Exhibit
5.1
May 18,
2010
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Maiden
Holdings, Ltd.
131
Front Street, 2nd
Floor
Hamilton
HM12
Bermuda
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Dear
Sirs
Maiden Holdings, Ltd. (the
"Company")
We have
acted as special legal counsel in Bermuda to the Company in connection with a
prospectus (the "Prospectus") contained in a
registration statement on form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") on May 18, 2010
(the "Registration
Statement", which term does not include any other documents or agreement
whether or not specifically referred to therein or attached as an exhibit or
schedule thereto) relating to the registration under the United States
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "Securities Act") of 7,200,000
common shares, par value US$0.01 (the "Common Shares"), issuable
pursuant to the Company's Amended and Restated 2007 Share Incentive Plan (the
"Plan", which term does
not include any other document or agreement whether or not specifically referred
to therein or attached as an exhibit or schedule thereto).
For the
purposes of giving this opinion, we have examined copies of the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus and the Plan. We have also reviewed the
memorandum of association and the bye-laws of the Company, each certified by the
Assistant Secretary of the Company on 17 May 2010, a secretary's certificate of
extract of resolutions passed at a meeting of the board of directors of the
Company held on 4 May 2010 (together, the "Minutes"). We have
also reviewed such other documents and made such enquiries as to questions of
law as we have deemed necessary in order to render the opinion set forth
below.
We have
assumed (a) the genuineness and authenticity of all signatures and the
conformity to the originals of all copies (whether or not certified) of all
documents examined by us and the authenticity and completeness of the originals
from which such copies were taken; (b) that where a document has been examined
by us in draft form, it will be or has been executed and/or filed in the form of
that draft, and where a number of drafts of a document have been examined by us
all changes thereto have been marked or otherwise drawn to our attention; (c)
the accuracy and completeness of all factual representation made in the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Plan and other documents reviewed
by us; (d) that the resolutions contained in the Minutes were passed at one or
more duly convened, constituted and quorate meetings, or by unanimous written
resolutions, remain in full force and effect and have not been rescinded or
amended; (e) that there is no provision of the law of any jurisdiction, other
than Bermuda, which would have any implication in relation to the opinions
expressed herein; (f) the validity and binding effect under the applicable
governing laws , to the extent not under Bermuda law, of the Plan in accordance
with its terms: (g) that, upon the issue of any Common Shares, the Company will
receive consideration for the full issue price thereof, which shall be equal to
at least the par value thereof; (h) that on the date of issuance of any of the
Common Shares, the Company will have sufficient authorised but unissued common
shares; (i) that on the date of issuance of any award under the Plan, the
Company will be able to pay its liabilities as they become due; (j) that the
Company's shares will be listed on an appointed stock exchange, as defined in
the Companies Act 1981, as amended, and the consent to the issue and free
transfer of the Common Shares given by the Bermuda Monetary Authority pursuant
to its Notice to the Public dated 1 June 2005 will not have been revoked or
amended at the time of the issuance of any Common Shares.
Maiden
Holdings, Ltd.
Opinion –
May 18, 2010
We have
made no investigation of and express no opinion in relation to the laws of any
jurisdiction other than Bermuda. This opinion is to be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of Bermuda and is limited to and is
given on the basis of the current law and practice in Bermuda. This
opinion is issued solely for the purposes of the filing of the Prospectus and
the Registration Statement and the issuance of the Common Shares by the Company
pursuant to the Prospectus and the Plan and is not to be relied upon in respect
of any other matter.
On the
basis of, and subject to, the foregoing, we are of the opinion
that:
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1.
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The
Company is duly incorporated and existing under the laws of Bermuda in
good standing (meaning solely that it has not failed to make any filing
with any Bermuda governmental authority, or to pay any Bermuda government
fees or tax, which would make it liable to be struck off the Register of
Companies and thereby cease to exist under the laws of
Bermuda).
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2.
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When
issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Plan, the Common
Shares will be validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable (which term
means when used herein that no further sums are required to be paid by the
holders thereof in connection with the issues of such
shares).
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We hereby
consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and to the reference to our firm under the caption "Legal Matters" in
the Prospectus. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that
we are experts within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act or that we
are in the category of persons whose consent in required under Section 7 of the
Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission promulgated
thereunder.
Yours
faithfully
/s/
Conyers Dill & Pearman Limited
Conyers
Dill & Pearman Limited