EXHIBIT 10.34
MANAGING GENERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT
BY AND BETWEEN
ROYAL SPECIALTY UNDERWRITING, INC.,
(As Managing General Agent)
ROYAL INDEMNITY COMPANY,
ROYAL SURPLUS LINES INSURANCE COMPANY,
ROYAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA,
AND
LANDMARK AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY
DATED JULY 1, 2003
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS........................................................... 2
SECTION 1.1 DEFINITIONS...................................................... 2
ARTICLE II APPOINTMENT.......................................................... 3
ARTICLE III TERM OF MGA AGREEMENT............................................... 4
ARTICLE IV MGA SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED BY RSUI................................. 4
SECTION 4.1 MGA SERVICES..................................................... 4
SECTION 4.2 UNDERWRITING SERVICES............................................ 4
SECTION 4.3 ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.......................................... 4
SECTION 4.4 HANDLING OF ROYAL INSURER AFFILIATES' FUNDS...................... 5
SECTION 4.5 BOOKS AND RECORDS................................................ 5
ARTICLE V UNAUTHORIZED ACTIONS.................................................. 6
ARTICLE VI TERMINATION.......................................................... 6
ARTICLE VII CONFIDENTIALITY..................................................... 7
SECTION 7.1 USE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.................................. 7
SECTION 7.2 CONFIDENTIALITY OF INDIVIDUALS................................... 7
SECTION 7.3 DISCLOSURE....................................................... 7
ARTICLE VIII INDEMNIFICATION.................................................... 8
SECTION 8.1 INDEMNIFICATION BY THE ROYAL INSURER AFFILIATES.................. 8
SECTION 8.2 INDEMNIFICATION BY RSUI.......................................... 8
SECTION 8.3 INDEMNIFICATION PROCEDURE........................................ 8
ARTICLE IX ARBITRATION.......................................................... 8
SECTION 9.1 ARBITRATION...................................................... 9
SECTION 9.2 NOTICE OF ARBITRATION............................................ 9
SECTION 9.3 ARBITRATION PANEL................................................ 9
SECTION 9.4 SUBMISSION OF BRIEFS............................................. 9
SECTION 9.5 ARBITRATION BOARD'S DECISION..................................... 10
SECTION 9.6 JURISDICTION..................................................... 10
SECTION 9.7 EXPENSES......................................................... 10
SECTION 9.8 PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS AND WITNESSES............................ 10
SECTION 9.9 RELIEF AVAILABLE................................................. 10
SECTION 9.10 CONSOLIDATION................................................... 11
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS......................................................... 11
SECTION 10.1 COOPERATION..................................................... 11
SECTION 10.2 AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND WAIVER.............................. 11
SECTION 10.3 ENTIRE AGREEMENT................................................ 11
SECTION 10.4 GOVERNING LAW................................................... 11
SECTION 10.5 SEVERABILITY.................................................... 11
SECTION 10.6 COUNTERPARTS.................................................... 12
SECTION 10.7 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION......................................... 12
SECTION 10.8 THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES....................................... 12
SECTION 10.9 NON-ASSIGNABILITY............................................... 12
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SECTION 10.10 SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE........................................... 12
SECTION 10.11 DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS........................................... 12
SECTION 10.12 USE OF NAME.................................................... 12
SECTION 10.13 NOTICES........................................................ 13
SECTION 10.14 INTERPRETATION................................................. 14
EXHIBIT A LIST OF ROYAL INSURER AFFILIATES
EXHIBIT B UNDERWRITING GUIDELINES
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MANAGING GENERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT
This Managing General Agency Agreement (the "MGA Agreement"), dated
July 1, 2003 is being entered into by and between Royal Specialty Underwriting,
Inc., a Georgia business corporation ("RSUI"), and certain insurer affiliates of
Royal Group, Inc, a Delaware business corporation ("Royal"), listed on Exhibit A
hereto (the "Royal Insurer Affiliates").
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, prior to the date hereof, RSUI has underwritten certain
insurance and reinsurance contracts on behalf of the Royal Insurer Affiliates
and administered the claims and reinsurance recoverables relating to such
contracts;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement ("Acquisition
Agreement"), dated as of June 6, 2003, by and between Royal and Alleghany
Insurance Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("AIHL"), the
parties agreed, among other things, that Royal will sell to Alleghany, and
Alleghany will purchase from Royal, all of the issued and outstanding shares of
common stock of RSUI; and
WHEREAS, as part of such Acquisition Agreement, Royal and Alleghany
have agreed that Royal shall cause the Royal Insurer Affiliates, and Alleghany
shall cause RSUI, to enter into this MGA Agreement; and
WHEREAS, in connection with the Acquisition Agreement, certain of
Royal's insurer affiliates, namely, Royal Indemnity Company, a Delaware property
and casualty insurance company ("RIC"), Royal Surplus Lines Insurance Company, a
Connecticut surplus lines insurer ("RSLIC") and Landmark American Insurance
Company, an Oklahoma insurance company ("Landmark"), will each enter into a
quota share reinsurance agreement with Underwriters Reinsurance Company, a New
Hampshire stock insurance company ("URC").
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these promises and the terms of
conditions set forth herein, and in consideration of the parties and certain of
their affiliates entering into the RIC Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement, the
RSLIC Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement, the Landmark Quota Share Reinsurance
Agreement (defined below) (collectively, the "Quota Share Reinsurance
Agreements"), the RIC Administrative Services Agreement, the RSLIC
Administrative Services Agreement, the RICA Administrative Services Agreement
and the Landmark Administrative Services Agreement (collectively, the
"Administrative Services Agreements") and the Landmark Purchase Agreement, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, RSUI and the Royal
Insurer Affiliates agree as follows:
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ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 DEFINITIONS Capitalized terms used but not defined herein
and which are defined in the Quota Share Reinsurance Agreements shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in such agreements. As used in this MGA Agreement, the
following terms shall have the meanings set forth herein:
"Acquisition Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in
the recitals.
"Administrative Services Agreements" shall mean the RIC
Administrative Services Agreement, the RSLIC Administrative
Services Agreement, the RICA Administrative Services Agreement
and the Landmark Administrative Services Agreement,
collectively.
"AIHL" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.
"Books and Records" shall have the meaning set forth in the
Administrative Services Agreements.
"GNIC" shall mean Guaranty National Insurance Company, a
Colorado insurance company and an indirect, wholly-owned
subsidiary of Royal.
"Governmental Entity" shall have the meaning set forth in the
Acquisition Agreement.
"Landmark Ancillary Agreement" shall have the meaning set
forth in the Landmark Purchase Agreement.
"Landmark Purchase Agreement" shall mean the stock purchase
agreement by and between AIHL and GNIC, dated June 6, 2003.
"Landmark Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement" shall have the
meaning set forth in the Landmark Quota Share Reinsurance
Agreement.
"MGA Services" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4.1.
"Permits" shall mean all permits, licenses, authorizations,
variances, exemptions, orders, registrations and approvals of
all Governmental Entities which are necessary for the conduct
of RSUI's business relative to its performance of the MGA
Services under this MGA Agreement.
"Person" shall have the meaning set forth in the Acquisition
Agreement.
"Quota Share Reinsurance Agreements" shall mean the RIC Quota
Share Reinsurance Agreement, the RSLIC Quota Share Reinsurance
Agreement and the Landmark Quota Share Reinsurance Agreement,
collectively.
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"Representative" shall have the meaning set forth in the
Acquisition Agreement.
"RIC" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.
"RICA" shall mean Royal Insurance Company of America.
"RSLIC" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.
"Royal" shall have the meaning set forth in the introduction.
"Royal Affiliate Insurers Indemnified Party" shall have the
meaning in Section 8.2.
"Royal Insurer Affiliates" shall have the meaning set forth in
the introduction.
"RSUI" shall have the meaning set forth in the introduction
hereto.
"RSUI Indemnified Party" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 8.1.
"Underwriting Guidelines" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4.2.
"URC" shall have meaning set forth in the recitals.
ARTICLE II
APPOINTMENT
SECTION 2.1 The Royal Insurer Affiliates hereby appoint RSUI as their
managing general agent to perform on and after the Closing Date the services set
forth in Article IV of this MGA Agreement with respect to the Reinsured
Contracts ("MGA Services"). RSUI hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to
render the MGA Services to the Royal Insurer Affiliates in the manner and to the
extent set forth herein. The Royal Insurer Affiliates shall have ultimate
responsibility for, and control, of all services performed hereunder by RSUI.
SECTION 2.2 RSUI shall, at all times, act as an independent contractor.
The relationship created herein is not to be construed as a joint venture
between RSUI and the Royal Insurer Affiliates or any form of partnership between
RSUI and the Royal Insurer Affiliates.
SECTION 2.3 In entering into this MGA Agreement, RSUI warrants and
represents that it has the requisite Permits to carry out the duties and
obligations required of it under this MGA Agreement. For the duration of this
MGA Agreement, RSUI hereby covenants that it will: (i) employ and retain an
adequate number of employees with the experience, skill and expertise to perform
the MGA Services RSUI is obligated to perform under this
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MGA Agreement; (ii) maintain any and all Permits required under Applicable Law
to perform its obligations under the MGA Agreement and (iii) perform the MGA
Services hereunder in accordance with all Applicable Law.
ARTICLE III
TERM OF MGA AGREEMENT
SECTION 3.1 This MGA Agreement shall be continuous in nature and shall
remain in effect until terminated in accordance with the provisions set forth in
Article VI; provided, however, notwithstanding anything in this Article III or
this MGA Agreement to the contrary, RSUI shall automatically cease underwriting,
issuing or binding all Reinsured Contracts in the name of the Royal Insurer
Affiliates twelve months from the date of this MGA Agreement. Notwithstanding
the termination of RSUI's underwriting authority, however, all of the other
authority granted to RSUI under this MGA Agreement shall continue until the
earlier of when: (i) all of the Reinsured Liabilities are extinguished or (ii)
this MGA Agreement is terminated.
ARTICLE IV
MGA SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED BY RSUI
SECTION 4.1 MGA SERVICES. RSUI shall perform all the services set forth
in Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 and 4.5 of this Article IV (collectively, the "MGA
Services").
SECTION 4.2 UNDERWRITING SERVICES. RSUI shall solicit, underwrite, bind
and issue Reinsured Contracts strictly in accordance with Royal Insurance
Affiliates' underwriting guidelines, which are attached as Exhibit B, as those
guidelines may be modified or amended from time-to-time by mutual agreement of
RSUI and the Royal Insurer Affiliates ("Underwriting Guidelines"). Each of RSUI
and the Royal Insurer Affiliates shall notify the other in writing of any
proposed changes that either RSUI or the Royal Insurer Affiliates would like to
be reflected in the Underwriting Guidelines.
SECTION 4.3 ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
(a) RSUI shall investigate, adjust, settle, handle and process all
claims with respect to the Reinsured Contacts, including performing all the
services set forth in Section 3.1 of each of the Administrative Services
Agreements, subject to precisely the same terms and conditions, restrictions and
limitations set forth in the Administrative Services Agreements.
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(b) (i) Notwithstanding anything in this Article IV of this MGA
Agreement or the Underwriting Guidelines to the contrary:
(A) All claims relating to the Reinsured Contracts must
be reported to the Royal Insurer Affiliates in a timely manner.
(B) At the request of any of the Royal Insurer
Affiliates, RSUI shall provide a report of any claim involving any Reinsured
Contract that is of a type set forth in Section 4(7) of Chapter 47 of Title 33
of the Georgia Insurance Code.
SECTION 4.4 HANDLING OF ROYAL INSURER AFFILIATES' FUNDS
(a) All money received by RSUI on behalf of the Royal Insurer
Affiliates under this MGA Agreement shall be held by RSUI in a fiduciary
capacity in a segregated account at a bank which is a member of the Federal
Reserve System. Within five days of RSUI receiving any money on behalf of the
Royal Insurer Affiliates under this MGA Agreement, RSUI shall transfer such
money to such trust account.
(b) Prior to the transfer of any monies into the trust account,
RSUI shall place all funds its receives on behalf of the Royal Insurer
Affiliates in an account segregated from all other funds or monies held by RSUI
either on behalf of itself or on behalf of other third parties. RSUI shall not
commingle any of monies it receives on behalf of the Royal Insurer Affiliates
with any other funds.
(c) RSUI shall render accounts to the Royal Insurer Affiliates and
URC detailing all transactions under this MGA Agreement on a monthly basis. Such
accounting shall be performed on the same basis and in the same manner that RSUI
rendered such accounting to the Royal Insurer Affiliates immediately prior to
the Closing Date.
SECTION 4.5 BOOKS AND RECORDS
The duties and obligations of RSUI and the Royal Insurer Affiliates
with respect to the Books and Records shall be performed in accordance with the
requirements set forth under the Administrative Services Agreements.
SECTION 4.6 PAYMENT FOR MGA SERVICES
All of RSUI's compensation for the performance of the MGA Services
hereunder, as well as all expenses of any kind incurred by RSUI in the
performance of the MGA Services, shall be determined and paid solely by AIHL and
its Affiliates. Neither the Royal Insurer Affiliates nor any of their Affiliates
shall have any obligation whatsoever under this MGA Agreement to pay RSUI for
the MGA Services, or for any expenses incurred by RSUI in performing the MGA
Services.
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ARTICLE V
UNAUTHORIZED ACTIONS
SECTION 5.1 Notwithstanding any other provision of this MGA Agreement
or the Administrative Services Agreements to the contrary, without the prior
written approval of the Royal Insurer Affiliates, RSUI shall not:
(a) issue, underwrite or bind any Reinsured Contracts in the name
of the Royal Insurer Affiliates on and after the first anniversary of this
Agreement;
(b) commit the Royal Insurer Affiliates to participate in any
insurance or reinsurance syndicates;
(c) appoint any producer without assuring that the producer is
lawfully licensed to transact the type of insurance for which he is appointed;
(d) collect any payment from a reinsurer or pay or commit a Royal
Insurer Affiliate to any claim settlement with a reinsurer, without the prior
approval of the applicable Royal Insurer Affiliate. If prior approval is given,
a report must be promptly forwarded to the applicable Royal Insurer Affiliate;
or
(e) jointly employ an individual who is employed with any of the
Royal Insurer Affiliates.
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.1 to the contrary, RSUI
shall have the authority to bind reinsurance or retrocessions on behalf of the
Royal Insurer Affiliates pursuant to the terms and conditions of the
Administrative Services Agreements.
ARTICLE VI
TERMINATION
SECTION 6.1
(a) The parties may terminate this Agreement on the same basis that the
parties may terminate the Administrative Services Agreement.
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ARTICLE VII
CONFIDENTIALITY
SECTION 7.1 USE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. RSUI acknowledges that it
will have access to confidential and proprietary information concerning the
Royal Insurer Affiliates and their businesses, which information is not readily
available to the public, and acknowledge that RSUI and its Affiliates has taken
and will continue to take reasonable actions to ensure such information is not
made available to the public. RSUI further agrees that it will not at any time
(during the term hereof or thereafter) disclose to any Person (except its
Affiliates and the officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives of
RSUI and its Affiliates who require such information in order to perform their
duties in connection with the services provided hereunder), directly or
indirectly, or make any use of, for any purpose other than those contemplated by
this MGA Agreement, the Administrative Services Agreements and the Quota Share
Reinsurance Agreements, any information or trade secrets relating to the
Reinsured Contracts or the business affairs of the Royal Insurer Affiliates,
including the identity of and/or the compensation arrangements with, any
Affiliates of the Royal Insurer Affiliates and, so long as such information
remains confidential.
SECTION 7.2 CONFIDENTIALITY OF INDIVIDUALS. Information that identifies
a Person covered under one of the Reinsured Contracts may be confidential. RSUI
shall take all reasonable precautions to prevent disclosure or use of
information identifying individuals covered under such Reinsured Contracts for a
purpose unrelated to the performance of its obligations under this MGA
Agreement. RSUI shall comply with all Applicable Laws as in effect on the date
hereof or as hereafter adopted or amended. With respect to Reinsured Contracts,
RSUI shall take all reasonable precautions to prevent disclosure or use of
information identifying individuals for a purpose unrelated to the performance
of its obligations under this MGA Agreement.
SECTION 7.3 DISCLOSURE. RSUI may disclose confidential information in
the following circumstances:
(i) to URC;
(ii) in response to a court order or formal discovery
request after notice to the other party (to the extent such notice is reasonably
practicable); provided, however, that such disclosure shall be limited only to
the extent that is required by such court order or formal disclosure request;
(iii) if a proper request is made by any regulatory
authority after notice to the other party (to the extent such notice is
reasonably practicable); provided, however, that such disclosure shall be
limited only to the extent that is required by such regulatory authority;
(iv) as otherwise required by Applicable Law; or
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(v) as otherwise provided by the provisions of this MGA
Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 8.1 INDEMNIFICATION BY THE ROYAL INSURER AFFILIATES. The Royal
Insurer Affiliates shall indemnify RSUI and its officers, directors (each, an
"RSUI Indemnified Party") and shall hold each RSUI Indemnified Party harmless
from and against all Damages which are asserted against, imposed upon or
incurred by any RSUI Indemnified Party as a result of or in connection with the
performance by RSUI of the MGA Services, except to the extent that such Damages
are attributable to: (i) the negligence or willful misconduct of RSUI, its
officers, directors, employees or Representatives; or (ii) a breach by RSUI, its
officers, directors, employees or Representatives of its obligations under this
MGA Agreement.
SECTION 8.2 INDEMNIFICATION BY RSUI. RSUI shall indemnify the Royal
Insurer Affiliates and its officers, directors and employees (each, a "Royal
Insurer Affiliates Indemnified Party") and shall hold each Royal Insurer
Affiliates Indemnified Party harmless from all Damages asserted against, imposed
upon or incurred by any of the Royal Insurer Affiliates Indemnified Party in the
performance by RSUI of the MGA Services to the extent such Damage is
attributable to: (i) the negligence or willful misconduct of RSUI, its officers,
directors, employees or Representatives; or (ii) a breach by RSUI, its officers,
directors employees or Representatives of its obligations under this MGA
Agreement.
SECTION 8.3 INDEMNIFICATION PROCEDURE. In the event either the Royal
Insurer Affiliates or RSUI shall have a claim for indemnity against the other
party under the terms of this MGA Agreement, the parties shall follow the
procedures set forth in Article XIV of the Acquisition Agreement.
SECTION 8.4 NO DUPLICATION. Any liability for indemnification hereunder
shall be determined without duplication of recovery by reason of (i) the state
of facts giving rise to such liability constituting a breach of more than one
representation, warranty, covenant or agreement or (ii) the liability of the
RSUI Indemnified Party or the Royal Insurer Affiliates Indemnified Party or any
Affiliate thereof under a Landmark Ancillary Agreement, the Acquisition
Agreement or an Ancillary Agreement (as such term is defined in the Acquisition
Agreement).
ARTICLE IX
ARBITRATION
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SECTION 9.1 ARBITRATION. As a condition precedent to any cause of
action, any and all disputes between RSUI and the Royal Insurer Affiliates
arising out of, relating to, or concerning this MGA Agreement, whether sounding
in contract or tort and whether arising during or after termination of this MGA
Agreement, shall be submitted to the decision of a board of arbitration composed
of two arbitrators and an umpire ("Board") meeting at a site in Wilmington,
Delaware. The arbitration shall be conducted under the Federal Arbitration Act
and shall proceed as set forth below.
SECTION 9.2 NOTICE OF ARBITRATION. A notice requesting arbitration, or
any other notice made in connection therewith, shall be in writing and shall be
sent certified or registered mail, return receipt requested to the affected
parties. The notice requesting arbitration shall state in particulars all issues
to be resolved in the view of the claimant, shall appoint the arbitrator
selected by the claimant and shall set a tentative date for the hearing, which
date shall be no sooner than ninety (90) days and no later than one hundred
fifty (150) days from the date that the notice requesting arbitration is mailed.
Within thirty (30) days of receipt of claimant's notice, the respondent shall
notify claimant of any additional issues to be resolved in the arbitration and
of the name of its appointed arbitrator.
SECTION 9.3 ARBITRATION PANEL. Unless otherwise mutually agreed, the
members of the Board shall be impartial and disinterested and shall be active or
former executive officers of property-casualty insurance companies, reinsurance
companies, or Lloyd's Underwriters or active or inactive lawyers with at least
twenty (20) years of experience in insurance and reinsurance. RSUI and the Royal
Insurer Affiliates shall each appoint an arbitrator and the two (2) arbitrators
shall choose an umpire before instituting the hearing. If the respondent fails
to appoint its arbitrator within thirty (30) days after having received
claimant's written request for arbitration, the claimant is authorized to and
shall appoint the second arbitrator. If the two arbitrators fail to agree upon
the appointment of an umpire within thirty (30) days after notification of the
appointment of the second arbitrator, within ten (10) days thereof, the two (2)
arbitrators shall request the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") to
appoint an umpire for the arbitration with the qualifications set forth in this
Article. If the AAA fails to name an umpire, either party may apply to the court
named below to appoint an umpire with the above required qualifications. The
umpire shall promptly notify in writing all parties to the arbitration of his
selection and of the scheduled date for the hearing. Upon resignation or death
of any member of the Board, a replacement shall be appointed in the same fashion
as the resigning or deceased member was appointed.
SECTION 9.4 SUBMISSION OF BRIEFS. The claimant and respondent shall
each submit initial briefs to the Board outlining the issues in dispute and the
basis, authority and reasons for their respective positions within thirty (30)
days of the date of notice of appointment of the umpire. The claimant and the
respondent may submit reply briefs to the Board within ten (10) days after
filing of the initial brief(s). Initial and reply briefs may be amended by the
submitting party at any time, but not later than ten (10) days prior to the date
of commencement of the arbitration hearing. Reasonable responses shall be
allowed at the arbitration hearing to new material contained in any amendments
filed to the briefs but not previously responded to.
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SECTION 9.5 ARBITRATION BOARD'S DECISION. The Board shall make a
decision and award with regard to the terms of this MGA Agreement and the
original intentions of the parties to the extent reasonably ascertainable. The
Board's decision and award shall be in writing and shall state the factual and
legal basis for the decision and award. The decision and award shall be based
upon a hearing in which evidence shall be allowed and which the formal rules of
evidence shall not strictly apply but in which cross examination and rebuttal
shall be allowed. At its own election or at the request of the Board, either
party may submit a post-hearing brief for consideration of the Board within
twenty (20) days of the close of the hearing. The Board shall make its decision
and award within thirty (30) days following the close of the hearing or the
submission of post-hearing briefs, whichever is later, unless the parties
consent to an extension. Every decision by the Board shall be by a majority of
the members of the Board and each decision and award by the majority of the
members of the Board shall be final and binding upon all parties to the
proceeding.
SECTION 9.6 JURISDICTION. Either party may apply to the Chancery Court
of the State of Delaware for an order compelling arbitration or confirming any
decision and the award; a judgment of that Court shall thereupon be entered on
any decision or award. If such an order is issued, the attorneys' fees of the
party so applying and court costs will be paid by the party against whom
confirmation is sought. The Board may award interest calculated from the date
the Board determines that any amounts due the prevailing party should have been
paid to the prevailing party.
SECTION 9.7 EXPENSES. Each party shall bear the expense of the one
arbitrator appointed by it and shall jointly and equally bear with the other
party the expense of any stenographer requested, and of the umpire.
SECTION 9.8 PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS AND WITNESSES. Subject to customary
and recognized legal rules of privilege, each party participating in the
arbitration shall have the obligation to produce those documents and as
witnesses to the arbitration those of its employees as any other participating
party reasonably requests providing always that the same witnesses and documents
be obtainable and relevant to the issues before the arbitration and not be
unduly burdensome or excessive. The parties may mutually agree as to pre-hearing
discovery prior to the arbitration hearing and in the absence of agreement, upon
the request of any party, pre-hearing discovery may be conducted as the Board
shall determine in its sole discretion to be in the interest of fairness, full
disclosure, and a prompt hearing, decision and award by the Board. The Board
shall be the final judge of the procedures of the Board, the conduct of the
arbitration, of the rules of evidence, the rules of privilege and production and
of excessiveness and relevancy of any witnesses and documents upon the petition
of any participating party. To the extent permitted by law, the Board shall have
the authority to issue subpoenas and other orders to enforce their decisions.
SECTION 9.9 RELIEF AVAILABLE. Nothing herein shall be construed to
prevent any participating party from applying to the Chancery Court of the State
of Delaware to issue a restraining order or other equitable relief to maintain
the "status quo" of the parties participating in the arbitration pending the
decision and award by the Board or to prevent
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any party from incurring irreparable harm or damage at any time prior to the
decision and award of the Board. The Board shall also have the authority to
issue interim decisions or awards in the interest of fairness, full disclosure,
and a prompt and orderly hearing and decision and award by the Board.
SECTION 9.10 CONSOLIDATION. In the event that there is a dispute
between the Royal Insurer Affiliates and RSUI under this MGA Agreement as well
as one or more disputes involving any of the Ancillary Agreements, RSUI, URC and
the Royal Insurer Affiliates agree to consolidate all such disputes under such
agreements in a single arbitration proceeding.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 10.1 COOPERATION. The parties hereto shall cooperate in a
commercially reasonable manner in order that the duties assumed by RSUI
hereunder will be effectively, efficiently and promptly discharged. The parties
hereto will use their best efforts to (i) give effect to the intent of this MGA
Agreement and (ii) refrain from conduct which would frustrate the intent of any
such MGA Agreement. Each party shall, at all reasonable times under the
circumstances, make available to the other party properly authorized personnel
for the purpose of consultation and decision.
SECTION 10.2 AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND WAIVER. This MGA Agreement may
not be amended, modified or waived except by an instrument or instruments in
writing signed and delivered on behalf of each of the parties hereto.
SECTION 10.3 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This MGA Agreement, the Acquisition
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements among the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all other prior agreements and
understandings, both written and verbal, among the parties or any of them with
respect to the subject matter hereof.
SECTION 10.4 GOVERNING LAW. This MGA Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of
the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of
laws thereof.
SECTION 10.5 SEVERABILITY. Any term or provision of this MGA Agreement
which is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that
jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or
unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms
and provisions of this MGA Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability
of any of the terms or provisions of this MGA Agreement in any other
jurisdiction. If any provision of this MGA Agreement is so broad as to be
unenforceable, the provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as would
be enforceable.
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SECTION 10.6 COUNTERPARTS. This MGA Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which
shall constitute one and the same MGA Agreement.
SECTION 10.7 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. Each of the parties hereto
irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the
Chancery Court for the State of Delaware for the purposes of enforcing this MGA
Agreement. In any action, suit or other proceeding, each of the parties hereto
irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to assert by way of
motion, as a defense or otherwise any claims that it is not subject to the
jurisdiction of the above courts, that such action or suit is brought in an
inconvenient forum or that the venue of such action, suit or other proceeding is
improper. Each of the parties hereto also agrees that any final and unappealable
judgment against a party hereto in connection with any action, suit or other
proceeding shall be conclusive and binding on such party and that such award or
judgment may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction, either within
or outside of the United States. A certified or exemplified copy of such award
or judgment shall be conclusive evidence of the fact and amount of such award or
judgment.
SECTION 10.8 THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. Except as set forth in Article
VIII of this MGA Agreement, and except with respect to URC, nothing in this MGA
Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any Person
other than the parties hereto any rights, benefits or remedies of any nature
whatsoever under or by reason of this MGA Agreement.
SECTION 10.9 NON-ASSIGNABILITY. Neither RSUI nor the Royal Insurer
Affiliates may assign, in whole or in part, any of their obligations or duties
under this MGA Agreement.
SECTION 10.10 SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The parties recognize and agree
that if for any reason any of the provisions of this MGA Agreement are not
performed in accordance with their specific terms or are otherwise breached,
immediate and irreparable harm or injury would be caused for which money damages
would not be an adequate remedy. Accordingly, each party agrees that, in
addition to any other available remedies, each other party shall be entitled to
an injunction restraining any violation or threatened violation of any of the
provisions of this MGA Agreement without the necessity of posting a bond or
other form of security. In the event that any action should be brought in equity
to enforce any of the provisions of this MGA Agreement, no party will allege,
and each party hereby waives the defense, that there is an adequate remedy at
law.
SECTION 10.11 DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. The descriptive article and section
headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not
intended to be part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this MGA
Agreement.
SECTION 10.12 USE OF NAME. Except as otherwise set forth in the
Acquisition Agreement, RSUI shall not use the name, trademark, service xxxx,
logo or identification of the Royal Insurer Affiliates without the Royal Insurer
Affiliates' prior written consent.
12
SECTION 10.13 NOTICES. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be
deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by telecopy
(which is confirmed), or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid,
return receipt requested) to the respective parties to this MGA Agreement as
follows:
If to the Royal Insurer Affiliates:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
General Counsel
Royal Group, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx.
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telephone No.: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice to the Royal Insurer
Affiliates for purposes of this Section 10.13):
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP
Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telephone No.: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
If to RSUI:
Xxxxx Xxxxx
President and Chief Executive Officer
Royal Specialty Underwriting, Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telephone No.: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice to the RSUI for
purposes of this Section 10.13):
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Esq.
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telephone No.: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy No.: (000) 000-0000
13
or to such other address as the person to whom notice is given may have
previously furnished to the others in writing in the manner set forth above. In
no event shall the provision of notice pursuant to this Section 10.13 constitute
notice for service of any writ, process or summons in any suit, action or other
proceeding.
SECTION 10.14 INTERPRETATION.When a reference is made in this MGA
Agreement to a Section or Article, such reference shall be to a section or
article of this MGA Agreement unless otherwise clearly indicated to the
contrary. Whenever the words "include," "includes" or "including" are used in
this MGA Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without
limitation." The words "hereof," "herein" and "herewith" and words of similar
import shall, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this MGA
Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this MGA Agreement.
The meaning assigned to each term used in this MGA Agreement shall be equally
applicable to both the singular and the plural forms of such term, and words
denoting any gender shall include all genders. Where a word or phrase is defined
herein, each of its other grammatical forms shall have a corresponding meaning.
The parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting
of this MGA Agreement; consequently, in the event an ambiguity or question of
intent or interpretation arises, this MGA Agreement shall be construed as if
drafted jointly by the parties thereto, and no presumption or burden of proof
shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any
provisions of this MGA Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Managing General Agency Agreement has been
duly executed by a duly authorized officer of each party hereto as of the date
first above written.
ROYAL SPECIALTY UNDERWRITING, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
-------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Chairman
ROYAL INDEMNITY COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
--------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: President and Chief
Executive Officer
ROYAL SURPLUS LINES INSURANCE COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
---------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: President and Chief
Executive Officer
ROYAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: President and Chief
Executive Officer
LANDMARK AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: President and Chief
Executive Officer