Document:

Exhibit 10.5

 

TRADEMARK LICENSE AGREEMENT

 

between

 

MONTPELIER RE HOLDINGS LTD.

 

and

 

BLUE CAPITAL REINSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD.

 

Dated as of November 12, 2013

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
 
    	
Page
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE I
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Defined   Terms
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 1.01.   Definitions
    	
1
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE II
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Grants of   License
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 2.01. Grant
    	
4
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE III
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Quality   Control
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 3.01. Quality   Standards and Control
    	
4
    
	
SECTION 3.02. Use of   the Trademarks
    	
4
    
	
SECTION 3.03.   Inspection and Approval
    	
4
    
	
SECTION 3.04.   Licensor’s Rights
    	
5
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE IV
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Restrictions   on Use
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 4.01.   Restrictions on Use
    	
5
    
	
SECTION 4.02.   Restrictions on Territory
    	
5
    
	
SECTION 4.03. Changes   in Trademarks
    	
5
    
	
SECTION 4.04. No   Challenge
    	
5
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE V
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Representations   and Disclaimer of Warranties
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 5.01.   Representations and Warranties
    	
6
    
	
SECTION 5.02.   Representations and Disclaimer of Warranties
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VI
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Infringement
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 6.01.   Infringement Actions
    	
7
    
	
SECTION 6.02. Renewal
    	
7
    

 

 

	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VII
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Term and Termination
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 7.01. Term
    	
7
    
	
SECTION 7.02.   Termination of the Agreement
    	
8
    
	
SECTION 7.03.   Non-Renewal
    	
9
    
	
SECTION 7.04.   Consequence of Termination
    	
9
    
	
SECTION 7.05. Survival   of Existing Rights and Obligations
    	
9
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VIII
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Indemnification
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 8.01.   Indemnification of Licensor
    	
9
    
	
SECTION 8.02.   Indemnification of Licensee
    	
9
    
	
SECTION 8.03.   Indemnification Procedure
    	
10
    
	
SECTION 8.04. Payment   of Indemnified Amounts
    	
10
    
	
SECTION 8.05. Limit of   Liability
    	
10
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE IX
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Reservation   of Rights
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 9.01.   Reservation of Rights
    	
10
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE X
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Miscellaneous
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 10.01.   Confidentiality
    	
11
    
	
SECTION 10.02.   Amendment
    	
11
    
	
SECTION 10.03.   Assignment; Sublicense
    	
11
    
	
SECTION 10.04. Specific Performance
    	
12
    
	
SECTION 10.05. Counterparts
    	
12
    
	
SECTION 10.06. Entire   Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries
    	
12
    
	
SECTION 10.07.   Jurisdiction
    	
12
    
	
SECTION 10.08. Service   of Process
    	
13
    
	
SECTION 10.09.   Governing Law
    	
13
    
	
SECTION 10.10. Waiver   of Jury Trial
    	
13
    
	
SECTION 10.11. Notices
    	
13
    
	
SECTION 10.12.   Severability
    	
14
    
	
SECTION 10.13. No   Waiver/Cumulative Remedies
    	
14
    
	
SECTION 10.14.   Relationship of Parties
    	
14
    
	
SECTION 10.15.   Interpretation
    	
14
    

 

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TRADEMARK LICENSE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of November 12, 2013, between MONTEPELIER RE HOLDINGS LTD., an exempted limited liability company incorporated in Bermuda (registered number 31262) whose registered office address is at Canon’s Court, 22 Victoria Street, Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda (“Licensor”), and BLUE CAPITAL REINSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD., an exempted company incorporated in Bermuda (registered number 47855) whose registered office is at Canon’s Court, 22 Victoria Street, Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda (“Licensee”).

 

WHEREAS, Licensor owns and uses the name “Blue Capital” and the “Blue Capital” logo, each as set forth on Schedule A (such name, mark and logo and such registrations and applications for registration, together with any and all common law rights pertaining thereto, are referred to collectively as the “Trademarks”); and

 

WHEREAS, Licensee, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, desires to obtain from Licensor, and Licensor desires to grant to Licensee, a non-exclusive license to use the Trademarks in connection with the reinsurance business of Licensee and its subsidiaries (the “Business”) on the terms set forth herein;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants set forth herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Licensor and Licensee (collectively, the “Parties” and each individually a “Party”) agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

Defined Terms

 

SECTION 1.01.  Definitions.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings ascribed thereto below.

 

“Affiliate” means, as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, controls,  is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person.  For this purpose, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise.

 

“Applicable Requirements” means, with respect to any Person, all applicable laws, rules, regulations and requirements, including applicable laws, rules, regulations, requirements and binding requests of any Competent Regulatory Authority, and all applicable orders and decrees.

 

“Blue Capital Re” means Blue Capital Re Ltd.,  a wholly owned direct subsidiary of Licensee and an exempted company incorporated in Bermuda (registered number 47922) whose registered office is at Canon’s Court, 22 Victoria Street, Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda.

 

 

“Blue Capital Re ILS” means Blue Capital Re ILS Ltd.,  a wholly owned direct subsidiary of Blue Capital Re and an exempted company incorporated in Bermuda (registered number 47964) whose registered office is at Canon’s Court, 22 Victoria Street, Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda.

 

“Business” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Recitals.

 

“Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which the SEC or banks in the City of New York or Bermuda are authorized or required by law to be closed.

 

“Change of Control” means the first of the following events to occur:

 

(a)           the consummation of (i) a merger, amalgamation, consolidation, scheme of arrangement, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving Licensee (a “Reorganization”) or (ii) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all the assets of Licensee (determined on a consolidated basis) to another “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, except that, for purposes of this definition, such term shall exclude Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. and its subsidiaries) (a “Sale”), unless, immediately following such Reorganization or Sale, (1) individuals and entities who were the “beneficial owners” (as such term is defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) of the securities eligible to vote for the election of the board of directors of Licensee (“Voting Securities”) outstanding immediately prior to the consummation of such Reorganization or Sale continue to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the corporation or other entity resulting from such Reorganization or Sale (including a corporation that, as a result of such transaction, owns Licensee or all or substantially all the assets of Licensee either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) (the “Continuing Licensee”) and (2) no “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) (excluding any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Continuing Licensee or any corporation controlled by the Continuing Licensee) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 35% or more of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Continuing Licensee; or

 

(b)           any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, except that, for purposes of this definition, such term shall exclude Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. and its subsidiaries) is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in clause (a) above, except that for purposes of this clause (b) such person shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 35% of the total voting securities of Licensee.

 

“Common Shares” means the common shares, par value $1.00 per share, of Licensee.

 

“Competent Regulatory Authority” means, with respect to any Person, any regulatory authority or analogous Person responsible for regulating, or having jurisdiction over, that Person.

 

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“Confidential Information” means information that:

 

(a)           has been disclosed to a Party, or that a Party has or may become aware of in connection with this Agreement, in both cases before or during the term of this Agreement; and

 

(b)           is marked as or otherwise indicated as confidential, or derives value to a Party from being confidential, or would be regarded as confidential by a reasonable business person,

 

except to the extent that such information is in the public domain (otherwise than by a breach of the confidentiality provisions of this Agreement).

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

“Goodwill” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 3.01.

 

“Indemnified Person” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 8.03.

 

“Indemnifying Party” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 8.03.

 

“Investment Management Agreement” means the investment management agreement entered into on the date hereof between Licensee and Blue Capital Management Ltd., a company incorporated in Bermuda (registered number 38829) whose registered office is at Canon’s Court, 22 Victoria Street, Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda.

 

“License” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.01.

 

“Licensee Indemnitees” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 8.02.

 

“Licensor Indemnitees” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 8.01.

 

“Offering” means the initial public offering of the Common Shares.

 

“Person” means any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization or any other entity.

 

“Quality Standards” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 3.01.

 

“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Trademarks” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Recitals.

 

“Underwriting and Insurance Management Agreement” means the underwriting and insurance management agreement entered into on the date hereof among Licensee, Blue Capital Re and Blue Capital Insurance Managers Ltd., a company incorporated in Bermuda

 

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(registered number 35606) whose registered office is at Canon’s Court, 22 Victoria Street, Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda.

 

ARTICLE II

 

Grants of License

 

SECTION 2.01.  Grant.  Subject to the terms set forth in this Agreement, Licensor hereby grants to Licensee, and Licensee hereby accepts, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, a non-transferable, non-exclusive, fully paid-up, royalty-free, worldwide (subject to Section 4.02) license (this “License”) to and under the Trademarks, for use solely in connection with the Business, including in the corporate name or the trade name of Licensee and its subsidiaries.

 

ARTICLE III

 

Quality Control

 

SECTION 3.01.  Quality Standards and Control.  Licensee, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, represents, warrants and covenants that at all times during the term of this Agreement any advertising and promotional materials shall be used in accordance with such quality standards and specification as may be established by Licensor and communicated to Licensee from time to time, or upon which the Parties may agree from time to time (the “Quality Standards”) and any Applicable Requirements, and Licensee and its subsidiaries shall not use the Trademarks in a way that diminishes or is detrimental to Licensor’s rights in the Trademarks or the goodwill associated therewith (the “Goodwill”).  Licensee and its subsidiaries shall not produce or use any advertising or promotional materials (including materials for websites) bearing the Trademarks other than those which are substantially the same as those in existence as of the date of this Agreement without obtaining the prior written approval of Licensor, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

 

SECTION 3.02.  Use of the Trademarks.  All use of the Trademarks made by Licensee and its subsidiaries hereunder shall faithfully reproduce the design and appearance of the Trademarks as reflected in Schedule A. All use of the Trademarks made by Licensee shall inure to the benefit of Licensor. Licensee agrees to assist Licensor in the maintenance and renewal of the trademarks, including but not limited to providing evidence of use and signing powers of attorney or declarations attesting to use, as may be necessary under local law.

 

SECTION 3.03.  Inspection and Approval.  Upon reasonable notice and during business hours, Licensor shall have the right to carry out inspections of (a) representative samples, provided to Licensor at Licensee’s expense, of the ways in which the Trademarks are being used by Licensee and its subsidiaries (or photographs depicting the same), and (b) any facility used in connection with the Trademarks, in order to confirm appropriate quality control as provided in this Article III.  Licensor may, by written notice to Licensee, designate an Affiliate of Licensor, or, at its expense, an independent third party inspector or consultant, to act as an authorized representative of Licensor in connection with this Section 3.03.  Pursuant to such designation, any such Affiliate, inspector or consultant shall be authorized to exercise any of Licensor’s rights under this Section 3.03. Licensor shall ensure that any Person conducting an

 

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inspection pursuant to this Section 3.03 shall abide by Licensee’s internal rules and directions, provided, however, that such rules and directions shall not unduly interfere with such inspection.

 

SECTION 3.04.  Licensor’s Rights.  Nothing contained in this Agreement shall in any way limit the rights of Licensor or others to use the Trademarks or similar trademarks anywhere in the world for any purpose whatsoever.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Restrictions on Use

 

SECTION 4.01.  Restrictions on Use.  Licensee and its subsidiaries shall not:

 

(a)           without the prior written consent of Licensor, change or modify the Trademarks, or create any design variation of the Trademarks;

 

(b)           without the prior written consent of Licensor, join any name, mark, logo, or domain name with any of the Trademarks so as to form a composite or combined trade name, mark, logo, or domain name;

 

(c)           use any of the Trademarks or otherwise conduct the Business in any manner that, in Licensor’s reasonable judgment, may reflect improperly upon any of the Trademarks; and

 

(d)           use any other mark that is confusingly similar to any of the Trademarks.

 

SECTION 4.02.  Restrictions on Territory.  The Trademarks are not licensed, and Licensee and its subsidiaries shall not use the Trademarks, in any country where the Business would not be permitted to be conducted according to any Applicable Requirements or any U.S. or other applicable export laws or trade sanctions. At the request of Licensee from time to time, Licensor may at its sole discretion file to protect and register the Trademarks in additional jurisdictions.

 

SECTION 4.03.  Changes in Trademarks.  Upon written notice to Licensee, Licensor may, from time to time in its sole discretion, (a) discontinue any Trademarks or (b) replace any Trademarks with or use new or different trademarks or service marks (“New Marks”). Licensor shall notify Licensee of any such discontinuance or replacement. If Licensee desires to use such New Mark on the terms set out in this Agreement, (i) it shall notify Licensor, (ii) upon Licensor’s receipt of such notice, such New Marks will be designated as Trademarks and, as such, shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement, and (iii) Schedule A shall be deemed amended automatically to include such New Marks as Trademarks.

 

SECTION 4.04.  No Challenge.  Licensee acknowledges and agrees that Licensee and its subsidiaries shall not directly or indirectly challenge Licensor’s sole and exclusive ownership of all right, title and interest in and to the Trademarks.  In using the Trademarks, Licensee, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, will in no way represent that it has any right, title or interest in or to the Trademarks, other than those rights under the License expressly granted under the terms of this Agreement. Licensee agrees that, on behalf of itself and its

 

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subsidiaries, no use, registration or application, together with any and all common law rights pertaining thereto, by Licensor, or its other licensees, of “Blue Capital” names, marks or logos other than those set forth on Schedule A shall cause any confusion with Licensee’s use of the Trademarks hereunder. Licensee agrees that, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, it shall not file or seek to register the Trademarks or any domain names in its own name or on behalf of any other party.

 

ARTICLE V

 

Representations and Disclaimer of Warranties

 

SECTION 5.01.  Representations and Warranties.  Each Party hereby represents and warrants to the other that (in respect of itself):

 

(a)           it is duly incorporated and validly existing under applicable laws, with full power and authority to conduct its business, and it has full power and authority to enter into, perform its duties under and exercise its rights under this Agreement;

 

(b)           assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the other Party, this Agreement constitutes its valid, lawful and binding obligations enforceable against itself in accordance with its terms (except insofar as enforceability may be limited by any bankruptcy laws or principles, or any similar laws or principles);

 

(c)           the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations under this Agreement do not and shall not constitute a breach of or default under (i) its organizational documents, (ii) any agreement or instrument by which it is bound or (iii) any Applicable Requirement;

 

(d)           no material consent, approval, waiver, license, permit, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Competent Regulatory Authority is required to be obtained or made by it in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and

 

(e)           no step, application, order, proceeding or appointment has been taken or made by or in respect of it for a distress, execution, composition or arrangement with creditors, winding-up, dissolution, administration, receivership (administrative or otherwise) or bankruptcy, and it is able to pay its debts.

 

The representations and warranties in this Section 5.01 are made on a continuing basis, and shall remain in full force and effect throughout the duration of this Agreement.  If either Party becomes aware that any of the representations and warranties made by it in this Section 5.01 has ceased to be true, then it shall notify the other Party promptly.

 

SECTION 5.02.  Representations and Disclaimer of Warranties.  Except as expressly set forth herein, Licensor expressly disclaims, and Licensee hereby expressly waives, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, all warranties, express or implied, including implied

 

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warranties of merchantability, title, non-infringement and fitness for a particular purpose, with regard to the Trademarks.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

Infringement

 

SECTION 6.01.  Infringement Actions.  Licensor will from time to time take all steps that it may consider necessary to protect its rights in and to the Trademarks, and Licensee agrees to communicate to Licensor any infringements or threatened infringements of any of such rights that may come to its notice and, at Licensor’s expense, to do all and any such acts as Licensor may reasonably require for preventing such infringements or threatened infringements; provided, however, that nothing in this Article VI shall impose upon Licensor any obligation to incur any expense in protecting any of its rights in any case where, in Licensor’s absolute discretion, such expense is considered not warranted.  In the event Licensor decides to take affirmative action against an infringement or unfair competition, Licensee agrees to assist Licensor in whatever manner Licensor reasonably directs, at the expense of Licensor.  Recovery of damages resulting from any such action shall be solely for the account of Licensor.  Licensee will provide information reasonably requested by Licensor in any infringement action, including in connection with the calculation of damages.  Should Licensor decide not to take any timely action in respect of infringement of, challenge to or unauthorised use of, any of the Trademarks with respect to the Business of which it is advised by Licensee pursuant to this Article VI, Licensor shall so notify Licensee in which event Licensee shall be entitled, at its sole cost, to take such action (including instituting or defending legal proceedings) as it thinks fit.  Licensor shall, at Licensee’s expense, give Licensee all such assistance as Licensee may reasonably require in connection with such action and Licensee shall keep Licensor informed of any material progress in respect of the same and shall not make any admission as to liability or agree to any settlement of any action or legal proceedings without Licensor’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).  Licensor will have the sole right, but not the obligation, to prosecute any pending applications included in the Trademarks in its discretion and at its cost and expense.

 

SECTION 6.02.  Renewal.  Licensor shall at its sole cost maintain and renew the Trademarks consisting of registrations throughout the term of this Agreement.  At Licensor’s reasonable request, Licensee and its subsidiaries will cooperate with Licensor with the prosecution, maintenance and renewal of the Trademarks and with the recordation of this Agreement as may be required by applicable law.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

Term and Termination

 

SECTION 7.01.  Term.  This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until terminated or not renewed by Licensor or Licensee in accordance with this Article VII, except that Section 7.01, Article VIII and Article X shall survive such termination or non-renewal.  This Agreement shall renew automatically on the fifth anniversary of the completion of the Offering

 

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and upon every third anniversary thereafter, unless otherwise terminated or not renewed in accordance with this Article VII.

 

SECTION 7.02.  Termination of the Agreement.  (a)  Termination by either Party.

 

(i)            If either the Investment Management Agreement or the Underwriting and Investment Management Agreement is terminated or not renewed in accordance with its terms, this Agreement may be terminated by either Party upon 30 Business Days’ prior written notice.

 

(ii)           If Licensee becomes regulated as an investment company under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, this Agreement shall terminate automatically, with such termination deemed to occur immediately prior to such event.

 

(b)           Termination by the Licensor.

 

(i)            If (A) there is a Change of Control of Licensee, (B) Blue Capital Re ceases to become an Affiliate of Licensee, (C) Blue Capital Re ILS ceases to become an Affiliate of Licensee, this Agreement may be terminated by Licensor upon 30 Business Days’ prior written notice. If any sub-licensee of Licensee ceases to be a subsidiary of Licensee, the sub-license pertaining to such sub-licensee will terminate automatically and immediately.

 

(ii)           If Licensee breaches or fails to perform in any material respect any of its representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform has not been cured within 30 Business Days after giving written notice to Licensee of such breach or failure, this Agreement may be terminated by the Licensor (provided that Licensor is not then in material breach of any representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement).

 

(iii)          If (A) any step, application, order, proceeding or appointment has been taken or made by or in respect of Licensee for a distress, execution, composition or arrangement with creditors, winding up, dissolution, administration, receivership (administrative or otherwise) or bankruptcy or (B) Licensee is unable to pay its debts as they become due, this Agreement may be terminated by Licensor upon 30 Business Days’ notice.

 

(c)           Termination by Licensee.

 

(i)            If Licensor breaches or fails to perform in any material respect any of its representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform has not been cured within 60 Business Days after giving written notice to Licensor of such breach or failure, this Agreement may be terminated by Licensee (provided that Licensee is not then in material breach of any representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement).

 

(ii)           If (A) any step, application, order, proceeding or appointment has been taken or made by or in respect of Licensor for a distress, execution, composition or

 

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arrangement with creditors, winding up, dissolution, administration, receivership (administrative or otherwise) or bankruptcy or (B) Licensor is unable to pay its debts as they become due, this Agreement may be terminated by Licensee upon 60 Business Days’ notice.

 

SECTION 7.03.  Non-Renewal.  Licensor or Licensee, may elect not to renew this Agreement at the expiration of the initial term or any renewal term for any or no reason upon not less than nine, but not more than 12, months’ written notice to the other prior to the end of such initial term or renewal term, as applicable.

 

SECTION 7.04.  Consequence of Termination .  Upon and after termination of this Agreement in accordance with this Article VII, all rights granted to Licensee shall automatically revert to Licensor and Licensee shall claim no right to the Trademarks.

 

SECTION 7.05.  Survival of Existing Rights and Obligations.  Termination shall not affect accrued rights, indemnities, existing commitments or any contractual provision intended to survive termination.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

Indemnification

 

SECTION 8.01.  Indemnification of Licensor.  Licensee, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, unconditionally agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Licensor and its Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, successors and permitted assigns (the “Licensor Indemnitees”) from and against, and pay or reimburse such parties for, any losses, claims, liabilities, damages, deficiencies, costs or expenses of any type which they may incur (i) on account of any third-party claim or proceeding arising out of the performance of this Agreement or (ii) from any breach of, or failure to perform, any covenant or obligation of Licensee contained in this Agreement (unless caused by the Licensor’s breach of, or failure to perform, its covenants or obligations under this Agreement), in each case, unless (a) a court or arbitral panel with appropriate jurisdiction shall have determined by a final judgment which is not subject to appeal such losses, claims, liabilities, damages, costs or expenses are as a result of fraud, dishonesty, gross negligence or wilful misconduct of any of the Licensor Indemnitees or (b) such Licensor Indemnitees shall have settled such losses, claims, liabilities, damages, costs or expenses without the consent of Licensee (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

SECTION 8.02.  Indemnification of Licensee.  Subject to Section 8.05 hereof, Licensor unconditionally agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Licensee and its subsidiaries and their Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, successors and permitted assigns (the “Licensee Indemnitees”), from and against, and pay or reimburse such parties for, any losses, claims, liabilities, damages, deficiencies, costs or expenses of any type which they may incur from any breach of, or failure to perform, any covenant or obligation of the Licensor contained in this Agreement, unless (i) a court or arbitral panel of appropriate jurisdiction shall have determined by a final judgment that is not subject to appeal such losses, claims, liabilities, damages, costs or expenses are as a result of fraud, dishonesty, gross negligence or wilful

 

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misconduct of any of the Licensee Indemnitees or (ii) such Licensee Indemnitees shall have settled such losses, claims, liabilities, damages, costs or expenses without the consent of the Licensor (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

SECTION 8.03.  Indemnification Procedure.  Any person who is claiming indemnification from Licensee pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.01, or from Licensor pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.02 (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly deliver a written notification of each claim for indemnification, accompanied by a copy of all papers served, if any, and specifying in detail the nature of, basis for and estimated amount of the claim for indemnification to Licensee or Licensor, as applicable (the “Indemnifying Party”).  If an Indemnified Person fails to promptly notify the Indemnifying Party, then the obligation to indemnify shall be reduced by the amount of liability that is attributable to or becomes definite as a result of the delay in notification, if the delay in notification has resulted in a material increase in liability or actual prejudice to the Indemnifying Party.  The Indemnifying Party shall have the right to assume the defense of any matter for which a claim of indemnification is made against it with counsel it selects, at its own expense.  The Indemnifying Party in its sole discretion shall have the right to settle, compromise or defend until final adjudication any dispute or alleged liability for which a claim for indemnification has been made; provided, however, that the Indemnifying Party shall not, except with the consent of each Indemnified Person, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, consent to the entry of any judgment, or enter into any settlement, that does not include the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to the Indemnified Person of a release from all liability with respect to the claim or litigation.  Each Indemnified Person shall cooperate in providing information, formulating a defense or as otherwise reasonably requested by the Indemnifying Party.

 

SECTION 8.04.  Payment of Indemnified Amounts.  Each Indemnified Person shall provide written, detailed statements to the Indemnifying Party on a monthly basis, of any expenses, costs or other liabilities for which indemnification is claimed.  The Indemnifying Party shall reimburse such amounts within ten Business Days of receiving any such statement, or shall notify in writing the Indemnified Person claiming indemnification if it denies liability, and provide the reasons for the denial.

 

SECTION 8.05.  Limit of Liability.  Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement to the contrary, Licensor shall not be liable to Licensee for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages claimed by Licensee resulting from Licensor’s breach of or failure to perform its covenants or obligations under this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

Reservation of Rights

 

SECTION 9.01.  Reservation of Rights.  Except for the License being specifically granted under this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as an assignment or other grant of any right, title or interest in or to the Trademarks (including all Goodwill) to Licensee or its Affiliates, it being understood that all right, title and interest in and to the Trademarks are expressly reserved by Licensor and all Goodwill relating to Licensee’s use of the Trademarks inures to the benefit of Licensor.

 

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ARTICLE X

 

Miscellaneous

 

SECTION 10.01.  Confidentiality.  Neither Party shall at any time use, divulge or communicate to any Person any Confidential Information, except:

 

(i)            as agreed by the other Party;

 

(ii)           where required to perform its duties or exercise its rights under this Agreement;

 

(iii)          to its professional representatives or advisers, or to insurance companies, insurance brokers or insurance agents, to the extent required by them to perform their duties, and provided that they are or agree to be bound by a duty of confidentiality; or

 

(iv)          to the extent required by Applicable Requirements or by any Competent Regulatory Authority (including for the purpose of filing tax returns),

 

and each Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the publication or disclosure of any Confidential Information in breach of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 10.02.  Amendment.  This Agreement may be amended (a) by the Parties at any time by an instrument in writing executed by each Party.

 

SECTION 10.03.  Assignment; Sublicense.  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned, in whole or in part, subject to a sublicense or transferred in whole or in part by operation of law or otherwise, by either of the Parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other Party hereto; except that:

 

(a)           Licensee shall have the right, without the consent of Licensor, to grant sublicenses to any of Licensee’s wholly-owned subsidiaries (in which case Licensee shall continue to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and Licensee will remain liable to Licensor in respect of the acts of any sub-licensee);

 

(b)           Licensor shall have the right, without the consent of Licensee, to grant sublicenses of any of its rights and obligations hereunder to any of Licensor’s Affiliates; and

 

(c)           in connection with the transfer (whether by asset transaction, stock sale, merger or otherwise) to a third party of all or substantially all of the Trademarks that are the subject of the License granted under this Agreement, Licensor shall be permitted and shall be required to assign all rights and obligations of Licensor under this Agreement to such third party; provided, however, that in the case of Section 10.03(b), the assignee or sub-licensee as applicable shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement.

 

11

 

No assignment, sub-license or transfer by either Party shall relieve such Party of any of its obligations hereunder.  Subject to the immediately preceding two sentences, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.  Any purported assignment or transfer not permitted under this Section 10.03 shall be null and void. All such assignments shall be subject to all necessary regulatory approvals.

 

SECTION 10.04.  Specific Performance.  Each of the Parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that in the event of a breach of this Agreement, the non-breaching Party would be irreparably and immediately harmed and could not be made whole by monetary damages.  It is accordingly agreed that the Parties hereto (i) will waive, in any action for specific performance, the defense of adequacy of a remedy at law and (ii) shall be entitled, in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled at law or in equity, to compel specific performance of this Agreement in any action instituted in respect thereof.

 

SECTION 10.05.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts (including by facsimile or e-mail), each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each Party hereto and delivered to the other Party hereto.

 

SECTION 10.06.  Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries.  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties and their Affiliates, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and is not intended to confer upon any Person other than the Parties any rights or remedies other than as provided for hereunder.  Each Party acknowledges and agrees that (i) it has not relied on or been induced to enter into this Agreement by any undertaking, promise, assurance, statement, representation, warranty, undertaking or understanding which is not expressly included in this Agreement; and (ii) it shall have no claim or remedy in respect of any undertaking, promise, assurance, statement, representation, warranty, undertaking or understanding which is not expressly included in this Agreement. Nothing in the immediately preceding sentence shall operate to limit or exclude any liability for fraud.

 

SECTION 10.07.  Jurisdiction.  Each party hereto irrevocably agrees that any legal action, suit or proceeding against them arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or disputes relating hereto (whether for breach of contract, tortious conduct or otherwise) shall be brought exclusively in a Federal court sitting in the State of New York located in New York County, or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, the state courts of New York located in New York County and hereby irrevocably accepts and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the aforesaid courts in personam, with respect to any such action, suit or proceeding.  Each of Licensor and Licensee irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby in (i) the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County, or (ii) any Federal court sitting in the State of New York located in New York County, and hereby and thereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that

 

12

 

any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

SECTION 10.08.  Service of Process.  Each party hereto agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail to such party’s respective address set forth in Section 10.11 hereof shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or proceeding in New York with respect to any matters for which it has submitted to jurisdiction pursuant to Section 10.09.

 

SECTION 10.09.  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts executed in and to be performed entirely within that State, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable conflict of law principles.

 

SECTION 10.10.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.  EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF THE OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (B) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVER, (C) IT MAKES SUCH WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (D) IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVER AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.10.

 

SECTION 10.11.  Notices.  All notices, requests and other communications to either Party hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, facsimiled (which is confirmed) or sent by overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to the Parties at the following addresses:

 

	
If to Licensor, to:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
94   Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke HM 08, Bermuda
    
	
Facsimile:
    	
(441)   296-5551
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
If to Licensee, to:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
94   Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke HM 08, Bermuda
    
	
Facsimile:
    	
(441)   296-5551
    

 

13

 

or such other address or facsimile number as such Party may hereafter specify by like notice to the other Parties hereto.  All such notices, requests and other communications shall be deemed received on the date of actual receipt by the recipient thereof if received prior to 5:00 p.m. local time in the place of receipt and such day is a business day in the place of receipt.  Otherwise, any such notice, request or communication shall be deemed not to have been received until the next succeeding Business Day in the place of receipt.

 

SECTION 10.12.  Severability.  If any term, condition or other provision of this Agreement is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other terms, provisions and conditions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect.  Upon such determination that any term, condition or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law in an acceptable manner to the end that the terms of this Agreement are fulfilled to the extent possible.

 

SECTION 10.13.  No Waiver/Cumulative Remedies.  Any waiver of a breach of any of the terms of this Agreement or of any default under this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach or default and shall in no way affect the other terms of this Agreement.  No failure on the part of a Party to exercise, and no delay on its part in exercising, any right or remedy under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of that right or remedy, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy preclude any other or further exercise of that right or remedy or the exercise of any other right or remedy.  The rights and remedies provided in this Agreement are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

 

SECTION 10.14.  Relationship of Parties.  The Parties to this Agreement intend by this Agreement only to enter into a License Agreement and this Agreement shall not in any way be deemed to establish any other relation between them.  Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to create the relationship of employer or employee, partnership or any type of joint venture relationship, between Licensor and its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and Licensee, on the other hand.

 

SECTION 10.15.  Interpretation.  (a)  When a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section, Exhibit or Schedule, such reference shall be to an Article of, a Section of, or an Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.  The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.  Whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”.  The words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.  The words “date hereof” when used in this Agreement shall refer to the date of this Agreement.  The terms “or”, “any” and “either” are not exclusive.  The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase shall not mean simply “if”.  The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”.   The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such

 

14

 

terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of such term.  Any agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such agreement, instrument or statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of statutes) by succession of comparable successor statutes and references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein.  Unless otherwise specifically indicated, all references to “dollars” or “$” shall refer to the lawful money of the United States.  References to a Person are also to its permitted assigns and successors.

 

(b)           The Parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as jointly drafted by the Parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring either Party hereto by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.

 

[signature page follows]

 

15

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been entered into by the duly authorized representatives of the Parties on the day and year first above written.

 

 

	
 
    	
MONTPELIER   RE HOLDINGS LTD.,
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
by
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
/s/ Christopher L. Harris
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Christopher   L. Harris
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Chief   Executive Officer and President
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
BLUE   CAPITAL REINSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD.,
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
by
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
/s/ William Pollett
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
William   Pollett
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Chief   Executive Officer and President
    
				

 

[Signature Page to Trademark License Agreement]

 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

Trademarks

 

	
Country
    	
 
    	
Trademark
    	
 
    	
TM Logo
    	
 
    	
Application
   No.
    	
 
    	
Application
   date
    	
 
    	
Registration No.
    	
 
    	
Registration
   Date
    	
 
    	
Status
    	
 
    	
Renewal Due
    	
 
    	
Proprietor
    	
 
    	
Classes
    	
 
    	
Goods/Services
    
	
United States of America
    	
 
    	
Blue Capital 
    	
 
    	

    	
 
    	
85806483
    	
 
    	
Dec. 19, 2012
    	
 
    	
4387418
    	
 
    	
Aug. 20, 2012
    	
 
    	
Registered
    	
 
    	
Aug. 20, 2019   Section 8&15 Affidavit due
    	
 
    	
Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd.
    	
 
    	
36
    	
 
    	
Financial services, namely,   asset and investment management services; financial services, namely,   managing investment feeder funds; financial advisory and consultancy   services; insurance management and agent services, namely, underwriting   services in the field of standard and non-standard property catastrophe   insurance and reinsurance products, including claims management and   administration services.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Switzerland
    	
 
    	
Blue Capital
    	
 
    	

    	
 
    	
50038/2013
    	
 
    	
Jan. 3, 2012
    	
 
    	
643112
    	
 
    	
May 3, 2013
    	
 
    	
Registered
    	
 
    	
Jan. 03, 2023
    	
 
    	
Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd.
    	
 
    	
36
    	
 
    	
Financial services, namely,   asset and investment management services; financial services, namely,   managing investment feeder funds; financial advisory and consultancy   services; insurance management and agent services, namely, underwriting   services in the field of standard and non-standard property catastrophe   insurance and reinsurance products, including claims management and   administration services.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
CTM
    	
 
    	
Blue Capital
    	
 
    	

    	
 
    	
11455474
    	
 
    	
Dec. 27, 2012
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Published 2/13/13.   Application Opposed. Settlement negotiations pending
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd.
    	
 
    	
36
    	
 
    	
Financial services, namely,   asset and investment management services; financial services, namely,   managing investment feeder funds; financial advisory and consultancy   services; insurance management and agent services, namely underwriting   services in the field of standard and non-standard property catastrophe   insurance and reinsurance products, including claims management and   administration services.
    

 

 

	
Bermuda
    	
 
    	
Blue Capital
    	
 
    	

    	
 
    	
52280
    	
 
    	
Jan. 8, 2013
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Pending
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd.
    	
 
    	
36
    	
 
    	
Financial services, namely,   asset and investment management services; financial services, namely,   managing investment feeder funds; financial advisory and consultancy   services; insurance management and agent services, namely underwriting   services in the field of standard and non-standard property catastrophe   insurance and reinsurance products, including claims management and   administration services.Exhibit 10.6

 

SHAREHOLDER AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

between

 

BLUE CAPITAL REINSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD.

 

and

 

MONTPELIER REINSURANCE LTD.

 

Dated as of November 12, 2013

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Page
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE I
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Defined   Terms
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 1.01.
    	
Definitions
    	
1
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE II
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Purchase   and Sale
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 2.01.
    	
Purchase and Sale
    	
5
    
	
SECTION 2.02.
    	
Closing
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE III
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Representations   and Warranties
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 3.01.
    	
Representations and Warranties of the Company
    	
6
    
	
SECTION 3.02.
    	
Representations and Warranties of Montpelier
    	
7
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE IV
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Governance
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 4.01.
    	
Composition of the Board of Directors
    	
8
    
	
SECTION 4.02.
    	
No Adverse Action; Size of Board of Directors
    	
10
    
	
SECTION 4.03.
    	
Quorum
    	
10
    
	
SECTION 4.04.
    	
Termination of Board Designation Rights
    	
11
    
	
SECTION 4.05.
    	
Information Rights
    	
11
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE V
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Additional Rights and Agreements
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 5.01.
    	
Preemptive Rights
    	
13
    
	
SECTION 5.02.
    	
Competition; Outside Activities; No Fiduciary Duties
    	
14
    
	
SECTION 5.03.
    	
Transfers
    	
15
    
	
SECTION 5.04.
    	
Further Assurances
    	
16
    

 

 

	
ARTICLE VI
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Registration   Rights
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 6.01.
    	
Demand Registration
    	
16
    
	
SECTION 6.02.
    	
Piggyback Registration
    	
18
    
	
SECTION 6.03.
    	
Shelf Registration
    	
19
    
	
SECTION 6.04.
    	
Registration Expenses
    	
19
    
	
SECTION 6.05.
    	
Lock-Ups
    	
20
    
	
SECTION 6.06.
    	
Registration Procedures
    	
20
    
	
SECTION 6.07.
    	
Obligations of Montpelier
    	
24
    
	
SECTION 6.08.
    	
Free Writing Prospectuses
    	
24
    
	
SECTION 6.09.
    	
Indemnification and Contribution
    	
24
    
	
SECTION 6.10.
    	
Rule 144
    	
26
    
	
SECTION 6.11.
    	
Preservation of Rights
    	
26
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VII
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Miscellaneous
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 7.01.
    	
Term
    	
26
    
	
SECTION 7.02.
    	
Amendment
    	
27
    
	
SECTION 7.03.
    	
Assignment
    	
27
    
	
SECTION 7.04.
    	
Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries
    	
27
    
	
SECTION 7.05.
    	
Specific Performance
    	
27
    
	
SECTION 7.06.
    	
Arbitration
    	
27
    
	
SECTION 7.07.
    	
Governing Law
    	
28
    
	
SECTION 7.08.
    	
Waiver of Jury Trial
    	
28
    
	
SECTION 7.09.
    	
Notices
    	
28
    
	
SECTION 7.10.
    	
Severability
    	
29
    
	
SECTION 7.11.
    	
No Waiver/Cumulative Remedies
    	
29
    
	
SECTION 7.12.
    	
Counterparts
    	
29
    
	
SECTION 7.13.
    	
Interpretation
    	
30
    

 

ii

 

 

SHAREHOLDER AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of November 12, 2013, between BLUE CAPITAL REINSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD., an exempted company incorporated in Bermuda (registered number 47855) whose registered office is at Canon’s Court, 22 Victoria Street, Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda (the “Company”), and MONTPELIER REINSURANCE LTD., a wholly owned subsidiary of Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. and an exempted company incorporated in Bermuda (registered number 31261) whose registered office is at Canon’s Court, 22 Victoria Street, Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda (“Montpelier”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company is consummating on the date hereof an initial public offering (the “Initial Public Offering”) of its Common Shares (as defined below);

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Initial Public Offering, the Company desires to issue, sell and deliver to Montpelier, and Montpelier desires to purchase and acquire from the Company, subject to the concurrent completion of the Initial Public Offering (as defined below) and pursuant to the other terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Acquired Shares (as defined below); and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Montpelier desire to enter into this Agreement to provide for the purchase and sale of the Acquired Shares and to establish certain arrangements, including with respect to corporate governance matters of the Company and providing for registration rights with respect to the Common Shares owned by Montpelier;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants set forth herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and Montpelier agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

Defined Terms

 

SECTION 1.01.                                   Definitions.  As used in this Agreement the following terms have the meanings ascribed thereto below.

 

“Adverse Disclosure” means public disclosure of non-public information that, in the good faith judgment of the members of the Company’s board of directors other than the Montpelier Directors, after consultation with outside counsel to the Company, (i) would be required to be made in any registration statement filed with the SEC so that such registration statement would not be materially misleading, (ii) would not be required to be made at such time but for the filing of a registration statement with the SEC and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not disclosing.

 

“Administrative Services Agreement” means the Administrative Services Agreement between the Company and Blue Capital Management Ltd., dated as of the date hereof.

 

 

“Affiliate” means, as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person.  For this purpose, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise.

 

“Applicable Requirements” means, with respect to any Person, all applicable laws, rules, regulations and requirements, including applicable laws, rules, regulations, requirements and binding requests of any Competent Regulatory Authority, and all applicable orders and decrees.

 

“Competent Regulatory Authority” means, with respect to any Person, any regulatory authority (including any stock exchange) or analogous Person responsible for regulating, or having jurisdiction over, that Person.

 

“Common Shares” means the common shares, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company.

 

“Confidential Information” means information that (i) has been disclosed to a party hereto, or that a party hereto has or may become aware of in connection with this Agreement, in both cases before or during the term of this Agreement, and (ii) is marked as or otherwise indicated as confidential, or derives value to a party from being confidential or would be regarded as confidential by a reasonable business person, except to the extent that such information is in the public domain (otherwise than by a breach of the confidentiality provisions of this Agreement).

 

“Equity Securities” means any and all (i) shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock or other voting securities of a Person, any and all equivalent or analogous ownership (or profit) or voting interests in a Person (other than a corporation), (ii) securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock or other voting securities of (or other ownership or profit or voting interests in) such Person and (iii) any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing, whether voting or nonvoting, and, in each case, whether or not such shares, interests, participations, equivalents, securities, warrants, rights, options or other interests are authorized or otherwise existing on any date of determination.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

“Excluded Transactions” means issuances of Equity Securities of the Company (i) pursuant to a dividend payable in Equity Securities of the Company, or upon any subdivision or split-up of outstanding Equity Securities of the Company, (ii) to directors, advisors, employees or consultants of the Company (including upon exercise of options) pursuant to a stock option plan, employee stock purchase plan, restricted stock plan, other employee benefit plan or other similar compensatory agreement or arrangement approved by the Company’s board of directors, (iii) pursuant to the overallotment option granted to the underwriters in connection with the

 

2

 

Initial Public Offering and (iv) as consideration in connection with a merger, acquisition or similar transaction.

 

“Investment Management Agreement” means the Investment Management Agreement between the Company and Blue Capital Management Ltd., dated as of the date hereof.

 

“IPO Closing” means the closing of the Initial Public Offering.

 

“Material Adverse Change” means (i) any event, change, circumstance or effect that is or is reasonably likely to be materially adverse to the business, properties, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; (ii) any material outbreak or escalation of hostilities or declaration of war or national emergency or other national or international calamity or crisis (including an act of terrorism) or adverse change in economic or political conditions; (iii) suspension of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ Global Market or limitation on prices (other than limitations on hours or numbers of days of trading) for securities on any such exchange; (iv) the enactment, publication, decree or other promulgation of any statute, regulation, rule or order of any court or other governmental authority that materially and adversely affects or may materially and adversely affect the business or operations of the Company or its subsidiaries; (v) the declaration of a banking moratorium by the United States or New York State authorities; (vi) the suspension of trading of the Common Shares by the applicable stock exchange, SEC or any other Competent Regulatory Authority; or (vii) the taking of any action by any governmental body or agency in respect of its monetary or fiscal affairs which has a material adverse effect on the securities markets in the United States.

 

“Montpelier Designee” means an individual designated in writing by Montpelier for election or appointment to the Company’s board of directors.  The initial Montpelier Designees shall be Christopher L. Harris and William Pollett.

 

“Montpelier Director” means a Montpelier Designee who has been elected or appointed to the Company’s board of directors.

 

“Montpelier Group” means Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. and its wholly owned subsidiaries, including Montpelier.

 

“Montpelier Investor Rights Period” means the period of time from the date of this Agreement until the later of the date on which (i) any member of the Montpelier Group Transfers any of its Common Shares other than (A) to a controlled Affiliate of Montpelier or (B) Common Shares held on behalf of third parties or as part of any member of the Montpelier Group’s general investment portfolio or (ii) the Montpelier Group beneficially owns (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) less than 5.0% of the Company’s outstanding Common Shares.

 

“Montpelier Pro Rata Portion” means, on the date of issuance of any New Securities, the number of New Securities equal to (1) the total number of New Securities to be issued by the Company on such date multiplied by (2) a fraction, the numerator of which is the

 

3

 

number of Common Shares the Montpelier Group, in the aggregate, beneficially owns (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) other than Common Shares held on behalf of third parties or as part of the Montpelier Group’s general investment portfolio immediately prior to such issuance and the denominator of which is the total number of Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to such issuance.

 

“Person” means any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization or any other entity.

 

“Registrable Securities” means, at any time, any Equity Securities of the Company and any securities that may be issued or distributed or be issuable in respect of any Equity Securities of the Company by way of conversion, dividend, stock split or other distribution, merger, consolidation, exchange, recapitalization or reclassification or similar transaction, in each case held by the Montpelier Group or any controlled Affiliate of Montpelier that is not otherwise part of the Montpelier Group.  As to any particular Registrable Securities, once issued, such Registrable Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities if (i) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such Registrable Securities has been declared effective under the Securities Act and such Registrable Securities have been disposed of pursuant to such effective Registration Statement, (ii) such Registrable Securities have been distributed pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 (or any similar provisions then in force) under the Securities Act, (iii) such Registrable Securities shall have been otherwise transferred and new certificates (or book-entry equivalents) for them not bearing a legend restricting transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and such Registrable Securities may be publicly resold without registration under the Securities Act or (iv) such Registrable Securities shall cease to be outstanding.

 

“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

“Shelf Registration Statement” means a “shelf” registration statement filed by the Company with the SEC covering offers and sales in accordance with Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC (whether or not the Company is then eligible to use Form S-3 or F-3 (or any successor form), as applicable), and any amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.

 

“Transfer” means (i) any direct or indirect sale, assignment, transfer, participation, gift, distribution, or other disposition, in each case whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law or otherwise or (ii) entry into any contract, arrangement or understanding with respect to any sale, assignment, transfer, participation, gift, distribution or other disposition.

 

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“Underwriting and Insurance Management Agreement” means the Underwriting and Insurance Management Agreement between the Company, Blue Capital Re Ltd. and Blue Capital Insurance Managers Ltd., dated as of the date hereof.

 

“Underwritten Offering” means a sale of securities of the Company to an underwriter or underwriters for reoffering to the public.

 

The following terms are defined on the page of this Agreement set forth after such term below:

 

	
Term
    	
 
    	
Section
    
	
Acquired   Shares
    	
 
    	
Section 2.01
    
	
Aggregate   Purchase Price
    	
 
    	
Section 2.01
    
	
Agreement
    	
 
    	
Preamble
    
	
Closing
    	
 
    	
Section 2.02(a)
    
	
Closing   Date
    	
 
    	
Section 2.02(a)
    
	
Company
    	
 
    	
Preamble
    
	
Compensation   and Nominating Committee
    	
 
    	
Section 4.01(c)
    
	
Demand   Notice
    	
 
    	
Section 6.01(a)
    
	
Demand   Registration Right
    	
 
    	
Section 6.01(c)
    
	
Demand   Registration Statement
    	
 
    	
Section 6.01(a)
    
	
Exercise   Period
    	
 
    	
Section 5.01(c)
    
	
Incidental   Registration Statement
    	
 
    	
Section 6.02
    
	
Indemnified   Party
    	
 
    	
Section 6.09(c)
    
	
Indemnifying   Party
    	
 
    	
Section 6.09(c)
    
	
Initial   Public Offering
    	
 
    	
Recitals
    
	
Issuance   Notice
    	
 
    	
Section 5.01(b)
    
	
Long-Form Registration   Statement
    	
 
    	
Section 6.01(a)
    
	
Losses
    	
 
    	
Section 6.09(a)
    
	
Montpelier
    	
 
    	
Preamble
    
	
Montpelier   Non-Elected Designee
    	
 
    	
Section 4.01(d)
    
	
Montpelier   Observer
    	
 
    	
Section 4.01(h)
    
	
New   Securities
    	
 
    	
Section 5.01(a)
    
	
Per New Security Offering Price
    	
 
    	
Section 5.01(c)
    
	
Proposed Issuance
    	
 
    	
Section 5.01(b)
    
	
Purchase
    	
 
    	
Section 2.01
    
	
Representatives
    	
 
    	
Section 4.05(d)(i)
    
	
Registration   Statement
    	
 
    	
Section 6.06(a)
    
	
Short-Form Registration   Statement
    	
 
    	
Section 6.01(a)
    

 

ARTICLE II

 

Purchase and Sale

 

SECTION 2.01.                                   Purchase and Sale.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing (as defined below) Montpelier shall purchase and acquire from the

 

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Company, and the Company shall issue, sell and deliver to Montpelier, 2,500,000 Common Shares (the “Acquired Shares”), at a purchase price per share equal to $20.00, for an aggregate purchase price of $50,000,000 (the “Aggregate Purchase Price”).  The purchase of the Acquired Shares pursuant to this Section 2.01 is referred to as the “Purchase”. Montpelier hereby acknowledges that following the completion of the Purchase, the share premium relating to the Acquired Shares will be converted to contributed surplus. The prior approval of Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. on November 5, 2013 into share surplus is hereby acknowledged.

 

SECTION 2.02.                                   Closing.  (a)  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the closing of the Purchase (the “Closing”) shall occur substantially concurrently with the IPO Closing, at the offices of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, 825 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10019, or at such other place, time and date as shall be agreed between the Company and Montpelier (the date on which the Closing occurs, the “Closing Date”).

 

(b)                                 At the Closing, to effect the purchase and sale of the Acquired Shares, (i) Montpelier shall pay to the Company the Aggregate Purchase Price by wire transfer in immediately available U.S. federal funds to the account designated by the Company in writing for such purpose and (ii) the Company shall deliver to Montpelier the Acquired Shares in book-entry form.

 

ARTICLE III

 

Representations and Warranties

 

SECTION 3.01.                                   Representations and Warranties of the Company.  The Company hereby represents and warrants to Montpelier as follows:

 

(a)                                 The Company is duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of Bermuda, with full power and authority to conduct its business, and it has full power and authority to enter into, perform its duties under and exercise its rights under this Agreement.

 

(b)                                 Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by Montpelier, this Agreement constitutes the Company’s valid, lawful and binding obligation enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms (except insofar as enforceability may be limited by any bankruptcy laws or principles, or any similar laws or principles).

 

(c)                                  The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement do not and will not constitute a breach of or default under (i) the Company’s organizational documents, (ii) any material agreement or instrument by which the Company is bound or (iii) any Applicable Requirement.

 

(d)                                 No material consent, approval, waiver, license, permit, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Competent Regulatory Authority is required to be obtained or made by the Company in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the

 

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transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(e)                                  The Acquired Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided for in this Agreement, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable and will be free and clear of all liens, pledges, charges, encumbrances or security interests of any kind or nature.  Other than this Agreement, the Acquired Shares are not subject to (i) any option, warrant, purchase right or other contract, agreement or understanding that requires the Company to Transfer any of the Acquired Shares or (ii) any voting trust agreement, proxy or other contract, agreement or understanding with respect to the voting, dividend rights, preferences or Transfer of any of the Acquired Shares.

 

SECTION 3.02.                                   Representations and Warranties of Montpelier.  Montpelier hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

 

(a)                                 Montpelier is duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of Bermuda, with full power and authority to conduct its business, and it has full power and authority to enter into, perform its duties under and exercise its rights under this Agreement.

 

(b)                                 Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, this Agreement constitutes Montpelier’s valid, lawful and binding obligation enforceable against Montpelier in accordance with its terms (except insofar as enforceability may be limited by any bankruptcy laws or principles, or any similar laws or principles).

 

(c)                                  The execution and delivery by Montpelier of this Agreement and the performance by Montpelier of its obligations under this Agreement do not and will not constitute a breach of or default under (i) Montpelier’s organizational documents, (ii) any material agreement or instrument by which Montpelier is bound or (iii) any Applicable Requirement.

 

(d)                                 No material consent, approval, waiver, license, permit, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Competent Regulatory Authority is required to be obtained or made by Montpelier in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, other than the approval of the Bermuda Monetary Authority and any required filings under the Exchange Act.

 

(e)                                  Montpelier (i) is acquiring the Acquired Shares for its own account, solely for investment and not with a view toward, or for sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of any foreign, federal, state or local securities or “blue sky” laws, or with any present intention of distributing or selling such Acquired Shares in violation of any such laws, (ii) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and in investments of this type that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Acquired Shares and of making an informed investment decision and (iii) is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 of

 

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Regulation D under the Securities Act.  Montpelier understands that the Company is relying on the statements contained herein to establish an exemption from registration under the Securities Act and under foreign, federal, state and local securities and “blue sky” laws and acknowledges that (A) the Acquired Shares are not registered under the Securities Act or any other Applicable Requirement, (B) the Acquired Shares are “restricted securities” under the Securities Act and (C) the Acquired Shares may not be resold except pursuant to a Securities Act registration or pursuant to an applicable exemption therefrom (and in compliance with any other Applicable Requirements), and the Acquired Shares will bear a legend or notation to such effect.

 

(f)                                   Montpelier has adequate means of providing for its current needs and contingencies, has no need now, and anticipates no need in the foreseeable future, to sell the Acquired Shares, and currently has sufficient financial liquidity to afford a complete loss of its investment in Acquired Shares.

 

(g)                                  The overall commitment of Montpelier to investments which are not readily marketable is not excessive in view of Montpelier’s financial circumstances, and any purchase of the Acquired Shares will not cause such commitment to become excessive.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Governance

 

SECTION 4.01.                                   Composition of the Board of Directors.  (a)  As of the IPO Closing Date, the Company’s board of directors shall be comprised of the following five directors:  Christopher L. Harris (Chairman) (Class A), William Pollett (Class B), Douglas A. Cook (Class B), Eric F. Lemieux (Class C) and John R. Weale (Class A).

 

(b)                                 During the Montpelier Investor Rights Period, subject to Section 4.01(c), at each annual or special general meeting of the Company’s shareholders at which directors are to be elected to the Company’s board of directors, the Company will nominate and use its reasonable best efforts (which shall, subject to the Applicable Requirements, include including in any proxy statement used by the Company to solicit the vote of its shareholders in connection with any such meeting the recommendation of the Company’s board of directors (and any committee thereof) that the Company’s shareholders vote in favor of the slate of directors) to cause the election to the Company’s board of directors of a slate of directors that includes:  (i) if the size of the Company’s board of directors is five directors, two Montpelier Designees, or (ii) if the size of the Company’s board of directors is greater than five directors, the smallest whole number of Montpelier Designees such that the number of Montpelier Designees will constitute no less than 40.0% of the total number of the Company’s directors, in each case including the designation of one of the Montpelier Designees (which shall be Christopher L. Harris so long as Christopher L. Harris is a Montpelier Designee) as Chairman of the Company’s board of directors if and as specified by Montpelier.

 

(c)                                  Montpelier shall notify the Company of the identity of any proposed Montpelier Designee, in writing, within 30 days of a written request by the Company’s board of

 

8

 

directors or the Compensation and Nominating Committee of the Company’s board of directors (the “Compensation and Nominating Committee”) for inclusion in a proxy statement for a meeting of the Company’s shareholders, and shall provide together therewith all information about such proposed Montpelier Designee as shall be reasonably requested by the Company’s board of directors or the Compensation and Nominating Committee (including, at a minimum, any information regarding such proposed Montpelier Designee required by applicable securities laws).  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4.01, Montpelier will not be entitled to designate a particular Montpelier Designee (or designate any Montpelier Director) to the Company’s board of directors pursuant to this Section 4.01 in the event that the Company reasonably determines in good faith that (i) the election of such Montpelier Designee to the Company’s board of directors would cause the Company to violate any Applicable Requirement or (ii) such Montpelier Designee does not satisfy the director eligibility requirements applicable to the other members of the Company’s board of directors.  In the event that clause (i) or (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence is applicable, Montpelier will withdraw the designation of such proposed Montpelier Designee and, so long as the Montpelier Investor Rights Period has not ended, Montpelier will be permitted to designate a replacement therefor (which replacement Montpelier Designee will also be subject to the requirements of this Section 4.01(c)).

 

(d)                                 During the Montpelier Investor Rights Period, subject to Section 4.01(c), in the event of (i) the death, resignation, removal or other disqualification pursuant to the Company’s bye-laws of any Montpelier Director, the Company’s board of directors will promptly appoint, as a replacement Montpelier Director, the Montpelier Designee designated by Montpelier to fill the resulting vacancy and the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to take any other actions necessary to achieve the same or (ii) the failure of a Montpelier Designee to be elected to the Company’s board of directors at any annual or special general meeting of the Company’s shareholders at which such Montpelier Designee stood for election but was nevertheless not elected (such Montpelier Designee, a “Montpelier Non-Elected Designee”), the Company’s board of directors will promptly appoint another Montpelier Designee designated by Montpelier to serve in lieu of such Montpelier Non-Elected Designee as a Montpelier Director during the term that such Montpelier Non-Elected Designee would have served had such Montpelier Non-Elected Designee been elected at such meeting of the Company’s shareholders, and the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to take any other actions necessary to achieve the same, and, in the case of either of clause (i) or (ii), such individual shall then be deemed a Montpelier Director for all purposes hereunder.  Neither the Company nor the Company’s board of directors (or any committee thereof) will remove any Montpelier Director without the prior written consent of Montpelier, except to the extent necessary to remedy a breach of Section 4.04 or in the case of a Montpelier Director’s disqualification from the Company’s board of directors in which case such disqualified Montpelier Director shall be replaced by another Montpelier Designee, or in accordance with the Company’s bye-laws.

 

(e)                                  In the event that Montpelier has nominated less than the total number of designees Montpelier shall be entitled to nominate pursuant to Section 4.01(b), Montpelier shall have the right, at any time, to nominate such additional Montpelier Designees to which it is entitled, in which case, the Company and the Company’s board of directors shall take all necessary action to (i) enable Montpelier to nominate and effect the election or appointment of such Montpelier Designees, whether by increasing the size of the Company’s board of directors

 

9

 

or otherwise and (ii) to designate such Montpelier Designees to fill such newly created vacancies or to fill any other existing vacancies.

 

(f)                                   The Company shall at all times provide each Montpelier Director (in his or her capacity as a member of the Company’s board of directors) with the same rights to indemnification and exculpation that it provides to the other members of the Company’s board of directors, and, in any event, the Company shall maintain customary director and officer indemnity insurance on commercially reasonable terms.

 

(g)                                  The Company shall at all times provide reimbursement for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by each Montpelier Director in a manner no less favorable than it provides to the other members of the Company’s board of directors, and, in any event, the Company shall reimburse the Montpelier Directors for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with their attendance at meetings of the Company’s board of directors (or any committee thereof), including travel, lodging and meal expenses.

 

(h)                                 Subject to Applicable Requirements, during the Montpelier Investor Rights Period, Montpelier shall have the right to designate in writing, at any time, either Montpelier Director as a non-voting observer (a “Montpelier Observer”) to attend any meetings of any committee of the Company’s board of directors on which a Montpelier Director does not serve.  The Company shall notify the applicable Montpelier Observer of all regular and special meetings of the applicable committees of the Company’s board of directors, including all regular and special meetings, at the same time and in the same manner as the members of the applicable committee of the Company’s board of directors and shall also provide the applicable Montpelier Observer with copies of all notices, minutes, consents and other materials provided to the members of the applicable committee at the same time as such materials are provided to such members.

 

SECTION 4.02.                                   No Adverse Action; Size of Board of Directors.  During the Montpelier Investor Rights Period, except as required by the Applicable Requirements, neither the Company nor the Company’s board of directors (or any committee thereof) shall take any action to cause the amendment of the Company’s memorandum of association, bye-laws or other organizational documents in a manner that is inconsistent with, or adverse to, Montpelier’s rights under this Agreement.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing or Section 4.01(b), during the Montpelier Investor Rights Period, (i) in no event shall the Company’s board of directors be less than five directors and (ii) if the size of the Company’s board of directors is increased to a number that is greater than five, then the number of Montpelier Designees shall increase proportionally such that the number of Montpelier Designees will constitute no less than 40.0% of the total number of the Company’s directors; provided that in no event shall the size of the Company’s board of directors be increased to six or eight.

 

SECTION 4.03.                                   Quorum.  Notwithstanding anything in the Company’s bye-laws to the contrary, for so long as (i) the size Company’s board of directors is five, at least one Montpelier Director must be present to constitute a quorum of the Company’s board of directors and (ii) the size of the Company’s board of directors is greater than five, at least two Montpelier Directors must be present to constitute a quorum of the Company’s board of directors.

 

10

 

SECTION 4.04.                                   Termination of Board Designation Rights.  Promptly upon the end of the Montpelier Investor Rights Period, all obligations of the Company with respect to Montpelier, any Montpelier Director and Montpelier Designee pursuant to this Article IV shall terminate.

 

SECTION 4.05.                                   Information Rights.  (a)  Montpelier Director Information.  The Company and its subsidiaries will prepare and provide, or cause to be prepared and provided, to each Montpelier Director (in his or her capacity as such) any materials or other information prepared for or given to any other member of the Company’s board of directors in his or her capacity as such (excluding any such materials or other information prepared for and given solely to the Chief Executive Officer and no other member of the Company’s board of directors), as and when prepared for or given to any such other member, and any other materials or other information relating to the management, operations and finances of the Company or its subsidiaries as and when generally provided to directors of the Company or as and when reasonably requested by such Montpelier Director (in his or her capacity as such).

 

(b)                                 Company Information.  If either the Investment Management Agreement, the Underwriting and Insurance Management Agreement or the Administrative Services Agreement has terminated in accordance with its terms, subject to the Applicable Requirements, until the end of the Montpelier Investor Rights Period:

 

(i)                                     the Company and its subsidiaries will prepare and provide, or cause to be prepared and provided, to Montpelier within 30 days after the end of each monthly accounting period in each fiscal quarter, the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its subsidiaries as at the end of each such monthly period, and the unaudited consolidated statements of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries for each such monthly period and for the current fiscal year to date; and

 

(ii)                                  the Company will consider and respond in good faith to reasonable requests for information, to the extent already existing or that can be prepared without excessive cost or management time, regarding the Company or its subsidiaries from Montpelier (to the extent such requests are made in its capacity as a shareholder of the Company); provided that the Company and its subsidiaries will not be required to provide any such information if (i) the Company determines in good faith that providing such information would adversely affect the Company (taking into account the nature of the request and the facts and circumstances at such time) or (ii) providing such information (A) would reasonably be expected to jeopardize an attorney-client privilege or cause a loss of attorney work product protection or (B) would violate a confidentiality obligation to any Person.  Notwithstanding anything else in this Section 4.05(b)(ii), nothing in this Section 4.05(b)(ii) shall limit the obligations of the Company and its subsidiaries pursuant to Section 4.05(c).

 

(c)                                  Montpelier Reporting.  At any time, the Company and its subsidiaries will prepare and provide, or to cause to be prepared and provided, or to assist Montpelier with preparing, in a prompt manner upon reasonable prior request by Montpelier, any (A) financial information or other data relating to the Company or its subsidiaries and (B) any other relevant information or data, in each case to the extent necessary, as reasonably determined in good faith

 

11

 

by Montpelier, to comply with U.S. GAAP or to comply with its or its Affiliates’ reporting, filing, tax, accounting or other obligations under the Applicable Requirements, and the Company agrees to cause its subsidiaries and its and their respective representatives to cooperate in good faith with Montpelier in connection with the foregoing.

 

(d)                                 Confidentiality.  In furtherance and not in limitation of any other similar agreement the parties hereto have with one another, Montpelier agrees that all Confidential Information obtained pursuant to the terms of this Article IV shall be kept confidential and shall not be disclosed by Montpelier except as permitted by this Section 4.05(d).  Any Confidential Information (whether or not obtained pursuant to the terms of this Article IV) may be disclosed:

 

(i)                                     by Montpelier on a confidential basis to any of its Affiliates or its or their directors, officers, employees, partners, agents or other representatives (including attorneys, accountants and financial advisors) (collectively, “Representatives”);

 

(ii)                                  by Montpelier or its Affiliates or its or their Representatives to the extent required by any Applicable Requirement or Competent Regulatory Authority (including for the purpose of filing tax returns);

 

(iii)                               by Montpelier or its Affiliates to the extent Montpelier or its Affiliates reasonably believe in good faith that such information is required to be included in any filing or submission with the SEC, the Bermuda Monetary Authority or any other Competent Regulatory Authority; or

 

(iv)                              by Montpelier or its Affiliates or any of its or their Representatives to the extent the Company consents in writing.

 

(e)                                  Montpelier Director and Officer Confidentiality Waiver.  Each Montpelier Director shall be bound by and subject to the same confidentiality obligations as each other director of the Company; provided that each Montpelier Director may, subject to the Applicable Requirements, share with Montpelier or its Affiliates on a confidential basis any information about the Company or its subsidiaries that such Montpelier Director learns in his or her capacity as a director of the Company.  Each executive officer of the Company that is also an employee of Montpelier or its Affiliates may, subject to the Applicable Requirements, share with Montpelier or its Affiliates on a confidential basis any information about the Company or its subsidiaries that such executive officer learns in his or her capacity as an executive officer of the Company.

 

(f)                                   Expenses.  The Company shall be responsible for all of the costs and expenses incurred by the Company or any of its subsidiaries in connection with providing any information to Montpelier pursuant to this Article IV.

 

SECTION 4.06.                                   Conflicts with Bye-Laws.  If during the term of this Agreement, there shall be any conflict between this Agreement and the Company’s bye-laws, then, to the extent permitted by the Applicable Requirements, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail.

 

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ARTICLE V

 

Additional Rights and Agreements

 

SECTION 5.01.                                   Preemptive Rights.  (a)  The Company hereby grants to Montpelier the right, subject to the Applicable Requirements, to purchase (or to designate any controlled Affiliate of Montpelier to purchase) the Montpelier Pro Rata Portion (or any portion thereof) of any Equity Securities of the Company (collectively, the “New Securities”) that the Company may from time to time propose to issue, other than pursuant to any Excluded Transaction.

 

(b)                                 The Company shall give written notice (an “Issuance Notice”) of any proposed issuance described in Section 5.01(a) (a “Proposed Issuance”) to Montpelier no later than ten days prior to the date of such Proposed Issuance (or, if such notice period is not reasonably practicable under the circumstances, such prior written notice as is reasonably practicable, but, in no event, less than five days prior to the date of such Proposed Issuance).  The Issuance Notice shall set forth the material terms and conditions of the Proposed Issuance, including

 

(i)                                     the number and description of the New Securities to be issued and the percentage of outstanding Common Shares or other Equity Securities of the Company such issuance would represent; and

 

(ii)                                  the cash purchase price per New Security or that the issuance will be based on the public trading price of the applicable Equity Securities of the Company.

 

(c)                                  Montpelier shall for a period of eight days (or such shorter period if the Issuance Notice was sent by the Company with less than ten days prior notice, but, in no event, less than three days prior to the date of such Proposed Issuance) following the receipt of an Issuance Notice (the “Exercise Period”) have the right to elect to purchase (or to designate any controlled Affiliate of Montpelier to purchase) the Montpelier Pro Rata Portion of the New Securities, at an all-cash purchase price per New Security (the “Per New Security Offering Price”) equal to the cash purchase price per New Security paid by other purchasers pursuant to the Proposed Issuance.  Montpelier may exercise its election by delivering a written notice to the Company during the Exercise Period, which must indicate the number of New Securities that Montpelier desires to purchase (or that its controlled Affiliate desires to purchase) and may not be conditioned in any manner not also available to other purchasers pursuant to the Proposed Issuance.  Montpelier, if so exercising its election, shall be entitled and obligated to purchase, or to cause such other Persons it may have designated in accordance with this Section 5.01 to purchase, that number of the New Securities so offered to Montpelier specified in Montpelier’s notice on the terms and conditions set forth in the Issuance Notice; provided that, in no event shall the actual terms or conditions of the New Securities (including the price) be more favorable to other purchasers than the terms or conditions specified in Montpelier’s Issuance Notice.  Montpelier’s failure to exercise its right to purchase its allotment of the New Securities during the Exercise Period shall be deemed a waiver by Montpelier of its rights under this Section 5.01 with respect to such Proposed Issuance, but not with respect to any future issuance.  The closing of any purchase by Montpelier (or any of its designees) shall be consummated concurrently with

 

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the consummation of the Proposed Issuance; provided, however, in the event that either the Company or Montpelier has been advised by their respective outside counsel that the issuance of Montpelier’s Pro Rata Portion of the New Securities in full to Montpelier (or any of its designees) pursuant to this Section 5.01 would require the approval of the Company’s shareholders under the Applicable Requirements or the approval or consent of any Competent Regulatory Authority, (i) the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to promptly obtain any such approval or consent and (ii) the closing of the Proposed Issuance shall not occur until such approvals or consents have been obtained; provided further that, if the Company has used its reasonable best efforts to obtain any required approvals or consents and such required approvals or consents have not been obtained within 180 days of the Issuance Notice, the excess amount of such New Securities to the extent otherwise triggering such approvals or consents will be excluded from the total number of New Securities that Montpelier would otherwise have a right to purchase pursuant to this Section 5.01 (which exclusion may result in Montpelier not having the right to purchase any New Securities pursuant to this Section 5.01).

 

(d)                                 If Montpelier fails to exercise its right to purchase its allotment of the New Securities during the Exercise Period, the Company shall be free to complete the Proposed Issuance to the extent to which Montpelier failed to exercise its right set forth in this Section 5.01 on terms no less favorable to the Company (including with respect to consideration) than those set forth in the Issuance Notice; provided that such Proposed Issuance is closed within 75 days after the expiration of the Exercise Period (subject to the extension of such 75-day period for a reasonable time not to exceed an additional 75 days to the extent reasonably necessary to obtain approvals of any Competent Regulatory Authority).  In the event the Company has not completed such Proposed Issuance within such time period, the Company shall not thereafter issue or sell any such New Securities without first again offering such securities to Montpelier in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 5.01.

 

(e)                                  Upon the issuance of any New Securities in accordance with this Section 5.01, the Company shall deliver to Montpelier (or any of its designees) the New Securities in book-entry form, which New Securities shall be duly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable and will be free and clear of all liens, pledges, charges, encumbrances or security interests of any kind or nature.  Montpelier shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company the aggregate Per New Security Offering Price for the New Securities purchased by it (or its designees) by wire transfer in immediately available U.S. federal funds to the account designated by the Company in writing for such purpose.  In the event that a Proposed Issuance shall be terminated or abandoned by the Company without the issuance of any New Securities, then Montpelier’s rights pursuant to this Section 5.01 shall also terminate as to such Proposed Issuance.

 

SECTION 5.02.                                   Competition; Outside Activities; No Fiduciary Duties.  (a)  Montpelier, any of its Affiliates or any of its or their respective directors, officers, employees, partners or agents may, alone or in combination with any other Person or Persons, (i) engage in or enter into any other businesses, ventures, partnerships, transactions or other activities, (ii) possess any investments or interests in any other businesses, ventures, partnerships, transactions, other activities or Persons or (iii) make any acquisitions of, or investments in, any Person, that compete or competes now or in the future with, the businesses, ventures, partnerships, transactions, activities, acquisitions or investments of the Company or its subsidiaries, and may

 

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provide advice and other assistance to any such business, venture, partnership, transaction, activity or Person.  The Company and its subsidiaries shall have no rights to (x) any information in regard to (except to the extent required to ensure the Company complies with the Applicable Requirements), (y) participate in or (z) derive any profits from any such business, venture, partnership, transaction, activity, acquisition, investment or Person.  The Company acknowledges and agrees that Montpelier and its Affiliates are currently engaged in businesses, ventures, partnerships, transactions, activities, acquisitions and investments that, directly or indirectly, compete with the businesses, ventures, partnerships, transactions, activities, acquisitions or investments of the Company or its subsidiaries and that Montpelier and its Affiliates shall have no duty to refrain from engaging in such businesses, ventures, partnerships, transactions, activities, acquisitions and investments.

 

(b)                                 The pursuit of any such business, venture, partnership, transaction, activity, acquisition or investment, even if competitive now or in the future with the businesses, ventures, partnerships, transactions, activities, acquisitions or investments of the Company or its subsidiaries, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper and shall not constitute a conflict of interest or breach of fiduciary or other duty in respect of the Company or its subsidiaries.  None of Montpelier, any of its Affiliates or any of its or their respective directors, officers, employees, partners or agents, shall be obligated to present any particular business opportunity to the Company or its subsidiaries even if such opportunity is of a character that, if presented to the Company or its subsidiaries, could be pursued by the Company or its subsidiaries, and Montpelier, any of its Affiliates or any of its or their respective directors, officers, employees, partners or agents shall have the right to pursue for its own account (individually or as a partner or a fiduciary) or to recommend to any other Person any such opportunity; provided that a Montpelier Director or an executive officer of the Company, who is also an officer, director or employee of Montpelier or its Affiliates and is offered a business opportunity in his or her capacity as a member of the Company’s board of directors or as an executive officer of the Company, as applicable, shall be obligated to communicate such opportunity to the Company, in which case such Montpelier Director or executive officer of the Company, as applicable, and Montpelier or any of its Affiliates shall not be permitted to pursue such opportunity unless (i) the Company’s board of directors determines not to do so or (ii) in the case of Montpelier or any of its Affiliates, Montpelier or its Affiliates learned of such opportunity other than as a result of such Montpelier Director being offered such opportunity in his or her capacity as a member of the Company’s board of directors.

 

(c)                                  The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) in the event of any conflict of interest between the Company, on the one hand, and Montpelier and its subsidiaries, on the other hand, Montpelier and its subsidiaries may act in their best interests and (ii) the Company’s officers and the Montpelier Directors may also be officers or directors of Montpelier or its Affiliates and that the Company’s officers or the Montpelier Directors may, as an officer or director of Montpelier or its Affiliates, also engage in, or participate in a supervisory capacity relating to, similar or competing businesses, ventures, partnerships, transactions, activities, acquisitions and investments.

 

SECTION 5.03.                                   Transfers.  Subject to any Applicable Requirements, Montpelier may Transfer any of its Common Shares to any Person.

 

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SECTION 5.04.                                   Further Assurances.  Each party hereto shall execute and deliver such instruments and take such other actions as the other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent of this Agreement, including the obtaining of any required consents or approvals from third parties.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

Registration Rights

 

SECTION 6.01.                                   Demand Registration.  (a)  Demand by Montpelier.  Subject to Section 6.01(c), at any time and from time to time, Montpelier may, in a written notice (a “Demand Notice”) to the Company, request that the Company file a registration statement (a “Demand Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act covering the registration of all or a portion of the Registrable Securities, as specified in the Demand Notice.  Upon the receipt of such Demand Notice, the Company shall file within (i) if the Company is not eligible to use Form S-3 or F-3 (or any successor form), as applicable, 60 days a registration statement on Form S-1 or F-1 (or any successor form), as applicable (a “Long-Form Registration Statement”), or (ii) if the Company is eligible to use Form S-3 or F-3 (or any successor form), as applicable, 30 days a registration statement on Form S-3 or F-3 (or any successor form), as applicable (a “Short-Form Registration Statement”), providing for the registration under the Securities Act of the Registrable Securities that Montpelier has requested that the Company register.  The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Demand Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC as promptly as practicable.

 

(b)                                 Effective Registration.  The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep such Demand Registration Statement effective for a period of at least 180 days (or such shorter period in which all Registrable Securities being registered with such Demand Registration Statement have actually been sold or otherwise disposed of thereunder).  A Demand Registration Statement shall be deemed not to have become effective (and the related registration shall be deemed not to have been effected) (i) unless it has been declared effective by the SEC and remains effective for at least 180 days (or such shorter period in which all Registrable Securities being registered with such Demand Registration Statement have actually been sold or otherwise disposed of thereunder) or (ii) if, after it has been declared effective, such Demand Registration Statement becomes subject, prior to 180 days after effectiveness, to any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any other Competent Regulatory Authority.

 

(c)                                  General Demand Restrictions.  The Company will not be obligated to file any Demand Registration Statement within 180 days after the IPO Closing Date or within 180 days of the effective date of a previous Demand Registration Statement.  The maximum number of registrations on a Long-Form Registration Statement that the Company is required to effect in response to Demand Notices is four (each, a “Demand Registration Right”), and the number of registrations on a Short-Form Registration Statement that the Company is required to effect in response to Demand Notices is unlimited.

 

(d)                                 Delay in Filing; Suspension of Registration.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, with respect to any Demand Registration or shelf registration

 

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pursuant to Section 6.03, if the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement at any time would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure, then the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to Montpelier, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of (but not the preparation of), or suspend use of, such Registration Statement; provided that the Company shall not be permitted to do so (x) more than four times during any 12-month period or (y) for periods exceeding, in the aggregate, 90 days during any 12-month period.  Upon notice by the Company to Montpelier of any such determination, Montpelier agrees that it shall keep the fact of any such notice confidential and that it shall suspend the use of any prospectus relating to such Registration Statement in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities.  If the Company so postpones the filing or effectiveness of, or suspends the use of, such Registration Statement, Montpelier shall be entitled to withdraw its registration request, in which case, in the event of a Demand Registration, such withdrawn request shall not constitute a Demand Registration Right for purposes of determining the number of Demand Registration Rights to which Montpelier is entitled under this Agreement.  The Company shall immediately notify Montpelier upon the termination of any delay or suspension.  Promptly following any such delay or suspension, (i) the Company shall amend or supplement the prospectus and any issuer free writing prospectus, if necessary, so it does not contain any untrue statement or omission and (ii) supplement or make amendments to the Registration Statement as may reasonably be requested by Montpelier.

 

(e)                                  Demand Withdrawal.  Montpelier may withdraw its Registrable Securities from a Demand Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of the applicable Demand Registration Statement.  Upon receipt of a notice from Montpelier to such effect, the Company shall cease all efforts to secure effectiveness of the applicable Demand Registration Statement, and such registration nonetheless shall be deemed a Demand Registration for this Agreement unless (i) Montpelier shall have paid or reimbursed the Company for its reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with such Demand Registration, (ii) the withdrawal is made because such Demand Registration would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure or (iii) the withdrawal is made following the occurrence of a Material Adverse Change.

 

(f)                                   Underwritten Offering.  If Montpelier desires to sell Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Demand Registration Statement, the managing underwriter and all other underwriters shall be selected by Montpelier, subject to the Company’s consent, not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

 

(g)                                  Priority of Demand Registration.  If in connection with a registration pursuant this Section 6.01 the lead managing underwriter advises the Company and Montpelier that, in its opinion, the inclusion of all the securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the amount that can be sold in such Underwritten Offering within a proposed price range without adversely affecting the distribution of the securities being offered, then the Company shall only include in the registration statement for such Underwritten Offering such securities as the Company is advised by such lead managing underwriter can be sold without adversely affecting such distribution in the following order of priority:  (i) first, the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included therein and (ii) second, the number of securities that the Company proposes to sell and any other securities eligible for inclusion therein in a priority determined by the Company.

 

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SECTION 6.02.                                   Piggyback Registration.  (a)  Participation.  If at any time the Company intends to file a registration statement under the Securities Act covering a primary or secondary offering of any Equity Securities of the Company, whether in response to registration rights of any Person or otherwise (other than a Demand Registration, any registration relating to any employee benefit or similar plan, any dividend reinvestment plan or any acquisition by the Company or pursuant to a registration statement filed in connection with an exchange offer) and the registration form to be filed may be used for the registration of the Registrable Securities, the Company shall give written notice to Montpelier at least 15 days prior to the initial filing of a registration statement with the SEC pertaining thereto (an “Incidental Registration Statement”) informing Montpelier of its intent to file such Incidental Registration Statement and of Montpelier’s rights under this Section 6.02 to request the registration of the Registrable Securities.  Upon the written request of Montpelier, made within ten days after receipt of any such notice (which request shall specify the Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of and the intended method of distribution thereof), the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to effect the registration under the Securities Act of all Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to register by Montpelier, including, if necessary, by filing with the SEC a post-effective amendment or a supplement to the Incidental Registration Statement or the related prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or by filing any other required document or otherwise supplementing or amending the Incidental Registration Statement, if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such Incidental Registration Statement or by the Securities Act.  The Company may postpone or withdraw the filing or effectiveness of an Incidental Registration Statement at any time in its sole discretion.

 

(b)                                 Priority in Piggyback Registration.  If in connection with a registration pursuant this Section 6.02, the lead managing underwriter advises the Company that, in its opinion, the inclusion of all the securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the amount that can be sold in such Underwritten Offering within a proposed price range without adversely affecting the distribution of the securities being offered, then the Company shall only include in the registration statement for such Underwritten Offering such securities as the Company is advised by such lead managing underwriter can be sold without adversely affecting such distribution in the following order of priority:

 

(i)                                     if such registration relates to an Underwritten Offering for the Company’s own account:  (A) first, the number of securities that the Company proposes to sell and (B) second, the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included therein by Montpelier and any other securities eligible for inclusion in such Underwritten Offering (allocated pro rata among all such holders); and

 

(ii)                                  if such registration relates to an Underwritten Offering on behalf of a holder or holders of Equity Securities of the Company other than Montpelier:  (A) first, the number of securities requested to be included therein by the holder or holders requesting such registration and by holders of Registrable Securities (allocated pro rata among all such holders) and (B) second, any other securities eligible for inclusion in such Underwritten Offering.

 

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(c)                                  No Effect on Demand Registration Rights.  No registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to a request under this Section 6.02 shall be deemed to be considered a Demand Registration or have any effect on the number of Demand Registration Rights available to Montpelier.

 

SECTION 6.03.                                   Shelf Registration.  (a)  Shelf Registration Statement.  At any time after the first anniversary of the IPO Closing, promptly following a written request by Montpelier, the Company will file with the SEC a Shelf Registration Statement relating to the offer and sale of all of the Registrable Securities, and the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to have such Shelf Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC promptly (or if the Company is eligible to do so, it shall file an automatic Shelf Registration Statement in response to any such request).

 

(b)                                 Continued Effectiveness.  The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts (if the Company is not eligible to use an automatic shelf registration statement at the time of filing) to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act during the period from the date such Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC until all Registrable Securities have been sold, or can be sold without restriction, including volume and manner of sale restrictions, under the Securities Act.

 

(c)                                  Underwritten Offering.  If at any time or from time to time Montpelier desires to sell Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, the underwriters, including the managing underwriter, shall be selected by Montpelier, subject to the Company’s consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

 

SECTION 6.04.                                   Registration Expenses.  The Company shall pay all fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with any registration statement or registered offering pursuant to this Article VI, including (i) all registration and filing fees, and any other fees and expenses associated with filings required to be made with the SEC, any stock exchange or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, (ii) all fees and expenses in connection with compliance with any securities or “blue sky” laws, (iii) all printing, duplicating, messenger and delivery expenses, (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and of all independent certified public accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any special audit or comfort letters required by or incident to such performance), (v) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange or quotation of the Registrable Securities on any inter-dealer quotation system, (vi) all fees and expenses of counsel for Montpelier incurred in connection with a registration, (vii) any fees and disbursements of underwriters customarily paid by issuers or sellers of securities, (viii) all fees and expenses of any special experts or other Persons retained by the Company in connection with any registration, (ix) all of the Company’s internal expenses (including all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties) and (x) all expenses related to the “road-show” for any underwritten offering, including all travel, meals and lodging; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any underwriting discounts and commissions, if any, attributable to the registration or sale of any securities pursuant to this Article VI and such underwriting discounts and commissions attributable such securities shall be borne by the holder of such securities.

 

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SECTION 6.05.                                   Lock-Ups.  If requested by the lead managing underwriter in any Underwritten Offering pursuant to this Article VI each party to this Agreement shall deliver and execute (i) in the case of the Company, an agreement containing restrictions substantially similar to Section 4(k) of the Underwriting Agreement and (ii) in the case of Montpelier, an agreement substantially similar to the lock-up agreement Montpelier executed and delivered in connection with the Initial Public Offering, except that in each case the restricted period shall not be longer than 90 days (or such lesser period as may be mutually agreed).  The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its directors and executive officers to sign lock-up agreements substantially similar to those that the Company’s directors and executive officers executed and delivered in connection with the Initial Public Offering, except that the restricted period shall not be longer than 90 days.

 

SECTION 6.06.                                   Registration Procedures.  Subject to the provisions of Sections 6.01, 6.02 and 6.03, in connection with the registration of the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Article VI, the Company shall:

 

(a)                                 (i) prepare and file a Demand Registration Statement, Incidental Registration Statement or any other registration statement needed in order to permit the sale of Registrable Securities (a “Registration Statement”) with the SEC (within the time period specified in Sections 6.01 or 6.03, as applicable), which Registration Statement (A) shall be on a form selected by the Company for which the Company qualifies, (B) shall be available for the sale or exchange of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution, in the case of a Demand Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement, and (C) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith; (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective in accordance with Section 6.01 or 6.03, as applicable, in the case of a Demand Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement; (iii) use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the happening of any event that would cause a Registration Statement to contain a material misstatement or omission or to be not effective and usable for resale of the Registrable Securities registered pursuant thereto (during the period that such Registration Statement is required to be effective and usable); and (iv) cause each Registration Statement and the related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the effective date of such Registration Statement, amendment or supplement (X) to comply in all material respects with any requirements of the Securities Act and (Y) not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

 

(b)                                 in the case of a Demand Registration Statement or a Shelf Registration Statement, and subject to Section 6.06(j), (i) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each such Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period; (ii) cause each prospectus forming part of such Registration Statement to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act; and (iii) comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by each such

 

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Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by Montpelier as set forth in such Registration Statement;

 

(c)                                  furnish to Montpelier and to each underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, if any, without charge, as many copies of each prospectus forming part of such Registration Statement, including each preliminary prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto and such other documents as Montpelier or such underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities; and the Company hereby consents to the use of such prospectus, including each such preliminary prospectus, by Montpelier and each such underwriter, if any, in connection with the offering and sale of such Registrable Securities;

 

(d)                                 (i) use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, no later than the time such Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, under all applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as each underwriter, if any, or Montpelier shall reasonably request; (ii) keep each such registration or qualification effective during the period such Registration Statement is required to be kept effective (in the case of a Demand Registration Statement or a Shelf Registration Statement); and (iii) do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each such underwriter, if any, and Montpelier to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to register or qualify any Registrable Securities in any jurisdiction if registration or qualification in such jurisdiction would subject the Company to unreasonable burden or expense or, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, would unreasonably delay the commencement of such Underwritten Offering; and provided further that the Company shall not be obligated to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject or to consent to be subject to general service of process (other than service of process in connection with such registration or qualification or any sale of Registrable Securities in connection therewith) in any such jurisdiction;

 

(e)                                  notify Montpelier promptly, and, if requested by Montpelier, confirm such advice in writing, (i) when a Registration Statement has become effective and when any post-effective amendments and supplements thereto become effective; (ii) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceeding for that purpose; (iii) if, between the effective date of a Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby pursuant to any agreement to which the Company is a party, the representations and warranties of the Company contained in such agreement cease to be true and correct in all material respects or if the Company receives any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of such Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of

 

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any proceeding for such purpose; and (iv) of the happening of any event during the period a Registration Statement is required to be effective as a result of which such Registration Statement or the related prospectus contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

 

(f)                                   furnish counsel for each underwriter, if any, and for Montpelier copies of (i) any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement and prospectus or for additional information, and (ii) any comments from the SEC or any state securities authority with respect to such Registration Statement or prospectus;

 

(g)                                  use reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at the earliest possible time;

 

(h)                                 upon request, furnish to each underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, at least one signed copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits; and furnish to Montpelier, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (without documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless reasonably requested);

 

(i)                                     cooperate with Montpelier and the underwriter or lead managing underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (or book-entry equivalents) representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations (consistent with the provisions of the governing documents thereof) and registered in such names as Montpelier or the underwriter or lead managing underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, if any, may reasonably request at least five days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities;

 

(j)                                    upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 6.06(e)(iv), during the period in which a Registration Statement is required to be kept in effect, use reasonable best efforts to prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or the related prospectus, or any document incorporated therein, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, such that such prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

(k)                                 enter into customary agreements (including, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, underwriting agreements in customary form), including customary representations to Montpelier and underwriters (if any), and, in the case of a Registration Statement relating to a secondary offering filed at the request of Montpelier, take all other

 

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customary and appropriate actions in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement as shall be requested by Montpelier;

 

(l)                                     use its reasonable best efforts to furnish to the underwriters opinions of counsel to the Company and updates thereof, addressed to each of the underwriter or the lead managing underwriter, if any, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings;

 

(m)                             obtain a “comfort letter” or “comfort letters” and updates thereof from the Company’s independent certified public accountants addressed to the underwriter or the lead managing underwriter, if any, which letters shall be customary in form and shall cover matters of the type customarily covered in “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with underwritten offerings;

 

(n)                                 subject to confidentiality agreements in form and substance acceptable to the Company, make available for inspection by representatives of Montpelier and any underwriters participating in any disposition pursuant to a Registration Statement and any counsel or accountant retained by Montpelier or underwriters all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and cause the respective officers, directors and employees of the Company to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, underwriter, counsel or accountant in connection with a Registration Statement;

 

(o)                                 provide a reasonable opportunity for Montpelier and its counsel to review and comment on the Registration Statement and consider in good faith any comments made by Montpelier and its counsel;

 

(p)                                 use reasonable best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities covered by a Demand Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement to be listed on any securities exchange on which the Common Shares are then listed;

 

(q)                                 provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;

 

(r)                                    otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering at least 12 months which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder;

 

(s)                                   with respect to Demand Registrations, make senior executives of the Company reasonably available to assist the lead managing underwriter with respect to, and participate, in “road shows” in connection with the marketing efforts for the distribution and sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a registration statement;

 

(t)                                    provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by any Registration Statement from and after a date not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement; and

 

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(u)                                 cooperate and assist in any filing required to be made with FINRA and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any underwriter (including any qualified independent underwriter that is required to be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA).

 

SECTION 6.07.                                   Obligations of Montpelier.  (a)  Montpelier shall furnish to the Company such information regarding Montpelier, its ownership of Registrable Securities and the proposed distribution by Montpelier of such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request.

 

(b)                                 Upon receipt of any notice of the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 6.06(e)(iv), Montpelier shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the affected Registration Statement until Montpelier’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 6.06(j).

 

SECTION 6.08.                                   Free Writing Prospectuses.  Montpelier shall not use any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) in connection with the sale of Registrable Securities without the prior written consent of the Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Montpelier may use any free writing prospectus prepared and distributed by the Company.

 

SECTION 6.09.                                   Indemnification and Contribution.  (a)  Indemnification by the Company.  The Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, Montpelier and each of its shareholders, directors, officers and employees, and each Person who controls Montpelier, against all losses, claims, penalties, judgments, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) (collectively, “Losses”) arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any Registration Statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto (including, in each case, all documents incorporated therein by reference) or (ii) any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such untrue statement or omission is caused by, contained in or omitted from any information furnished in writing to the Company by Montpelier expressly for use therein.  In connection with an Underwritten Offering, the Company will indemnify such underwriters, their officers and directors and each Person who controls such underwriters to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of Montpelier.  The payments required by this Section 6.09 will be made periodically during the course of the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or expenses incurred; provided, however, that if a final and non-appealable arbitral or judicial determination, as the case may be, shall be made that such Indemnified Party (as defined below) is not entitled to indemnification for any such Losses, such Indemnified Party shall repay to the Company the amount of such Losses for which the Company shall have paid or reimbursed such Indemnified Party.

 

(b)                                 Indemnification by Montpelier.  In connection with any Registration Statement in which Montpelier is participating, Montpelier agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, the Company and its shareholders, directors, officers and employees and each Person who controls the Company against all Losses arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue

 

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or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in such Registration Statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto (including, in each case, all documents incorporated therein by reference) or (ii) any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is caused by, contained in or omitted from any information furnished in writing by Montpelier expressly for use therein.  In connection with any Underwritten Offering in which Montpelier is participating, Montpelier will indemnify such underwriters, their officers and directors and each Person who controls such underwriters to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Company.

 

(c)                                  Procedure.  Each party entitled to indemnification under this Section 6.09 (the “Indemnified Party”) shall give written notice to the party required to provide indemnification (the “Indemnifying Party”) promptly after such Indemnified Party has received written notice of any claim as to which indemnity may be sought, and shall permit the Indemnifying Party to assume the defense of any such claim or any litigation resulting therefrom, so long as the counsel for the Indemnifying Party who is to conduct the defense of such claim or litigation is reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party (whose approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).  The Indemnified Party may participate in such defense at such Indemnified Party’s expense; provided, however, that the Indemnifying Party shall bear the expense of such participation if (i) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such expenses, (ii) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim or to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party or (iii) in the reasonable judgment of the Indemnified Party, based upon the advice of such Indemnified Party’s counsel, representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential conflicts of interest; provided further that in no event shall the Indemnifying Party be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (excluding one local counsel per jurisdiction as necessary) for all Indemnified Parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same event, allegations or circumstances.  The Indemnified Party shall not enter into any settlement without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.  The failure of any Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Section 6.09 only to the extent that such failure to give notice shall materially prejudice the Indemnifying Party in the defense of any such claim or any such litigation.  No Indemnifying Party, in the defense of any such claim or litigation, shall, except with the prior written consent of each Indemnified Party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement (x) that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party or (y) that includes an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any Indemnified Party.

 

(d)                                 Contribution.  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 6.09 from the Indemnifying Party is unavailable to or unenforceable by the Indemnified Party in respect of any Losses, then the Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and

 

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Indemnified Parties in connection with the actions which resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, has been made by, or relates to information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Parties, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action.  The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in this Section 6.09, any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding.  The Company and Montpelier agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6.09 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 6.09.  No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

SECTION 6.10.                                   Rule 144.  The Company shall file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (or, if the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the reasonable request of Montpelier, make publicly available such necessary information for so long as necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act), and it will take such further action as Montpelier may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable Montpelier to sell its Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (i) Rule 144 under the Securities Act or (ii) any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the reasonable request of Montpelier, the Company will deliver to Montpelier a written statement as to whether it has complied with such information requirements and, if not, the specifics thereof.

 

SECTION 6.11.                                   Preservation of Rights.  The Company shall not (i) grant any registration rights to third parties which are more favorable than or inconsistent with the rights granted hereunder or (ii) enter into any agreement, take any action, or permit any change to occur, with respect to its securities that violates or subordinates the rights expressly granted to Montpelier in this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

Miscellaneous

 

SECTION 7.01.                                   Term.  This Agreement shall terminate upon the later of the expiration of the Montpelier Investor Rights Period or such time as there are no Registrable Securities, except for the provisions of 6.09, 6.10 and this Article VII, which shall survive any such termination.

 

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SECTION 7.02.                                   Amendment.  This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto at any time by an instrument in writing executed by each party.

 

SECTION 7.03.                                   Assignment.  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by operation of law or otherwise, by either of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other party.  No assignment by any party hereto shall relieve such party of any of its obligations hereunder.  Subject to the immediately preceding two sentences, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.  Any purported assignment not permitted under this Section 7.03 shall be null and void.

 

SECTION 7.04.                                   Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries.  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties hereto and their Affiliates, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and is not intended to confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies.  Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that (i) it has not relied on or been induced to enter into this Agreement by any undertaking, promise, assurance, statement, representation, warranty, undertaking or understanding which is not expressly included in this Agreement and (ii) it shall have no claim or remedy in respect of any undertaking, promise, assurance, statement, representation, warranty, undertaking or understanding which is not expressly included in this Agreement.  Nothing in the immediately preceding sentence shall operate to limit or exclude any liability for fraud.

 

SECTION 7.05.                                   Specific Performance.  Each of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that in the event of a breach of this Agreement, the non-breaching party would be irreparably and immediately harmed and could not be made whole by monetary damages.  It is accordingly agreed that the parties hereto (i) will waive, in any action for specific performance, the defense of adequacy of a remedy at law and (ii) shall be entitled, in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled at law or in equity, to compel specific performance of this Agreement in any action instituted in respect thereof.

 

SECTION 7.06.                                   Arbitration.  (a)  Any dispute arising out of, or related in any way to, this Agreement or the transactions hereunder, including its formation and validity, shall be submitted to a panel of arbitrators sitting in the State of New York.  The panel shall be composed of three arbitrators, one arbitrator shall be chosen by the Company, one arbitrator shall be chosen by Montpelier and one arbitrator shall be chosen by the mutual agreement of the two arbitrators selected by each of the Company and Montpelier.  The arbitrators shall be disinterested, reputable and not under the control or management of any party hereto.

 

(b)                                 Any party hereto requesting arbitration shall provide the other party with a written notice that includes reasonable detail of the dispute such party intends to submit for arbitration.  If the parties have not resolved such dispute in writing within 45 days of receipt of such written notice by the other party, each party hereto shall select an arbitrator within 30 days after the expiration of such 45-day period.  If any party fails to appoint its arbitrator within such 30-day period, the requesting party shall also appoint such party’s arbitrator.

 

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(c)                                  The panel shall interpret this Agreement as an honorable engagement, and shall settle any dispute under this Agreement according to an equitable, rather than strictly legal, interpretation of its terms with a view to effecting the general purpose of this Agreement.  The panel is relieved of all judicial formality and may abstain from following the strict rules of law.  The panel shall have the power to fix all procedural rules for the arbitration, including the discretionary power to make orders regarding any matters which it may consider proper under the circumstances of the case relating to pleadings, discovery, inspection of documents and examination of witnesses.  The panel shall have the power to receive and act upon such evidence, whether oral or written, as it in its sole discretion shall deem relevant to the dispute.

 

(d)                                 The panel shall render a decision in writing within 60 days after the matter is finally submitted to it unless the parties hereto agree to an extension.  Any decision by a majority of the panel members shall be final and binding on the parties hereto.  If any of the parties hereto fails to comply with the panel’s decision, the other party may apply for its enforcement to a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(e)                                  Unless ordered differently by the panel, each party hereto shall bear the expenses of the arbitrator selected by it, and shall jointly and equally bear with the other party the expenses of the third arbitrator.  In the event two or more arbitrators are chosen by one party, the fees of all three arbitrators shall be equally divided between the parties.  The remaining costs of the arbitration proceeding shall be allocated by the panel as part of its award.

 

SECTION 7.07.                                   Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts executed in and to be performed entirely within that State, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable conflict of law principles.

 

SECTION 7.08.                                   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.  EACH PARTY HERETO CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTIES HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTIES WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (B) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVER, (C) IT MAKES SUCH WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (D) IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVER AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 7.08.

 

SECTION 7.09.                                   Notices.  All notices, requests and other communications to any party hereto hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally,

 

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facsimiled (which is confirmed) or sent by overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to the parties at the following addresses:

 

If to the Company, to:

 

Address:                         Canon’s Court, 22 Victoria Street, Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda

Attention:                 Chief Financial Officer

Facsimile:                 (441) 296-5551

 

If to Montpelier, to:

 

Address:                         94 Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke HM 08, Bermuda

Attention:                 General Counsel

Facsimile:                 (441) 296-5551

 

or such other address or facsimile number as such party may hereafter specify by like notice to the other party.  All such notices, requests and other communications shall be deemed received on the date of actual receipt by the recipient thereof if received prior to 5:00 p.m. local time in the place of receipt and such day is a business day in the place of receipt.  Otherwise, any such notice, request or communication shall be deemed not to have been received until the next succeeding business day in the place of receipt.

 

SECTION 7.10.                                   Severability.  If any term, condition or other provision of this Agreement is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other terms, provisions and conditions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect.  Upon such determination that any term, condition or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law in an acceptable manner to the end that the terms of this Agreement are fulfilled to the extent possible.

 

SECTION 7.11.                                   No Waiver/Cumulative Remedies.  Any waiver of a breach of any of the terms of this Agreement or of any default under this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach or default and shall in no way affect the other terms of this Agreement.  No failure on the part of a party hereto to exercise, and no delay on its part in exercising, any right or remedy under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of that right or remedy, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy preclude any other or further exercise of that right or remedy or the exercise of any other right or remedy.  The rights and remedies provided in this Agreement are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

 

SECTION 7.12.                                   Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts (including by facsimile or email), each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to the other party.

 

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SECTION 7.13.                                   Interpretation.  (a)  When a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section, Exhibit or Schedule, such reference shall be to an Article of, a Section of, or an Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.  The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.  Whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”.  The words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.  The terms “or”, “any” and “either” are not exclusive.  The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase shall not mean simply “if”.  The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”.  The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of such term.  Any agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such agreement, instrument or statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of statutes) by succession of comparable successor statutes and references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein.  References to a Person are also to its permitted assigns and successors.

 

(b)                                 The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as jointly drafted by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party hereto by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.

 

[signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

 

 

	
 
    	
BLUE   CAPITAL REINSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD.,
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
by
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
/s/   William Pollett
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
William   Pollett
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Chief   Executive Officer and President
    

 

 

	
 
    	
MONTPELIER   REINSURANCE LTD.,
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
by
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
/s/   Christopher L. Harris
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Christopher   L. Harris
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Chairman,   Director and Chief Executive Officer
    

 

[Signature Page to Shareholder and Registration Rights Agreement]

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