SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-A
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Arch Capital Group Ltd.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Bermuda Not Applicable
------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
(State of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Wessex House, 3rd Floor
45 Reid Street
Hamilton, Bermuda HM 12
------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class Name of each exchange on which each class is to
to be so registered be registered
------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant
to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(c), check the following box. [ ]
If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant
to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(d), check the following box. [x]
Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form
relates:
Not applicable.
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Shares, $.01 par value
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Title of class)
-2-
Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to Be Registered.
The authorized share capital of Arch Capital Group Ltd. consists of
200,000,000 common shares, par value U.S. $0.01 per share, and 50,000,000
preference shares, par value U.S. $0.01 per share.
Holders of common shares have no preemptive, redemption, conversion or
sinking fund rights. Subject to the voting restrictions described below, holders
of common shares are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to
a vote of holders of common shares and do not have any cumulative voting rights.
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, the holders of
common shares are entitled to share equally and ratably in our assets, if any,
remaining after the payment of all of our debts and liabilities and the
liquidation preference of any outstanding preference shares. All outstanding
common shares are fully paid and non-assessable. The board is permitted to
authorize the issuance of additional common shares, subject to the applicable
rules of the Nasdaq National Market or other organizations on whose systems the
shares of the company may then be quoted or listed.
Transfer Agent
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company is the transfer agent and registrar
of our common shares.
Shareholders Meetings
Under Bermuda law, an annual shareholders meeting must be convened at least
once in every calendar year. Our bye-laws provide that a special meeting of
shareholders may be convened by the chairman of our board of directors, the
president or a majority of the directors in office at any time. In addition,
under Bermuda law, subject to specified conditions, a special shareholders
meeting must be convened upon the request of shareholders holding at least 10%
of the paid-up capital of the company carrying the right to vote at
shareholders' meetings.
Our bye-laws provide that the presence of two or more persons representing,
in person or by proxy, not less than a majority of the voting power represented
by shares issued and entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum at all meetings
of the shareholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided
by Bermuda law.
Voting Limitation
Our bye-laws contain a provision limiting the voting rights of any U.S.
person, as defined in the Internal Revenue Code, who owns (directly, indirectly
or by attribution under the Code) shares with more than 9.9% of the total voting
power of all shares entitled to vote generally at an election of directors to
9.9% of such voting power.
-3-
Shareholder Proposals
Our bye-laws establish an advance notice procedure for shareholder
proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of our shareholders and for
nominations by shareholders of candidates for election as directors at an annual
shareholders meeting or a special shareholders meeting at which directors are to
be elected. Subject to any other applicable requirements, including rule 14a-8
under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, only such business may be
conducted at an annual shareholders meeting as has been brought before the
meeting by, or at the direction of, our board of directors, or by a shareholder
who has given to our secretary timely written notice, in proper form, of the
shareholder's intention to bring that business before the meeting. The presiding
officer at such meeting has the authority to make such determinations. Only
persons who are nominated by, or at the direction of, our board of directors, or
who are nominated by a shareholder who has given timely written notice, in
proper form, to the secretary prior to a meeting at which directors are to be
elected will be eligible for election as a director. Subject to Bermuda law as
described below, shareholders will not be entitled to raise proposals at special
shareholders meetings.
To be timely, notice of nominations or other business to be brought before
an annual shareholders meeting must be received by our secretary at our
principal executive office no later than 50 days prior to the date of such
annual shareholders meeting (or if less than 55 days' notice of the meeting is
given, not later than the close of business on the seventh day following the day
notice of the meeting is first given to shareholders). Similarly, notice of
nominations to be brought before a special shareholders meeting at which
directors are to be elected must be delivered to the secretary at our principal
executive office no later than the close of business on the seventh day
following the day on which notice of the date of a special shareholders meeting
was given.
A shareholder's notice to nominate a director must set forth the identity
of the nominee, any arrangements or understandings the shareholder has the
nominee and any other information as would be required under the proxy rules of
the Securities and Exchange Commission if that person were in fact to appear as
a nominee in our proxy statement.
Bermuda law provides that shareholders totaling at least 100 shares or
holding at least 5% of the total voting rights can, at their own expense,
require us to, subject to the provisions of Bermuda law:
o give notice of any resolution which those shareholders can properly propose
and intend to propose at the next annual shareholders meeting of the
company; or
o circulate a statement prepared by those shareholders in respect of any
matter referred to in a proposed resolution or any business to be dealt
with at a shareholders meeting.
Board of Directors
Our bye-laws provide that the number of directors will not be less than
three nor more than eighteen and will be determined from time to time by a vote
of a majority of our board of directors then in office. Our bye-laws provide
that the board will be divided into three classes. Each class will consist, as
nearly as may be possible, of one-third of the total number of directors
constituting the
-4-
entire board. At each annual shareholders meeting, directors will be elected to
succeed those directors whose terms have expired, and each newly elected
director will serve for a three-year term.
Our bye-laws provide that directors may be removed only for cause, and
cause for removal shall be deemed to exist only if the director whose removal is
proposed has been convicted of a felony or been found by a court to be liable
for gross negligence or misconduct in the performance of his or her duties. Our
bye-laws also provide that our board of directors have the right to fill
vacancies, including vacancies created by expansion of the board of directors.
Pursuant to our shareholders agreement, we have agreed to restrictions on
the composition of our board of directors. Pursuant to this agreement, the
Warburg Pincus funds and the Hellman & Friedman funds are entitled to nominate a
prescribed number of directors based on the respective retained percentages of
our series A convertible preference shares that they purchased in November 2001.
As long as the Warburg Pincus funds retain at least 75% of their original
investment and Hellman & Friedman funds retain at least 60% of their original
investment, these shareholders together will be entitled to nominate a majority
of the directors of our board.
Dividends
Under Bermuda law and our bye-laws, our board of directors may declare
dividends, or make distributions out of contributed surplus, as long as there
are no reasonable grounds for believing that we are, or after the dividend or
distribution would be, unable to pay our liabilities as they became due or that
the realizable value of our assets would thereby be less than the aggregate of
its liabilities and its issued share capital and share premium accounts.
Pursuant to our shareholders agreement, we have agreed not to declare any
dividend or make any other distribution on our common shares until we have
repurchased from the Warburg Pincus funds, the Hellman & Friedman funds and the
other holders of preference shares, pro rata, on the basis of the amount of
these shareholders' investments in us at the time of such repurchase, preference
shares having an aggregate value of $250.0 million, at a per share price
acceptable to those shareholders.
Repurchases of Shares
Under Bermuda law and our bye-laws, we can repurchase our own shares so
long as we are solvent and certain other conditions are met. Pursuant to our
shareholders agreement, we have agreed not to repurchase any common shares until
we have repurchased from the Warburg Pincus funds, the Hellman & Friedman funds
and the other holders of our preference shares, pro rata, on the basis of the
amount of these shareholders' investments in us at the time of such repurchase,
preference shares having an aggregate value of $250.0 million, at a per share
price acceptable to those shareholders.
Interested Shareholder Provisions
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Our bye-laws, in
effect, incorporate the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law (the "Section 203 provisions"). The Section 203 provisions
prohibit interested shareholders from engaging in a business combination with us
for a period of three years from the time of becoming an interested shareholder.
An interested shareholder is defined as a person that owns 15% or more of our
voting power or
-5-
any person that owned 15% or more of our voting power at any
time within three years of the date that person's status as an interested
shareholder is determined. Business combinations include:
o mergers, amalgamations or similar transactions;
o the sale of our assets having an aggregate market value equal to 10% or
more of either the aggregate market value of all of our assets determined
on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all of our
outstanding shares;
o any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by us of any of
our share capital to the interested shareholder, except if the issuance is
part of a proportionate distribution to all shareholders or due to the
conversion of securities exercisable or exchangeable for our shares;
o any transaction involving us or one of our subsidiaries that results in the
interested shareholder's percentage ownership in us increasing; and
o any receipt by the interested shareholder of the benefit of any loan,
guarantee or other financial benefit provided by or through us.
We have agreed that none of the Warburg Pincus funds or Hellman & Friedman
funds will be considered to be an "interested shareholder."
We are not bound by the Section 203 provisions that restrict activities
with respect to an interested shareholder if:
o upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the interested
shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, that interested shareholder
owned at least 85% of the voting power of our shares outstanding at the
time the transaction commenced;
o the board approved the transaction in which the interested shareholder
became an interested shareholder before that transaction was completed; or
o the business combination is approved at a general meeting by the vote of
66-2/3% of the outstanding voting shares not owned by the interested
shareholder.
The restrictions of the Section 203 provisions do not restrict the
activities of an interested shareholder with respect to business combinations in
the event that any of the following transactions:
o merger or consolidation of the company;
o a sale of our assets having an aggregate market value equal to 50% or more
of the aggregate value of all of our assets; or
o a tender offer for 50% or more of our voting stock,
-6-
is approved or not opposed by a majority of our directors then in office, so
long as those directors were in office (or were nominated or elected by
directors who were in office) prior to the time the interested shareholder
became an interested shareholder, and a business combination is proposed by an
interested shareholder before we consummate or abandon, and after we either
announce publicly, or give notice (which we are required to do in the case of an
asset sale or merger) to all interested shareholders of, one of the specified
transactions.
The provisions of the bye-laws restricting business combinations with
interested shareholders can be repealed only with (1) the affirmative vote of
66-2/3% of the outstanding shares and the approval of our board or (2) the
affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares and the affirmative
vote of 75% of the entire board (and that 75% threshold must be met without the
votes of directors who are affiliates of the interested shareholder).
Additional Voting Restrictions
Our bye-laws provide that the affirmative vote of 80% of our outstanding
shares (including a majority of the outstanding shares held by shareholders
other than holders (and such holders' affiliates) of 10% or more ("10% holders")
of the outstanding shares) shall be required (the "extraordinary vote") for the
following corporate actions:
o merger or consolidation of the company into a 10% holder;
o sale or any or all of our assets to a 10% holder;
o the issuance of our voting securities to a 10% holder; or
o amendment of these provisions.
The extraordinary vote will not apply to any transaction approved by the
board, so long as a majority of those board members voting in favor of the
transaction were duly elected and acting members of the board prior to the time
the 10% holder became a 10% holder. We have agreed that none of the Warburg
Pincus funds or Hellman & Friedman funds will be considered a "10% holder."
Anti-Takeover Effects
Certain of the provisions described above in our bye-laws could have the
effect of discouraging unsolicited takeover bids from third parties or the
removal of incumbent management. As a result, it may be less likely that you
will receive premium prices for your shares in an unsolicited takeover of our
company by another party. These provisions may encourage companies interested in
acquiring the company to negotiate in advance with our board of directors, since
the board has the authority to overrule the operation of several of the
limitations.
Our bye-laws provide that certain provisions which may have anti-takeover
effects may be repealed or altered only with prior board approval and upon the
affirmative vote of holders of shares representing at least 65% of the total
voting power of our shares entitled generally to vote at an election of
directors (80% in the case of the provisions described under "--Interested
Shareholder Provisions--Additional Voting Restrictions").
-6-
Voting Limitation. The provisions described above under "--Voting
Limitation" may deter any unsolicited or unnegotiated bids for the company
since, subject to the exceptions described above, no U.S. person (without
approval of 75% of the directors then in office) will be able to vote shares
representing more than 9.9% of the voting power of our voting shares.
Limitation on Shareholder Proposals and Calling of Special Shareholders
Meetings. The provisions limiting shareholders' right to call special
shareholders meetings and to raise proposals or nominate directors at general
meetings may have anti-takeover effects, although under Bermuda law, subject to
specified conditions, any 10% shareholder can call a special shareholders
meeting and any 5% shareholder can raise a proposal at a general meeting.
Action by Written Consent. Under Bermuda law, shareholders may act by
written consent only if such consent is unanimous among all shareholders
entitled to vote. This limitation, together with the limitation on shareholder
proposals and calling of special shareholders meetings, could make an
unsolicited or unnegotiated bid more difficult.
Classified Board of Directors. The classified board provision could
increase the likelihood that, in the event of a takeover, incumbent directors
will retain their positions. In conjunction with the provision of the bye-laws
authorizing our board of directors to fill vacant directorships, the classified
board provision could prevent shareholders from removing incumbent directors
without cause (as defined in our bye-laws) and filling the resulting vacancies
with their own nominees. We believe that the provision will help assure that the
board, if confronted with an unsolicited proposal from a third party that has
acquired a block of our voting shares, will have sufficient time to review the
proposal and appropriate alternatives and to seek the best available result for
all shareholders. We also believe that a classified board helps assure the
continuity and stability of the board and our business strategy and policies.
Power to Issue Shares. Authorized preference shares, as well as authorized
but unissued common shares, will be available for issuance by the board, without
further action by our shareholders, unless shareholder action is required by
applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange on which any series of our
shares may then be listed. We are authorized to have issued and outstanding
200,000,000 common shares and 50,000,000 preference shares. We believe that the
availability of preference shares and additional common shares could facilitate
certain financings and acquisitions and provide a means for meeting other
corporate needs which might arise. These provisions give our board of directors
the power to approve the issuance of preference shares or common shares that
could, depending on its terms, either impede or facilitate the completion of a
merger, tender offer or other takeover attempt. For example, the issuance of
preference shares might impede a business combination if the terms of those
shares include voting rights which would enable a holder to block business
combinations.
Interested Shareholder Provisions. Any interested shareholder or 10%
holder, each as defined above under "--Interested Shareholder Provisions,"
cannot effect certain transactions with us unless it complies with the
provisions described in that section or the board of directors by requisite vote
(or in the case of the Section 203 provisions, the shareholders by requisite
vote) approve the transaction. These provisions may encourage potential
acquirers to negotiate with the board and deter any bids not approved by the
board.
-8-
Shareholder Approval of Business Combinations. Bermuda law permits an
amalgamation between two or more Bermuda companies, or between one or more
Bermuda exempted companies and one or more foreign corporations, subject, unless
the bye-laws otherwise provide, to obtaining a majority vote of three-fourths of
the shareholders of each of the companies and each class of shares present and
voting in person or by proxy at a meeting called for that purpose. Unless the
bye-laws otherwise provide, Bermuda law also requires that the quorum at the
meeting be more than one-third of the issued shares of the company or the class.
Each share carries the right to vote in respect of an amalgamation, whether or
not it otherwise carries the right to vote.
Except as set forth in the next paragraph, our bye-laws provide that any
amalgamation approved by two-thirds of the board of directors of the company
shall require approval only by a majority of the voting power held by
shareholders, if the holders of a majority of the shares issued and entitled to
vote are present.
Bermuda law also provides that where an offer is made for shares in a
company by another company and, within four months of the offer, the holders of
at least 90% in value of the shares which are the subject of the offer (other
than shares already held by or on behalf of the offeror) accept, the offeror may
by notice, given within two months after the expiration of the said four months,
require any dissenting shareholders to transfer their shares on the terms of the
offer. Dissenting shareholders may apply to a court within one month of notice
objecting to the transfer and the court may make any order it thinks fit.
Appraisal Rights. Under Bermuda law, a dissenting shareholder of a company
participating in an amalgamation, other than an amalgamation between a company
and its wholly owned subsidiary or between two or more wholly owned subsidiaries
of the same holding company, may apply to Bermuda's Supreme Court to appraise
the fair value of his or her shares.
Inspection of Books and Records. Bermuda law provides the general public
with a right of inspection of a Bermuda company's public documents at the office
of the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda, and provides a Bermuda company's
shareholders with a right of inspection of the company's bye-laws, minutes of
general meetings and audited financial statements. The register of shareholders
is also open to inspection by shareholders free of charge and, upon payment of a
small fee, by any other person.
A Bermuda company is required to maintain its share register in Bermuda but
may establish a branch register outside of Bermuda if its shares are traded on
an appointed stock exchange or its shares have been offered to the public
pursuant to a prospectus filed in accordance with Bermuda law. A Bermuda company
is required to keep at its registered office a register of its directors and
officers which is open for inspection by members of the public without charge.
Indemnification of Officers and Directors
Under Bermuda law, a company is permitted to indemnify any officer or
director, out of the funds of the company, against:
o any liability he or she incurs in defending any proceedings, whether civil
or criminal, in which (1) judgment is given in his or her favor, or (2) he
or she is acquitted,
-9-
or (3) he or she is granted relief from liability by the court in
connection with any application under relevant Bermuda legislation; and
o any loss or liability resulting from negligence, default, breach of duty or
breach of trust, except for his or her fraud or dishonesty.
Pursuant to our bye-laws, we will indemnify our officers and directors as
well as their heirs, executors and administrators to the fullest extent
permitted by law. Bermuda law does not permit indemnification of a person who is
or may be found guilty of fraud or dishonesty.
We will advance all reasonable expenses incurred by or on behalf of the
indemnitee in connection 4vith any related proceeding.
Limited Liability of Directors
Under Bermuda law, a director must observe the statutory duty of care which
requires a director to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best
interests of the company and exercise the care, diligence and skill that a
reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances.
Bermuda law renders void any provision in the bye-laws or any contract
between a company and any director exempting him or her from, or indemnifying
him or her against, any liability in respect of any fraud or dishonesty of which
he or she may be guilty in relation to the company.
Our bye-laws provide that none of our officers or directors will be
personally liable to us or our shareholders for monetary damages for any breach
of fiduciary duty, except where the person is or may be found to be guilty of
fraud or dishonesty. A director who has an interest in any material contract or
proposed material contract or in any person that is a party to such a contract
with us or any of our subsidiaries and fails to disclose the interest at the
first opportunity at a meeting of the directors or by writing to the directors
is deemed not to be acting honestly or in good faith.
Interested Director Transactions
Under Bermuda law, without the consent of the holders of shares carrying at
least nine-tenths of the total voting rights or in other limited instances, a
company may not make a loan to or enter into any guarantee or provide security
in respect of any loan made to any person who is a director of that company or
of its holding company. Exceptions to this provision are:
o loans or guarantees by the company in the ordinary course of its business,
if the business includes lending money or giving guarantees; or
o loans for the purposes of the company or to enable its directors to perform
their duties, given with prior approval at a shareholders meeting where the
purposes of the loan are disclosed; or if not given at that meeting, the
loan is repaid or discharged within six months from the conclusion of the
next following annual shareholders meeting.
-10-
This provision does not preclude the reimbursement of expenses or loans to
directors who are or were employees of the company to enable them to acquire
shares or stock options.
Shareholders' Suits
The Bermuda courts ordinarily would be expected to follow English
precedent, which would permit a shareholder to commence a derivative action in
the name of the company to remedy a wrong done to the company only:
o where the act complained of is alleged to be beyond the corporate power of
the company or illegal;
o where the act complained of is alleged to constitute a fraud against the
minority shareholders by those controlling the company; provided that the
majority shareholders have used their controlling position to prevent the
company from taking action against the wrongdoers;
o where an act requires approval by a greater percentage of the company's
shareholders than actually approved it; or
o where a derivative action is necessary to avoid a violation of the
company's memorandum of association or bye-laws.
Tax Matters
For a description of certain tax consequences of holding our common shares,
please see the section "Part I -- Item 1. Business -- Tax Matters" in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001. This description may
be updated from time to time in future filings that we make under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 or the Securities Act of 1933.
Item 2. Exhibits
See Exhibit Index immediately preceding the Exhibits.
-11-
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
ARCH CAPITAL Group Ltd.
Date: August 23, 2002 By: /s/ John D. Vollaro
-------------------------------------------
Name: John D. Vollaro
Title: Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
EXHIBIT INDEX
Number Description
1 Memorandum of Association of Arch Capital Group Ltd. (incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Arch Capital Group Ltd.'s Registration
Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-45418)).
2 Bye-Laws of Arch Capital Group Ltd. (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 3 to Arch Capital Group Ltd.'s report on Form 10-Q for the
quarterly period ended June 30, 2002 and filed on August 14, 2002).