sca14_101007.htm
      
        UNITED STATES      
        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION      
        Washington, D.C. 20549      
            
        SCHEDULE 14A      
            
        Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of      
        the Securities Exchange Act of 1934      
          


Filed by the Registrant                                
Filed by a Party Other than the Registrant
 
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o  Preliminary Proxy Statement
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x  Definitive Proxy Statement
o  Definitive Additional Materials
o  Soliciting Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-12
 
SECURITY CAPITAL ASSURANCE LTD
————————————————————————————————
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
 
Not Applicable
————————————————————————————————
 (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
 
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(1)
Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 
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(2)
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(3)
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0-11 (set forth the amount on which filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 
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(4)
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(5)
Total fee paid:

 
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o
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (a) (2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 
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(4)
Date Filed:

 
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October 2007
 
 
Dear Stockholder,
 
You are cordially invited to attend a special meeting of shareholders of Security Capital Assurance Ltd.  The meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. (AST) at the A.S. Cooper Building, 26 Reid Street, 4th Floor, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda. 
 
At the meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote upon a change in the name of Security Capital Assurance Ltd to Syncora Holdings Ltd.  Note that this change will not alter our New York Stock Exchange ticker symbol which will remain SCA.
 
The name “Syncora” combines the qualities that are hallmarks of our corporate culture – being in sync with our clients’ needs and collaborative in the team-oriented approach to our work.   
 
This proposal, which was unanimously approved by the board, is part of an evolutionary process that has been underway since our initial public offering in August 2006.  I ask for your vote in support of this name change and invite you to attend the meeting in person or vote your proxy in accordance with the details outlined in the proxy statement with a vote YES for Syncora Holdings Ltd.
 
This is an exciting milestone in the company’s history and we are proud to share it with you, our valued investors.  If you have questions about the meeting, please feel free to contact my office.  I will continue to provide you updates on our rebranding campaign in the coming months. 
 
Thank you for your continued support and commitment.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
Paul S. Giordano
Chief Executive Officer
Security Capital Assurance Ltd
 
 
 

 
 
     UNITED STATES            
        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION          
        Washington, D.C. 20549            
      
        SCHEDULE 14A            
            
        Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of             
    the Securities Exchange Act of 1934      
 
SECURITY CAPITAL ASSURANCE LTD
A.S. Cooper Building
26 Reid Street, 4th Floor
Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda
________________________
 
NOTICE OF SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING OF HOLDERS OF COMMON SHARES
TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 6, 2007
________________________
 
 
October 10, 2007
 
TO THE HOLDERS OF COMMON SHARES OF SECURITY CAPITAL ASSURANCE LTD:
 
Notice is hereby given that a Special General Meeting of holders (the “Shareholders”) of Common Shares of Security Capital Assurance Ltd (the “Company”) will be held at A.S. Cooper Building, 26 Reid Street, 4th Floor, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda, on Tuesday, November 6, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. local time for the following purposes:
 
      1.  
To approve changing the name of the Company from Security Capital Assurance Ltd to Syncora Holdings Ltd; and
 
      2.  
To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.
 
Only Shareholders of record, as shown by the transfer books of the Company at the close of business on October 1, 2007, are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Special General Meeting.
 
PLEASE VOTE YOUR PROXY BY TELEPHONE, INTERNET OR MAIL AS DIRECTED ON THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE, WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING.  IF YOU LATER DESIRE TO REVOKE YOUR PROXY FOR ANY REASON, YOU MAY DO SO IN THE MANNER DESCRIBED IN THE ATTACHED PROXY STATEMENT.  YOUR SHARES WILL BE VOTED WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED IN THE PROXY STATEMENT.  IF NO INSTRUCTION IS GIVEN, YOUR SHARES WILL BE VOTED “FOR” ITEM 1 IN THE PROXY.
 
By Order of the Board of Directors,
 
/s/Kirstin Romann Gould                
Kirstin Romann Gould
Secretary
 



SECURITY CAPITAL ASSURANCE LTD
A.S. Cooper Building
26 Reid Street, 4th Floor
Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda
________________________
 
PROXY STATEMENT
 
FOR
 
THE SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING OF HOLDERS OF COMMON SHARES
 
TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 6, 2007
________________________
 
The accompanying proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of Security Capital Assurance Ltd (the “Company” or “SCA”) to be voted at the Special General Meeting of holders (the “Shareholders”) of the Company’s Common Shares (the “Shares”) to be held on November 6, 2007 and any adjournments thereof.
 
When such proxy is properly executed and returned, the Shares of the Company it represents will be voted at the meeting to approve changing the name of the Company from Security Capital Assurance Ltd to Syncora Holdings Ltd.
 
Any Shareholder giving a proxy has the power to revoke it prior to its exercise by giving notice of such revocation to the Secretary of the Company in writing at Security Capital Assurance Ltd, A.S. Cooper Building, 26 Reid Street, 4th Floor, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda, by attending and voting in person at the Special General Meeting or by executing a subsequent proxy, provided that such action is taken in sufficient time to permit the necessary examination and tabulation of the subsequent proxy or revocation before the votes are taken.
 
Shareholders of record as of the close of business on October 1, 2007 will be entitled to vote at the Special General Meeting.  As of October 1, 2007, there were 65,301,813 outstanding Shares entitled to vote at the Special General Meeting, with each Share entitling the holder of record thereof to one vote at the Special General Meeting.
 
This Proxy Statement, the attached Notice of Special General Meeting and the accompanying proxy card are first being mailed to Shareholders on or about October 10, 2007.  The Company knows of no specific matter to be brought before the Special General Meeting that is not referred to in the Notice of Meeting.  If any such matter comes before the Special General Meeting, including any Shareholder proposal properly made, the proxy holders will vote proxies in accordance with their judgment.
 
None of the Company’s officers, directors or any of their associates has a substantial interest in the matter to be acted upon at the Special General Meeting other than as a Shareholder of the Company.
 
Changing the name of the Company as referred to above requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on such proposal at the Special General Meeting, provided there is a quorum (consisting of two or more Shareholders present in person and representing in person or by proxy shares representing at least fifty percent (50%) of the issued and outstanding Shares entitled to vote at the Special General Meeting).  Shares owned by Shareholders electing to abstain from voting with respect to any proposal and “broker non-votes” will be counted towards the presence of a quorum but will not be considered present and voting with respect to the matter to be voted upon at the Special General Meeting.  Therefore, abstentions and “broker non-votes” will have no effect on the outcome of the matter to be voted upon at the Special General Meeting.
 



BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
 
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to each person or group that, as of October 1, 2007 was, to the Company’s knowledge, the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s outstanding Shares.  There were 65,301,813 Shares outstanding as of October 1, 2007.  The table is based upon information contained in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
 
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
Amount and Nature
of Beneficial Ownership (1)
 
Percent of
Class
       
XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd
30,069,049
 
46.05%
XL House
     
One Bermudiana Road
     
Hamilton HM 11
     
Bermuda
     
Legg Mason Capital Management, Inc.
     
100 Light Street
     
Baltimore, MD 21202
7,075,964
 
10.84%

 
(1)
Each Share has one vote, except that pursuant to the Amended and Restated Bye-laws of the Company (the “Amended and Restated Bye-laws”):
 
(I)  if and for so long as (and whenever) the votes of a Shareholder, including any votes conferred by Controlled Shares (as hereinafter defined), would otherwise represent more than 9.5% of the aggregate voting power of all Shares entitled to vote on a matter, including an election of Directors, the votes conferred by such Shares are reduced by whatever amount is necessary such that after giving effect to any such reduction (and any other reductions in voting power required by the Company’s Amended and Restated Bye-laws), the votes conferred by such Shares shall represent 9.5% of the aggregate voting power of all Shares of the Company entitled to vote on such matter; provided, however, that, except as provided in the final sentence of this paragraph, no such reduction in votes shall occur with respect to (i) Shares held by any member of the XL Group (as defined below) or (ii) Shares transferred by the XL Group to any person that is not a member of the XL Group in a transaction not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) (or exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act or any successor provision thereof) and, upon the consummation of such transfer, any Shares previously held or subsequently acquired by such person (or an affiliate thereof), but, in each case, only for so long as such person (or an affiliate thereof) continues to hold such Shares (it being understood that this clause (ii) shall not apply to Shares transferred by such person (or an affiliate thereof) to any non-affiliate thereof).  “Controlled Shares” in reference to any person, means all Shares directly, indirectly or constructively owned by (i) such person as determined pursuant to Section 958 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) (the “Code”) and Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder and under Section 957 of the Code (or the relevant successor provisions thereof) or (ii) a “group” of persons within the meaning of Section I3(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.  “XL Group” means XL Capital Ltd and its consolidated subsidiaries.  In the event that votes conferred by Shares held by the XL Group would otherwise represent more than 47.5% of the aggregate voting power of all Shares entitled to vote on a matter, additional provisions of the Bye-Laws will apply.
 
(II)  After having applied the provisions described in paragraph (I) above as best as they consider reasonably practicable, the Board of Directors may make such final adjustments to the aggregate number of votes conferred, directly or indirectly or by attribution, by the Controlled Shares of any person that they consider fair and reasonable under the circumstances to ensure that such votes represent 9.5%.  Such adjustments intended to implement the 9.5% limitation described in paragraph (I) shall be subject to the proviso contained in paragraph (I).

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EQUITY SECURITIES OWNED BENEFICIALLY


The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership as of October 1, 2007 of the Company’s Shares and the Class A Ordinary Shares of XL Capital Ltd (“XL Capital Ordinary Shares”) by each Director and each named executive officer of the Company and all Directors and executive officers of the Company as a group.  The Shares are currently the only class of voting securities of the Company.  As of October 1, 2007, there were 65,301,813 Shares outstanding and 179,707,903 XL Capital Ordinary Shares outstanding.

Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership
 
   
SCA Equity
   
XL Capital Equity (1)
 
Name of Beneficial Owner
 
Number of Shares
(2)
   
Exercisable Options
   
Total
   
Percent of Class
   
Number of Shares (3)
   
Exercisable Options
   
Total
   
Percent of Class
 
Michael P. Esposito, Jr.
   
15,000
     
-
      15,000      
*
     
200,774
     
364,633
     
565,407
     
*
 
Paul S. Giordano
   
38,546
     
134,579
      173,125      
*
      5,000      
-
      5,000      
*
 
Brian M. O’Hara
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
*
      719,311      
920,283
      1,639,594      
*
 
E. Grant Gibbons
   
-
     
8,334
     
8,334
     
*
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
*
 
Bruce G. Hannon
   
5,050
     
8,334
     
13,384
     
*
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
*
 
Mary R. Hennessy
    2,238      
8,334
     
10,572
     
*
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
*
 
Robert M. Lichten
   
4,000
     
8,334
     
12,334
     
*
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
*
 
Coleman D. Ross
   
4,000
     
8,334
     
12,334
     
*
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
*
 
Alan Z. Senter
   
-
     
8,334
     
8,334
     
*
     
18,829
     
33,360
     
52,189
     
*
 
David P. Shea
   
4,000
     
-
      4,000      
*
      547      
-
      547      
*
 
Edward B. Hubbard
   
12,000
     
-
     
12,000
     
*
     
1,524
     
-
     
1,524
     
*
 
T. Wynne Morriss, Jr.
   
10,000
     
-
     
10,000
     
*
     
2,462
     
-
     
2,462
     
*
 
Richard P. Heberton
   
4,000
     
-
     
4,000
     
*
     
4,320
     
-
     
4,320
     
*
 
                                                                 
Directors and executive officers of the Company as a group including those named above (17 persons in total)
   
130,734
     
184,583
     
315,317
     
*
     
957,693
     
1,318,276
     
2,275,969
      1.27  

*           Represents less than 1% of shares beneficially owned.
 
 
(1)
As XL Capital Ltd and its subsidiaries own approximately 46% of the Company’s outstanding Shares, the Company is reporting both the number of SCA Shares and the number of XL Capital Ordinary Shares beneficially held by its NEOs and Directors.
 
 
(2)
For Ms. Hennessy, this number includes 838 Restricted Share Units ("RSUs") granted to Ms. Hennessy in lieu of her cash retainer plus dividends thereon. Shares related to
 

-3-


such RSUs will be distributed to Ms. Hennessy at the time of her termination of service as a director or upon a change in control.
 
 
(3)
For Mr. O’Hara, this number includes 12,940 XL Capital Ordinary Shares that Mr. O’Hara owns indirectly.
 

-4-


DETAILED BELOW IN ITEM I IS THE MATTER SCHEDULED TO BE VOTED ON AT THE SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 6, 2007:
 
I.   CHANGE THE NAME OF THE COMPANY FROM SECURITY CAPITAL ASSURANCE LTD TO SYNCORA HOLDINGS LTD
 
The Board of Directors has unanimously approved, subject to Shareholder approval, changing the Company’s name to Syncora Holdings Ltd. The Board determined that, due to strategic considerations, it is in the best interest of the Company and its Shareholders to re-brand the business of the Company under the name “Syncora Holdings Ltd.”

The ticker symbol of the Company (SCA) will not change as a result of the proposed name change.

Shareholders will not be required to submit their stock certificates for exchange as a result of this proposed name change.  Following the effective date of the amendment changing the Company’s name, all new stock certificates issued by the Company will be overprinted with the Company’s new name.

If Shareholders approve the proposal at the Special General Meeting, the Company will implement the name change on or about January 7, 2008.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the proposal to change the name of the Company from Security Capital Assurance Ltd to Syncora Holdings Ltd.
 
Your Board of Directors recommends that Shareholders vote FOR the proposal to change the name of the Company.
 
 
II.   SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2008 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
 
Shareholder proposals intended for inclusion in the Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual General Meeting should be submitted in accordance with the procedures prescribed by Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Exchange Act and sent to the Company’s Secretary at Security Capital Assurance Ltd, A.S. Cooper Building, 26 Reid Street, 4th Floor, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda.  Such proposals must be received by December 1, 2007.
 
In addition, a Shareholder may present a proposal at the 2008 Annual General Meeting other than pursuant to Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Exchange Act.  Any such proposal will not be included in the Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual General Meeting and must be received by the Company’s Secretary at Security Capital Assurance Ltd, A.S. Cooper Building, 26 Reid Street, 4th Floor, Hamilton, HM 11, Bermuda by January 4, 2008.  If any such proposal is not so received, such proposal will be deemed untimely and, therefore, the persons appointed by the Board of Directors as its proxies will have the right to exercise discretionary voting authority with respect to such proposal.
 
Pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated Bye-Laws, any Shareholder entitled to attend and vote at any Annual General Meeting may nominate persons for election as Directors if written notice of such Shareholder’s intent to nominate such persons is received by the Company’s Secretary at Security Capital Assurance Ltd, A.S. Cooper Building, 26 Reid Street, 4th Floor, Hamilton, HM 11, Bermuda not later than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding Annual General Meeting.  Such notice must include the following information about the proposed nominee: (a) name and address of such person to be nominated, (b) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the Shareholder and each nominee and any person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be made by such Shareholder, (c) such other information regarding such nominee proposed by such Shareholder as would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act; and (d) the consent of each nominee to serve as a Director of the Company, if elected.  Such notice must also include information on the Shareholder making the nomination, including such Shareholder’s name and address as it appears on the Company’s books, a representation that such Shareholder is a holder of record of Shares of the Company entitled to vote at such
 

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 meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to present such nomination and the class and number of Shares of the Company beneficially owned by such Shareholder.  The nomination of any person not made in compliance with the foregoing procedures shall be disregarded.
 
III.   OTHER MATTERS
 
While management knows of no other matters to be brought before the Annual General Meeting, if any other matters properly come before the meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy form to vote the proxy in accordance with their judgment on such matters.
 
Proxy Solicitation
 
The Company will bear the cost of this solicitation of proxies.  Proxies may be solicited by Directors, officers and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, who will not receive additional compensation for such services.  In addition to the foregoing, the Company has retained Georgeson & Company Inc. to assist in the solicitation of proxies for a fee of approximately $11,000 plus reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and disbursements.  Upon request, the Company will also reimburse brokers and others holding Shares in their names, or in the names of nominees, for forwarding proxy materials to their customers.
 
If you have any questions or needs with respect to voting your shares, please call our proxy solicitor, Georgeson & Company Inc., at (866) 274-2459.
 

 
As ordered,
 
 
/s/Paul S. Giordano                     
Paul S. Giordano
President and Chief Executive Officer
 

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PLEASE DATE AND SIGN YOUR PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE PAID ENVELOPE.
▼ PLEASE DETACH PROXY CARD HERE▼
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SECURITY CAPITAL ASSURANCE LTD

 SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING OF HOLDERS OF COMMON SHARES
 TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 6, 2007

 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
P
R
O
X
Y  
The undersigned holder of Common Shares of Security Capital Assurance Ltd hereby appoints Paul S. Giordano, or failing him, Kirstin Romann Gould, to be its proxy and to vote for the undersigned on all matters arising at the Special General Meeting of holders of Common Shares of Security Capital Assurance Ltd or any adjournment thereof, and to represent the undersigned at such meeting or any adjournment thereof to be held on November 6, 2007 in Hamilton, Bermuda.
 
The Common Shares represented hereby will be voted with the instructions contained herein. If no instruction is given, the Common Shares will be voted “FOR” Item 1 on the reverse hereof, all said items being fully described in the notice of such meeting, dated as of October 10, 2007, and the accompanying proxy statement, receipt of which are hereby acknowledged. The undersigned ratifies and confirms all that said proxies or their substitutes may lawfully do by virtue hereof.
 
 
(Continued, and to be marked, dated and signed, on the other side)

 
 
 




PLEASE DATE AND SIGN YOUR PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE PAID ENVELOPE.
▼ PLEASE DETACH PROXY CARD HERE▼
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 
x
Please mark
votes as in
this example
 
  

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL 1.
           
1.
To approve changing the name of the Company
from Security Capital Assurance Ltd to
Syncora Holdings Ltd
 
FOR
o
    
AGAINST  
o
ABSTAIN
o
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
         
 
         
 
         

 
 
 
 
Date,
 
  2007
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Signature(s)
 
 
 
 
 
Signature(s)
 
 
 
IMPORTANT: Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. If you are acting as attorney-in-fact, corporate officer, or in a fiduciary capacity, please indicate the capacity in which you are signing.