As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 5, 2011

Registration Statement Nos. 333-    , 333-    -01 and 333-    -02

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

 

Form S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

 

 

REINSURANCE GROUP OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED

RGA CAPITAL TRUST III

 

RGA CAPITAL TRUST IV

(Exact name of registrants as specified in their respective charters)

 

 

 

 

 

1370 Timberlake Manor Parkway

Chesterfield, Missouri 63017-6039

(636) 736-7000

 

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrants’ principal executive offices)

 

 

 

 

Copies to:

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the Registration Statement becomes effective.

 

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box:  o

 

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box:  þ

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

 

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  þ

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE                                                                                      

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated

1370 Timberlake Manor Parkway

Chesterfield, Missouri 63017-6039

(636) 736-7000

 

Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Common Stock,

Purchase Contracts, Warrants and Units

 

RGA Capital Trust III

RGA Capital Trust IV

 

Preferred Securities Fully, Irrevocably and Unconditionally Guaranteed

on a Subordinated Basis as described in this Document by

Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated

 

 

 

 

Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated and RGA Capital Trust III and RGA Capital Trust IV may offer the securities listed above, including units consisting of any two or more of such securities, from time to time.

 

When RGA, RGA Capital Trust III or RGA Capital Trust IV decide to sell a particular series of securities, we will prepare a prospectus supplement or other offering material describing those securities. You should read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any other offering material carefully before you invest. This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell any securities by us or, where required, by any selling security holders, unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement and any applicable other offering material.

 

Investing in these securities involves risks. Consider carefully the risk factors on page 3 of this prospectus.

 

We or any selling security holders may offer or sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or through a combination of any of these methods, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. The details of any such offering and the plan of distribution will be set forth in a prospectus supplement for such offering.

 

Holders of our common stock are subject to certain acquisition restrictions as described in “Description of Capital Stock of RGA — Acquisition Restrictions.”

 

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RGA”. As of August 4, 2011, the closing price of our common stock was $52.11.

 

 

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

 

 

The date of this prospectus is August 5, 2011.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Investing in our securities involves risk. You should carefully consider the specific risks discussed or incorporated by reference into the applicable prospectus supplement, together with all the other information contained in the prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement. You should also consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. These risk factors may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the “SEC,” in the future.

 

 

In this prospectus, “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” and “RGA” refer to Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated.

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we and RGA Capital Trust III and RGA Capital Trust IV, which we refer to as the “RGA trusts,” filed with the SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we, any RGA trust or selling security holder may, from time to time, sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.

 

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we, any RGA trust or selling security holder may offer. Each time RGA, any RGA trust or selling security holder sells securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the terms of the securities being offered. A prospectus supplement may include a discussion of any risk factors or other specific considerations applicable to those securities or to us. A prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, the documents incorporated by reference therein as described under “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” and additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

We are not offering the securities in any state or jurisdiction where the offer is prohibited.

 

You should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus, in any prospectus supplement and in any other offering material, including the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We have not, and the RGA trusts and the selling security holders have not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any supplement to this prospectus, or any other offering material is accurate at any date other than the date indicated on the cover page of these documents.

 

 

RGA is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. As a result, RGA files annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Because our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RGA”, those materials can also be inspected and copied at the offices of that organization. Here are ways you can review and obtain copies of this information:

 

 

We and the RGA trusts have filed with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, which we refer to as the “Securities Act,” that registers the distribution of these securities. The registration statement, including the

attached exhibits and schedules, contains additional relevant information about us and the securities. The rules and regulations of the SEC allow us to omit certain information included in the registration statement from this prospectus. You can get a copy of the registration statement, at prescribed rates, from the sources listed above. The registration statement and the documents referred to below under “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” are also available on our Internet website, http://www.rgare.com, under “Investor Relations — SEC filings.” Information contained in our Internet website does not constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, except for any information that is superseded by other information that is included in or incorporated by reference into this document.

 

This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below that we have previously filed with the SEC (File No. 1-11848). These documents contain important information about us.

 

 

We incorporate by reference any additional documents that we may file with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (other than those made pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K or other information “furnished” to the SEC) on or after the date of this prospectus, and the termination of the offering of the securities. These documents may include periodic reports, like Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, as well as Proxy Statements. Any material that we subsequently file with the SEC will automatically update and replace the information previously filed with the SEC.

 

For purposes of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated herein by reference modifies or supersedes such statement in such document. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

You can obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the SEC on its website (http://www.sec.gov). You can also obtain these documents from us, without charge (other than exhibits, unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference), by requesting them in writing or by telephone at the following address:

 

Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated

1370 Timberlake Manor Parkway

Chesterfield, Missouri 63017-6039

Attention: Jack B. Lay

Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(636) 736-7000

 

This document and the documents incorporated by reference into this document contain both historical and forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather reflect our current expectations, estimates and projections concerning future results and events. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and include, without limitation, words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “may,” “could,” “intend,” “intent,” “belief,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “predict.” “should,” “foresee,” “likely,” “will” or other similar words or phrases. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that are difficult to predict and that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to vary materially from what is expressed in or indicated by such forward-looking statements. We cannot make any assurance that projected results or events will be achieved.

 

The risk factors set forth or incorporated by reference in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in this document, and the matters discussed in RGA’s SEC filings, including the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, which reports are incorporated by reference in this document, among others, could affect future results, causing these results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements.

 

The forward-looking statements included and incorporated by reference in this document are only made as of the date of this document or the respective documents incorporated by reference herein, as applicable, and we disclaim any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, unless we are obligated to do so under federal securities laws.

 

See “Risk Factors” and “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

Numerous important factors could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements including, without limitation:

 

 

 

Through our operating subsidiaries, we are primarily engaged in life reinsurance in North America and select international locations. In addition, we provide non-traditional reinsurance business, including asset-intensive products and financial reinsurance. Through a predecessor, we have been engaged in the business of life reinsurance since 1973. At June 30, 2011, we had consolidated assets of approximately $30.7 billion, stockholders’ equity of $5.3 billion and assumed reinsurance in force of approximately $2.7 trillion.

 

Reinsurance is an arrangement under which an insurance company, the “reinsurer,” agrees to indemnify another insurance company, the “ceding company,” for all or a portion of the insurance risks underwritten by the ceding company. Reinsurance is designed to:

 

 

We are a holding company, the principal assets of which consist of the common stock of our principal operating subsidiaries, RGA Reinsurance Company and RGA Life Reinsurance Company of Canada (“RGA Canada”), as well as investments in several other subsidiaries.

 

We have five geographic-based or function-based operational segments: United States, Canada, Europe and South Africa, Asia Pacific, and Corporate and Other.

 

 

 

Our executive office is located at 1370 Timberlake Manor Parkway, Chesterfield, Missouri 63017-6039, and our telephone number is (636) 736-7000.

 

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we, the RGA trusts, or the selling security holders may offer. Each time we or either of the RGA trusts sell securities, we will provide and, in the case of the selling security holders, we may provide, a prospectus supplement or other offering material that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. We will file each prospectus supplement with the SEC. The prospectus supplement or other offering material may also add, update or supplement information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any other offering material, together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 3.

 

Each of the RGA trusts is a statutory trust formed under Delaware law. Each RGA trust exists for the exclusive purposes of:

 

 

All of the common securities of each trust will be directly or indirectly owned by RGA. The common securities will rank equally, and payments will be made proportionally, with the preferred securities. However, if an event of default under the amended and restated trust agreement of the respective RGA trust has occurred and is continuing, the cash distributions and liquidation, redemption and other amounts payable on the common securities will be subordinated to the preferred securities in right of payment. We will directly or indirectly acquire common securities in an amount equal to at least 3% of the total capital of each RGA trust. The preferred securities will represent the remaining 97% of such trusts’ capital.

 

RGA will guarantee the preferred securities of each RGA trust as described later in this prospectus.

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, each RGA trust has a term of up to 55 years but may terminate earlier, as provided in its amended and restated trust agreement. Each RGA trust’s business and affairs will be conducted by the trustees appointed by us. According to the amended and restated trust agreement of each RGA trust, as the holder of all of the common securities of an RGA trust, we can increase or decrease the number of trustees of each trust, subject to the requirement under Delaware law that there be a trustee in the State of Delaware and to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Trust Indenture Act”). The amended and restated trust agreement will set forth the duties and obligations of the trustees. A majority of the trustees of each RGA trust will be employees or officers of or persons who are affiliated with RGA, whom we refer to as “administrative trustees.”

 

One trustee of each RGA trust will be an institution, which we refer to as the “property trustee,” that is not affiliated with RGA and has a minimum amount of combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000, which will act as property trustee and as indenture trustee for the purposes of compliance with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, under the terms of the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the property trustee will maintain exclusive control of a segregated, non-interest bearing “payment account” established with The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. to hold all payments made on the junior subordinated debt securities for the benefit of the holders of the trust securities of each RGA trust. In addition, unless the property trustee maintains a principal place of business in the State of Delaware and otherwise meets the requirements of applicable law, one trustee of each RGA trust will be an institution having a principal place of business in, or a natural person resident of, the State of Delaware, which we refer to as the “Delaware trustee.” As the direct or indirect holder of all of the common securities, RGA will be entitled to appoint, remove or replace any of, or increase or reduce the number of, the trustees of each RGA trust, except that if an event of default under the junior subordinated indenture has occurred and is continuing, only the holders of preferred securities may remove the Delaware trustee or the property trustee. RGA will pay all fees and expenses related to the RGA trust and the offering of the preferred securities and the common securities.

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, the property trustee for each RGA trust will be The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Delaware trustee for each RGA trust will be BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware, an affiliate of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., and its address in the state of Delaware is 100 White Clay Center, Suite 102, Newark, Delaware 19711. The principal place of business of each RGA trust is c/o Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated, 1370 Timberlake Manor Parkway, Chesterfield, Missouri 63017-6039, telephone (636) 736-7000.

 

The RGA trusts will not have separate financial statements. The statements would not be material to holders of the preferred securities because the trusts will not have any independent operations. Each of the trusts exists solely for the

reasons provided in the amended and restated trust agreement and summarized above. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, RGA will pay all fees and expenses related to each RGA trust and the offering of its preferred securities, including the fees and expenses of the trustee.

 

Unless otherwise stated in the prospectus supplement or other offering material, we will use the net proceeds from the sale of any securities offered by RGA for general corporate purposes, including the funding of our reinsurance operations. Except as otherwise described in a prospectus supplement or other offering material, the proceeds from the sale by any RGA trust of any preferred securities, together with any capital contributed in respect of common securities, will be loaned to RGA in exchange for RGA’s junior subordinated debt securities. Unless otherwise stated in the prospectus supplement or other offering material, we will use the borrowings from the RGA trusts for general corporate purposes, including the funding of our reinsurance operations. Such general corporate purposes may include, but are not limited to, repayments of our indebtedness or the indebtedness of our subsidiaries. Pending such use, the proceeds may be invested temporarily in short-term, interest-bearing, investment-grade securities or similar assets. The prospectus supplement or other offering material relating to an offering will contain a more detailed description of the use of proceeds of any specific offering of securities. Except as may otherwise be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will not receive any proceeds form any sales of securities by any selling security holder.

 

We may register securities covered by this prospectus for re-offers and resales by any selling security holders to be named in a prospectus supplement. Because we are a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, we may add secondary sales of securities by any selling security holders by filing a prospectus supplement with the SEC. We may register these securities to permit selling security holders to resell their securities when they deem appropriate. A selling security holder may resell all, a portion or none of such security holder’s securities at any time and from time to time. Selling security holders may also sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of some or all of their securities in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. We do not know when or in what amounts any selling security holders may offer securities for sale under this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We may pay some or all expenses incurred with respect to the registration of the securities owned by the selling security holders. We will provide a prospectus supplement naming any selling security holders, the amount of securities to be registered and sold and any other terms of securities being sold by each selling security holder.

 

The following table sets forth our ratios of earnings to fixed charges and earnings to fixed charges, excluding interest credited under reinsurance contracts, for the periods indicated.

 

For purposes of computing the consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of net earnings from continuing operations adjusted for the provision for income taxes and fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest and discount on all indebtedness, distribution requirements of wholly-owned subsidiary trust preferred securities and floating rate insured notes and one-third of annual rentals, which we believe is a reasonable approximation of the interest factor of such rentals. We have not paid a preference security dividend for any of the periods presented and accordingly have not separately shown the ratio of combined fixed charges and preference dividends to earnings for these periods.

 

The information below regarding RGA’s ratio of earnings to fixed charges excluding interest credited under reinsurance contracts is not required; however, we believe it provides useful information on the coverage of fixed charges that are not related to our products.

 

 

We, any RGA trust, or any selling security holder may offer or sell from time to time, in one or more offerings, the following securities:

 

 

This prospectus contains a summary of the material general terms of the various securities that we, any RGA trust, or any selling security holder may offer. The specific terms of the securities will be described in a prospectus supplement or other offering material, which may be in addition to or different from the general terms summarized in this prospectus. Where applicable, the prospectus supplement or other offering material will also describe any material United States federal income tax considerations relating to the securities offered and indicate whether the securities offered are or will be listed on any securities exchange. The summaries contained in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplements or other offering material do not contain all of the information or restate the agreements under which the securities may be issued and do not contain all of the information that you may find useful. We urge you to read the actual agreements relating to any securities because they, and not the summaries, define your rights as a holder of the securities. If you would like to read the agreements, they will be on file with the SEC, as described under “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” on pages 3 and 4, respectively.

 

The terms of any offering, the initial offering price, the net proceeds to us and any other relevant provisions will be contained in the prospectus supplement or other offering material relating to such offering.

 

The following description of the terms of the debt securities sets forth the material terms and provisions of the debt securities to which any prospectus supplement or other offering material may relate. The particular terms of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may apply to the debt securities so offered and any changes to or differences from those general terms will be described in the prospectus supplement or other offering material relating to such debt securities. The debt securities will be either our senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities, or our junior subordinated debt securities, which may, but need not be, issued in connection with the issuance by an RGA trust of its trust preferred securities.

 

The Indentures

 

The senior and subordinated debt securities will be issued in one or more series under an Indenture to be entered into between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee. The junior subordinated debt securities will be issued in one or more series under a Junior Subordinated Indenture, to be entered into between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee. The statements herein relating to the debt securities and the

indentures are summaries and are subject to the detailed provisions of the applicable indenture. Each of the indentures will be subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act. The description of the indentures set forth below assumes that we have entered into the indentures. We will execute the indenture and the junior subordinated indenture when and if we issue senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities and/or junior subordinated debt securities.

 

General

 

The indentures do not limit the aggregate amount of debt securities which we may issue. We may issue debt securities under the indentures up to the aggregate principal amount authorized by our board of directors from time to time. Except as may be described in a prospectus supplement or other offering material, the indentures will not limit the amount of other secured or unsecured debt that we may incur or issue.

 

The debt securities will be our unsecured general obligations. The senior debt securities will rank with all our other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinated and junior in right of payment to all our present and future senior indebtedness to the extent and in the manner set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, the junior subordinated debt securities that we may issue to one of the RGA trusts will be subordinated and junior in right of payment to all our present and future indebtedness, including any senior and subordinated debt securities issued under the indenture to the extent and in the manner set forth in the junior subordinated indenture. See “— Subordination,” beginning on page 16. The indentures will provide that the debt securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series. We may authorize the issuance and provide for the terms of a series of debt securities pursuant to a supplemental indenture.

 

We are a holding company. As a result, we may rely primarily on dividends or other payments from our operating subsidiaries to pay principal and interest on our outstanding debt obligations, and to make dividend distributions on our capital stock. The principal source of funds for these operating subsidiaries comes from their current operations. We can also utilize investment securities maintained in our portfolio for these payments.

 

Applicable insurance regulatory and other legal restrictions limit the amount of dividends and other payments our subsidiaries can make to us. Our subsidiaries have no obligation to guarantee or otherwise pay amounts due under the debt securities. Therefore, the debt securities will be effectively subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities and commitments of our subsidiaries, including claims under reinsurance contracts, debt obligations and other liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business. As of June 30, 2011, our consolidated short- and long-term indebtedness aggregated approximately $1,614.4 million, and our subsidiaries had approximately $23.1 billion of outstanding liabilities, which includes $837.3 million of liabilities associated with the floating rate insured notes issued by our subsidiary, Timberlake Financial, L.L.C. We will disclose material changes to these amounts in any prospectus supplement or other offering material relating to an offering of our debt securities. In the event of a default on any debt securities, the holders of the debt securities will have no right to proceed against the assets of any insurance subsidiary. If the subsidiary were to be liquidated, the liquidation would be conducted under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction. Our right to receive distributions of assets in any liquidation of a subsidiary would be subordinated to the claims of the subsidiary’s creditors, except to the extent any claims of ours as a creditor would be recognized. Any recognized claims of ours would be subordinated to any prior security interest held by any other creditors of the subsidiary and obligations of the subsidiary that are senior to those owing to us.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material relating to the particular series of debt securities will describe specific terms of the debt securities offered thereby, including any terms that are additional or different from those described in this prospectus (Section 3.1 of each indenture).

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, the debt securities will not be listed on any securities exchange.

 

None of our shareholders, officers or directors, past, present or future, will have any personal liability with respect to our obligations under the indenture or the debt securities on account of that status. (Section 1.14 of each indenture).

Form and Denominations

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, debt securities will be issued only in fully registered form, without coupons, and will be denominated in U.S. dollars issued in denominations of U.S. $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. (Section 3.2 of each indenture).

 

Global Debt Securities

 

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement or other offering material for a particular series of debt securities, each series of debt securities will be issued in whole or in part in global form that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the prospectus supplement or other offering material relating to that series. Global securities will be registered in the name of the depositary, which will be the sole direct holder of the global securities. Any person wishing to own a debt security must do so indirectly through an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that, in turn, has an account with the depositary.

 

Special Investor Considerations for Global Securities. Under the terms of the indentures, our obligations with respect to the debt securities, as well as the obligations of each trustee, run only to persons who are registered holders of debt securities. For example, once we make payment to the registered holder, we have no further responsibility for that payment even if the recipient is legally required to pass the payment along to an individual investor but fails to do so. As an indirect holder, an investor’s rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to transfers of debt securities.

 

An investor should be aware that when debt securities are issued in the form of global securities:

 

 

Neither we nor the trustees have any responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interests in the global security, and neither we nor the trustees supervise the depositary in any way.

 

Special Situations When the Global Security Will Be Terminated. In a few special situations described below, the global security will terminate, and interests in the global security will be exchanged for physical certificates representing debt securities. After that exchange, the investor may choose whether to hold debt securities directly or indirectly through an account at the investor’s bank or brokerage firm. In that event, investors must consult their banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests in debt securities transferred to their own names so that they may become direct holders.

 

The special situations where a global security is terminated are:

 

 

A prospectus supplement or other offering material may list situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to a particular series of debt securities. When a global security terminates, the depositary, and not us or one of the trustees, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct holders.

Original Issue Discount Securities

 

Debt securities may be sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount and may bear no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates. Important federal income tax consequences and special considerations applicable to any such debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Indexed Securities

 

If the amount of payments of principal of, and premium, if any, or any interest on, debt securities of any series is determined with reference to any type of index or formula or changes in prices of particular securities or commodities, the federal income tax consequences, specific terms and other information with respect to such debt securities and such index or formula and securities or commodities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material.

 

Foreign Currencies

 

If the principal of, and premium, if any, or any interest on, debt securities of any series are payable in a foreign or composite currency, the restrictions, elections, federal income tax consequences, specific terms and other information with respect to such debt securities and such currency will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material.

 

Payment

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, payments in respect of the debt securities will be made in the designated currency at the office or agency of RGA maintained for that purpose as RGA may designate from time to time, except that, at the option of RGA, interest payments, if any, on debt securities may be made by checks mailed to the holders of debt securities entitled thereto at their registered addresses. (Section 3.7 of each indenture).

 

Payment of Interest With Respect to Debt Securities

 

Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, payment of any installment of interest on debt securities will be made to the person in whose name such debt security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest. (Section 3.7 of each indenture).

 

Transfer and Exchange

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, debt securities will be transferable or exchangeable at the agency of RGA maintained for such purpose as designated by RGA from time to time. Debt securities may be transferred or exchanged without service charge, other than any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection with such transfer or exchange. (Section 3.5 of each indenture).

 

Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance, Sale of Assets and Other Transfers

 

We may not consolidate with or merge with or into or wind up into, whether or not we are the surviving corporation, or sell, assign, convey, transfer or lease substantially all of our properties and assets, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, to any person, unless:

 

 

Upon the consolidation, merger or sale, the successor corporation formed by the consolidation, or into which we are merged or to which the sale is made, will succeed to, and be substituted for us under each indenture. (Section 9.2 of each indenture).

 

Unless a prospectus supplement or other offering material relating to a particular series of debt securities provides otherwise, the indenture and the terms of the debt securities will not contain any covenants designed to afford holders of any debt securities protection in a highly leveraged or other transaction involving us, whether or not resulting in a change of control, which may adversely affect holders of the debt securities.

 

Option to Extend Interest Payment Period

 

If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, we will have the right, as long as no event of default under the applicable series of debt securities has occurred and is continuing, at any time and from time to time during the term of the series of debt securities to defer the payment of interest on one or more series of debt securities for the number of consecutive interest payment periods specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, subject to the terms, conditions and covenants, if any, specified in the prospectus supplement or other offering material, provided that no extension period may extend beyond the stated maturity of the debt securities. Material United States federal income tax consequences and special considerations applicable to these debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, at the end of the extension period, we will pay all interest then accrued and unpaid together with interest on accrued and unpaid interest compounded semiannually at the rate specified for the debt securities to the extent permitted by applicable law. However, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, during the extension period neither we nor any of our subsidiaries may:

 

 

(1) purchases of our capital stock in connection with any employee or agent benefit plans or the satisfaction of our obligations under any contract or security outstanding on the date of the event requiring us to purchase capital stock,

 

(2) in connection with the reclassifications of any class or series of our capital stock, or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of our capital stock for or into another class or series of our capital stock,

 

(3) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of our capital stock in connection with the conversion or exchange provisions of that capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged,

 

(4) dividends or distributions in our capital stock, or rights to acquire capital stock, or repurchases or redemptions of capital stock solely from the issuance or exchange of capital stock, or

 

(5) any non-cash dividends declared in connection with the implementation of a shareholder rights plan by us;

 

 

Prior to the termination of any extension period, as long as no event of default under the applicable indenture has occurred and is continuing, we may further defer payments of interest, subject to the above limitations set forth in this section, by extending the interest payment period; provided, however, that, the extension period, including all previous and further extensions, may not extend beyond the maturity of the debt securities.

 

Upon the termination of any extension period and the payment of all amounts then due, we will have the right to commence a new extension period, subject to the above limitations set forth in this section. No interest will be payable

during an extension period; instead, interest will only be due and payable at the end of the extension period. However, we will have the right to prepay at any time all or any portion of the interest accrued during an extension period. We do not currently intend to exercise our right to defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment period on the debt securities. In the case of our junior subordinated debt securities, if the property trustee is the sole holder of such debt securities, we will give the administrative trustees and the property trustee notice of our selection of an extension period two business days before the earlier of (1) the next succeeding date on which distributions on the preferred securities are payable or (2) the date the administrative trustees are required to give notice to the New York Stock Exchange, or other applicable self-regulatory organization, or to holders of the preferred securities of the record or payment date of the distribution, but in any event, at least one business day before such record date. The administrative trustees will give notice of our selection of the extension period to the holders of the preferred securities. If the property trustee is not the sole holder of such debt securities, or in the case of the senior and subordinated debt securities, we will give the holders of these debt securities notice of our selection of an extension period at least two business days before the earlier of (1) the next succeeding interest payment date or (2) the date upon which we are required to give notice to the New York Stock Exchange, or other applicable self-regulatory organization, or to holders of such debt securities of the record or payment date of the related interest payment. (Article XVII of the junior subordinated indenture).

 

Modification or Amendment of the Indentures

 

Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders. Without the consent of any holders, we and the trustee may enter into one or supplemental indentures for certain purposes, including:

 

(1) to evidence the succession of another corporation to our rights and the assumption by such successor of the covenants contained in each indenture;

 

(2) to add to our covenants for the benefit of all or any series of debt securities, or to surrender any of our rights or powers;

 

(3) to add any additional events of default;

 

(4) to change or eliminate any provisions, as long as any such change or elimination is effective only when there are no outstanding debt securities of any series created before the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of the provisions being changed or eliminated;

 

(5) to provide security for or guarantee of the debt securities;

 

(6) to supplement any of the provisions to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of debt securities in accordance with such indenture;

 

(7) to establish the form or terms of debt securities in accordance with each indenture;

 

(8) to provide for the acceptance of the appointment of a successor trustee for any series of debt securities or to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts under the indenture by more than one trustee;

 

(9) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision of any indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision, to eliminate any conflict with the Trust Indenture Act or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under such indenture which are not inconsistent with any provision of the indenture, as long as the additional provisions do not adversely affect the interests of the holders in any material respect;

 

(10) to change the conversion rights; or

 

(11) in the case of the junior subordinated indenture, to modify the subordination provisions thereof, except in a manner which would be adverse to the holders of subordinated or junior subordinated debt securities of any series then outstanding. (Section 10.1 of each indenture).

 

Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders. If we receive the consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected, we may enter into supplemental indentures with the trustee for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of each indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders under the indenture of such debt

securities. As long as any of the preferred securities of an RGA trust remain outstanding, no modification of the related junior subordinated indenture may be made that requires the consent of the holders of the related junior subordinated debt securities, no termination of the related junior subordinated indenture may occur, and no waiver of any event of default under the related junior subordinated indenture may be effective, without the prior consent of the holders of a majority of the aggregate liquidation amount of the preferred securities of such RGA trust.

 

However, unless we receive the consent of all of the affected holders, we may not enter into supplemental indentures that would, with respect to the debt securities of such holders:

 

(1) conflict with the required provisions of the Trust Indenture Act;

 

(2) except as described in any prospectus supplement or other offering material:

 

 

(3) reduce the requirement for majority approval of supplemental indentures, or for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of either indenture or certain defaults; or

 

(4) modify any provisions of either indenture relating to waiver of past defaults with respect to that series, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of such indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holders of each such debt security of each series affected thereby. (Section 10.2 of each indenture).

 

It is not necessary for holders of the debt securities to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it is sufficient if the holders approve the substance thereof. (Section 10.2 of each indenture).

 

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of the indenture to which it relates with respect to one or more particular series of debt securities or which modifies the rights of the holders of debt securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, will be deemed not to affect the rights under such indenture of the holders of debt securities of any other series. (Section 10.2 of each indenture).

 

Subordination

 

The subordinated debt securities will be subordinated and junior in right of payment to all our present and future senior indebtedness to the extent and in the manner set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material. In the junior subordinated indenture, RGA has covenanted and agreed that any junior subordinated debt securities issued thereunder are subordinated and junior in right of payment to all present and future senior indebtedness to the extent provided in the indenture. (Section 16.1 of the junior subordinated indenture). Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, the junior subordinated indenture defines the term

“senior indebtedness” with respect to each respective series of junior subordinated debt securities, to mean the principal, premium, if any, and interest on:

 

 

In the case of the junior subordinated indenture, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, senior indebtedness also includes all subordinated debt securities issued under the indenture. The senior indebtedness will continue to be senior indebtedness and entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of the senior indebtedness or extension or renewal of the senior indebtedness. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, senior indebtedness will not include (A) indebtedness incurred for the purchase of goods or materials or for services obtained in the ordinary course of business and (B) any indebtedness which by its terms is expressly made pari passu, or equal in rank and payment, with or subordinated to the junior subordinated debt securities. (Section 16.2 of the junior subordinated indenture).

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, no direct or indirect payment, in cash, property or securities, by set-off or otherwise, shall be made or agreed to be made on account of the junior subordinated debt securities or interest thereon or in respect of any repayment, redemption, retirement, purchase or other acquisition of such junior subordinated debt securities, if:

 

 

unless and until such default in payment or event of default has been cured or waived or ceases to exist. (Section 16.4 of the junior subordinated indenture).

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, all present and future senior indebtedness, which shall include subordinated indebtedness in the case of our junior subordinated debt securities, including, without limitation, interest accruing after the commencement of any proceeding described below, assignment or marshaling of assets, shall first be paid in full before any payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property, shall be made by RGA on account of junior subordinated debt securities in the event of:

 

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials, in any such event, payments or distributions which would otherwise be made on junior subordinated debt securities will generally be paid to the holders of senior indebtedness, or their representatives, in accordance with the priorities existing among these creditors at that time until the senior indebtedness is paid in full. (Section 16.3 of the junior subordinated indenture). No present or future holder of any senior indebtedness will be prejudiced in the right to enforce the subordination of junior subordinated debt securities by any act or failure to act on the part of RGA. (Section 16.9 of the junior subordinated indenture).

Senior indebtedness will only be deemed to have been paid in full if the holders of such indebtedness have received cash, securities or other property which is equal to the amount of the outstanding senior indebtedness. After payment in full of all present and future senior indebtedness, holders of junior subordinated debt securities will be subrogated to the rights of any holders of senior indebtedness to receive any further payments or distributions that are applicable to the senior indebtedness until all the junior subordinated debt securities are paid in full. In matters between holders of junior subordinated debt securities and any other type of RGA’s creditors, any payments or distributions that would otherwise be paid to holders of senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities and that are made to holders of junior subordinated debt securities because of this subrogation will be deemed a payment by RGA on account of senior indebtedness and not on account of junior subordinated debt securities. (Section 16.7 of the junior subordinated indenture).

 

The junior subordinated indenture provides that the foregoing subordination provisions may be changed, except in a manner which would be adverse to the holders of junior subordinated debt securities of any series then outstanding. (Sections 10.1 and 10.2 of the junior subordinated indenture). The prospectus supplement or other offering materials relating to such junior subordinated debt securities would describe any such change.

 

The prospectus supplement or other offering materials delivered in connection with the offering of a series of subordinated debt or junior subordinated debt securities will set forth a more detailed description of the subordination provisions applicable to any such debt securities.

 

If this prospectus is being delivered in connection with the offering of a series of subordinated or junior subordinated debt securities, the accompanying prospectus supplement or other offering materials or information incorporated by reference will set forth the approximate amount of indebtedness senior to such subordinated or junior subordinated indebtedness outstanding as of a recent date. The indenture and the junior subordinated indenture place no limitation on the amount of additional senior indebtedness that may be incurred by RGA. RGA expects from time to time to incur additional indebtedness constituting senior indebtedness. See “— General” on page 11 for a summary of our indebtedness at June 30, 2011.

 

Events of Default

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, an event of default with respect to any series of debt securities issued under each of the indentures means:

 

 

Within 90 days after a default in respect of any series of debt securities, the trustee, or property trustee, if applicable, must give to the holders of such series notice of all uncured and unwaived defaults by us known to it. However, except in the case of default in payment, the trustee may withhold such notice if it determines that such withholding is in the interest of such holders. (Section 6.2 of each indenture).

 

If an event of default occurs in respect of any outstanding series of debt securities and is continuing, the trustee under the indenture, the property trustee under the junior subordinated indenture or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal amount, or, if the debt securities of that series are original issue discount securities or indexed securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified

in the terms of those securities, of all of the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately by written notice thereof to us, and to the trustee or property trustee, if applicable, if given by the holders of the debt securities. Upon any such declaration, such principal or specified amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, and premium, if payable, will become immediately due and payable. However, with respect to any debt securities issued under the junior subordinated indenture, the payment of principal and interest on such debt securities shall remain subordinated to the extent provided in Article XVI of the junior subordinated indenture. In addition, at any time after such a declaration of acceleration but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained, the holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of that series may, subject to specified conditions, rescind and annul such acceleration if all events of default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal, or premium, if any, or interest on debt securities of such series have been cured or waived as provided in the indenture. (Section 5.2 of each indenture).

 

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series, may waive any past default and its consequences, except that they may not waive an uncured default in payment or a default which cannot be waived without the consent of the holders of all outstanding securities of that series; provided that the holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding debt securities may rescind and annul a declaration of acceleration, as described above. (Section 5.13 of each indenture).

 

Within four months after the close of each fiscal year, we must file with the trustee a statement, signed by specified officers, stating whether or not such officers have knowledge of any default under the indenture and, if so, specifying each such default and the nature and status of each such default. (Section 11.2 of each indenture).

 

Subject to provisions in the applicable indenture relating to its duties in case of default, the trustee, or property trustee, if applicable, is not required to take action at the request of any holders of debt securities, unless such holders have offered to the trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it. (Section 6.3 of each indenture).

 

Subject to such indemnification requirements and other limitations set forth in the applicable indenture, if any event of default has occurred, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting proceedings for remedies available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, in respect of such series. (Section 5.12 of each indenture).

 

Defeasance; Satisfaction and Discharge

 

Legal or Covenant Defeasance.  Each indenture provides that we may be discharged from our obligations in respect of the debt securities of any series, as described below. These provisions will apply to any debt securities, unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement or other offering material. The prospectus supplement or other offering material will describe any defeasance provisions that apply to other types of debt securities. (Section 14.1 of each indenture).

 

At our option, we may choose either one of the following alternatives:

 

 

In either case, we will be so discharged upon the deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money and/or U.S. Government Obligations that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants to pay and discharge each installment of principal, including any mandatory sinking fund payments, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities. This discharge may occur only if, among other things, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of

counsel or an Internal Revenue Service ruling to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance. (Section 14.2 of each indenture).

 

In addition, with respect to the junior subordinated indenture, in order to be discharged, no event or condition shall exist that, pursuant to certain provisions described under “— Subordination” above, would prevent us from making payments of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on junior subordinated debt securities at the date of the irrevocable deposit referred to above. (Section 14.2 of the junior subordinated indenture).

 

Covenant Defeasance and Events of Default.  In the event we exercise our option to effect covenant defeasance with respect to any series of debt securities and the debt securities of that series are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any event of default, the amount of money and/or U.S. Government Obligations on deposit with the trustee will be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of that series at the time of their stated maturity but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of that series at the time of the acceleration resulting from the event of default. However, we will remain liable for those payments.

 

“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are (1) direct obligations of the United States for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or (2) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and will also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that, except as required by law, such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt. (Section 14.2 of each indenture).

 

We may exercise our legal defeasance option even if we have already exercised our covenant defeasance option. (Section 14.2 of each indenture).

 

There may be additional provisions relating to defeasance which we will describe in the prospectus supplement or other offering material. (Section 14.1 of each indenture).

 

Conversion or Exchange

 

Any series of the senior or subordinated debt securities may be convertible or exchangeable into common or preferred stock or other debt securities registered under the registration statement relating to this prospectus. The specific terms and conditions on which such debt securities may be so converted or exchanged will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material. Those terms may include the conversion or exchange price, provisions for conversion or exchange, either mandatory, at the option of the holder, or at our option, whether we have an option to convert debt securities into cash, rather than common stock, and provisions under which the number of shares of common or preferred stock or other securities to be received by the holders of debt securities would be calculated as of a time and in the manner stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. (Section 15.1 of each indenture).

 

Governing Law

 

The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York. (Section 1.11 of each indenture).

 

Regarding the Trustee

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. will be the trustee under the indenture and the junior subordinated indenture relating to the junior subordinated debt securities which may be offered to the RGA trusts. We have entered, and from time to time may continue to enter, into banking or other relationships with such trustees or their affiliates, including The Bank of New York and BNY Mellon Shareowner Services. For example, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. is

successor trustee of the indentures relating to our 6.75% notes due 2011, our 5.625% Senior Notes due 2017, our 6.45% Senior Notes due 2019, our 5.00% Senior Notes due 2021, and our 6.75% junior subordinated debentures due 2065, a lender under our principal credit agreement, and provides other banking and financial services to us. BNY Mellon Shareowner Services is the transfer agent and registrar for our common stock, and also serves as the rights agent under our Section 382 shareholder rights plan.

 

If the trustee is or becomes one of our creditors, the indenture limits the right of the trustee to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claims as security or otherwise. The trustee will be permitted to engage in other transactions. However, if after a specified default has occurred and is continuing, it acquires or has a conflicting interest (such as continuing to serve as trustee with respect to outstanding notes or debentures or continuing to be a creditor of RGA in certain circumstances), it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days or receive permission from the SEC to continue as a trustee or resign.

 

There may be more than one trustee under each indenture, each with respect to one or more series of debt securities. (Section 1.1 of each indenture). Any trustee may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of debt securities, and a successor trustee may be appointed to act with respect to such series. (Section 6.10 of each indenture).

 

If two or more persons are acting as trustee with respect to different series of debt securities, each trustee will be a trustee of a trust under the indenture separate from the trust administered by any other such trustee. Except as otherwise indicated in this prospectus, any action to be taken by the trustee may be taken by each such trustee with respect to, and only with respect to, the one or more series of debt securities for which it is trustee under the indenture.

 

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK OF RGA

 

The following is a summary of the material terms of our capital stock and the provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation and bylaws. It also summarizes some relevant provisions of the Missouri General and Business Corporation Law, which we refer to as Missouri law. Since the terms of our articles of incorporation, and bylaws, and Missouri law, are more detailed than the general information provided below, you should only rely on the actual provisions of those documents and Missouri law. If you would like to read those documents, they are on file with the SEC, as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 3.

 

General

 

RGA’s authorized capital stock consists of 150 million shares of capital stock, of which:

 

 

As of June 30, 2011, RGA had approximately 74.1 million shares of common stock outstanding, and approximately 4.0 million shares issuable upon exercise or settlement of outstanding options or other awards.

 

The outstanding shares of common stock are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

Common Stock

 

Subject to the prior rights of the holders of any shares of preferred stock which later may be issued and outstanding, holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends as and when declared by us out of legally available funds, and, if we liquidate, dissolve, or wind up RGA, to share ratably in all remaining assets after we pay liabilities. We are prohibited from paying dividends under our credit agreement unless, at the time of declaration and payment, certain defaults would not exist under such agreement. Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters presented to a vote of shareholders, including the election of directors. Holders of common stock have no cumulative voting rights or preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for any stock or other securities and there are no conversion rights or redemption or sinking fund provisions for the common stock.

 

We may issue additional shares of authorized common stock without shareholder approval, subject to applicable rules of the New York Stock Exchange.

BNY Mellon Shareowner Services, 480 Washington Boulevard, Jersey City, New Jersey 07310, is the registrar and transfer agent for our common stock. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RGA”.

 

Acquisition Restrictions

 

Our articles of incorporation generally restrict the accumulation of 5% or more (by value) of RGA stock until September 13, 2011, or such shorter period as may be determined by our board of directors (which is referred to as the “restriction period”). The acquisition restrictions impose restrictions on the acquisition of our common stock (and any other equity securities that RGA issues in the future) by designated persons. Without these restrictions, it is possible that certain changes in ownership of our stock could result in the imposition of limitations on the ability of RGA and its subsidiaries to fully utilize the net operating losses and other tax attributes currently available for U.S. federal and state income tax purposes to RGA and its subsidiaries. Our board of directors believes it is in our best interests to attempt to prevent the imposition of such limitations.

 

During the restriction period, no RGA shareholder may be or become a “5-percent shareholder” of RGA as defined in the Internal Revenue Code (applying certain attribution and constructive ownership rules). However, this restriction will not apply to:

 

 

Any person permitted to acquire or own RGA stock representing 5% or more (by value) of RGA stock pursuant to any of the preceding bullet points will not be permitted to acquire any additional RGA stock at any time during the restriction period without the approval of our board of directors, unless and until such person owns less than 5% (by value) of RGA stock, at which point such person may acquire RGA stock only to the extent that, after such acquisition, such person owns less than 5% (by value) of RGA stock.

 

Preferred Stock

 

Our articles of incorporation vest our board of directors with authority to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock from time to time in one or more series, with such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as may be stated in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such stock adopted from time to time by the board of directors. Our board of directors is expressly authorized to fix or determine:

 

 

 

All shares of the same series of preferred stock will be identical and of equal rank except as to the times from which cumulative dividends, if any, on those shares will be cumulative. The shares of different series may differ, including as to rank, as may be provided in our articles of incorporation, or as may be fixed by our board of directors as described above. We may from time to time amend our articles of incorporation to increase or decrease the number of authorized shares of preferred stock.

 

A total of 1,400,000 of these authorized preferred shares have been designated as Series A-1 Junior Participating Preferred Stock.

 

The material terms of any series of preferred stock being offered by us will be described in the prospectus supplement or other offering material relating to that series of preferred stock. If so indicated in the prospectus supplement or other offering material and if permitted by the articles of incorporation and by law, the terms of any such series may differ from the terms set forth below. That prospectus supplement may not restate the amendment to our articles of incorporation or the board resolution that establishes a particular series of preferred stock in its entirety. We urge you to read that amendment or board resolution because it, and not the description in the prospectus supplement or other offering material, will define your rights as a holder of preferred stock. The certificate of amendment to our articles of incorporation or board resolution will be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Missouri and with the SEC.

 

Dividend Rights. One or more series of preferred stock may be preferred as to payment of dividends over our common stock or any other stock ranking junior to the preferred stock as to dividends. In that case, before any dividends or distributions on our common stock or stock of junior rank, other than dividends or distributions payable in common stock, are declared and set apart for payment or paid, the holders of shares of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors. We will pay those dividends either in cash, shares of common stock or preferred stock or otherwise, at the rate and on the date or dates indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. With respect to each series of preferred stock entitled to cumulative dividends, the dividends on each share of that series will be cumulative from the date of issue of the share unless some other date is set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the series. Accruals of dividends will not bear interest. We are prohibited from paying dividends under our credit agreement unless, at the time of declaration and payment, a default would not exist under the agreement.

 

Rights upon Liquidation. The preferred stock may be preferred over common stock, or any other stock ranking junior to the preferred stock with respect to distribution of assets, as to our assets so that the holders of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to be paid, upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up and before any distribution is made to the holders of common stock or stock of junior rank, the amount set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. However, in this case the holders of preferred stock will not be entitled to any other or further payment. If upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up our net assets are insufficient to permit the payment in full of the respective amounts to which the holders of all outstanding preferred stock are entitled, our entire remaining net assets will be distributed among the holders of each series of preferred stock in an amount proportional to the full amounts to which the holders of each series are entitled.

 

Redemption. All shares of any series of preferred stock will be redeemable, if at all, to the extent set forth in the prospectus supplement or other offering material relating to the series.

 

Conversion or Exchange. Shares of any series of preferred stock will be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock or preferred stock or other securities, if at all, to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material.

 

Preemptive Rights. No holder of shares of any series of preferred stock will have any preemptive or preferential rights to subscribe to or purchase shares of any class or series of stock, now or hereafter authorized, or any securities convertible

into, or warrants or other evidences of optional rights to purchase or subscribe to, shares of any series, now or hereafter authorized.

 

Voting Rights. Except as indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material and subject to provisions in our articles of incorporation relating to the rights of our common stock, the holders of voting preferred stock will be entitled to one vote for each share of preferred stock held by them on all matters properly presented to shareholders. Except as otherwise provided in the amendment to our articles of incorporation or the directors resolution that creates a specified class of preferred stock, the holders of common stock and the holders of all series of preferred stock will vote together as one class. In addition, currently under Missouri law, even if shares of a particular class or series of stock are not otherwise entitled to a vote on any matters submitted to the shareholders, amendments to the articles of incorporation which adversely affect those shares require a vote of the class or series of which such shares are a part, including amendments which would:

 

 

Most of our operations are conducted through our subsidiaries, and thus our ability to pay dividends on any series of preferred stock is dependent on their financial condition, results of operations, cash requirements and other related factors. Our subsidiaries are also subject to restrictions on dividends and other distributions contained under applicable insurance laws and related regulations.

 

Depending upon the rights of holders of the preferred stock, an issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect holders of common stock by delaying or preventing a change of control of RGA, making removal of the management of RGA difficult, or restricting the payment of dividends and other distributions to the holders of common stock.

 

As described under “Description of Depositary Shares of RGA,” we may, at our option, elect to offer depositary shares evidenced by depositary receipts, each representing an interest, to be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement for the particular series of the preferred stock, in a share of the particular series of the preferred stock issued and deposited with a preferred stock depositary. All shares of preferred stock offered by this prospectus, or issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of securities, will, when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable.

 

Certain Effects of Authorized but Unissued Stock

 

We may issue additional shares of common stock or preferred stock without shareholder approval, subject to applicable rules of the New York Stock Exchange, for a variety of corporate purposes, including raising additional capital, corporate acquisitions, and employee benefit plans. The existence of unissued and unreserved common and preferred stock may enable us to issue shares to persons who are friendly to current management, which could discourage an attempt to obtain control of RGA through a merger, tender offer, proxy contest, or otherwise, and protect the continuity of management and possibly deprive you of opportunities to sell your shares at prices higher than the prevailing market prices. We could also use additional shares to dilute the stock ownership of persons seeking to obtain control of RGA pursuant to the operation of the rights plan or otherwise. See also “— Anti-Takeover Provisions in the RGA Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws” below.

 

Section 382 Shareholder Rights Plan

 

On November 25, 2008, RGA entered into an Second Amended and Restated Section 382 Rights Agreement (the “Section 382 shareholder rights plan”) with Mellon Investor Services LLC, as Rights Agent (the “Rights Agent”). The Section 382 shareholder rights plan, among other things, provides that one preferred share purchase right is outstanding for each share of common stock outstanding and that each such right entitles the registered holder to purchase from RGA, under certain circumstances, one one-hundredth of a share of series A-1 junior participating

preferred stock at a price of $200 per one one-hundredth of a share of series A-1 junior participating preferred stock, subject to adjustment.

 

The Section 382 shareholder rights plan is intended to act as a deterrent to any person being or becoming a “5-percent shareholder” (as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code and the related Treasury regulations) without the approval of our board of directors (such person is referred to as an “acquiring person”). The meaning of the term acquiring person does not include:

 

 

Shareholders who owned 5% or more (by value) of common stock outstanding on June 2, 2008, the time of adoption of the original Section 382 shareholder rights plan, will not trigger the Section 382 shareholder rights plan so long as they do not acquire any additional shares of RGA stock (except for any such shares that are acquired in a transaction that also results in such person being an exempted person). These shareholders, which include MetLife and its subsidiaries, are referred to as “grandfathered persons.”

 

For purposes of the Section 382 shareholder rights plan, RGA “stock” means: (i) common stock, (ii) preferred stock (other than preferred stock described in Section 1504(a)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code), (iii) warrants, rights, or options (including options within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.382-2T(h)(4)(v)) to purchase stock (other than preferred stock described in Section 1504(a)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code), and (iv) any other interest that would be treated as “stock” of RGA pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 1.382-2T(f)(18).

 

MetLife security holders who received our class B common stock (which was subsequently converted into common stock) directly from MetLife in the split-off (the “Split-Off”) that occurred in September 2008 in connection with the Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement, dated June 1, 2008, between RGA and MetLife (the “Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement”), which caused them to hold 5% or more (by value) of RGA stock, did not trigger the rights plan. However, the rights plan does not exempt any future acquisitions of RGA stock by such persons. In addition, RGA may, in its sole discretion, exempt any person or group from being deemed an acquiring person for purposes of the rights plan at any time prior to the time the rights are no longer redeemable. The persons described in this paragraph are “exempted persons.”

 

Under certain circumstances, our board of directors may determine it is in the best interest of RGA and its shareholders to exempt 5-percent shareholders from the operation of the Section 382 shareholder rights plan, in light of the provisions of the Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement. RGA may, in certain circumstances, incur significant indemnification obligations under the Recapitalization and Distribution Agreement in the event that the Section 382 shareholder rights plan is triggered following the Split-Off in a manner that would result in the Split-Off failing to qualify as tax-free. Accordingly, our board of directors may determine that the consequences of enforcing the Section 382 shareholder rights plan and enhancing its deterrent effect by not exempting a 5-percent shareholder in order to provide protection to RGA’s and its subsidiaries’ net operating losses and other tax attributes, are more adverse to RGA and its shareholders.

 

The Rights. RGA has issued one preferred share purchase right (which is referred to as a “right”) for each outstanding share of common stock. Shares of common stock issued while the Section 382 rights plan is in effect will be issued with rights attached. Each right, when exercisable, will entitle the registered holder to purchase from RGA one one-hundredth of a share of Series A-1 Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (which is referred to as the “junior

participating preferred stock”), of RGA at a price of $200 per one one-hundredth of a share of junior participating preferred stock (which is referred to as the “purchase price”), subject to adjustment.

 

No right is exercisable until the earliest to occur of (1) the close of business on the tenth business day following the date of the earlier of either public announcement that a person has become, or RGA first has notice or otherwise determines that a person has become, an acquiring person without the prior express written consent of RGA; or (2) the close of business on the tenth business day following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer, without the prior written consent of RGA, by a person which, upon consummation, would result in such person becoming an acquiring person (the earlier of the dates in clause (1) or (2) above being referred to in this document as the “distribution date”).

 

Until the distribution date, the rights will be transferred with and only with the common stock. Until the distribution date, new common stock certificates or ownership statements issued upon transfer or new issuances of common stock will contain a notation incorporating the Section 382 shareholder rights plan by reference. As soon as practicable following the distribution date, separate certificates evidencing the rights (“right certificates”) will be mailed to holders of record of the common stock as of the close of business on the distribution date and such separate certificates alone will then evidence the rights.

 

Expiration. The rights will expire, if not previously exercised, on the earlier to occur of (1) the final expiration date (as defined below) or (2) the time at which the rights are redeemed or exchanged pursuant to the Section 382 shareholder rights plan. The final expiration date is the earlier of (a) the date that is 36 months and one day following the completion of the Split-Off, or September 13, 2011, or (b) such other date as our board of directors may determine in good faith in accordance with the Section 382 shareholder rights plan.

 

Junior Participating Preferred Stock. Shares of junior participating preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of the rights will not be redeemable and will be junior to any other series of preferred stock RGA may issue (unless otherwise provided in the terms of such stock). Each share of junior participating preferred stock will have a preferential dividend in an amount equal to the greater of $1.00 and 100 times any dividend declared on each share of common stock. In the event of liquidation, the holders of the junior participating preferred stock will receive a preferred liquidation payment per share of series junior participating preferred stock equal to the greater of $100 and 100 times the payment made per share of the common stock. Each share of junior participating preferred stock will have 100 votes, voting together with the common stock. In the event of any merger, consolidation, combination or other transaction in which shares of common stock are converted or exchanged, each share of junior participating preferred stock will be entitled to receive 100 times the amount and type of consideration received per share of the common stock. The rights of the junior participating preferred stock as to dividends, liquidation and voting, and in the event of mergers and consolidations, are protected by customary anti-dilution provisions. Because of the nature of the junior participating preferred stock’s dividend, liquidation and voting rights, the value of the one one-hundredth interest in a share of junior participating preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of each right should approximate the value of one share of the common stock.

 

Effects of Triggering Events. If any person or group becomes an acquiring person without the prior written consent of our board of directors (and such person or group is not an exempted person or a grandfathered person), each right, except those held by such persons, would entitle its holder to acquire such number of shares of common stock as will equal the result obtained by multiplying the then current purchase price by the number of one one-hundredths of a share of junior participating preferred stock for which a right is then exercisable and dividing that product by 50% of the then current per-share market price of the common stock.

 

If any person or group becomes an acquiring person without prior written consent of our board of directors, but beneficially owns less than 50% of the outstanding common stock, each right, except those held by such persons, may be exchanged by our board of directors for one share of common stock.

 

Redemption. At any time prior to the earlier of the 10th business day after the time an acquiring person becomes such or the date that is 36 months and one day following the completion of the Split-Off, or September 13, 2011, our board of directors may redeem the rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001 per right (which is referred to as the “redemption price”). Immediately upon any redemption of the rights, the right to exercise the rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of rights will be to receive the redemption price.

 

Adjustments. The purchase price payable, and the number of shares of junior participating preferred stock or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution

(1) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the junior participating preferred stock, (2) upon the grant to holders of junior participating preferred stock of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase preferred stock at a price, or securities convertible into junior participating preferred stock with a conversion price, less than the then-current market price of junior participating preferred stock or (3) upon the distribution to holders of junior participating preferred stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends or dividends payable in junior participating preferred stock) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).

 

The number of outstanding rights and the number of one one-hundredths of a share of junior participating preferred stock issuable upon exercise of each right are also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split of the common stock or a stock dividend on the common stock payable in shares of common stock or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the common stock (other than the conversion related to the Split-Off) occurring, in any such case, prior to the distribution date.

 

The terms of the rights may be amended by RGA without the consent of the holders of the rights, except that from and after such time as any person becomes an acquiring person, no such amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of the rights.

 

Until a right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a shareholder of RGA, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.

 

Anti-Takeover Effect. The Section 382 shareholder rights plan may have an “anti-takeover” effect because it will restrict the ability of a person or entity, or group of persons or entities, from accumulating in the aggregate 5% or more (by value) of our stock and the ability of persons, entities or groups now owning 5% or more (by value) of our stock from acquiring additional RGA stock. Like the acquisition restrictions in our articles of incorporation, the Section 382 shareholder rights plan could discourage or prohibit a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or accumulations of substantial blocks of shares for which some shareholders might receive a premium above market value. In addition, the Section 382 shareholder rights plan may delay the assumption of control by a holder of a large block of our stock and the removal of incumbent directors and management, even if such removal may be beneficial to some or all RGA shareholders.

 

Possible Effect on Liquidity. The Section 382 shareholder rights plan will restrict an RGA shareholder’s ability to acquire, directly or indirectly, additional RGA stock in excess of the specified limitations. Further, a shareholder’s ownership of our stock may become subject to the effects of the Section 382 shareholder rights plan upon the actions taken by related persons. A legend reflecting the existence of the Section 382 shareholder rights plan is and will be placed on certificates or ownership statements representing newly issued or transferred shares of RGA stock. These restrictions may also result in a decreased valuation of our stock due to the resulting restrictions on transfers to persons directly or indirectly owning or seeking to acquire a significant block of our stock.

 

Limitation on Liability of Directors; Indemnification

 

Our articles of incorporation limit the liability of our directors to RGA and its shareholders to the fullest extent permitted by Missouri law. Our articles of incorporation provide that RGA will indemnify each person (other than a party plaintiff suing on his own behalf or in the right of RGA) who at any time is serving or has served as a director or officer of RGA against any claim, liability or expense incurred as a result of this service, or as a result of any other service on behalf of RGA, or service at the request of RGA as a director, officer, employee, member or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, trade or industry association or other enterprise (whether incorporated or unincorporated, for-profit or not-for-profit), to the maximum extent permitted by law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, RGA will indemnify any such person who was or is a party (other than a party plaintiff suing on his own behalf or in the right of RGA), or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (including, but not limited to, an action by or in the right of RGA) by reason of such service against expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding. We have entered into indemnification agreements with our officers and directors providing for indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by law.

The inclusion of these provisions in our articles of incorporation may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and may discourage or deter RGA or its shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their duty of care, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise have benefited RGA and its shareholders.

 

Anti-Takeover Provisions in the RGA Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

 

Some of the provisions in our articles of incorporation and bylaws and Section 351.459 of the Missouri corporation statute could have the following effects, among others:

 

 

The following is a summary of some of the provisions in our articles of incorporation and bylaws that could have the effects described above.

 

Classified Board of Directors. Our articles of incorporation and bylaws provide that our board of directors will be divided into three classes of directors serving staggered three-year terms. Each class, to the extent possible, will be equal in number. The size of our board of directors will not be less than three and our board of directors can amend the number of directors by majority vote. Each class holds office until the third annual shareholders’ meeting for election of directors following the most recent election of such class.

 

Directors, and Not Shareholders, Fix the Size of the Board of Directors of RGA. Our articles of incorporation and bylaws provide that the number of directors will be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of our board of directors, but in no event will it consist of less than three directors. In accordance with our bylaws, our board of directors has fixed the number of directors at nine.

 

Directors are Removed for Cause Only. Missouri law provides that, unless a corporation’s articles of incorporation provide otherwise, the holders of a majority of the corporation’s voting stock may remove any director from office. Our articles of incorporation provide that shareholders may remove a director only “for cause” and with the approval of the holders of 85% of RGA’s voting stock. Our board of directors may remove a director, with or without cause, only in the event the director fails to meet the qualifications stated in the bylaws for election as a director or in the event the director is in breach of any agreement between such director and RGA relating to such director’s service as RGA’s director or employee.

 

Board Vacancies to Be Filled by Remaining Directors and Not Shareholders. Any vacancy created by any reason prior to the expiration of the class in which the vacancy occurs will by filled by a majority of the remaining directors, even if less than a quorum. A director elected to fill a vacancy will be elected for the unexpired term of his predecessor. Any directorship to be filled by reason of an increase in the number of directors may be filled by the board of directors and will be added to such class of directors so that all classes of directors will be as nearly equal in number as possible.

 

Ownership Limitations. Our articles of incorporation will provide that shareholders are subject to stock ownership limitations, which would generally limit shareholders from owning or acquiring 5% or more (by value) of the aggregate outstanding shares of our stock prior to September 13, 2011 (it being understood that such limitation, among other things, would not prohibit a person from acquiring or owning 5% or more (by value) of the aggregate outstanding shares of RGA stock in connection with the Split-Off by MetLife). Any person permitted to acquire or own 5% or more (by value) of the RGA stock pursuant to the preceding sentence will not be permitted to acquire any additional RGA stock at any time prior to September 13, 2011, unless and until such person owns less than 5% (by value) of the aggregate outstanding shares of our stock, at which point such person may acquire RGA stock only to the extent that, after such acquisition, such person owns less than 5% (by value) of the aggregate outstanding shares of our stock. See “— Acquisition Restrictions” above.

Shareholders May Only Act by Written Consent Upon Unanimous Written Consent. As required by Missouri law, our articles of incorporation and bylaws provide for shareholder action by unanimous written consent only.

 

No Special Meetings Called by Shareholders. Our articles of incorporation provide that special meetings may only be called by the chairman of our board of directors, our president, or a majority of our board of directors. Only such business will be conducted, and only such proposals acted upon, as are specified in the notice of the special meeting.

 

Advance Notice for Shareholder Proposals. Our articles of incorporation contain provisions requiring that advance notice be delivered to RGA of any business to be brought by a shareholder before an annual meeting and providing for procedures to be followed by shareholders in nominating persons for election to our board of directors. Ordinarily, the shareholder must give notice at least 60 days but not more than 90 days before the meeting, but if we give less than 70 days’ notice of the meeting, then the shareholder must give notice within ten days after we mail notice of the meeting or make other public disclosure of the meeting. The notice must include a description of the proposal, the reasons for the proposal, and other specified matters. Our board may reject any proposals that have not followed these procedures or that are not a proper subject for shareholder action in accordance with the provisions of applicable law.

 

Bylaws May Be Amended by Directors and Not Shareholders. Our articles of incorporation provide that our bylaws may be amended only by the majority of the entire board of directors. Shareholders will not be able to amend the bylaws without first amending our articles of incorporation.

 

Supermajority Vote Required to Amend Specified Provisions. Our articles of incorporation provide that amendment of the following provisions requires an affirmative vote of at least 85% of the outstanding capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class:

 

 

Missouri Statutory Provisions

 

Missouri law also contains certain provisions which may have an anti-takeover effect and otherwise discourage third parties from effecting transactions with us, including control share acquisition and business combination statutes.

 

Business Combination Statute. Missouri law contains a “business combination statute” which restricts certain “business combinations” between us and an “interested shareholder,” or affiliates of the interested shareholder, for a period of five years after the date of the transaction in which the person becomes an interested shareholder, unless either such transaction or the interested shareholder’s acquisition of stock is approved by our board on or before the date the interested shareholder obtains such status.

 

The statute also provides that, after the expiration of such initial five-year period, business combinations are prohibited for an additional five-year period unless:

 

 

A “business combination” for this purpose includes a merger or consolidation, some sales, leases, exchanges, pledges and similar dispositions of corporate assets or stock and any reclassifications or recapitalizations that generally increase the proportionate voting power of the interested shareholder. An “interested shareholder” for this purpose generally means any person who, together with his or her affiliates and associates, owns or controls 20% or more of the outstanding shares of the corporation’s voting stock.

A Missouri corporation may opt out of coverage by the business combination statute by including a provision to that effect in its governing corporate documents. We have not done so.

 

The business combination statute may make it more difficult for a 20% beneficial owner to effect other transactions with us and may encourage persons that seek to acquire us to negotiate with our board prior to acquiring a 20% interest. It is possible that such a provision could make it more difficult to accomplish a transaction which shareholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interest.

 

Control Share Acquisition Statute. Missouri also has a “control share acquisition statute” that would limit the rights of a shareholder to vote some or all of the shares that it holds, in case of a shareholder whose acquisition of shares results in that shareholder having voting power, when added to the shares previously held by such shareholder, to exercise or direct the exercise of more than a specified percentage of RGA’s outstanding stock (beginning at 20%). The statute exempts some types of acquisitions and provides a procedure for an acquiring shareholder to obtain shareholder approval to permit such shareholder to vote these shares. However, as permitted by the statute, RGA previously amended its bylaws to provide that the control share acquisition statute will not apply to control share acquisitions of RGA’s stock, but may elect to become subject to such statute by a further amendment to its bylaws.

 

Takeover Bid Disclosure Statute. Missouri’s “takeover bid disclosure statute” requires that, under some circumstances, before making a tender offer that would result in the offeror acquiring control of us, the offeror must file certain disclosure materials with the Commissioner of the Missouri Department of Securities.

 

Insurance Holding Companies Act. We are regulated in Missouri as an insurance holding company. Under the Missouri Insurance Holding Companies Act and related regulations, the acquisition of control of a domestic insurer must receive prior approval by the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration, which we refer to as the “Department.” Missouri law provides that a transaction will be approved if the Department finds that the transaction would, among other things, not violate the law or be contrary to the interests of the insureds of any participating domestic insurance corporations. The Department may approve any proposed change of control subject to conditions.

 

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES OF RGA

 

The description of any deposit agreement and any related depositary shares and depositary receipts in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement or other offering material of certain provisions are summaries of the material provisions of that deposit agreement and of the depositary shares and depositary receipts.

 

General

 

We may elect to have shares of preferred stock represented by depositary shares. The shares of any series of the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares will be deposited under a separate deposit agreement between us and a bank or trust company we select. The prospectus supplement or other offering material relating to a series of depositary shares will set forth the name and address of this preferred stock depositary. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, proportionately, to all the rights, preferences and privileges of the preferred stock represented by such depositary share, including dividend, voting, redemption, conversion, exchange and liquidation rights.

 

The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the deposit agreement, each of which will represent the applicable interest in a number of shares of a particular series of the preferred stock described in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material.

 

A holder of depositary shares will be entitled to receive the shares of preferred stock, but only in whole shares of preferred stock, underlying those depositary shares. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the whole number of shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to that holder at the same time a new depositary receipt for the excess number of depositary shares.

Dividends and Other Distributions

 

The preferred stock depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions in respect of the series of preferred stock represented by the depositary shares to the record holders of depositary receipts in proportion, to the extent possible, to the number of depositary shares owned by those holders. The depositary, however, will distribute only the amount that can be distributed without attributing to any depositary share a fraction of one cent, and any undistributed balance will be added to and treated as part of the next sum received by the depositary for distribution to record holders of depositary receipts then outstanding.

 

If there is a distribution other than in cash in respect of the preferred stock, the preferred stock depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary receipts in proportion, insofar as possible, to the number of depositary shares owned by those holders, unless the preferred stock depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such a distribution. In that case, the preferred stock depositary may, with our approval, adopt any method that it deems equitable and practicable to effect the distribution, including a public or private sale of the property and distribution of the net proceeds from the sale to the holders.

 

The amount distributed in any of the above cases will be reduced by any amount we or the preferred stock depositary are required to withhold on account of taxes.

 

Conversion and Exchange

 

If any series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares is subject to provisions relating to its conversion or exchange as set forth in an applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, each record holder of depositary receipts will have the right or obligation to convert or exchange the depositary shares evidenced by the depositary receipts pursuant to those provisions.

 

Redemption of Depositary Shares

 

If any series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares is subject to redemption, the depositary shares will be redeemed from the proceeds received by the preferred stock depositary resulting from the redemption, in whole or in part, of the preferred stock held by the preferred stock depositary. Whenever we redeem a share of preferred stock held by the preferred stock depositary, the preferred stock depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date a proportionate number of depositary shares representing the shares of preferred stock that were redeemed. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the aggregate redemption price payable with respect to the number of shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares. If fewer than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or proportionately as we may determine.

 

After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of the depositary shares will cease, except the right to receive the redemption price. Any funds that we deposit with the preferred stock depositary relating to depositary shares which are not redeemed by the holders of the depositary shares will be returned to us after a period of two years from the date the funds are deposited by us.

 

Voting

 

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of any shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares are entitled to vote, the preferred stock depositary will mail the information contained in the notice to the record holders of the depositary receipts. Each record holder of the depositary receipts on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock, may then instruct the preferred stock depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the number of shares of preferred stock underlying that holder’s depositary shares. The preferred stock depositary will try to vote the number of shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares in accordance with the instructions, and we will agree to take all reasonable action which the preferred stock depositary deems necessary to enable the preferred stock depositary to do so. The preferred stock depositary will abstain from voting the preferred stock to the extent that it does not receive specific written instructions from holders of depositary receipts representing the preferred stock.

Record Date

 

Subject to the provisions of the deposit agreement, whenever:

 

 

Withdrawal of Preferred Stock

 

Upon surrender of depositary receipts at the principal office of the preferred stock depositary, upon payment of any unpaid amount due the preferred stock depositary, and subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, the owner of the depositary shares evidenced by the depositary receipts is entitled to delivery of the number of whole shares of preferred stock and all money and other property, if any, represented by the depositary shares. Partial shares of preferred stock will not be issued. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of whole shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the preferred stock depositary will deliver to the holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares. Holders of preferred stock that are withdrawn will not be entitled to deposit the shares that have been withdrawn under the deposit agreement or to receive depositary receipts.

 

Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement

 

We and the preferred stock depositary may at any time agree to amend the form of depositary receipt and any provision of the deposit agreement. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of holders of depositary shares will not be effective unless the amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding. The deposit agreement may be terminated by us or by the preferred stock depositary only if all outstanding shares have been redeemed or if a final distribution in respect of the underlying preferred stock has been made to the holders of the depositary shares in connection with our liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

 

Charges of Preferred Stock Depositary

 

We will pay all charges of the preferred stock depositary including charges in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock, the initial issuance of the depositary receipts, the distribution of information to the holders of depositary receipts with respect to matters on which preference stock is entitled to vote, withdrawals of the preferred stock by the holders of depositary receipts or redemption or conversion of the preferred stock, except for taxes (including transfer taxes, if any) and other governmental charges and any other charges expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be at the expense of holders of depositary receipts or persons depositing preferred stock.

 

Miscellaneous

 

Neither we nor the preferred stock depositary will be liable if either of us is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond our control in performing any obligations under the deposit agreement. The obligations of the preferred stock depositary under the deposit agreement are limited to performing its duties under the agreement without negligence or bad faith. Our obligations under the deposit agreement are limited to performing our duties in good faith.

Neither we nor the preferred stock depositary is obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the preferred stock depositary may rely on advice of or information from counsel, accountants or other persons that they believe to be competent and on documents that they believe to be genuine.

 

The preferred stock depositary may resign at any time or be removed by us, effective upon the acceptance by its successor of its appointment. If we have not appointed a successor preferred stock depositary and the successor depositary has not accepted its appointment within 60 days after the preferred stock depositary delivered a resignation notice to us, the preferred stock depositary may terminate the deposit agreement. See “— Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement” above.

 

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS OF RGA

 

We may issue warrants to purchase debt or equity securities. We may issue warrants independently or as part of a unit with other securities, including, without limitation, preferred securities issued by the RGA trusts. Warrants sold with other securities as a unit may be attached to or separate from the other securities. We will issue warrants under warrant agreements to be entered into between us and a warrant agent that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material.

 

The prospectus supplement or other offering material relating to any warrants we are offering will include specific terms relating to the offering, including a description of any other securities sold together with the warrants. These terms will include some or all of the following:

 

 

Warrants issued for securities other than our debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or the preferred securities of an RGA trust will not be exercisable until at least one year from the date of sale of the warrant.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material will describe the specific terms of any warrant units.

DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS OF RGA

 

We may issue purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and us to sell to the holders, a number or amount of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares or warrants or trust preferred securities of an RGA trust at a future date or dates. The price per equity security and the number of securities may be fixed at the time the purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula stated in the purchase contracts. The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the purchase contracts. These payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis to be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material.

 

The prospectus supplement or other offering material relating to any purchase contracts we are offering will specify the material terms of the purchase contracts and any applicable pledge or depository arrangements, including one or more of the following:

 

 

The contract fee may be calculated as a percentage of the stated amount of the purchase contract or otherwise.

 

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

 

As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, we may issue units comprised of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit may also include debt obligations of third parties, such as U.S. Treasury securities. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also

the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The prospectus supplement or other offering material will describe:

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SECURITIES OF THE RGA TRUSTS

 

Each RGA trust may issue, from time to time, one series of preferred securities having terms described in the prospectus supplement or other offering material. Preferred securities may be issued either independently or as part of a unit with other securities, including, without limitation, warrants to purchase common stock of RGA. Preferred securities sold with other securities as a unit may be attached to or separate from the other securities. The proceeds from the sale of each trust’s preferred and common securities will be used by such trust to purchase a series of junior subordinated debt securities issued by RGA. The junior subordinated debt securities will be held in trust by the trust’s property trustee for the benefit of the holders of such preferred and common securities. Each amended and restated trust agreement has been or will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. The property trustee for each trust, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor to The Bank of New York, an independent trustee, will act as indenture trustee for the preferred securities for purposes of compliance with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. The preferred securities will have the terms, including distributions, redemption, voting, liquidation rights, maturity date or dates and the other preferred, deferred or other special rights or restrictions as are established by the administrative trustees in accordance with the applicable amended and restated trust agreement or as are set forth in the amended and restated trust agreement or made part of the amended and restated trust agreement by the Trust Indenture Act. Such terms, rights and restrictions will mirror the terms of the junior subordinated debt securities held by the applicable trust and will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material.

 

All preferred securities offered by the prospectus will be guaranteed by us to the extent set forth below under “Description of the Preferred Securities Guarantees of RGA.” The guarantee issued by us to each RGA trust, when taken together with our obligations under the junior subordinated debt securities issued to any RGA trust and under the applicable indenture and any applicable supplemental indentures, and our obligations under each amended and restated trust agreement, including the obligation to pay expenses of each RGA trust, will provide a full and unconditional guarantee by us of amounts due on the preferred securities issued by each RGA trust. The payment terms of the preferred securities will be the same as the junior subordinated debt securities issued to the applicable RGA trust by us.

 

Each amended and restated trust agreement authorizes the administrative trustees to issue on behalf of the applicable trust one series of common securities having terms, including distributions, redemption, voting and liquidation rights, and restrictions that are established by the administrative trustees in accordance with the amended and restated trust agreement or that are otherwise set forth in the amended and restated trust agreement. The terms of the common securities issued by each RGA trust will be substantially identical to the terms of the preferred securities issued by the RGA trust. The common securities will rank equally, and payments will be made proportionately, with the preferred securities of that trust. However, if an event of default under the amended and restated trust agreement of the RGA trust has occurred and is continuing, the cash distributions and liquidation, redemption and other amounts payable on the common securities will be subordinated to the preferred securities in right of payment. The common securities will also carry the right to vote and to appoint, remove or replace any of the trustees of the RGA trust. RGA will own, directly or indirectly, all of the common securities of each RGA trust.

 

The financial statements of any RGA trust that issues preferred securities will be reflected in our consolidated financial statements with the preferred securities shown as company-obligated mandatorily-redeemable preferred securities of a subsidiary trust under “minority interest.” We will include in a footnote to our audited consolidated financial statements, statements that the applicable RGA trust is wholly-owned by us and that the sole asset of the RGA trust is the junior

subordinated debt securities, indicating the principal amount, interest rate and maturity date of the junior subordinated debt securities.

 

Enforcement of Certain Rights by Holders of Preferred Securities

 

If an event of default occurs, and is continuing, under the amended and restated trust agreement of either RGA trust, the holders of the preferred securities of that trust may rely on the property trustee to enforce its rights as a holder of the subordinated debt securities against RGA. Additionally, those who together hold a majority of the aggregate stated liquidation amount of an RGA trust’s preferred securities will have the right to:

 

 

If such a default occurs and the event is attributable to RGA’s failure to pay interest or principal on the junior subordinated debt securities when due, including any payment on redemption, and this debt payment failure is continuing, a preferred securities holder of the trust may directly institute a proceeding for the enforcement of this payment. Such a proceeding will be limited, however, to enforcing the payment of this principal or interest only up to the value of the aggregate liquidation amount of the holder’s preferred securities as determined after the due date specified in the applicable series of junior subordinated debt securities. RGA will be subrogated to the holder’s rights under the applicable amended and restated trust agreement to the extent of any payment it makes to the holder in connection with such a direct action, and RGA may setoff against any such payment that it makes under the applicable preferred securities guarantee.

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEES OF RGA

 

Set forth below is a summary of information concerning the guarantees that will be executed and delivered by us for the benefit of the holders, from time to time, of preferred securities. Summaries of any other terms of any guarantee that are issued will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material. Each guarantee has been or will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor to The Bank of New York will act as the preferred securities guarantee trustee. The terms of each guarantee will be set forth in the guarantee and will include the terms made part of the guarantee by the Trust Indenture Act and will be available as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 3.

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, we will agree, to the extent set forth in each guarantee, to pay in full to the holders of the preferred securities, the payments and distributions to be made with respect to the preferred securities, except to the extent paid by the applicable RGA trust, as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim which the RGA trust may have or assert. The following payments or distributions with respect to the preferred securities, to the extent not paid by the RGA trust and to the extent that such RGA trust has funds available for these payments or distributions, will be subject to the guarantee:

 

 

(i) the sum of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid distributions on the preferred securities to the date of payment, or

(ii) the amount of assets of the RGA trust remaining for distribution to holders of the preferred securities in liquidation of the RGA trust.

 

We may satisfy our obligation to make a guarantee payment by making a direct payment of the required amounts to the holders of preferred securities or by causing the applicable RGA trust to pay the amounts to the holders.

 

Each guarantee will not apply to any payment of distributions except to the extent the applicable RGA trust has funds available to make the payment. If we do not make interest or principal payments on the junior subordinated debt securities purchased by the RGA trust, the RGA trust will not pay distributions on the preferred securities issued by the RGA trust and will not have funds available to make the payments.

 

Covenants of RGA

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, in each guarantee of the payment obligations of an RGA trust with respect to preferred securities, we will covenant that, so long as any preferred securities issued by the RGA trust remain outstanding, if there has occurred any event which would constitute an event of default under the guarantee or under the amended and restated trust agreement of the RGA trust, then RGA will not:

 

 

(1) dividends or distribution of shares of common stock of RGA;

 

(2) any declaration of a non-cash dividend in connection with the implementation of a shareholder rights plan, or the issuance of stock under any such plan in the future, or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights outstanding under a shareholder rights plan; or

 

(3) purchases of common stock of RGA related to the rights under any of RGA’s benefits plans for its directors, officers or employees;

 

 

Modification of the Guarantees; Assignment

 

Except for any changes that do not adversely affect the rights of holders of preferred securities, in which case no consent of the holders will be required, each guarantee of the payment obligations of an RGA trust with respect to preferred securities may be amended only with the prior approval of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding preferred securities of the RGA trust. The manner of obtaining any approval of holders of the preferred securities will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement. All guarantees and agreements contained in a guarantee of the obligations of an RGA trust with respect to preferred securities will bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of RGA and will inure to the benefit of the holders of the preferred securities of the applicable RGA trust then outstanding.

 

Events of Default

 

An event of default under a preferred securities guarantee will occur upon our failure to perform any of our payment or other obligations under the guarantee. The holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the preferred securities to which the preferred securities guarantee relates will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the preferred securities guarantee trustee with respect to the guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the preferred securities guarantee trustee under the guarantee.

If we have failed to make a guarantee payment under a guarantee, a record holder of preferred securities to which the guarantee relates may directly institute a proceeding against us for enforcement of the guarantee for the payment to the record holder of the preferred securities to which the guarantee relates of the principal of or interest on the applicable subordinated debt securities on or after the respective due dates specified in the junior subordinated debt securities, and the amount of the payment will be based on the holder’s proportionate share of the amount due and owing on all of the preferred securities to which the guarantee relates. We have waived any right or remedy to require that any action be brought first against the applicable RGA trust or any other person or entity before proceeding directly against us. The record holder in the case of the issuance of one or more global preferred securities certificates will be The Depository Trust Company, or its nominee, acting at the direction of the beneficial owners of the preferred securities.

 

We will be required to provide annually to the preferred securities guarantee trustee a statement as to the performance of our obligations under each outstanding preferred securities guarantee and as to any default in our performance.

 

Termination

 

Each preferred securities guarantee will terminate as to the preferred securities issued by the applicable RGA trust:

 

 

Each preferred securities guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any holder of preferred securities issued by the applicable RGA trust must restore payment of any sums paid under the preferred securities or the preferred securities guarantee.

 

Status of the Guarantees

 

The preferred securities guarantees will constitute our unsecured obligations and, unless otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material, will rank as follows:

 

 

(1) the most senior preferred or preference stock now or hereafter issued by us and with any guarantee now or hereafter entered into by us in respect of any preferred or preference stock of any of our affiliates;

 

(2) the applicable junior subordinated debt securities; and

 

(3) any other liabilities or obligations made equivalent by their terms; and

 

 

The terms of the preferred securities provide that each holder of preferred securities by acceptance of the preferred securities agrees to the subordination provisions and other terms of our guarantee relating to the preferred securities.

 

Each preferred securities guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment and not of collection. This means that the guaranteed party may institute a legal proceeding directly against us to enforce its rights under the guarantee without instituting a legal proceeding against any other person or entity.

 

Information Concerning the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee

 

The preferred securities guarantee trustee, before the occurrence of a default under a preferred securities guarantee, undertakes to perform only the duties that are specifically set forth in the guarantee and, after a default under a guarantee,

will exercise the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the preferred securities guarantee trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by a preferred securities guarantee at the request of any holder of preferred securities to which the guarantee relates unless it is offered reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by the preferred securities guarantee trustee in exercising any of its powers; but the foregoing shall not relieve the trustee, upon the occurrence of an event of default under such guarantee, from exercising the rights and powers vested in it by such guarantee.

 

Expense Agreement

 

We will, pursuant to an agreement as to expenses and liabilities entered into by us and each RGA trust under its amended and restated trust agreement, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee to each person or entity to whom the trust becomes indebted or liable, the full payment of any costs, expenses or liabilities of the trust, other than obligations of the trust to pay to the holders of the preferred securities or other similar interests in the trust the amounts due to the holders pursuant to the terms of the preferred securities or other similar interests, as the case may be. Third party creditors of the trust may proceed directly against us under the expense agreement, regardless of whether they had notice of the expense agreement.

 

Governing Law

 

The preferred securities guarantees will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

 

EFFECT OF OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES AND

 

As set forth in the amended and restated trust agreements of each RGA trust, the sole purpose of the RGA trusts is to issue the preferred securities and common securities evidencing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of each of the trusts, and to invest the proceeds from such issuance and sale in RGA’s junior subordinated debt securities.

 

As long as payments of interest and other payments are made when due on the junior subordinated debt securities held by the RGA trusts, such payments will be sufficient to cover distributions and payments due on the preferred securities and common securities because of the following factors:

 

 

Payments of distributions, to the extent funds for such payments are available, and other payments due on the preferred securities, to the extent funds for such payments are available, are guaranteed by RGA as and to the extent set forth under “Description of the Preferred Securities Guarantees of RGA.” If RGA does not make interest payments on the junior subordinated debt securities purchased by the applicable trust, it is expected that the applicable trust will not have sufficient funds to pay distributions on the preferred securities and the preferred securities guarantee will not apply, since the preferred securities guarantee covers the payment of distributions and other payments on the preferred securities only if and to the extent that RGA has made a payment of interest or principal on the junior subordinated debt securities held by the applicable trust as its sole asset. However, the preferred securities guarantee, when taken together with RGA’s obligations under the junior subordinated debt securities and the junior subordinated indenture and its obligations under the respective amended and restated trust agreements, including its obligations to pay costs, expenses,

debts and liabilities of the trust, other than with respect to the preferred securities and common securities, provide a full and unconditional guarantee, on a subordinated basis, by RGA of amounts due on the preferred securities.

 

If RGA fails to make interest or other payments on the junior subordinated debt securities when due, taking account of any extension period, the amended and restated trust agreement provides a mechanism whereby the holders of the preferred securities affected thereby, using the procedures described in any accompanying prospectus supplement, may direct the property trustee to enforce its rights under the junior subordinated debt securities. If a debt payment failure has occurred and is continuing, a holder of preferred securities may institute a direct action for payment after the respective due date specified in the junior subordinated debt securities. In connection with such direct action, RGA will be subrogated to the rights of such holder of preferred securities under the amended and restated trust agreement to the extent of any payment made by RGA to such holder of preferred securities in such direct action. RGA, under the guarantee, acknowledges that the guarantee trustee shall enforce the guarantee on behalf of the holders of the preferred securities. If RGA fails to make payments under the guarantee, the guarantee provides a mechanism whereby the holders of the preferred securities may direct the trustee to enforce its rights thereunder. Any holder of preferred securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against RGA to enforce the guarantee trustee’s rights under the guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against the trust, the guarantee trustee, or any other person or entity.

 

RGA and each of the RGA trusts believe that the above mechanisms and obligations, taken together, provide a full and unconditional guarantee by RGA on a subordinated basis of payments due on the preferred securities. See “Description of the Preferred Securities Guarantees of RGA,” beginning on page 36.

 

Upon any voluntary or involuntary termination, winding-up or liquidation of an RGA trust involving the liquidation of the junior subordinated debt securities, the holders of the preferred securities will be entitled to receive, out of assets held by such RGA trust, the liquidation distribution in cash. Upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation or bankruptcy, the property trustee, as holder of the junior subordinated debt securities, would be a subordinated creditor of ours. Therefore, the property trustee would be subordinated in right of payment to all of our senior and subordinated debt, but is entitled to receive payment in full of principal and interest before any of our shareholders receive payments or distributions. Since we are the guarantor under the preferred securities guarantees and have agreed to pay for all costs, expenses and liabilities of the RGA trusts other than the obligations of the trusts to pay to holders of the preferred securities the amounts due to the holders pursuant to the terms of the preferred securities, the positions of a holder of the preferred securities and a holder of the junior subordinated debt securities relative to our other creditors and to our shareholders in the event of liquidation or bankruptcy are expected to be substantially the same.

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We, any RGA trust, or any selling security holder may offer or sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or through a combination of any of these methods, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. We will describe the details of any such offering and the plan of distribution for any securities offering by us, any RGA trust or any selling security holder in a supplement to this prospectus or other offering material.

 

In order to comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the common stock may be sold in these jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the common stock may not be sold unless it has been registered or qualified for sale or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied with.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, William L. Hutton, Esq., Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of RGA, will issue an opinion about the legality of the common stock issued by us, as well as the preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants, purchase contracts and units of RGA under Missouri law, and Bryan Cave LLP will issue an opinion about the legality of the debt securities of RGA and the preferred securities guarantees of RGA. Mr. Hutton is paid a salary and bonus by RGA, participates in certain employee benefit plans of RGA and beneficially owns shares of Common Stock, options to purchase shares of Common Stock, performance contingent share units, and stock appreciation rights. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus

supplement, Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., our special Delaware counsel, will issue an opinion about the legality of the trust preferred securities.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules, incorporated by reference in this Form S-3 from Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated and subsidiaries’ Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the effectiveness of Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports (which reports (1) express an unqualified opinion on the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules, which includes an explanatory paragraph regarding a change in accounting for other-than-temporary impairments, as required by accounting guidance adopted on April 1, 2009, and (2) express an unqualified opinion on Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated and subsidiaries’ effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting) which are incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

 

The following table sets forth the estimated expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting discounts and commissions:

 

 

 

 

Item 15. Indemnification of Officers and Directors.

 

Section 351.355(1) of the Revised Statutes of Missouri provides that a corporation may indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation in any action, suit or proceeding other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and settlement amounts actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. Section 351.355(2) provides that the corporation may indemnify any such person in any action or suit by or in the right of the corporation against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) and settlement amounts actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of the action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that he may not be indemnified in respect of any matter in which he has been adjudged liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to the corporation, unless authorized by the court. Section 351.355(3) provides that a corporation may indemnify any such person against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the action, suit or proceeding if he has been successful in defense of such action, suit or proceeding and if such action, suit or proceeding is one for which the corporation may indemnify him under Section 351.355(1) or (2). Section 351.355(7) provides that a corporation shall have the power to give any further indemnity to any such person, in addition to the indemnity otherwise authorized under Section 351.355, provided such further indemnity is either (i) authorized, directed or provided for in the articles of incorporation of the corporation or any duly adopted amendment thereof or (ii) is authorized, directed or provided for in any by-law or agreement of the corporation which has been adopted by a vote of the stockholders of the corporation, provided that no such indemnity shall indemnify any person from or on account of such person’s conduct which was finally adjudged to have been knowingly fraudulent, deliberately dishonest or willful misconduct.

 

The Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of RGA filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Registration Statement contain provisions indemnifying its directors, officers, employees and agents to the extent authorized specifically by Sections 351.355(1), (2), (3) and (7). RGA has entered into indemnification contracts with the officers and directors of RGA. The contracts provide that RGA under certain circumstances may self-insure against directors’ and officers’ liabilities now insured under the policy of insurance referred to below and will provide indemnity to the fullest extent permitted by law against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and settlement amounts, paid or incurred in any action or proceeding, including any act on behalf of RGA, on account of their service as directors or officers of RGA, any subsidiary of RGA or any other company or enterprise when they are serving in such capacities at

the request of RGA, excepting only cases where the conduct of such person is adjudged to be knowingly fraudulent, deliberately dishonest or willful misconduct.

 

Our articles of incorporation limit the liability of our directors to us or any of our shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director to the fullest extent permitted under Missouri law.

 

The forms of Underwriting Agreement to be filed as Exhibits 1.1 to 1.6 to this Registration Statement will provide for the mutual indemnification of RGA and any Underwriters, their respective controlling persons, directors and certain of their officers, against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

RGA maintains a policy of insurance under which the directors and officers are insured, subject to the limits of the policy, against certain losses, as defined in the policy, arising from claims made against such directors and officers by reason of any wrongful acts, as defined in the policy, in their respective capacities as directors or officers.

 

Under the amended and restated trust agreement of each trust, RGA will agree to indemnify each of the administrative trustees of such trust (or any predecessor trustee for such trust), and to hold harmless such administrative trustee against any loss, damage, claims, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of such trust agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties under such trust agreement.

 

Item 16. Exhibits.

 

See Exhibit Index.

 

Item 17. Undertakings.

 

The undersigned registrants hereby undertake:

 

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

 

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

 

Provided, however, that: paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrants pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 

(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrants under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, each undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

 

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

 

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

(6) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(7) Insofar as indemnification of liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrants pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, each of the registrants has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by a registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in St. Louis, Missouri, on August 5, 2011.

 

REINSURANCE GROUP OF AMERICA,
INCORPORATED

 

Jack B. Lay

Senior Executive Vice President and Chief

Financial Officer

 

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Jack B. Lay, Todd C. Larson, William L. Hutton, and each of them (with full power of each to act alone), severally, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and her and to execute in his or her name, place and stead (individually and in any capacity stated below) any and all amendments to this Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments), and any additional registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all documents and instruments necessary or advisable in connection therewith, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any other governmental regulatory authority), each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents to have power to act with or without the others and to have full power and authority to do and to perform in the name and on behalf of each of the undersigned every act whatsoever necessary or advisable to be done in the premises as fully and to all intents and purposes as any of the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities indicated and on the dates indicated:

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, RGA Capital Trust III and RGA Capital Trust IV certify that they have reasonable grounds to believe that they meet all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and have duly caused this registration statement to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in St. Louis, Missouri, on August 5, 2011.

 

RGA CAPITAL TRUST III

 

as Depositor

 

Jack B. Lay

Senior Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

 

RGA CAPITAL TRUST IV

 

as Depositor

 

Jack B. Lay

Senior Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX