UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

February 29, 2012

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

 

Arch Capital Group Ltd.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Bermuda

 

0-26456

 

N/A

(State or other
jurisdiction of
incorporation or
organization)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

Wessex House, 45 Reid Street, Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(441) 278-9250

 

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

o            Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o            Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

ITEM  8.01          Other Events.

 

Preferred Share Dividends.  On February 29, 2012, the Board declared dividends with respect to the outstanding (1) 8,000,000 shares of its 8.00% Non-Cumulative Preferred Shares, Series A, $0.01 per share (the “Series A Shares”), with a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share, and (2) 5,000,000 shares of its 7.875% Non-Cumulative Preferred Shares, Series B, $0.01 per share (the “Series B Shares”), with a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share, as outlined below.  All such dividends will be payable out of lawfully available funds for the payment of dividends under Bermuda law on May 15, 2012 to holders of record of the Series A Shares and the Series B Shares, as applicable, as of May 1, 2012, unless determined otherwise by the Board or the Executive Committee of the Board on or prior to the applicable effective date.

 

Series

 

Effective Date
for Declaration

 

Dividend Period

 

Dividend Amount

 

Rate Per Share

 

Series A

 

3/31/12

 

2/15/12-3/31/12

 

$

2,044,444

 

$

0.2556

 

 

 

5/14/12

 

4/1/12-5/14/12

 

1,955,556

 

0.2444

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

4,000,000

 

$

0.5000

 

Series B

 

3/31/12

 

2/15/12-3/31/12

 

$

1,257,813

 

$

0.2516

 

 

 

5/14/12

 

4/1/12-5/14/12

 

1,203,125

 

0.2406

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

2,460,938

 

$

0.4922

 

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD.

 

 

 

 

Date: March 1, 2012

By:

/s/ W. Preston Hutchings

 

Name: W. Preston Hutchings

 

Title: Senior Vice President & Chief Investment Officer

 

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