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7 May 2026
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RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.
Renaissance House
12 Crow Lane
Pembroke HM 19
Bermuda
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Dear Sirs,
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RENAISSANCERE HOLDINGS LTD. (Registration No. 18387) (the “Company”)
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| 2.1 |
Capitalised terms used but not otherwise defined in this Opinion shall have the meanings given to them in Part A of Schedule 4 (Definitions and Interpretation).
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| 2.2 |
This Opinion shall be interpreted and construed in accordance with Part B of Schedule 4 (Definitions and Interpretation).
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| 3.1 |
This Opinion is limited to: (a) matters of the law and practice of Bermuda as at the date of this Opinion; and (b) matters expressly stated in this Opinion.
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| 3.2 |
We have made no investigation and express no opinion with respect to the law or practice of any other jurisdiction.
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| 3.3 |
This Opinion is based only on those matters of fact known to us at the date of this Opinion.
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| 4.1 |
In giving this Opinion we have examined a copy the Registration Statement sent to us in electronic form by email.
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| 4.2 |
In addition, we have examined each Further Document.
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| 4.3 |
The Registration Statement and the Further Documents are the only documents we have seen or examined for the purposes of this Opinion.
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| 4.4 |
The Searches are the only searches, investigations or enquiries we have carried out for the purposes of this Opinion.
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| 5.1 |
This Opinion is given:
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| (b) |
on the basis that the Assumptions (which we have not independently investigated or verified) are accurate, and have been accurate, in all respects at the date of this Opinion, and at all other relevant times.
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| 5.2 |
This Opinion is subject to the Qualifications.
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| 6.1 |
Due Incorporation and Valid Existence
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| 6.2 |
Securities
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| (a) |
Upon the due issuance of Common Shares and/or Preference Shares (including those represented by Depositary Shares) and payment of the consideration therefor, such Common Shares and/or Preference Shares will be validly issued, fully paid
and non-assessable.
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| (b) |
Upon the due issuance of:
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| (i) |
Debt Securities of any series;
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| (ii) |
Debt Securities Guarantees;
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| (iii) |
Warrants;
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| (iv) |
Share Purchase Contracts;
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| (v) |
Share Purchase Units; and/or
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| (vi) |
Units,
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| 7.1 |
This Opinion is governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, the law of Bermuda.
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| 7.2 |
We assume no obligation to advise you or any other person, or undertake any investigations, as to any legal developments or factual matters arising after the date of this Opinion that might affect the opinions expressed herein.
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| 7.3 |
This Opinion is given solely for the purpose of the filing of the Registration Statement and is not to be relied upon in respect of any other matter.
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| 7.4 |
We hereby consent to the filing of this Opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the references to our firm under the caption “Legal Opinions” and “Enforcement of Civil Liabilities under United States Federal Securities
Laws” in the prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement. In such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are experts within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act or that we are in the category of persons whose consent
is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
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| 1. |
Registration Statement
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| 2. |
A certified copy of:
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| 2.1 |
the Certificate of Incorporation;
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| 2.2 |
the Memorandum of Association;
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| 2.3 |
the Bye-laws;
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| 2.4 |
the Register; and
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| 2.5 |
the Director Resolutions.
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| 3. |
The Certificate of Compliance.
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| 4. |
The Public Records.
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| 5. |
The Litigation Records.
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| 4.1 |
The Company will have sufficient authorised capital to effect the issue of any of the Equity Securities at the time of issuance, whether as a principal issue or on the conversion, exchange or exercise of any Securities.
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| 4.2 |
The Company will issue the Securities in furtherance of its objects as set out in the Memorandum of Association.
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| 4.3 |
The form and terms of any and all Securities (including, without limitation, the designation, powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions of Preference Shares) or other securities (or other obligations,
rights, currencies, commodities or other subject matter) comprising the same or subject thereto (in the case of the Warrants and Units), the issuance and sale thereof by the Company, and the Company’s incurrence and performance of its
obligations thereunder or in respect thereof (including, without limitation, its obligations under any related agreement, indenture or supplement thereto) in accordance with the terms thereof will not violate the Memorandum of Association
or Bye-laws nor any applicable law, regulations, order or decree in Bermuda.
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| 4.4 |
All necessary corporate action will be taken to authorise and approve any issuance of Securities (including, if Preference Shares are to be issued, all necessary corporate action to establish one or more series of Preference Shares and
fix the designation, powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof), the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, and that the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement
and, if Debt Securities are to be issued, the applicable indenture and any applicable supplements thereto, will be duly approved, executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Company and all other parties thereto.
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| 5.1 |
Upon issue of any Equity Securities, the Company will receive or has received consideration for the full issue price thereof which shall be equal to at least the par value thereof.
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| 5.2 |
The issuance and sale of and payment for the Securities will be in accordance with the applicable purchase or similar agreement duly approved by the Board, the Registration Statement (including the prospectus set forth therein and any
supplements thereto) and, if Debt Securities are to be issued, the applicable indenture and any applicable supplements thereto.
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| 7.1 |
In resolving that the Company approve the Registration Statement and authorise the issue of any Securities the directors of the Company were acting with a view to the best interests of the Company and were otherwise exercising their
powers in accordance with their duties under all applicable laws.
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| 7.2 |
Each director of the Company has disclosed all interests required to be disclosed by the Companies Act and the Bye-laws in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act and the Bye-laws.
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| 8.1 |
No resolution has been passed by the Board (or any committee of the directors) or the shareholders of the Company and there is no agreement or arrangement otherwise in place:
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| (a) |
limiting the powers of the Board;
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| (b) |
changing the quorum for meetings of the directors of the Company from that which is stated in the Bye-laws; or
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| (c) |
changing who may sign an instrument to which a seal of the Company is affixed or the number of such persons from that which is stated in the Bye-laws.
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| 8.2 |
The Director Resolutions were duly passed, are in full force and effect and have not been revoked, superseded or amended, and are the only resolutions passed by the directors of the Company (or any committee thereof) relating to the
matters referred to in those resolutions.
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| 8.3 |
The meetings at which the Director Resolutions were passed were duly convened and held and quorate throughout and the minutes of such meetings are an accurate record of the proceedings described in them.
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| 13.1 |
The Public Records are accurate and complete, with all documents or information that are required to be filed or registered by or in relation to the Company with the Registrar of Companies (whether or not any time limit for such filing
or registration has yet expired) having been so filed or registered and appearing on the Public Records.
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| 13.2 |
The Litigation Records are accurate and complete.
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| 13.3 |
The Certificate of Compliance is accurate and complete and there has been no change in the records relating to the Company available to the Registrar of Companies since the time of issue of the Certificate of Compliance.
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| 13.4 |
There has been no change in the public records relating to the Company available for inspection on the companies register at the offices of the Registrar of Companies since the time we carried out the Public Records Search.
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| 13.5 |
There has been no change in the entries and filings in respect of the Company in the Cause Book of the Supreme Court or the Register of Judgments maintained at the Registry of the Supreme Court since the time we carried out the
Litigation Search.
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| 2. |
Representations and Warranties
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| 4.1 |
The Public Records Search and the Litigation Search are not conclusively capable of revealing whether or not:
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| (a) |
a winding up, dissolution, reconstruction or reorganisation order has been made or a resolution passed for the winding up, dissolution, reconstruction or reorganisation of the Company; or
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| (b) |
an order has been made or a resolution passed appointing a receiver or liquidator in respect of the Company,
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“Assumptions”
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means the assumptions set out in Schedule 2 (Assumptions);
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“Board”
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means the board of directors of the Company;
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“Bye-laws”
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means the bye-laws of the Company, as referred to in the Secretary’s Certificate;
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“Certificate of Compliance”
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means the certificate of compliance in respect of the Company dated 7 May 2026, issued by the Registrar of Companies;
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“Certificate of Incorporation”
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means the Company’s certificate of incorporation, as referred to in the Secretary’s Certificate;
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“Companies Act”
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means the Companies Act 1981;
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“Debt Securities Guarantees”
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means the senior debt securities guarantee to be issued by the Company concurrently with any issuance by RenaissanceRe Finance Inc. of senior debt securities for the benefit of the holders from time to time
of such senior debt securities of RenaissanceRe Finance Inc., as more particularly described in the Registration Statement;
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“Director Resolutions”
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means an extract of the minutes of a meeting of the Board held on 6 May 2026, as referred to in the Secretary’s Certificate;
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“Further Documents”
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means the documents listed in Part B of Schedule 1 (Documents Examined);
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“Litigation Records”
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means the entries and filings in respect of the Company in the Cause Book of the Supreme Court and in the Register of Judgements maintained at the Registry of the Supreme Court at the time we carried out the
Litigation Search;
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“Litigation Search”
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means our inspection of the Litigation Records at 11:32 am on 7 May 2026;
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“Memorandum of Association”
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means the memorandum of association of the Company, as referred to in the Secretary’s Certificate;
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“Opinion”
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means this legal opinion and includes the Schedules;
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“Public Records”
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means the public records of the Company available for inspection at the offices of the Registrar of Companies at the time we carried out the Public Records Search;
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“Public Records Search”
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means our inspection of the Public Records at 12:14 pm on 7 May 2026;
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“Qualifications”
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means the observations and qualifications set out in Schedule 3 (Qualifications);
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“Register”
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means the register of directors and officers of the Company as referred to in the Secretary’s Certificate;
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“Registrar of Companies”
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means the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda;
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“Searches”
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means the Public Records Search and the Litigation Search;
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“Secretary’s Certificate”
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means the certificate of the Secretary of the Company dated 7 May 2026; and
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“Supreme Court”
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means the Supreme Court of Bermuda.
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| 1.1 |
a Schedule are references to a schedule to this Opinion;
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| 1.2 |
a “person” includes any body of persons corporate or unincorporated;
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| 1.3 |
legislation include, where relevant, a reference to such legislation as amended at the date of this Opinion;
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| 1.4 |
“you” means the Addressee(s) and where there is more than one Addressee, means each of them; and
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| 1.5 |
“we”, “us” or “our” in relation to the examination, sight, receipt or review by us, or provision to us, of information or documents are references only to our lawyers who worked on the preparation of this Opinion acting for the Addressee
in this matter.
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| 2. |
Where a capitalised term appears in the left-hand column of Part A of Schedule 4 (Definitions and Interpretation) in the singular, its plural form, if used in this Opinion, shall be construed
accordingly, and vice versa.
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| 3. |
Headings in this Opinion are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of this Opinion.
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