exv4w2






Exhibit 4.2




 





FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE




by and between



ALLIED WORLD ASSURANCE COMPANY HOLDINGS, LTD,

as Issuer,



and



THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,



as Trustee



 





Dated as of November 15, 2010



 





$300,000,000



Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, Ltd



5.50% Senior Notes due 2020



 




 









 





TABLE OF CONTENTS




	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Page
	ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS
	 	 	2	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 1.1. Definitions
	 	 	2	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE II. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE SENIOR NOTES
	 	 	2	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 2.1.   Title
	 	 	2	 
	Section 2.2.   Principal Amount
	 	 	3	 
	Section 2.3.   Payment of Principal and Interest
	 	 	3	 
	Section 2.4.   Optional Redemption
	 	 	4	 
	Section 2.5.   Redemption for Changes in Withholding Taxes
	 	 	5	 
	Section 2.6.   Additional Amounts
	 	 	6	 
	Section 2.7.   Additional Covenants
	 	 	6	 
	Section 2.8.   Form, Currency and Denominations
	 	 	7	 
	Section 2.9.   Global Securities
	 	 	7	 
	Section 2.10. Ranking
	 	 	7	 
	Section 2.11. Miscellaneous
	 	 	7	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE III. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
	 	 	8	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 3.1.   Ratification and Incorporation of Original Indenture
	 	 	8	 
	Section 3.2.   Counterparts
	 	 	8	 
	Section 3.3.   Governing Law
	 	 	8	 
	Section 3.4.   Headings
	 	 	8	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	EXHIBIT A            Form of Senior Note
	 	 	 	 






 









 





FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE




     This
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 15, 2010 (the “Supplemental Indenture”), to the Indenture, dated as of November 15, 2010 (as heretofore amended and
supplemented, the “Original Indenture”), by and between ALLIED WORLD ASSURANCE COMPANY
HOLDINGS, LTD, a Bermuda exempted company (the “Company”), as issuer, having its principal
executive office located at 27 Richmond Road, Pembroke HM 08, Bermuda, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK
MELLON, a New York banking corporation, not in its individual capacity but solely as trustee (the
“Trustee”), having its corporate trust office located at 101 Barclay Street, Floor 8 West, New
York, New York 10286, is effective upon the execution hereof by the parties hereto.



RECITALS




     WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee the Original
Indenture providing for the issuance from time to time of its senior unsecured debentures, notes or
other evidences of indebtedness (the “Securities”), unlimited as to principal amount;



     WHEREAS, the Original Indenture is incorporated herein by this reference;



     WHEREAS, Section 3.1 of the Original Indenture provides that, with respect to any series of
Securities to be authenticated and delivered under the Original Indenture, the terms of such series
of Securities shall be established by (i) a Board Resolution and Officers’ Certificate or (ii) one
or more indentures supplemental to the Original Indenture;



     WHEREAS, the Company desires to create, under the Original Indenture, a new series of
Securities to be known as its 5.50% Senior Notes due 2020 (the “Senior Notes”), the form
and substance of such notes and the terms, provisions and conditions thereof to be set forth as
provided in the Original Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture;



     WHEREAS, all conditions necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Supplemental
Indenture and to make it a valid and binding agreement of the Company in accordance with its terms,
have been done or performed; and



     WHEREAS, the Original Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, is herein
called the “Indenture”.



     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Trustee mutually
covenant and agree as follows:



 









 





ARTICLE I.




DEFINITIONS



     Section 1.1. Definitions. 



     The following defined terms used herein shall have the meanings specified below. Capitalized
terms used herein without definition shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in
the Original Indenture.




     “Consolidated Net Worth” in respect of any Person means the total of the
amounts shown on the balance sheet of such Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries,
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, as of the end of the most recent
fiscal quarter of such Person ending at least 45 days prior to the taking of any action for
the purpose of which the determination is being made, as (i) the par or stated value of all
outstanding Capital Stock of such Person plus (ii) paid-in capital or capital surplus
relating to such Capital Stock plus (iii) any retained earnings or earned surplus, less any
accumulated deficit.




     “Designated Subsidiary” means any present or future consolidated Subsidiary of
the Company, the Consolidated Net Worth of which constitutes at least 20% of the
Consolidated Net Worth of the Company.




     “Interest Payment Date” means, with respect to the Senior Notes only, May 15
and November 15 of each year.




     “Regular Record Date” means, with respect to the Senior Notes only, the close
of business on May 1 or November 1, as the case may be (whether or not a Business Day),
immediately preceding each Interest Payment Date.




     “Taxing Jurisdiction” means each of (A) Bermuda or such other jurisdiction in
which the Company (or any successors) may be organized or any political subdivision or
taxing authority thereof or therein, (B) the jurisdiction of the Company’s principal
executive offices or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein and
(C) the jurisdiction of organization of any guarantor of the Securities or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein



ARTICLE II.




GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE SENIOR NOTES



     There is hereby established a new series of Securities under the Original Indenture with the
following terms:



     Section 2.1. Title.



     The title of the series is “5.50% Senior Notes due 2020”.



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     Section 2.2. Principal Amount. 



     There are to be issued by the Company, and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee on the
date hereof $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes, and such principal amount of
Senior Notes may be increased from time to time pursuant to Section 3.1 of the Original Indenture.
All Senior Notes need not be issued on the same date and such series may be reopened at any time,
without the consent of any Holder, for issuances of additional Senior Notes, unlimited in principal
amount, upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of either an Officers’ Certificate or an
indenture supplemental to the Indenture, setting forth the original issuance date of such
additional Senior Notes. The terms of any such additional Senior Notes will be identical (except
as to denomination and the date from which interest shall accrue) to the terms of the Senior Notes
initially issued, authenticated and delivered on the date hereof. Any such additional Senior Notes
will, together with the previously issued Senior Notes, constitute a single series of Securities
under the Indenture.



     Section 2.3. Payment of Principal and Interest.



     (a) The principal of the Senior Notes shall be due on November 15, 2020, subject to the
provisions of the Original Indenture relating to acceleration of maturity. The Senior Notes will
bear interest from November 15, 2010, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which
interest has been paid or duly provided for, at a rate of 5.50% per annum, payable semi-annually in
arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing on May 15, 2011, and at Maturity. The
Company will pay interest to the Persons in whose names the Senior Notes are registered on the
Regular Record Date for such Interest Payment Date. Interest will be computed on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months.



     (b) If any Interest Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day at the applicable
Place of Payment, the interest payment will be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day at
such Place of Payment, and no interest on such payment will accrue for the period from and after
such Interest Payment Date. If the maturity date of the Senior Notes falls on a day that is not a
Business Day at the applicable Place of Payment, the payment of interest and principal may be made
on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment, and no interest on such payment will
accrue for the period from and after the maturity date. Interest payments for the Senior Notes
will include accrued interest from and including the date of issue or from and including the last
date in respect of which interest has been paid, as the case may be, to, but excluding, the
Interest Payment Date or the date of maturity, as the case may be.



     (c) Payment of the principal and interest due at maturity of the Senior Notes shall be made
upon surrender of the Senior Notes at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. The principal of
and interest on the Senior Notes shall be paid in Dollars. Payments of principal of or interest on
the Senior Notes will be made, subject to such surrender where applicable, at the option of the
Company, (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall
appear in the Security Register or (ii) by wire transfer to an account maintained by the payee with
a bank located in the United States.



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     Section 2.4. Optional Redemption.



     (a) The Senior Notes will be redeemable, at the option of the Company, at any time or from
time to time in whole or in part, on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice to the
Holders of the Senior Notes, on any date prior to their maturity at a Redemption Price equal to the
greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes to be redeemed and (ii) the
Discounted Present Value of the Senior Notes subject to redemption, plus in each case accrued and
unpaid interest on the principal amount of the Senior Notes being redeemed to, but excluding, the
Redemption Date. Installments of interest on the Senior Notes 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 Senior Notes registered as such at the close of business on the Regular
Record Date therefor.



     As used herein:



     “Discounted Present Value” of any Senior Note subject to optional redemption shall be
equal to the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and
interest (excluding interest accrued to the Redemption Date) on such Senior Note discounted to the
Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months)
at the applicable Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points.



     “Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, (i) the yield, under the
heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most
recently published statistical release designated “H.15 (519)” or any successor publication which
is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes
yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the
caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury
Issue (if no maturity is within three months before or after the remaining term of the Senior Notes
to be redeemed (the “Remaining Life”), yields for the two published maturities most closely
corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue will be determined and the Treasury Rate will be
interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest
month) or (ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week
preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per year equal to the
semi-annual equivalent yield-to-maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price
for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the
Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date. The Treasury Rate will be calculated on the
third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date.



     “Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an
Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the Remaining Life.



     “Comparable Treasury Price” means (i) the average of four Reference Treasury Dealer
Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury
Dealer Quotations, or (ii) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than four such
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.



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     “Independent Investment Banker” means Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated or Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and their respective successors or, if both firms are
unwilling or unable to select the Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking
institution of national standing appointed by the Company.



     “Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of (i) Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated and a Primary Treasury Dealer (defined herein) selected by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
and their respective successors; provided, however, that if either of the foregoing shall cease to
be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in The City of New York (a “Primary Treasury
Dealer”), the Company will substitute another Primary Treasury Dealer and (ii) any two other
Primary Treasury Dealers selected by the Independent Investment Banker after consultation with the
Company.



     “Reference Treasury Quotation” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer
and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the
bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of
its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker at 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.



     (b) If less than all of the Senior Notes are to be redeemed, the Senior Notes to be redeemed
shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee by a method the
Trustee deems to be appropriate (including, without limitation, by lot or on a pro rata basis).



     Section 2.5. Redemption for Changes in Withholding Taxes.



     The Senior Notes will be redeemable, at the option of the Company, at any time as a whole but
not in part, on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice to the Holders of the Senior
Notes, on any date prior to their maturity, at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued
and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, in the event that the Company has
become or would become obligated to pay, on the next date on which any amount would be payable with
respect to the Senior Notes, any Additional Amounts as a result of: (i) a change in or an amendment
to the laws (including any regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder) of a Taxing Jurisdiction,
which change or amendment (A) in the case of the Company, is announced after November 9, 2010 and
(B) in the case of any successor to the Company, is announced after the date such successor assumes
the Company’s obligations under the Senior Notes and the Indenture; or (ii) any change in or
amendment to any official position regarding the application, administration, interpretation or
enforcement of such laws, regulations or rulings (including a holding by a court of a competent
jurisdiction or by a taxing authority) of a Taxing Jurisdiction, which change or amendment (A) in
the case of the Company, is announced after November 9, 2010 and (B) in the case of any successor
to the Company, is announced after the date such successor assumes the Company’s obligations under
the Senior Notes and the Indenture, and, in each case, the Company cannot avoid such obligation by
taking reasonable measures available to it. Installments of interest on the Senior Notes 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 Senior Notes registered as such at the close of
business on the Regular Record Date therefor.



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     Before the Company publishes or mails any notice of redemption of the Senior Notes, it will
deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that the Company cannot avoid its
obligation to pay Additional Amounts by taking reasonable measures available to it (consistent with
practices and interpretations generally followed or in effect at the time such measures could be
taken) and an Opinion of Counsel stating that there is a substantial probability that the Company
would be obligated to pay Additional Amounts as a result of a change in tax laws or regulations or
the application or interpretation of such laws or regulations.



     Section 2.6. Additional Amounts.



     Section 10.4 of the Original Indenture relating to payment of Additional Amounts shall apply
to the Senior Notes.



     Section 2.7. Additional Covenants.



     In addition to the covenants set forth in Article 10 of the Original Indenture, each of the
following covenants shall be added to Article 10 with respect to the Senior Notes:



     (a) Limitation on Liens on Stock of Designated Subsidiaries. So long as any Senior
Notes are Outstanding, the Company will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create,
assume, incur, guarantee or otherwise permit to exist any Indebtedness secured by any Lien upon any
shares of Capital Stock of any Designated Subsidiary (whether such shares of stock are now owned or
hereafter acquired) without effectively providing concurrently that the Senior Notes (and, if the
Company so elects, any other Indebtedness of the Company that is not subordinate to the Senior
Notes and with respect to which the governing instruments require, or pursuant to which the Company
is otherwise obligated, to provide such security) shall be secured equally and ratably with such
Indebtedness for at least the time period such other Indebtedness is so secured.



     (b) Limitation on Disposition of Stock of Designated Subsidiaries. So long as any
Senior Notes are Outstanding and except in a transaction otherwise governed by the Indenture, the
Company will not issue, sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any shares of, securities
convertible into, or warrants, rights or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of, Capital
Stock (other than Preferred Stock having no voting rights of any kind) of any Designated
Subsidiary, nor will the Company permit any Designated Subsidiary to issue (other than to the
Company or to other Designated Subsidiaries) any shares (other than the director’s qualifying
shares or similar securities) of, or securities convertible into, or warrants, rights or
options to subscribe for or purchase shares of, Capital Stock (other than Preferred Stock having no
voting rights of any kind) of any Designated Subsidiary, unless such Capital Stock is issued, sold,
assigned, transferred or otherwise disposed of, as the case may be, for consideration which is at
least equal to the fair market value of the Capital Stock so issued, sold, assigned, transferred or
otherwise disposed of, as the case may be, as determined by the Board of Directors, pursuant to a
Board Resolution adopted in good faith. The foregoing shall not prohibit any such issuance or
disposition of securities if required by any law or any regulation or order of any governmental or
insurance regulatory authority. In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may merge
or consolidate any Designated Subsidiary into or with another of the Company’s direct or indirect
subsidiaries.



-6-









 





     (c) Equivalent Guarantee. If any direct or indirect parent company of the Company
guarantees the Company’s outstanding 7.50% senior notes due 2016, equivalent guarantees will be
provided with respect to the Senior Notes so long as such 7.50% senior notes due 2016 are so
guaranteed.



     Section 2.8. Form, Currency and Denominations.



     The Senior Notes shall be issued in fully registered form, without coupons, in denominations
of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Senior Notes will be issued in
substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto. The Depositary with respect to the
Senior Notes shall be The Depository Trust Company.



     Section 2.9. Global Securities.



     (a) The Senior Notes will be issued in the form of one or more global Securities registered in
the nominee name of the Depositary, which shall be Cede & Co. Except under the circumstances set
forth in Section 3.5 of the Original Indenture, the global Securities will not be exchangeable for,
and will not otherwise be issuable as, Senior Notes in definitive form. Owners of beneficial
interests in such a global Security will not be considered the registered owners or Holders of
Senior Notes for any purpose.



     (b) No global Security representing a Senior Note shall be exchangeable, except for another
global Security of like denomination and tenor to be registered in the name of the Depositary or
its nominee or to a successor Depositary or its nominee. Payment of principal of, any premium or
interest on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, any Senior Note in global form shall be made
to the registered Holder thereof.



     Section 2.10. Ranking.



     The Senior Notes will represent the Company’s direct, unsecured obligations and will rank
equally with all of the Company’s other existing and future unsubordinated senior indebtedness.



     Section 2.11. Miscellaneous.



     The Company is not obligated to redeem or purchase any Senior Notes pursuant to any sinking
fund or analogous provision. The Senior Notes will not be convertible into shares of Common Stock
of the Company and/or exchangeable for other securities. The amount of payments of principal with
respect to the Senior Notes shall not be determined with reference to an index, formula or other
method or methods. No Senior Notes are issuable upon the exercise of warrants. Each of Section
4.2(2) of the Original Indenture relating to defeasance and Section 4.2(3) of the Original
Indenture relating to covenant defeasance shall apply to the Senior Notes, and the covenants
subject to Section 4.2(3) and Section 10.6 of the Original Indenture shall include the covenants
set forth in, and made applicable to the Senior Notes by, Section 2.6 of this Supplemental
Indenture.



-7-









 





ARTICLE III.




MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS



     Section 3.1. Ratification and Incorporation of Original Indenture.



     As supplemented hereby, the Original Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and
the Original Indenture as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and
construed as one and the same instrument.



     Section 3.2. Counterparts.



     This Supplemental 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 3.3. Governing Law.



     This Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of New York applicable to agreements made and performed in said state.



     Section 3.4. Headings.



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



[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.]




-8-









 





     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed this Supplemental Indenture by the signature of
its authorized officers, and the Trustee has caused this Supplemental Indenture to be executed in
its corporate name by its authorized officers, each as of the date above written.



	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ALLIED WORLD ASSURANCE COMPANY	 	 	 	 	 	 
	HOLDINGS, LTD, as Issuer	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:

	 	/s/ Scott A. Carmilani	 	 	 	Witnessed by:	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Name: Scott A. Carmilani	 		 	/s/ Wesley D. Dupont	 	 
	 

	 	Title: President, Chief Executive Officer and


	 	 	 	 

Name: Wesley D. Dupont
	 	 
	 

	 	          Chairman of the Board	 	 	 	Title: Executive Vice President, General Counsel and 

          Corporate Secretary	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, not	 	 	 	 	 	 
	in its individual capacity but solely as Trustee	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:
	 	/s/ Latoya S. Elvin	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 

Name: Latoya S. Elvin
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Title: Associate	 	 	 	 	 	 






[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture]








 









 








EXHIBIT A




     [Legend to be removed if the Senior Note is not represented by a global note] [UNLESS THIS
CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW
YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO ALLIED WORLD ASSURANCE COMPANY HOLDINGS, LTD OR ITS AGENT FOR
REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME
OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND
SUCH PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO
ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.



     UNLESS AND UNTIL THIS CERTIFICATE IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SENIOR NOTES IN
CERTIFICATED FORM, THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY DTC TO A NOMINEE
THEREOF OR BY A NOMINEE THEREOF TO DTC OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF DTC OR BY DTC OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A
SUCCESSOR OF DTC OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR.]



ALLIED WORLD ASSURANCE COMPANY HOLDINGS, LTD

5.50% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2020




			
	 	 	 
	No. ___
	 	CUSIP No.: 01959EAB4






	 	 	 

	Principal Amount:

	 	$300,000,000 
	Regular Record Date:

	 	May 1 or November 1, as the case may be,
immediately preceding each Interest Payment Date
	Original Issue Date:

	 	November 15, 2010
	Maturity Date:

	 	November 15, 2020
	Interest Payment Dates:

	 	May 15 and November 15
	Interest Rate:

	 	5.50% per annum 
	Authorized Denomination:

	 	$2,000, or any integral multiple of $1,000 in
excess thereof 






     Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, Ltd, a Bermuda exempted company (the
“Company”, which term includes any successor company under the Indenture referred to
below),



 









 




for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal
sum of THREE HUNDRED MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ($300,000,000) on the Maturity Date shown above,
and to pay interest thereon from November 15, 2010, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date
to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on each Interest
Payment Date as specified above (including the Maturity Date), commencing on May 15, 2011, at the
rate of 5.50% per annum until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for.




     The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment
Date (including the Maturity Date) will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in
whose name this Senior Note is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date as
specified above next preceding each Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually
paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record
Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Senior Note is registered at the close
of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such defaulted interest established by
notice given by or on behalf of the Company to the Holders of Senior Notes not less than 10 days
prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not
inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange, if any, on which the Senior Notes
shall be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by any such exchange, all as more fully
provided in the Indenture.



     Payments of interest on this Senior Note will include interest accrued to but excluding the
respective Interest Payment Dates. Interest payments for this Senior Note shall be computed and
paid on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which
interest is payable on this Senior Note is not a Business Day, then payment of the interest payable
on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, with the same force
and effect as if made on the date the payment was originally payable. A “Business
Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday or a day on which banking
institutions in New York City are authorized or required by law or executive order to remain
closed.



     Payment of the principal of and interest due on the Maturity Date of this Senior Note shall be
made upon surrender of this Senior Note at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. The
principal of and interest on this Senior Note shall be paid in Dollars. Payments of interest will
be made, subject to such surrender where applicable, at the option of the Company, (i) by check
mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto at such address as shall appear in the
Security Register or (ii) by wire transfer to an account maintained by the payee with a bank
located in the United States.



     This security is one of a duly authorized issue of debt securities of the Company (herein
called the “Securities”), all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to an Indenture,
dated as of November 15, 2010, as supplemented (the “Indenture”), between the Company and
The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking corporation, not in its individual capacity but
solely as trustee (the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the
Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto relating to this security
(including, without limitation, the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 15, 2010,
between the Company and the Trustee) reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective
rights,



2









 




limitation of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the
Holders of the Securities issued thereunder and of the terms upon which said Securities are, and
are to be, authenticated and delivered. The Securities may be issued in one or more series, which
different series may be issued in various aggregate principal amounts, may mature at different
times, may bear interest at different rates and may otherwise vary as provided in the Indenture or
any indenture supplemental thereto. This security is one of a series designated on the face as
5.50% Senior Notes due 2020 (the “Senior Notes”), initially issued in aggregate principal
amount to $300,000,000, subject to increase as provided in Section 3.1 of the Indenture.
Capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided herein shall have the respective
meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture.




     The Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company. Under the Indenture, the
Company covenants that if any direct or indirect parent company of the Company guarantees the
Company’s outstanding 7.50% senior notes due 2016, equivalent guarantees will be provided with
respect to the Senior Notes so long as such 7.50% senior notes due 2016 are so guaranteed.



     While this Senior Note is represented by one or more global notes registered in the name of
DTC or its nominee, the Company will cause payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest
on this Senior Note to be made to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, by wire transfer to the
extent, in the funds and in the manner required by agreements with, or regulations or procedures
prescribed from time to time by, DTC or its nominee, and otherwise in accordance with such
agreements, regulations and procedures.



     The Senior Notes will not have a sinking fund.



     The Senior Notes will be redeemable, at the option of the Company, at any time or from time to
time in whole or in part, on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice to the Holders of
the Senior Notes, on any date prior to their maturity at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of
(i) 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes to be redeemed and (ii) the Discounted Present
Value of the Senior Notes subject to redemption, plus in each case accrued and unpaid interest on
the principal amount of the Senior Notes being redeemed to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.
Installments of interest on the Senior Notes 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 Senior Notes registered as such at the close of business on the Regular Record Date therefor.



     As used herein:



     “Discounted Present Value” of any Senior Note subject to optional redemption shall be
equal to the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and
interest (excluding interest accrued to the Redemption Date) on such Senior Note discounted to the
Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months)
at the applicable Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points.



     “Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, (i) the yield, under the
heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most
recently published statistical release designated “H.15 (519)” or any successor publication which



3









 




is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which
establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant
maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the
Comparable Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three months before or after the remaining term
of the Senior Notes to be redeemed (the “Remaining Life”), yields for the two published
maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue will be determined and the
Treasury Rate will be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight line basis,
rounding to the nearest month) or (ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not published
during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per year
equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield-to-maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated
using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount)
equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date. The Treasury Rate will be
calculated on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date.




     “Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an
Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the Remaining Life.



     “Comparable Treasury Price” means (i) the average of four Reference Treasury Dealer
Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury
Dealer Quotations, or (ii) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than four such
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.



     “Independent Investment Banker” means Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated or Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and their respective successors or, if both firms are
unwilling or unable to select the Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking
institution of national standing appointed by the Company.



     “Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of (i) Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated and a Primary Treasury Dealer (defined herein)selected by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
and their respective successors; provided, however, that if either of the foregoing shall cease to
be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in The City of New York (a “Primary Treasury
Dealer”), the Company will substitute another Primary Treasury Dealer and (ii) any two other
Primary Treasury Dealers selected by the Independent Investment Banker after consultation with the
Company.



     “Reference Treasury Quotation” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer
and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the
bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of
its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker at 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.



     If less than all of the Senior Notes are to be redeemed as provided above, the Senior Notes to
be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, by
a method the Trustee deems to be appropriate (including, without limitation, by lot or on a pro
rata basis).



4









 





     The Senior Notes will be redeemable, at the option of the Company, at any time as a whole but
not in part, on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice to the Holders of the Senior
Notes, on any date prior to their maturity, at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued
and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, in the event that the Company has
become or would become obligated to pay, on the next date on which any amount would be payable with
respect to the Senior Notes, any Additional Amounts as a result of: (i) a change in or an amendment
to the laws (including any regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder) of a Taxing Jurisdiction,
which change or amendment, (A) in the case of the Company, is announced after November 9, 2010 and
(B) in the case of any successor to the Company, is announced after the date such successor assumes
the Company’s obligations under the Senior Notes and the Indenture; or (ii) any change in or
amendment to any official position regarding the application, administration, interpretation or
enforcement of such laws, regulations or rulings (including a holding by a court of competent
jurisdiction or by a taxing authority) of a Taxing Jurisdiction, which change or amendment (A) in
the case of the Company, is announced after November 9, 2010 and (B) in the case of any successor
to the Company, is announced after the date such successor assumes the Company’s obligations under
the Senior Notes and the Indenture, and, in each case, the Company cannot avoid such obligation by
taking reasonable measures available to it. Installments of interest on the Senior Notes 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 Senior Notes registered as such at the close of
business on the Regular Record Date therefor.



     The Indenture also contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness
of the Senior Notes or of certain restrictive covenants of the Company with respect to the Senior
Notes, in each case, upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.



     If an Event of Default with respect to the Senior Notes shall occur and be continuing, the
principal of the Senior Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner, with the effect and
subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.



     The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and
the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the
Securities of each series issued under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee
with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities of each series at the time Outstanding affected thereby. The Indenture also contains
provisions permitting the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Senior
Notes at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Senior Notes, to waive compliance by
the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture
and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Senior Note shall be
conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Senior Note and of any
Senior Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu
hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Senior Note.



     No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Senior Note or of the Indenture
shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and



5









 




unconditional, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on and Additional
Amounts, if any, in respect of this Senior Note at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or
currency, herein prescribed.




     As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the
transfer of this Senior Note is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Senior
Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company for such purpose, duly
endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company
and the Security Registrar and duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized
in writing, and thereupon one or more new Senior Notes, of authorized denominations and of like
tenor and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or
transferees. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange,
but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental
charge or certain other expenses payable in connection therewith.



     Prior to due presentment of this Senior Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the
Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Senior
Note is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Senior Note be
overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the
contrary.



     The Senior Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of
$2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and
subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Senior Notes are exchangeable for a like
aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes of a different authorized denomination, as requested by
the Holder surrendering the same upon surrender of the Senior Note or Notes to be exchanged at the
office or agency of the Company.



     This Senior Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State
of New York applicable to agreements made and performed in said state.



     The proceeds of the offering of this Senior Note shall be used exclusively outside of
Switzerland.



     Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee by manual
signature, this Senior Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or
obligatory for any purpose.



6









 





     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed by its
authorized representatives as of the date set forth below.


Dated:




	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

	 	 	ALLIED WORLD ASSURANCE COMPANY HOLDINGS, LTD	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

Name:
	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Title:	 	 






	 	 	 	 	 

	Attest:
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 

Name:
	 	 
	 

	 	Title:	 	 






[Signature Page to Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, Ltd 5.50% Senior Note Due 2020]


















 








CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION




     This is one of the 5.50% Senior Notes due 2020 referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.



	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, not in its

individual capacity but solely as Trustee	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	     Date:

	 	                                        
	 	 	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

Authorized Signatory