indenture or thereafter incurred.

                  No provision of this Article 16 shall prevent the occurrence
of any default or Event of Default hereunder.

                  All references in this Article 16 to Holders of Securities
shall be deemed to include Holders of Coupons.

     Section 16.2.     Default on Company Senior Indebtedness.

                  In the event and during the continuation of any default by the
Company in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any other amount due
on any Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of any series,
or in the event that the maturity of any Company Senior Indebtedness with
respect to the Securities of any series has been accelerated because of a
default, then, in either case, no payment shall be made by the Company with
respect to the principal (including redemption and sinking fund payments) of,
any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on, or any
Additional Amounts with respect to, the Securities of such series or to acquire
such Securities (other than pursuant to the conversion of such Securities).

                  In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment
shall be received by the Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the
preceding paragraph of this Section 16.2, such payment shall be held in trust
for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of such
Company Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the
trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Company
Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may
appear, but only to the extent that the holders of such Company Senior
Indebtedness (or their representative or representatives or a trustee) notify
the Trustee in writing within 90 days of such payment of the amounts then due
and owing on such Company Senior Indebtedness and only the amounts specified in
such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the holders of such Company Senior
Indebtedness.



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<PAGE>

     Section 16.3.     Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy.

                  Upon any payment by the Company or distribution of assets of
the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities,
to creditors upon any total or partial liquidation, dissolution, winding-up,
reorganization, assignment for the benefit of creditors or marshaling of assets
of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in bankruptcy, insolvency,
receivership or other similar proceedings relating to the Company or its assets,
all amounts due upon all Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to the
Securities of any series shall first be paid in full, or payment thereof
provided for in money in accordance with its terms, before any payment is made
by the Company on account of the principal of, premium or interest (including
any Additional Interest) on, or Additional Amounts with respect to, the
Securities of such series; and in any such case, any payment by the Company, or
distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash,
property or securities, to which the Holders or the Trustee (on behalf of
Holders with respect to the principal of, premium or interest on or Additional
Amounts with respect to, the Securities of such Series) would be entitled to
receive from the Company, except for the provisions of this Article 16, shall be
paid by the Company or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating
trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, or by the
Holders or by the Trustee under this Indenture if received by them or it,
directly to the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness (pro rata to such
holders having equal seniority on the basis of the respective amounts of such
Company Senior Indebtedness held by such holders, as calculated by the Company)
or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under
any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Company Senior
Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, to
the extent necessary to pay such Company Senior Indebtedness in full, in money
or money's worth, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution
to or for the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness, before any payment or
distribution is made to the Holders of the Securities of such series or to the
Trustee.

                  In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment
or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in
cash, property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing shall be received by
the Trustee before all such Company Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, or
provision is made for such payment in money in accordance with its terms, such
payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of and shall be
paid over or delivered to the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness or
their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any
indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Company Senior
Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, as
calculated by the Company, for application to the payment of all such Company
Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Company
Senior 96 Indebtedness in full in money in accordance with its terms, after
giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the benefit of
the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness.

                  For purposes of this Article 16, the words "cash, property or
securities" shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as
reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation
provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which
is subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article 16 with respect
to the Securities of the relevant series to the payment of all Company Senior
Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of such series that may at the time
be outstanding, provided that (i) such Company Senior Indebtedness is assumed by


                                     -90-
<PAGE>

the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such reorganization or
readjustment, and (ii) the rights of the holders of such Company Senior
Indebtedness are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such
reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation or amalgamation of the Company
with, or the merger of the Company into, another Person or the liquidation or
dissolution of the Company following the conveyance, transfer or lease of its
property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another Person upon
the terms and conditions provided for in Sections 8.1 and 8.2 of this Indenture
shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for
the purposes of this Section 16.3 if such other Person shall, as a part of such
consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated
in Sections 8.1 and 8.2 of this Indenture.

     Section 16.4.     Subrogation.

                  Subject to the payment in full of all Company Senior
Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of any series, the rights of the
Holders of the Securities of such series shall be subrogated to the rights of
the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or
distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to such
Company Senior Indebtedness until the principal of, any premium and interest
(including any Additional Interest) on, and any Additional Amounts with respect
to, the Securities of such series shall be paid in full; and, for the purposes
of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of such Company
Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the Holders or
the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article 16, and
no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this Article 16 to or for the
benefit of the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness by Holders of the
Securities of such series or the Trustee, shall, as between the Company, its
creditors other than holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness, and the
Holders of the Securities of such series, be deemed to be a payment by the
Company to or on account of such Company Senior Indebtedness. It is understood
that the provisions of this Article 16 are and are intended solely for the
purposes of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities of
each series, on the one hand, and the holders of the Company Senior Indebtedness
with respect to the Securities of such series on the other hand.

                  Nothing contained in this Article 16 or elsewhere in this
Indenture, any Additional Provisions or in the Securities of any series is
intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than
the holders of Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of
such series, and the Holders of the Securities of such series, the obligation of
the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders of the
Securities of such series the principal of, any premium and interest (including
any Additional Interest) on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to, the
Securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable in
accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative
rights of the Holders of the Securities of such series and creditors of the
Company, other than the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness, nor shall
anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Security of


                                     -91-
<PAGE>

such series from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law
upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this
Article 16 of the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness in respect of
cash, property or securities of the Company, as the case may be, received upon
the exercise of any such remedy.

                  Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company
referred to in this Article 16, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of
Article 6 of this Indenture, and the Holders shall be entitled to conclusively
rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in
which such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings
are pending, or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy,
liquidation trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution,
delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of the Securities of any series, for
the purposes of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such
distribution, the holders of Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to the
Securities of such series and other indebtedness of the Company, as the case may
be, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or
distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article 16.

     Section 16.5.     Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.

                  Each Holder of Securities by such Holder's acceptance thereof
authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Holder's behalf to take such action
as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in
this Article 16 and appoints the Trustee such Holder's attorney-in-fact for any
and all such purposes.

     Section 16.6.     Notice by the Company.

                  The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible
Officer of the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the
making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the
Securities of any series pursuant to the provisions of this Article 16.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article 16 or any other provision of this
Indenture or any Additional Provisions, the Trustee shall not be charged with
knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any
payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities of any
series pursuant to the provisions of this Article 16, unless and until a
Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof
from the Company or a holder or holders of Company Senior Indebtedness with
respect to the Securities of such series or from any trustee therefor; and
before the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the
provisions of Article 6 of this Indenture, shall be entitled in all respects to
assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if the Trustee shall
not have received the notice provided for in this Section 16.6 at least two
Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any money may
become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of
the principal of, any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest)
on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, any Security of such series),
then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee
shall have full power and authority to receive such money and to apply the same
to the purposes for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any
notice to the contrary that may be received by it within two Business Days prior
to such date.



                                     -92-
<PAGE>

                  The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article 6 of this
Indenture, shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a
written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Company Senior
Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of any series (or a trustee on
behalf of such holder), to establish that such notice has been given by a holder
of such Company Senior Indebtedness or a trustee on behalf of any such holder or
holders. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further
evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of such
Company Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution
pursuant to this Article 16, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish
evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such
Company Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person
is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts
pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article 16, and, if such
evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person
pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such
payment.

                  Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company
referred to in this Article 16, the Trustee and the Holders shall be entitled to
conclusively rely upon any order or decree entered by any court of competent
jurisdiction in which such insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation,
reorganization, dissolution, winding-up or similar case or proceeding is
pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee,
custodian, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or other
Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the
Holders of the Securities of any series, for the purpose of ascertaining the
Persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of
Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of such series and
other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the
amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent
thereto or to this Article 16.

     Section 16.7.     Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Company Senior
                       Indebtedness.

                  The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to
all the rights set forth in this Article 16 in respect of any Company Senior
Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of any series at any time held by
it, to the same extent as any other holder of such Company Senior 99
Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture or any Additional Provisions shall
deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.

                  With respect to the holders of Company Senior Indebtedness
with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee undertakes to perform
or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set
forth in this Article 16, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect
to the holders of such Company Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this
Indenture or any Additional Provisions against the Trustee. The Trustee shall
not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of such Company Senior
Indebtedness and, subject to the provisions of Article 6 of this Indenture, the
Trustee shall not be liable to any holder of such Company Senior Indebtedness if
it shall pay over or deliver to Holders of the Securities of such series, the
Company or any other Person money or assets to which any holder of such Company
Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article 16 or otherwise.



                                     -93-
<PAGE>

                  Nothing in this Article 16 shall apply to claims of, or
payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.6.

     Section 16.8.     Subordination May Not Be Impaired.

                  No right of any present or future holder of any Company Senior
Indebtedness to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in
any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of
the Company, or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder,
or by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms, provisions and covenants
of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may
have or otherwise be charged with.

                  Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing
paragraph, the holders of Company Senior Indebtedness with respect to the
Securities of any series may, at any time and from time to time, without the
consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders of Securities of such series,
without incurring responsibility to such Holders and without impairing or
releasing the subordination provided in this Article 16 or the obligations
hereunder of the Holders of the Securities of such series to the holders of such
Company Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (i) change the
manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or
alter, such Company Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any
manner such Company Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or
any agreement under which such Company Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (ii)
sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged
or otherwise securing such Company Senior Indebtedness; (iii) release any Person
liable in any manner for the collection of such Company Senior Indebtedness; and
(iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company and any
other Person.

     Section 16.9.     Application by Trustee of Assets Deposited with It.

                  Amounts deposited in trust with the Trustee pursuant to and in
accordance with this Indenture, including without limitation pursuant to Article
4 hereof, shall be for the sole benefit of the Holders of the Securities and, to
the extent allocated for the payment of Securities, shall not be subject to the
subordination provisions of this Article 16. Otherwise, any deposit of assets
with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (whether or not in trust) for the payment
of any Securities shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 16.1, 16.2, and
16.3; provided that, if prior to two Business Days preceding the date on which
by the terms of this Indenture any such assets may become distributable for any
purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of any amount due on any
Security) the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall not have received with respect
to such assets the written notice provided for in Section 16.6, then the Trustee
or such Paying Agent shall have full power and authority to receive such assets
and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not
be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it on or
after such date.



                                     -94-
<PAGE>

                                 ARTICLE XVII.

                                   [RESERVED]

     Section 17.1.     [RESERVED].

     Section 17.2.     Net Payments.

                  Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context,
the payment of the principal of or any premium, interest or any other amounts
on, or in respect of, any Security of any series or any Coupon or the net
proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Security of any series, such
mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts
provided by the terms of such series established hereby or pursuant hereto to
the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be
payable in respect thereof pursuant to such terms, and express mention of the
payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provision hereof shall not
be construed as excluding the payment of Additional Amounts in those provisions
hereof where such express mention is not made.

     Section 17.3.     [RESERVED]

     Section 17.4.     [RESERVED.]

     Section 17.5.     [RESERVED.]

     Section 17.6.     [RESERVED.]

                                 ARTICLE XVIII.

                                   [RESERVED.]

     Section 18.1.     [RESERVED.]

     Section 18.2.     [RESERVED.]

     Section 18.3.     [RESERVED.]

     Section 18.4.     [RESERVED.]

     Section 18.5.     [RESERVED.]

     Section 18.6.     [RESERVED.]

     Section 18.7.     [RESERVED.]

     Section 18.8.     [RESERVED.]

                                      * * *



                                     -95-
<PAGE>

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Indenture to be duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be
hereunto affixed, all as of the day and year first above written.



[SEAL]                                    RENAISSANCERE HOLDINGS LTD.

Attest:                                   By ________________________________
                                              Name:
                                              Title:

[SEAL]                                    BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
                                              as Trustee

Attest:                                   By ________________________________
                                              Name:
                                              Title:
[SEAL]

Attest:






                                     -96-