AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 20, 2008 BY AND AMONG MEADOWBROOK INSURANCE GROUP, INC., PROCENTURY CORPORATION, AND MBKPC CORP.
Exhibit 2.1
EXECUTION COPY
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 20, 2008
BY AND AMONG
MEADOWBROOK INSURANCE GROUP, INC.,
PROCENTURY CORPORATION,
AND
MBKPC CORP.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||
ARTICLE I CERTAIN DEFINITIONS |
1 | |||
ARTICLE II THE MERGER |
8 | |||
2.1 The Merger |
8 | |||
2.2 Effective Time |
8 | |||
2.3 Effects of the Merger |
9 | |||
2.4 Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws |
9 | |||
2.5 Directors and Executive Officers of the Surviving Corporation |
9 | |||
2.6 Tax Consequences |
9 | |||
2.7 Offices |
9 | |||
2.8 Additional Actions |
9 | |||
2.9 Merger Sub Common Stock |
9 | |||
ARTICLE III CONSIDERATION; ELECTION AND EXCHANGE PROCEDURES |
9 | |||
3.1 Conversion of Shares |
10 | |||
3.2 Election Procedures |
11 | |||
3.3 Exchange Procedures |
14 | |||
3.4 Rights as Shareholders; Stock Transfers |
16 | |||
3.5 No Fractional Shares |
16 | |||
3.6 Anti-Dilution Provisions |
16 | |||
3.7 Withholding Rights |
17 | |||
3.8 Dissenters’ Rights |
17 | |||
3.9 Restricted Shares and Options |
17 | |||
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PROCENTURY |
18 | |||
4.1 Corporate Organization |
18 | |||
4.2 Capitalization |
19 | |||
4.3 Authority; No Violation |
20 | |||
4.4 Consents and Approvals |
21 | |||
4.5 Reports |
21 | |||
4.6 Financial Statements |
22 | |||
4.7 Broker’s Fees |
23 |
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Page | ||||
4.8 Absence of Certain Changes or Events |
23 | |||
4.9 Legal Proceedings |
23 | |||
4.10 Taxes |
24 | |||
4.11 Employee Benefit Plan Matters |
24 | |||
4.12 ProCentury Information |
26 | |||
4.13 Ownership of Meadowbrook Common Stock |
26 | |||
4.14 Compliance with Applicable Law; Licenses |
26 | |||
4.15 Certain Contracts |
26 | |||
4.16 Investment Securities |
27 | |||
4.17 Intellectual Property |
27 | |||
4.18 Undisclosed Liabilities |
27 | |||
4.19 State Takeover Laws; Required Vote |
28 | |||
4.20 Environmental Matters |
28 | |||
4.21 Opinion |
28 | |||
4.22 ProCentury Insurance Subsidiaries |
28 | |||
4.23 Labor and Employment Matters |
31 | |||
4.24 Insurance |
31 | |||
4.25 Indemnification |
32 | |||
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF MEADOWBROOK AND MERGER SUB |
32 | |||
5.1 Corporate Organization |
32 | |||
5.2 Capitalization |
33 | |||
5.3 Authority; No Violation |
34 | |||
5.4 Consents and Approvals |
35 | |||
5.5 Reports |
35 | |||
5.6 Financial Statements |
36 | |||
5.7 Broker’s Fees |
37 | |||
5.8 Absence of Certain Changes or Events |
37 | |||
5.9 Legal Proceedings |
37 | |||
5.10 Taxes |
37 | |||
5.11 Employee Benefit Plan Matters |
38 | |||
5.12 Meadowbrook Information |
39 |
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Page | ||||
5.13 Ownership of ProCentury Common Stock |
39 | |||
5.14 Compliance with Applicable Law |
39 | |||
5.15 Certain Contracts |
39 | |||
5.16 Intellectual Property |
40 | |||
5.17 Undisclosed Liabilities |
40 | |||
5.18 Required Vote |
40 | |||
5.19 Environmental Matters |
40 | |||
5.20 Meadowbrook Insurance Subsidiaries |
41 | |||
5.21 Labor and Employment Matters |
43 | |||
5.22 Insurance |
43 | |||
5.23 Financing |
44 | |||
ARTICLE VI COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS |
44 | |||
6.1 Covenants of ProCentury |
44 | |||
6.2 Covenants of Meadowbrook and Merger Sub |
46 | |||
ARTICLE VII ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS |
48 | |||
7.1 Reasonable Best Efforts |
48 | |||
7.2 Shareholder Approval |
48 | |||
7.3 Registration Statement |
49 | |||
7.4 Regulatory Filings |
50 | |||
7.5 Press Releases |
51 | |||
7.6 Access; Information |
51 | |||
7.7 Acquisition Proposals |
52 | |||
7.8 NYSE Listing |
53 | |||
7.9 Benefit Plans |
53 | |||
7.10 Notification of Certain Matters |
54 | |||
7.11 Indemnification and Insurance |
54 | |||
7.12 Financing |
55 | |||
7.13 Current Information |
55 | |||
7.14 Continuing Directors |
56 | |||
ARTICLE VIII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT |
56 | |||
8.1 Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation To Effect the Merger |
56 |
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Page | ||||
8.2 Conditions to Obligations of Meadowbrook and Merger Sub |
57 | |||
8.3 Conditions to Obligations of ProCentury |
58 | |||
ARTICLE IX TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT |
59 | |||
9.1 Termination |
59 | |||
9.2 Effect of Termination |
61 | |||
9.3 Extension; Waiver |
62 | |||
ARTICLE X GENERAL PROVISIONS |
63 | |||
10.1 Closing |
63 | |||
10.2 Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements |
63 | |||
10.3 Expenses |
63 | |||
10.4 Notices |
63 | |||
10.5 Interpretation |
64 | |||
10.6 Entire Agreement |
64 | |||
10.7 Governing Law |
64 | |||
10.8 Enforcement of the Agreement |
65 | |||
10.9 Severability |
65 | |||
10.10 Amendment |
65 | |||
10.11 Assignment |
65 | |||
10.12 Execution of Agreement |
65 | |||
10.13 No Third Party Beneficiaries |
66 |
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “Agreement”), dated as of February 20, 2008, is by and
among Meadowbrook Insurance Group, Inc., a Michigan corporation (“Meadowbrook”), ProCentury
Corporation, an Ohio corporation (“ProCentury”), and MBKPC Corp., a Michigan corporation and a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Meadowbrook (“Merger Sub”). Meadowbrook, ProCentury and Merger Sub are
sometimes referred to herein, individually as a “Party,” and collectively, as the “Parties”.
WHEREAS, the respective boards of directors of Meadowbrook, Merger Sub and ProCentury have
each approved and adopted this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the
merger of ProCentury with and into Merger Sub (the “Merger”), upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, the board of directors of ProCentury deems it advisable and in the best interests of
ProCentury and its shareholders that ProCentury enter into this Agreement to advance its strategic
business interests by putting the ProCentury Insurance Subsidiaries and the Meadowbrook Insurance
Subsidiaries under common ownership, and permitting the coordination of activities conducted by
them, and otherwise participating in growth opportunities of Meadowbrook and its Subsidiaries;
WHEREAS, for United States federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the Merger will
qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Code”); and
WHEREAS, the Parties desire to make certain representations, warranties and agreements in
connection with the Merger and also to prescribe certain conditions to the Merger.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, representations, warranties and
agreements contained herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:
“Acquisition Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(j).
“Acquisition Proposal” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.7.
“Agent” means an agent, representative, distributor, broker, employee or other Person
authorized to sell or administer products of a ProCentury Insurance Subsidiary.
“Aggregate Merger Consideration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a)(2)(v).
“Aggregate Stock Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(f).
“Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Applicable Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(a).
“Average Closing Date Meadowbrook Share Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.1(a)(2)(i).
“Burdensome Condition” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.1(g).
“Capital Change” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.
“Cash Consideration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a)(2)(v).
“Cash Election” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).
“Cash Election Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).
“Century 401(k) Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(a).
“Certificate” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a).
“Certificates of Merger” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
“Closing” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.
“Closing Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.
“Code” shall have the meaning set forth in the third recital.
“Covered Person” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.25.
“Determination Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a)(2)(ii).
“Dissenting Shareholder” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.8.
“Dissenting Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.8.
“DOL” means United States Department of Labor.
“Drop Dead Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(c).
“Effective Time” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
“Election Deadline” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(b).
“Election Form” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).
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“Environmental Laws” means all federal, state and local laws including common law, regulations
and ordinances and with all applicable decrees, orders and contractual obligations relating to
pollution, the discharge of, or exposure to materials in the environment or workplace.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“ERISA Affiliate” means each entity that is treated as a single employer with ProCentury for
purposes of Code Section 414.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Exchange Agent” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(c).
“Exchange Ratio” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a)(2)(iii).
“Excluded Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a)(1).
“Forms” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.22(e).
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles.
“Governmental Entity” means any court, administrative agency or commission or other
governmental authority or instrumentality.
“HSR Act” means the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.
“Indemnified Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.11(a).
“Injunction” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.1(f).
“Insurance Laws” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.22(b).
“IRS” means the Internal Revenue Service.
“Laws” means all applicable federal, state, local or foreign law, statute, ordinance, rule,
regulation, judgment, order, injunction, decree or agency requirement of any Governmental Entity.
“Liens” means any security interest, pledge, mortgage, lien, charge, restriction, or other
encumbrance, xxxxxx or inchoate, of any kind or nature whatsoever or however arising, including any
Tax lien.
“License” means permits, licenses, certifications, approvals, registrations, consents,
authorizations, franchises, variances, exemptions and orders issued or granted by a Governmental
Entity.
3
“Maximum Cash Consideration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a)(2)(iv).
“Meadowbrook” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Meadowbrook 401(k) Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(a).
“Meadowbrook Actuarial Analyses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.20(g).
“Meadowbrook Common Stock” means the common stock, stated value $.01 per share, of
Meadowbrook.
“Meadowbrook Credit Facility” means the credit facility established under the Credit Agreement
dated as of November 12, 2004 among Meadowbrook and Standard Federal Bank National Association
(“Standard Federal”), as amended by the First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated May 20, 2005
between Meadowbrook and Standard Federal, the Second Amendment to Credit Agreement dated September
8, 2007 between Meadowbrook and Standard Federal, the Third Amendment to Credit Agreement dated
December 28, 2005 and the Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement dated April 10, 2007 among
Meadowbrook, Meadowbrook, Inc., Crest Financial Corporation and LaSalle Bank Midwest National
Association.
“Meadowbrook Disclosure Schedule” shall have the meaning set forth in Article V.
“Meadowbrook Insurance Contracts” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.20(e).
“Meadowbrook Insurance Subsidiaries” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.20(a).
“Meadowbrook Intellectual Property” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.16.
“Meadowbrook Material Adverse Effect” means an event, change or effect that has a material
adverse effect on (i) the financial position, results of operations or business of Meadowbrook and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (ii) the ability of Meadowbrook or Merger Sub to perform its
obligations under this Agreement or otherwise materially threaten or materially impede the
consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided,
however, that Meadowbrook Material Adverse Effect shall not be deemed to include any events,
changes or effects to the extent resulting from (a) changes in Insurance Laws and other Laws of
general applicability or interpretations thereof by courts or Governmental Entities, or other
changes affecting insurance companies generally, including changes in general political, economic
or business conditions (including the commencement, continuation or escalation of a war, material
armed hostilities or other material international or national calamity or acts of terrorism or
earthquakes, hurricanes or other natural disasters or acts of God), (b) changes in GAAP or
regulatory accounting requirements applicable to insurance companies and their holding companies
generally, (c) any modifications or changes to policies and practices in connection with the Merger
or restructuring charges taken in connection with the Merger, in each case in accordance with GAAP,
(d) changes resulting from expenses (such as legal, accounting and investment bankers’ fees)
incurred in connection with this Agreement, (e)
4
actions or omissions of Meadowbrook or Merger Sub
taken with the prior written consent of ProCentury in contemplation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, (f) the announcement or performance of the transactions contemplated hereby or
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and (g) changes in general financial or
capital market conditions.
“Meadowbrook Plans” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.11.
“Meadowbrook Preferred Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(a).
“Meadowbrook Reports” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.5(a).
“Meadowbrook SAP Statements” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.6(b).
“Meadowbrook Shareholder Meeting” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(b).
“Meadowbrook Shareholder Approval” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.1(b).
“Meadowbrook Stock Plans” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(a).
“Meadowbrook’s Counsel” means Xxxxxx LLP, counsel to Meadowbrook.
“Meadowbrook Trusts” means Meadowbrook Capital Trust I and Meadowbrook Capital Trust II formed
in connection with the issuance of trust preferred securities referred to in the Meadowbrook
Reports.
“Merger” shall have the meaning set forth in the first recital.
“Merger Sub” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Minimum Tax Ratio” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(f).
“Mixed Election” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).
“Nasdaq” shall mean the NASDAQ Global Select Market, any successor inter-dealer quotation
system operated by the Nasdaq Inc., or any successor thereto.
“No-Election Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).
“Non-Election” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).
“NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange or such national securities exchange on which the
Meadowbrook Common Stock is listed.
“Option Merger Consideration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.9.
“Party” and “Parties” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
5
“Permitted Liens” means any Lien (a) for Taxes or governmental assessments, charges or claims
of payment not yet due, being contested in good faith or for which adequate accruals or reserves
have been established, (b) which is a carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s,
repairmen’s or other similar lien arising in the ordinary course of business, (c) which is
disclosed on the consolidated balance sheet (or notes thereto) of ProCentury or securing
liabilities reflected on such balance sheet, (d) which was incurred in the ordinary course
of business since September 30, 2007 and (e) all other title exceptions, defects, encumbrances
and other matters, whether or not of record, which do not materially affect the continued use of
the property for the purposes for which the property is currently being used by ProCentury or its
Subsidiaries as of the date hereof.
“Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability company,
joint venture, association, estate, trust, governmental agency or body or other entity, and shall
include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such Person.
“Per Share Cash Consideration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a)(1)(i).
“Per Share Stock Consideration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a)(1)(ii).
“Previously Disclosed” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.
“ProCentury” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“ProCentury Actuarial Analyses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.22(g).
“ProCentury Common Shares” means the common shares, without par value, of ProCentury.
“ProCentury Contract” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.15(a).
“ProCentury Disclosure Schedule” shall have the meaning set forth in Article IV.
“ProCentury Insurance Contracts” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.22(e).
“ProCentury Insurance Subsidiary(ies)” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.22(a).
“ProCentury Intellectual Property” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.17.
“ProCentury Material Adverse Effect” means an event, change or effect that has a material
adverse effect on (i) the financial position, results of operations or business of ProCentury and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (ii) the ability of ProCentury to perform its obligations
under this Agreement or otherwise materially threaten or materially impede the consummation of the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however, that
ProCentury Material Adverse Effect shall not be deemed to include any events, changes or effects to
the extent resulting from (a) changes in Insurance Laws and other Laws of general applicability or
interpretations thereof by courts or Governmental Entities, or
6
other changes affecting insurance
companies generally, including changes in general political, economic or business conditions
(including the commencement, continuation or escalation of a war, material armed hostilities or
other material international or national calamity or acts of terrorism or earthquakes, hurricanes
or other natural disasters or acts of God), (b) changes in GAAP or regulatory accounting
requirements applicable to insurance companies and their holding companies generally, (c) any
modifications or changes to policies and practices in connection with the Merger or restructuring
charges taken in connection with the Merger, in each
case in accordance with GAAP, (d) changes resulting from expenses (such as legal, accounting
and investment bankers’ fees) incurred in connection with this Agreement, (e) actions or omissions
of ProCentury taken with the prior written consent of Meadowbrook, as applicable, in contemplation
of the transactions contemplated hereby, (f) the payments of any amounts due, or the provision of
any benefits to, any officer or employee under employment, change-in-control or severance
agreements as of the date hereof as Previously Disclosed, (g) the announcement or performance of
the transactions contemplated hereby or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
and (h) changes in general financial or capital market conditions.
“ProCentury Option Plans” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a).
“ProCentury Optionholder” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a).
“ProCentury Option” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.9.
“ProCentury Plans” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.11(a).
“ProCentury Preferred Shares” means the preferred shares, no par value, of ProCentury.
“ProCentury Reports” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(a).
“ProCentury SAP Statements” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(b).
“ProCentury Shareholder Approval” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.1(a).
“ProCentury Shareholder Meeting” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a).
“Proxy Statement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.4.
“Reallocated Cash Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(d)(i)(3).
“Reallocated Stock Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(d)(ii)(2).
“Reduction Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(f).
“Regulatory Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.22(d).
“Requisite Regulatory Approvals” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.1(d).
“Restricted Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.9.
7
“S-4” means Meadowbrook’s Registration Statement on Form S-4.
“SAP” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(b).
“Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act” means the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
“Stock Consideration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a)(2)(v).
“Stock Election” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).
“Stock Election Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).
“Subsidiary” means, when used with respect to any Party, any corporation, partnership or other
organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, which is consolidated with such Party for
financial reporting purposes.
“Superior Proposal” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.7.
“Surviving Corporation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
“Tax Ratio” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(f).
“Tax Return” means any return, report, information return or other document (including any
related or supporting information) with respect to Taxes.
“Taxes” means all taxes, charges, fees, levies, penalties or other assessments imposed by any
United States federal, state, local or foreign taxing authority, including, but not limited to
income, excise, property, sales, transfer, franchise, payroll, withholding, social security or
other taxes, including any interest, penalties or additions attributable thereto.
“Termination Fee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.2(b).
“Trusts” means the (i) Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust by and among State Street
Bank and Trust Company of Connecticut, National Association, as Institutional Trustee, Profinance
Holdings Corporation, as Sponsor, and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx and Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, as Administrators, dated
as of December 4, 2002 and (ii) the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust by and among U.S.
Bank National Association, as Institutional Trustee, Profinance Holdings Corporation, as Sponsor,
and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx and Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, as Administrators, dated as of May 15, 2003.
ARTICLE II
THE MERGER
THE MERGER
8
2.1 The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement,
ProCentury shall be merged with and into Merger Sub in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code and
the Michigan Business Corporation Act, whereupon the separate corporate existence of ProCentury
shall cease and Merger Sub shall continue as the surviving corporation in the Merger (the
“Surviving Corporation”) and as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Meadowbrook.
2.2 Effective Time. The Merger shall become effective when certificates of merger
with respect to the Merger (the “Certificates of Merger”), containing the provisions required by,
and executed in accordance with, the Ohio Revised Code and the Michigan Business Corporation Act
have been accepted for filing by the office of the Secretary of State of Ohio and the Michigan
Department of Labor & Economic Growth, Bureau of Commercial Services, Corporation Division or at
such other subsequent date as Meadowbrook and ProCentury may agree in writing in accordance with
the Ohio Revised Code and the Michigan Business Corporation Act. The term “Effective Time” shall
be the date and time when the Merger becomes effective.
2.3 Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set forth in Section
1701.82 of the Ohio Revised Code and Section 450.1724 of the Michigan Business Corporation Act.
2.4 Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. At the Effective Time, the articles of
incorporation and bylaws of Merger Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall
be the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter changed
or amended as provided therein or by applicable Law; provided, however, that Article I of the
articles of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation shall be amended in its entirety to read as
follows: “The name of the corporation is ProCentury Corporation.”
2.5 Directors and Executive Officers of the Surviving Corporation. The directors and
executive officers of the Surviving Corporation immediately after the Effective Time shall be as
set forth in Section 2.5 of the Meadowbrook Disclosure Schedule, each of whom shall serve until
such time as their successors shall be duly elected or appointed and qualified or their earlier
death, resignation or removal.
2.6 Tax Consequences. It is intended that the Merger constitute a tax free
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Code.
2.7 Offices. The headquarters of the Surviving Corporation immediately after the
Effective Time shall be at 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000, and it is Meadowbrook’s
present intention to retain such location as its headquarters.
2.8 Additional Actions. At and after the Effective Time, the officers and directors
of the Surviving Corporation will be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf
of ProCentury or Merger Sub, any deeds, bills of sale, assignments or assurances and to take any
other actions and do any
other things, in the name and on behalf of ProCentury or Merger Sub, reasonably necessary to
vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Corporation any and all right,
title and interest in, to and under any of the rights, properties or
9
assets of ProCentury or Merger
Sub or to be acquired by the Surviving Corporation as a result of, or in connection with, the
Merger.
2.9 Merger Sub Common Stock. Each share of Merger Sub common stock, no par value per
share, that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall remain issued
and outstanding as the only issued and outstanding capital stock of the Surviving Corporation and
shall be unchanged by the Merger.
ARTICLE III
CONSIDERATION; ELECTION AND EXCHANGE PROCEDURES
CONSIDERATION; ELECTION AND EXCHANGE PROCEDURES
3.1 Conversion of Shares. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger:
(a) (1) ProCentury Common Shares. Subject to Sections 3.2, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8 and
3.9, each ProCentury Common Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
(excluding Dissenting Shares and any ProCentury Common Shares held as treasury shares or by any
wholly owned Subsidiary of ProCentury, Merger Sub, Meadowbrook or any other wholly owned Subsidiary
of Meadowbrook (collectively, the “Excluded Shares”)) shall be converted into, and shall be
canceled in exchange for, the right to receive, at the election of the holder thereof:
(i) Per Share Cash Consideration. A cash amount equal to $20.00 (the “Per Share Cash
Consideration”); or
(ii) Per Share Stock Consideration. A number of shares of Meadowbrook Common Stock
equal to the Exchange Ratio (the “Per Share Stock Consideration”).
As provided in Section 3.2, ProCentury’s shareholders shall have the right to elect to receive the
Per Share Cash Consideration with respect to some of such holder’s shares and the Per Share Stock
Consideration with respect to such holder’s remaining shares. Such election shall be subject to the
allocations set forth in Section 3.2(d). Meadowbrook shall make a public announcement of the
Exchange Ratio and the Election Deadline no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the third
Business Day prior to the date of the Election Deadline.
(2) Additional Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
(i) “Average Closing Date Meadowbrook Share Price” shall mean the volume weighted average
sales price of a share of Meadowbrook Common Stock, as reported on the NYSE, for the thirty (30)
trading-day period ending with the Determination Date.
(ii) “Determination Date” shall mean the close of business on the fifth business day preceding
the Election Deadline.
(iii) “Exchange Ratio” shall mean the quotient (rounded to the nearest ten thousandth, or if
there is no nearest ten thousandth, the next higher ten thousandth) of the Per Share Cash
Consideration divided by the Average Closing Date Meadowbrook Share Price;
10
provided, however, that
if the Average Closing Date Meadowbrook Share Price is less than $8.00, the Exchange Ratio shall be
2.5, and if the Average Closing Date Meadowbrook Share Price is greater than $10.50, the Exchange
Ratio shall be 1.9048.
(iv) “Maximum Cash Consideration” shall mean an aggregate amount of cash equal to 45% of the
total value of the cash and shares of Meadowbrook Common Stock issuable to holders of ProCentury
Common Shares at the Effective Time, calculated based on the closing price of Meadowbrook Common
Stock as of the date prior to the date of the Effective Time. For purposes of the allocation
provisions in Section 3.2(d), the cash issuable to holders of ProCentury Common Shares, as set
forth in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to include an amount of cash equal to the number of
Dissenting Shares multiplied by $20.00.
(v) The “Aggregate Merger Consideration” shall be (i) the cash amount (which shall not exceed
the Maximum Cash Consideration) equal to (A) the number of ProCentury Common Shares that are
converted at the Effective Time into the right to receive cash pursuant to Section 3.3 multiplied
by (B) the Per Share Cash Consideration (the “Cash Consideration”), and (ii) a number of shares of
Meadowbrook Common Stock equal to (A) the number of ProCentury Common Shares that are converted at
the Effective Time into the right to receive shares of Meadowbrook Common Stock pursuant to Section
3.3 multiplied by (B) the Exchange Ratio (the “Stock Consideration”).
(b) At the Effective Time, the Excluded Shares, other than Dissenting Shares, shall be
cancelled and shall cease to exist and no stock of Meadowbrook or other consideration shall be
delivered in exchange therefor.
3.2 Election Procedures.
(a) Election Form. An election form, in such form as ProCentury and Meadowbrook shall
mutually agree (the “Election Form”), shall be mailed no later than the date on which the Proxy
Statement is mailed to holders of ProCentury Common Shares to each holder of record of ProCentury
Common Shares as of the record date for the ProCentury Shareholder Meeting. Each Election Form
shall permit the holder of ProCentury Common Shares including Restricted Stock (or in the case of
nominee record holders, the beneficial owner through proper instructions and documentation), other
than Dissenting Shareholders, subject to the conditions set forth in Sections 3.1 and 3.2, (i) to
elect to receive Meadowbrook Common Stock with respect to all of such holder’s ProCentury Common
Shares as hereinabove provided (a “Stock Election”), (ii) to elect to receive cash with respect to
all of such holder’s ProCentury Common Shares as hereinabove provided (a “Cash Election”), (iii) to
elect to receive cash with respect to some of such holder’s shares and shares of Meadowbrook Common
Stock with respect to such
holder’s remaining shares (a “Mixed Election”) or (iv) to indicate that such holder makes no
such election with respect to such holder’s ProCentury Common Shares (a “Non-Election”).
ProCentury Common Shares as to which a Cash Election has been made (including pursuant to a Mixed
Election) are referred to herein as “Cash Election Shares.” ProCentury Common Shares as to which a
Stock Election has been made (including pursuant to a Mixed Election) are referred to herein as
“Stock Election Shares.” ProCentury Common Shares as to which no election has been made are
referred to herein as “No-Election Shares.” Nominee record holders who hold
11
ProCentury Common
Shares on behalf of multiple beneficial owners shall indicate how many of the shares held by them
are Stock Election Shares, Cash Election Shares and No-Election Shares. If a shareholder either
(i) does not submit a properly completed Election Form by the Election Deadline or (ii) revokes an
Election Form prior to the Election Deadline and does not resubmit a properly completed Election
Form prior to the Election Deadline, the ProCentury Common Shares held by such shareholder (unless
such shares are then Dissenting Shares) shall be designated No-Election Shares. Meadowbrook and
ProCentury shall make available one or more Election Forms as may be reasonably requested from time
to time by all Persons who become holders (or beneficial owners) of ProCentury Common Shares
between the record date for the ProCentury Shareholder Meeting and the Election Deadline.
(b) Election Deadline. The term “Election Deadline” shall mean 5:00 p.m., Eastern
Time, on the business day prior to the Effective Time.
(c) Effective Election. Any election to receive Meadowbrook Common Stock or cash
shall have been properly made only if LaSalle Bank National Association, which will act as the
exchange agent for purposes of conducting the election procedure and the exchange procedure
described in this Section 3.2 and Section 3.3 (the “Exchange Agent”), shall have actually received
a properly completed Election Form by the Election Deadline. Any Election Form may be revoked or
changed by the Person submitting such Election Form to the Exchange Agent (or any other Person to
whom the subject ProCentury Common Shares are subsequently transferred) by written notice to the
Exchange Agent only if such written notice is actually received by the Exchange Agent at or prior
to the Election Deadline. The Exchange Agent shall have reasonable discretion to determine when
any election, modification or revocation is received, whether any such election, modification or
revocation has been properly made and to disregard immaterial defects in any Election Form, and any
good faith decisions of the Exchange Agent regarding such matters shall be binding and conclusive.
Neither Meadowbrook, Merger Sub, ProCentury nor the Exchange Agent shall be under any obligation to
notify any Person of any defect in an Election Form.
(d) Allocation. Solely for purposes of calculating the allocations pursuant to this
Section 3.2(d), Dissenting Shareholders will be deemed to have a right to receive Cash
Consideration. Subject to Section 3.2(f), the Exchange Agent shall effect the allocation among
holders of ProCentury Common Shares of rights to receive the Cash Consideration and the Stock
Consideration as follows:
(i) Maximum Cash Consideration Undersubscribed. If the number of Cash Election Shares
times the Per Share Cash Consideration is less than the Maximum Cash Consideration, then:
(1) all Cash Election Shares shall be converted at the Effective Time into the right to
receive cash;
(2) No-Election Shares shall then be deemed to be Cash Election Shares to the extent necessary
to have the total number of Cash Election Shares times the Per Share Cash Consideration equal the
Maximum Cash Consideration. If less than all of the
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No-Election Shares need to be treated as Cash
Election Shares in accordance with this clause (2), then the Exchange Agent shall select which
No-Election Shares shall be treated as Cash Election Shares in such manner as the Exchange Agent
shall determine, and all remaining No-Election Shares shall thereafter be treated as Stock Election
Shares;
(3) if all of the No-Election Shares are treated as Cash Election Shares under the preceding
subsection and the total number of Cash Election Shares times the Per Share Cash Consideration is
less than the Maximum Cash Consideration, then the Exchange Agent shall convert on a pro rata basis
as described in Section 3.2(e) hereof a sufficient number of Stock Election Shares into Cash
Election Shares (“Reallocated Cash Shares”) such that the sum of the number of Cash Election Shares
plus the number of Reallocated Cash Shares times the Per Share Cash Consideration equals the
Maximum Cash Consideration, and all Reallocated Cash Shares will be converted at the Effective Time
into the right to receive cash; and
(4) the Stock Election Shares which are not Reallocated Cash Shares shall be converted at the
Effective Time into the right to receive Meadowbrook Common Stock.
(ii) Maximum Cash Consideration Oversubscribed. If the number of Cash Election Shares
times the Per Share Cash Consideration is greater than the Maximum Cash Consideration, then:
(1) all Stock Election Shares and all No-Election Shares shall be converted at the Effective
Time into the right to receive Meadowbrook Common Stock;
(2) the Exchange Agent shall convert on a pro rata basis as described in Section 3.2(e) a
sufficient number of Cash Election Shares (“Reallocated Stock Shares”) into Stock Election Shares
times the Per Share Cash Consideration such that the number of remaining Cash Election Shares
equals the Maximum Cash Consideration, and all Reallocated Stock Shares shall be converted at the
Effective Time into the right to receive Meadowbrook Common Stock; and
(3) the Cash Election Shares which are not Reallocated Stock Shares shall be converted at the
Effective Time into the right to receive cash.
(iii) Maximum Consideration Satisfied. If the number of Cash Election Shares times
the Per Share Cash Consideration is equal to the Maximum Cash Consideration, then subparagraphs
(d)(i) and (ii) above shall not apply and all Cash Election Shares shall be converted at the
Effective Time into the right to receive cash and all No-Election Shares and all Stock Election
Shares will be converted at the Effective Time into the right to receive Meadowbrook Common Stock.
(e) Pro Rata Reallocations. In the event that the Exchange Agent is required pursuant
to Section 3.2(d)(i)(3) to convert some Stock Election Shares into Reallocated Cash Shares, each
holder of Stock Election Shares (based upon the number of Stock Election Shares held) shall be
allocated a pro rata portion of the total Reallocated Cash Shares. In the event the
13
Exchange Agent
is required pursuant to Section 3.2(d)(ii)(2) to convert some Cash Election Shares (based upon the
number of Cash Election Shares held) into Reallocated Stock Shares, each holder of Cash Election
Shares shall be allocated a pro rata portion of the total Reallocated Stock Shares.
(f) Adjustment Per Tax Opinion. Notwithstanding anything in this Article III to the
contrary, if, based on the Exchange Ratio determined in accordance with Section 3.1(a), the Tax
Ratio (as defined below) is less than 55% (or such lesser percentage, not below 40%, as shall be
reasonably agreed to by tax counsel to ProCentury and Meadowbrook to enable such tax counsel to
deliver the tax opinions referred to in Article VIII) (the “Minimum Tax Ratio”), the number of Cash
Election Shares (but for this Section 3.2(f)) shall be reduced by the minimum extent necessary (the
amount of such reduction, the “Reduction Amount”) so that the Tax Ratio is equal to the Minimum Tax
Ratio. The reduction and reallocation required by this Section 3.2(f) shall be effected in
accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.2(e). “Tax Ratio” shall mean the ratio of
(i) the product of (A) the closing price per share of Meadowbrook Common Stock on the Closing Date
times (B) the excess of (x) the Stock Consideration over (y) the number of shares of Meadowbrook
Common Stock that tax counsel to Meadowbrook or ProCentury reasonably deems necessary to exclude
for purposes of the “continuity-of-interest” requirements under applicable federal income tax
principles relating to reorganizations described in the Code (such product, the “Aggregate Stock
Amount”), to (ii) the sum of (u) the Aggregate Stock Amount plus (v) the aggregate cash payable
pursuant to this Section 3.2 (plus the aggregate estimated amount of cash payable in lieu of
fractional shares of Meadowbrook Common Stock pursuant to Section 3.5) plus (w) the number of
Dissenting Shares times the per share fair value of such shares determined pursuant to applicable
Law or, if such fair value has not been determined as of the date the calculation required by this
Section 3.2(f) is required to be made, then times the greater of (A) the Per Share Cash
Consideration and (B) the value of the number of shares of Meadowbrook Common Stock equal to the
Exchange Ratio (calculated for the purposes of this Section 3.2(f) based on the closing price per
share of Meadowbrook Common Stock on the Closing Date), plus (x) any other amounts paid by
ProCentury (or any affiliate thereof) to, or on behalf of, any holder of ProCentury Common Shares
in connection with the sale, redemption or other disposition of any ProCentury Common Shares in
connection with the Merger for purposes of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.368-1(e) and 1.368-1T(e)
plus (y) any extraordinary dividend distributed by ProCentury prior to and in connection with the
Merger for purposes of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.368-1(e) and 1.368-1T(e), plus (z) the amount
of any other items that tax counsel to Meadowbrook or ProCentury reasonably deems necessary to take
into account for purposes of making the Merger satisfy the requirements under applicable federal
income tax principles relating to reorganizations described in the Code. If necessary or advisable
under the applicable Treasury Regulations, payments made in respect of ProCentury Options under
Section 3.9 shall be taken into account in determining the Reduction Amount.
3.3 Exchange Procedures
(a) Mailing of Transmittal Material. Meadowbrook shall cause the Exchange Agent to,
no later than five (5) business days after the Closing Date, mail or make available to each holder
of record of ProCentury Common Shares a notice and letter of transmittal (which
14
shall specify that
delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon
proper delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent) advising such holder of the
effectiveness of the Merger and the procedure for surrendering to the Exchange Agent such holder’s
stock certificate or certificates representing ProCentury Common Shares (“Certificate”) in exchange
for the consideration set forth in Section 3.1(a) deliverable in respect of such shares pursuant to
this Agreement. A letter of transmittal will be properly completed only if accompanied by
Certificates representing all ProCentury Common Shares covered thereby, subject to the provisions
of paragraph (d) of this Section 3.3.
(b) Meadowbrook Deliveries. At the Effective Time, for the benefit of the holders of
ProCentury Common Shares, Meadowbrook shall deliver to the Exchange Agent (i) certificates
evidencing the number of shares of Meadowbrook Common Stock issuable and (ii) an amount in cash
equal to the Cash Consideration payable, in each case, pursuant to this Article III in exchange for
outstanding ProCentury Common Shares. The Exchange Agent shall not be entitled to vote or exercise
any rights of ownership with respect to the shares of Meadowbrook Common Stock held by it from time
to time hereunder, except that it shall receive and hold all dividends or other distributions paid
or distributed with respect to such shares for the account of the Persons entitled thereto.
(c) Exchange Agent Deliveries. After completion of the allocations referred to in
paragraphs (d), (e) and (f) of Section 3.2, each holder of an outstanding ProCentury Common Share
who has surrendered the Certificate or Certificates representing such shares to the Exchange Agent
(or otherwise complied with Section 3.3(d) or the other procedures established by the Exchange
Agent with respect to the matters set forth therein) will, upon acceptance thereof by the Exchange
Agent, be entitled to receive a number of whole shares of Meadowbrook Common Stock (represented by
a certificate or, as applicable, issued in book-entry only form) and/or the amount of cash into
which the aggregate number of ProCentury Common Shares surrendered shall have been converted
pursuant to this Agreement (including, but not limited to, payment for fractional shares under
Section 3.5) and, if such holder’s ProCentury Common Shares have been converted into Meadowbrook
Common Stock, any other distribution theretofore paid with respect to Meadowbrook Common Stock
after the Effective Time, in each case without interest. The Exchange Agent shall accept such
Certificates upon compliance with such reasonable terms and conditions as the Exchange Agent may
impose to effect an orderly exchange thereof in accordance with normal exchange practices. Each
outstanding Certificate which prior to the Effective Time represented ProCentury Common Shares and
which is not surrendered to the Exchange Agent in accordance with the procedures provided for
herein shall, except as otherwise herein provided, until duly surrendered to the Exchange Agent be
deemed to evidence ownership of the number of shares of Meadowbrook Common Stock and/or the right
to receive the amount of cash into which such ProCentury Common Shares shall have been converted.
After the Effective Time, there shall be no further transfer on the records of ProCentury of
ProCentury Common Shares and if such shares are presented to ProCentury for transfer, they shall be
cancelled against delivery of shares of
Meadowbrook Common Stock or cash as hereinabove provided. No dividends which have been
declared will be remitted to any Person entitled to receive shares of Meadowbrook Common Stock
under Section 3.2 until such Person surrenders the Certificate or Certificates representing
15
ProCentury Common Shares (or otherwise complied with Section 3.3(d) or the other procedures
established by the Exchange Agent with respect to the matters set forth therein), at which time
such dividends shall be remitted to such Person, without interest.
(d) Lost or Destroyed Certificates; Issuances of Meadowbrook Common Stock in New
Names. The Exchange Agent, Merger Sub and Meadowbrook, as the case may be, shall not be
obligated to deliver cash and/or shares of Meadowbrook Common Stock to which a holder of ProCentury
Common Shares would otherwise be entitled as a result of the Merger until such holder surrenders
the Certificate or Certificates representing the ProCentury Common Shares for exchange as provided
in this Section 3.3, or, in default thereof, an appropriate affidavit of loss and indemnity
agreement and/or a bond in an amount as may be reasonably required in each case by Merger Sub and
Meadowbrook. If any certificates evidencing shares of Meadowbrook Common Stock are to be issued in
a name other than that in which the Certificate evidencing ProCentury Common Shares surrendered in
exchange therefor is registered, it shall be a condition of the issuance thereof that the
Certificate so surrendered shall be properly endorsed or accompanied by an executed form of
assignment separate from the Certificate and otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the
Person requesting such exchange pay to the Exchange Agent any transfer or other tax required by
reason of the issuance of a certificate for shares of Meadowbrook Common Stock in any name other
than that of the registered holder of the Certificate surrendered or otherwise establish to the
satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such tax has been paid or is not payable.
(e) Unclaimed Merger Consideration. Any portion of the shares of Meadowbrook Common
Stock and cash delivered to the Exchange Agent by Meadowbrook pursuant to Section 3.3(b) that
remains unclaimed by the shareholders of ProCentury for nine (9) months after the Effective Time
(as well as any proceeds from any investment thereof) shall be delivered by the Exchange Agent to
Meadowbrook. Any shareholders of ProCentury who have not theretofore complied with Section 3.3(c)
shall thereafter look only to the Surviving Corporation for the consideration deliverable in
respect of each ProCentury Common Share such shareholder holds as determined pursuant to this
Agreement without any interest thereon. If outstanding Certificates for ProCentury Common Shares
are not surrendered or the payment for them is not claimed prior to the date on which such shares
of Meadowbrook Common Stock or cash would otherwise escheat to or become the property of any
governmental unit or agency, the unclaimed items shall, to the extent permitted by abandoned
property and any other applicable law, become the property of the Surviving Corporation (and to the
extent not in its possession shall be delivered to it), free and clear of all claims or interest of
any Person previously entitled to such property. Neither the Exchange Agent nor any Party shall be
liable to any holder of stock represented by any Certificate for any consideration paid to a public
official pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Laws. The Surviving
Corporation and the Exchange Agent shall be entitled to rely upon the stock transfer books of
ProCentury as of the Effective Time to establish the identity of those Persons entitled to receive
the consideration specified in this Agreement, which books shall be conclusive with respect
thereto. In the event of a dispute with respect to ownership of stock represented by any
Certificate, the Surviving Corporation and the Exchange Agent shall be entitled to deposit any
consideration represented
16
thereby in escrow with an independent third party and thereafter be relieved with respect to
any claims thereto.
3.4 Rights as Shareholders; Stock Transfers. At the Effective Time, holders of
ProCentury Common Shares shall cease to be, and shall have no rights as, shareholders of ProCentury
other than to receive the consideration provided under this Article III. After the Effective Time,
there shall be no transfers on the stock transfer books of ProCentury of ProCentury Common Shares.
3.5 No Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
neither certificates nor scrip for fractional shares of Meadowbrook Common Stock shall be issued in
the Merger. Each holder of ProCentury Common Shares who otherwise would have been entitled to a
fraction of a share of Meadowbrook Common Stock (after taking into account all Certificates
delivered by such holder) shall receive in lieu thereof cash (without interest) in an amount
determined by multiplying the fractional share interest to which such holder would otherwise be
entitled by the Average Closing Date Meadowbrook Share Price, rounded to the nearest whole cent or
if there is no nearest whole cent, to the next higher whole cent. No such holder shall be entitled
to dividends, voting rights or any other rights in respect of any fractional share.
3.6 Anti-Dilution Provisions. If, between the date hereof and the Effective Time, the
shares of Meadowbrook Common Stock shall be changed into a different number or class of shares by
reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, split-up, combination, exchange of shares or
readjustment, or a stock dividend thereon shall be declared with a record date within said period
(a “Capital Change”), the Per Share Stock Consideration shall be adjusted accordingly.
3.7 Withholding Rights. The Surviving Corporation and Meadowbrook (through the
Exchange Agent, if applicable) shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any amounts otherwise
payable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of ProCentury Common Shares such amounts as the
Surviving Corporation and Meadowbrook is required under the Code or any state, local or foreign tax
law or regulation thereunder to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment.
Any amounts so withheld shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to
the holder of ProCentury Common Shares in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made
by the Surviving Corporation or Meadowbrook, as applicable.
3.8 Dissenters’ Rights. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
to the extent required by the Ohio Revised Code, ProCentury Common Shares which are issued and
outstanding prior to the Effective Time and which are held by any shareholder of ProCentury who
shall not have voted in favor of adoption of this Agreement at the ProCentury Shareholder Meeting
and who
files with ProCentury within ten (10) days after such vote at the ProCentury Shareholder
Meeting a written demand to be paid the fair cash value for such ProCentury Common Shares
(“Dissenting Shares”) in accordance with Section 1701.84 and 1701.85 of the Ohio Revised Code
(“Dissenting Shareholder”) shall not be converted into the right to receive the Per Share Cash
Consideration or Per Share Stock Consideration as provided in Section 3.1,
17
unless and until such
shareholder fails to demand payment properly or otherwise loses such shareholder’s rights as a
Dissenting Shareholder, if any, under the Ohio Revised Code. If any such Dissenting Shareholder
fails to perfect or shall have effectively withdrawn or lost such rights as a Dissenting
Shareholder, that Dissenting Shareholder’s Dissenting Shares shall thereupon be deemed to have been
converted as of the Effective Time as if that Dissenting Shareholder had made a Mixed Election,
with 45% of that Dissenting Shareholder’s Dissenting Shares being treated as Cash Election Shares
and 55% of that Dissenting Shareholder’s Dissenting Shares being treated as Stock Election Shares.
From and after the Effective Time, any Dissenting Shareholder who has asserted rights provided in
Section 1701.84 and 1701.85 of the Ohio Revised Code shall be entitled to only those rights as are
granted under those provisions of the Ohio Revised Code. ProCentury shall give Meadowbrook and
Merger Sub (i) prompt notice of any shareholder who has asserted rights as dissenting shareholder,
attempted withdrawals of such demands, and any other instruments served pursuant to the Ohio
Revised Code that are received by ProCentury relating to purported Dissenting Shareholders and (ii)
the opportunity to direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to Dissenting Shareholders.
Prior to the Effective Time, ProCentury shall not, except with the prior written consent of
Meadowbrook and Merger Sub, make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer to settle, any
rights of a Dissenting Shareholder asserted under Section 1701.85 of the Ohio Revised Code.
Following the Effective Time, Meadowbrook shall be solely responsible for the settlement and
payment of any claims of a Dissenting Shareholder.
3.9 Restricted Shares and Options. The board of directors of ProCentury shall take
such action as is necessary so that at the Effective Time, each outstanding ProCentury Common Share
that was granted as a restricted share award and remains unvested as of the Effective Time (the
“Restricted Stock”) under the ProCentury Option Plans, shall become fully vested and, accordingly,
at the Effective Time, the holder thereof shall have the rights of any holder of ProCentury Common
Shares to receive the consideration provided for in this Article III. The board of directors of
each of ProCentury and Meadowbrook shall take such action as is necessary so that at the Effective
Time, each outstanding option to purchase ProCentury Common Shares (a “ProCentury Option”) under
the ProCentury Option Plans, shall become fully vested and exercisable. ProCentury will provide
that a holder of a ProCentury Option may exercise the ProCentury Option and complete an Election
Form conditioned on consummation of the Merger so that if the Merger is not completed the
ProCentury Options will remain subject to their respective original vesting schedules. In the
event of any such conditional exercise and election, all ProCentury Common Shares underlying such
exercised ProCentury Options will be deemed to have been issued and outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time for purposes of Section 3.1. If a holder of a ProCentury Option so elects
and executes an appropriate acknowledgement or waiver, a ProCentury Option may be canceled in
exchange for the right to receive from Meadowbrook a single lump cash payment, equal to the product
of (i) the number of ProCentury Common Shares subject to such ProCentury Option immediately prior
to the Effective Time, and (ii) the excess, if
any, of the Per Share Cash Consideration over the exercise price per share of such ProCentury
Option (the “Option Merger Consideration”) less any applicable Taxes required to be withheld with
respect to such payment. Subject to the foregoing, the ProCentury Option Plans and all ProCentury
Options issued thereunder shall terminate at the Effective Time.
18
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PROCENTURY
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PROCENTURY
Prior to the execution of this Agreement, ProCentury has delivered to Meadowbrook and Merger
Sub a schedule (the “ProCentury Disclosure Schedule”) setting forth, among other things, items the
disclosure of which is necessary or appropriate either in response to an express disclosure
requirement contained in a provision hereof or as an exception to one or more representations or
warranties contained in Article IV or to one or more of its covenants contained in Article VI or
additional agreements in Article VII. This Article IV is qualified in its entirety by such
disclosures.
Subject to the foregoing, ProCentury hereby represents and warrants to Meadowbrook as of the
date of this Agreement as follows:
4.1 Corporate Organization.
(a) ProCentury is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the Laws of the State of Ohio. ProCentury has the corporate power and authority to own or lease
all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, and is
duly licensed or qualified to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business
conducted by it or the character or location of the properties and assets owned or leased by it
makes such licensing or qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so licensed or
qualified would not have a ProCentury Material Adverse Effect. The articles of incorporation and
code of regulations of ProCentury, copies of which have previously been made available to
Meadowbrook, are true, complete and correct copies of such documents as in effect as of the date
hereof.
(b) Each Subsidiary of ProCentury is a legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization. Each of ProCentury’s
Subsidiaries has the corporate or similar power and authority to own or lease all of its properties
and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and is duly licensed or
qualified to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it
or the character or the location of the properties and assets owned or leased by it makes such
licensing or qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified would
not have a ProCentury Material Adverse Effect. The articles of incorporation, bylaws or similar
governing documents of each Subsidiary of ProCentury, copies of which have previously been made
available to Meadowbrook and Merger Sub, are true, complete and correct copies of such documents as
in effect as of the date hereof.
(c) The Trusts have been duly created and are validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the jurisdiction of their establishment, such Trusts will not be deemed
to be an Investment Company required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended, and each Trust is classified as a “grantor trust” for United States Federal
Income Tax purposes. The securities issued under the Trusts are valid and legally binding
obligations of the Trusts, subject to or limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization conservatorship, receivership, moratorium and other statutory or decisional laws
19
relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or the reorganization of financial institutions
(including preference and fraudulent conveyance or transfer laws, heretofore or hereafter enacted
or an offset, affecting the rights of creditors generally).
4.2 Capitalization.
(a) The authorized capital stock of ProCentury consists of 20,000,000 ProCentury Common Shares
and 1,000,000 ProCentury Preferred Shares. No other capital stock is authorized. As of February
18, 2008, there are (x) 13,403,367 ProCentury Common Shares issued and outstanding and no
ProCentury Common Shares held in ProCentury’s treasury, (y) no ProCentury Common Shares reserved
for issuance upon exercise of outstanding stock options or otherwise except for 808,496 ProCentury
Common Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to the ProCentury stock option plans (“ProCentury
Option Plans”) and (z) no ProCentury Preferred Shares issued and outstanding. Section 4.2(a) of
the ProCentury Disclosure Schedule sets forth all of the ProCentury Option Plans and all grantees
holding unexercised and unexpired ProCentury Options as of the date hereof (“ProCentury
Optionholder”), including the name of each such ProCentury Optionholder, the date on which each
ProCentury Option was granted, the number of ProCentury Options held, the expiration date of each
ProCentury Option, the price at which each ProCentury Option may be exercised under the ProCentury
Option Plans, the number of ProCentury Common Shares subject to each ProCentury Option, the type of
grant and the status of the ProCentury Option grant as qualified or non-qualified under Section 422
of the Code. All of the issued and outstanding ProCentury Common Shares have been duly authorized
and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights. Except as
referred to above, ProCentury is not a party to any outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants,
calls, commitments or agreements of any character calling for the purchase or issuance of any
ProCentury Common Shares or ProCentury Preferred Shares or any other equity security of ProCentury
or any securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any ProCentury Common
Shares or ProCentury Preferred Shares or any other equity security of ProCentury.
(b) Section 4.2(b) of the ProCentury Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and correct list of
all of the Subsidiaries of ProCentury as of the date hereof, including the number of shares of
capital stock of each Subsidiary issued and the holder(s) of such shares. ProCentury owns,
directly or indirectly, all of the issued and outstanding shares of the capital stock of each of
such Subsidiaries, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens, and all of such shares
are duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive
rights. No Subsidiary of ProCentury has or is bound by any outstanding subscriptions, options,
warrants, calls, commitments or agreements of any character calling for the purchase or issuance of
any shares of capital stock or any other equity security of such Subsidiary or any securities
representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of capital stock or any other
equity security of such Subsidiary. Immediately following the Effective Time, there will not
be any outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, commitments or agreements of any
character by which ProCentury or any of its Subsidiaries will be bound calling for the purchase or
issuance of any shares of the capital stock of ProCentury or any of its Subsidiaries.
4.3 Authority; No Violation.
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(a) ProCentury has full corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its
obligations under this Agreement and, subject to the receipt of the ProCentury Shareholder
Approval, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement by ProCentury and the consummation of the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby
have been duly and validly approved and adopted by the board of directors of ProCentury. The board
of directors of ProCentury resolved to recommend that ProCentury’s shareholders approve and adopt
this Agreement and, except for (i) the ProCentury Shareholder Approval, (ii) the filing of the
Certificates of Merger with the Secretary of State of Ohio and the Michigan Department of Labor and
(iii) regulatory approvals, no other corporate proceedings on the part of ProCentury are necessary
to approve this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement
has been duly and validly executed and delivered by ProCentury and (assuming due authorization,
execution and delivery by Meadowbrook and Merger Sub) constitutes a valid and binding obligation of
ProCentury, enforceable against ProCentury in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may
be limited by general principles of equity whether applied in a court of law or a court of equity
and by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and similar Laws
affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally.
(b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by ProCentury, nor the consummation
by ProCentury of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor compliance by ProCentury with any of the
terms or provisions hereof, will (i) violate any provision of the articles of incorporation or code
of regulations of ProCentury or the articles of incorporation, bylaws or similar governing
documents of any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) assuming that the consents and approvals referred to
in Section 4.4 are duly obtained, (x) violate any applicable Law or (y) violate, conflict with,
result in a breach of any provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or
an event which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in
the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under, accelerate the performance
required by, result in the obligation to sell or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the
respective properties or assets of ProCentury or any of its Subsidiaries under, any of the terms,
conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease,
agreement or other instrument or obligation to which ProCentury or any of its Subsidiaries is a
party, or by which they or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound or affected,
except for any violation, conflict, breach, default, acceleration, termination, modification or
cancellation that would not be reasonably expected to have a ProCentury Material Adverse Effect.
4.4 Consents and Approvals. Except for (a) approvals of or filings with insurance regulatory authorities under the
Insurance Laws, (b) the appropriate reports, filings and statements required under the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act, including the filing with the SEC of a proxy statement/prospectus in
definitive form relating to the ProCentury Shareholder Meeting and the Meadowbrook Shareholder
Meeting to be held in connection with this Agreement and the Merger contemplated hereby (the “Proxy
Statement”), (c) the appropriate filings and approvals under the rules of Nasdaq, (c) the
ProCentury Shareholder Approval, (d) the filings of the Certificates of Merger with the Secretary
of State of the State of Ohio and the Michigan Department of Labor and (e) the filing of a
Pre-Merger Notification pursuant to the
21
HSR Act and the expiration or termination of any waiting
period required by the HSR Act, no consents or approvals of or filings or registrations with a
Governmental Entity or with any third party are necessary in connection with (1) the execution and
delivery by ProCentury of this Agreement and (2) the consummation by ProCentury of the Merger and
the other transactions contemplated hereby, except where the failure to obtain such consents or
approvals or make such filings or registrations would not have a ProCentury Material Adverse
Effect.
4.5 Reports.
(a) ProCentury has filed or furnished, as applicable, all forms, statements, certifications,
reports and documents required to be filed or furnished by it with the SEC under the Exchange Act
or the Securities Act since January 1, 2006 (the “Applicable Date”) (the forms, statements, reports
and documents filed or furnished since the Applicable Date and those filed or furnished subsequent
to the date hereof, including any amendments thereto, the “ProCentury Reports”). Each of the
ProCentury Reports, as of its respective date (or, if amended prior to the date hereof, as of the
date of such amendment), complied in all material respects with, to the extent in effect at the
time of filing, the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the
Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act. As of their respective dates (or, if amended prior to the date hereof, as of
the date of such amendment), the ProCentury Reports did not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.
(b) Except as permitted by the Exchange Act, including Section 13(k) or rules of the SEC,
since the enactment of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act, neither ProCentury nor any of its Subsidiaries has
extended or maintained credit, arranged for the extension of credit or renewed an extension of
credit, in the form of a personal loan to any executive officer or director of ProCentury within
the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.
(c) ProCentury maintains disclosure controls and procedures required by Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15
under the Exchange Act. Such disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed to ensure
that information required to be disclosed by ProCentury is recorded and reported on a timely basis
to the individuals responsible for the preparation of ProCentury’s filings with the SEC and other
public disclosure documents. ProCentury and its Subsidiaries maintain internal control over
financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15, as applicable, under the Exchange Act).
ProCentury has completed an evaluation of the
effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting in compliance with Section 404
of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act for the year ended December 31, 2006, and such evaluation concluded that
such controls were effective. ProCentury has disclosed and identified, based on the most recent
evaluation of its chief executive officer and its chief financial officer prior to the date hereof,
for ProCentury’s auditors and the audit committee of ProCentury’s board of directors (i) any
significant deficiencies in the design or operation of its internal controls over financial
reporting that are reasonably likely to adversely affect ProCentury’s ability to record, process,
summarize and report financial information, (ii) any material weaknesses in internal control over
financial reporting and (iii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
22
other
employees who have a significant role in ProCentury’s internal control over financial reporting.
4.6 Financial Statements.
(a) The consolidated balance sheets included in or incorporated by reference into the
ProCentury Reports (including the related notes and schedules) fairly present, in all material
respects, the consolidated financial position of ProCentury and its consolidated Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, as of their respective dates, and the consolidated statements of operations,
changes in shareholders equity (deficit) and cash flows included in or incorporated by reference
into the ProCentury Reports (including any related notes and schedules) fairly present, in all
material respects, the results of operations, retained earnings (loss) and changes in financial
position, as the case may be, of ProCentury and its consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
for the periods set forth therein (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to notes and
normal year-end audit adjustments and to any other adjustments described therein (including in the
notes thereto)); and in each case were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied during
the periods involved, except as may be noted therein, or in the case of unaudited statements, as
permitted by the SEC.
(b) ProCentury has previously furnished or made available to Meadowbrook and Merger Sub true
and complete copies of the annual statements or other comparable statements for each of the years
ended December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2006, together with all exhibits and schedules thereto
(collectively, the “ProCentury SAP Statements”), with respect to each of the ProCentury Insurance
Subsidiaries, in each case as filed with the Governmental Entity charged with supervision of
insurance companies of such ProCentury Insurance Subsidiary’s jurisdiction of domicile. The
ProCentury SAP Statements were prepared in conformity with applicable statutory accounting
practices prescribed or permitted by such Governmental Entity applied on a consistent basis (“SAP”)
and present fairly, in all material respects, the statutory financial condition and results of
operations of such ProCentury Insurance Subsidiary as of the respective dates thereof or for the
respective periods set forth therein, in each case in accordance with SAP. Since December 31, 2005,
the ProCentury SAP Statements were filed with the applicable Governmental Entity in a timely
fashion on forms prescribed or permitted by such Governmental Entity, except for such filings, the
failure so to file or timely file would not individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a ProCentury Material Adverse Effect. No deficiencies or violations material to
the financial condition of any of the ProCentury Insurance Subsidiaries, individually, whether or
not material in the aggregate,
have been asserted in writing by any Governmental Entity which have not been cured or
otherwise resolved to the satisfaction of such Governmental Entity (unless not currently pending).
ProCentury has made available to Meadowbrook and Merger Sub true and complete copies of all
financial examinations, market-conduct examinations and other material reports of Governmental
Entities since December 31, 2004, including the most recent reports of state insurance regulatory
authorities, relating to each ProCentury Insurance Subsidiary.
4.7 Broker’s Fees. Except for Friedman, Billings, Xxxxxx and Co., Inc., neither
ProCentury nor any Subsidiary of ProCentury nor any of their respective officers or directors has
employed any broker or finder or incurred any liability for any broker’s fees, commissions or
23
finder’s fees in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. ProCentury
has provided to Meadowbrook a correct and complete copy of the only agreement between ProCentury
and Friedman, Billings, Xxxxxx and Co., Inc.
4.8 Absence of Certain Changes or Events.
(a) Except as disclosed in the ProCentury Reports filed prior to the date hereof, since
September 30, 2007, no event has occurred which has caused, or is reasonably likely to cause,
individually or in the aggregate, a ProCentury Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Since September 30, 2007, ProCentury and its Subsidiaries each (i) has been operated in
all material respects in the ordinary course of business and (ii) has not made any material changes
in its respective capital or corporate structures.
(c) Except to the extent pursuant to existing plans and policies or permitted under Section
6.1(d)(i), since September 30, 2007, neither ProCentury nor any of its Subsidiaries has (i)
increased the wages, salaries, compensation, pension, or other fringe benefits or perquisites
payable to any executive officer, employee, or director from the amount thereof in effect as of
September 30, 2007 (which amounts have been previously disclosed to Meadowbrook and Merger Sub),
granted any severance or termination pay, entered into any contract to make or grant any severance
or termination pay, granted any ProCentury Options or other derivative security or paid any bonus
or (ii) suffered any strike, work stoppage, slow-down, or other labor disturbance or (iii) taken
any of the actions set forth in Section 6.1.
4.9 Legal Proceedings.
(a) Other than ordinary course claims under insurance policies written by ProCentury or any of
its Subsidiaries, neither ProCentury nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any, and there are
no pending or, to the knowledge of ProCentury, threatened in writing, legal, administrative,
arbitral or other proceedings, claims, actions, suits or governmental or regulatory investigations
(i) of any nature against ProCentury or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) challenging the validity or
propriety of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as to which there is
a reasonable probability of an adverse determination and which, if adversely determined,
would, individually or in the aggregate, have or be reasonably likely to have a ProCentury Material
Adverse Effect.
(b) There is no injunction, order, judgment, decree, or regulatory restriction, other than any
of general application, imposed upon ProCentury, any of its Subsidiaries or the assets of
ProCentury or any of its Subsidiaries, which has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a
ProCentury Material Adverse Effect.
4.10 Taxes. Since the Applicable Date, each of ProCentury and its Subsidiaries has
(i) duly and timely filed or will duly and timely file (including applicable extensions granted
without penalty) all Tax Returns (as hereinafter defined) required to be filed at or prior to the
Effective Time, and such Tax Returns which have heretofore been filed are, and those to be
hereinafter filed will be, complete and accurate in all material respects and (ii) paid in full or
24
have made adequate provision for on the financial statements of ProCentury (in accordance with
GAAP) all Taxes (as hereinafter defined) and will pay in full or make adequate provision for all
Taxes. ProCentury has made available to Meadowbrook and Merger Sub true and correct copies of the
United States federal income tax returns filed by ProCentury and its Subsidiaries for each of the
two most recent fiscal years for which such returns have been filed. There are no material Liens
for Taxes upon the assets of either ProCentury or its Subsidiaries except for statutory Liens for
current Taxes not yet due. Neither ProCentury nor any of its Subsidiaries has requested any
extension of time within which to file any Tax Returns in respect of any fiscal year which have not
since been filed and no request for waivers of the time to assess any Taxes are pending or
outstanding. Since the Applicable Date, the federal and state income Tax Returns of ProCentury and
its Subsidiaries have been audited by the IRS or appropriate state tax authorities only with
respect to those periods and jurisdictions set forth on Section 4.10 of the ProCentury Disclosure
Schedule. Neither ProCentury nor any of its Subsidiaries is presently subject to any audits,
investigations or proceeding by any tax authority, and neither ProCentury nor any of its
Subsidiaries has received any written notice from any tax authority that it intends to conduct any
such audit, investigation or proceeding. Since the Applicable Date, no written claim has been made
by a tax authority in a jurisdiction where ProCentury or any of its Subsidiaries does not file a
tax return that ProCentury or any of its Subsidiaries is or may be subject to taxation in the
jurisdiction. Neither ProCentury nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) is a party to any agreement
providing for the allocation or sharing of Taxes (other than the allocation of federal income taxes
as provided by Regulation 1.1552-l(a)(l)) under the Code; (ii) is required to include in income any
adjustment pursuant to Section 481(a) of the Code, by reason of the voluntary change in accounting
method (nor has any taxing authority proposed in writing any such adjustment or change of
accounting method) or (iii) has filed a consent pursuant to Section 341(f) of the Code.
4.11 Employee Benefit Plan Matters.
(a) Section 4.11(a) of the ProCentury Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list
of each employee benefit plan, as the term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA,
and other arrangement or agreement providing benefits to any employee or former employee of
ProCentury, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate that is maintained or contributed to or required
to be contributed to as of the date hereof (collectively referred to as the “ProCentury Plans”) by
ProCentury, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate, all of which together with ProCentury
would be deemed a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA.
(b) Each of the ProCentury Plans has been operated and administered in all material respects
in accordance with its terms and applicable law, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code,
(ii) each of the ProCentury Plans intended to be “qualified” within the meaning of Section 401(a)
of the Code either (1) has received a favorable determination letter from IRS, (2) is or will be
the subject of an application for a favorable determination letter, and ProCentury is not aware of
any circumstances likely to result in the revocation or denial of any such favorable determination
letter or (3) is the subject of a favorable determination letter issued to the sponsor of a
prototype plan upon which ProCentury is entitled to rely, (iii) no ProCentury Plan provides
benefits, including death or medical benefits (whether or not insured), with respect to current or
former employees of ProCentury, its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate beyond
25
their retirement or
other termination of service, other than (w) coverage mandated by applicable law, (x) death
benefits or retirement benefits under any “employee pension plan,” as that term is defined in
Section 3(2) of ERISA, (y) deferred compensation benefits accrued as liabilities on the books of
ProCentury, its Subsidiaries or the ERISA Affiliates or (z) benefits the full cost of which is
borne by the current or former employee (or his beneficiary), (iv) no liability under Title IV of
ERISA has been incurred by ProCentury, its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate that has not been
satisfied in full, and no condition exists that presents a material risk to ProCentury, its
Subsidiaries or a ProCentury ERISA Affiliate of incurring a material liability thereunder, (v) no
ProCentury Plan is a “multiemployer pension plan,” as such term is defined in Section 3(37) of
ERISA, (vi) all contributions or other amounts payable by ProCentury, its Subsidiaries or any ERISA
Affiliates as of the Effective Time with respect to each ProCentury Plan for any period through the
date hereof have been paid or accrued in accordance with GAAP, (vii) neither ProCentury, its
Subsidiaries nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a merger in connection with which ProCentury,
its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate could be subject to either a civil penalty assessed
pursuant to Section 406 or 502(i) of ERISA or a tax imposed pursuant to Section 4975 or 4976 of the
Code, (viii) there are no pending, or, to the knowledge of ProCentury, threatened claims (other
than routine claims for benefits) by, on behalf of or against any of the ProCentury Plans or any
trusts related thereto and (ix) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
will not (y) entitle any current or former employee or officer of ProCentury, its Subsidiaries or
any ERISA Affiliate to severance pay, termination pay or any other payment, except as expressly
provided in this Agreement or (z) accelerate the time of payment or vesting or increase the amount
of compensation or benefits due any such employee or officer.
(c) ProCentury has provided to Meadowbrook correct historical compensation information of
those executives for whom severance would be payable upon a change in control, or in connection
with a termination following a change in control, for the previous five years and such employees’
current rate of salary or bonus, as applicable, for use in connection with determining the
applicable severance amount and the amount of any parachute payment under Section 280G of the Code.
4.12 ProCentury Information. The information provided by ProCentury that is related
to ProCentury and its Subsidiaries to be contained in, or incorporated by reference in, the Proxy
Statement and the S-4, or in any other document filed with any other regulatory agency in
connection with this Agreement, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
in which they are made, not misleading and will comply in all material respects with the provisions
of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
4.13 Ownership of Meadowbrook Common Stock. None of ProCentury or any of its
Subsidiaries (i) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly or (ii) is a party to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of, in each
case, any shares of capital stock of Meadowbrook.
4.14 Compliance with Applicable Law; Licenses.
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(a) The businesses of each of ProCentury and its Subsidiaries have not been, since the
Applicable Date, and are not now being conducted in violation of any applicable Laws (except for
Laws with respect to matters that are subject to Sections 4.10 (Taxes), 4.11 (Employee Benefit
Matters), 4.20 (Environmental Matters) or 4.22 (Insurance Matters), which matters are the subject
solely of such respective sections) except for violations that, individually or in the aggregate,
are not reasonably likely to have a ProCentury Material Adverse Effect.
(b) ProCentury and its Subsidiaries each has obtained and is in compliance with all Licenses
(except for Licenses with respect to matters that are subject to Sections 4.10 (Taxes), 4.11
(Employee Benefit Matters), 4.20 (Environmental Matters) or 4.22 (Insurance Matters), which matters
are the subject solely of such respective sections) necessary to conduct its business as presently
conducted, except those the absence of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, be
reasonably likely to have a ProCentury Material Adverse Effect.
4.15 Certain Contracts.
(a) Except for this Agreement, neither ProCentury nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or
bound by any contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding (whether written or oral) (i) with
respect to the employment of any directors, officers or employees, (ii) which, upon the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will (either alone or upon the
occurrence of any additional acts or events, including, without limitation, termination) result in
any payment (whether of severance pay or otherwise) becoming due from Meadowbrook, Merger Sub,
ProCentury, the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective Subsidiaries to any director,
officer, employee or consultant thereof, (iii) which is a material contract (as defined in Item
601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the SEC) to be performed after the
date hereof that has not been filed or incorporated by reference in the ProCentury Reports,
(iv) which is a consulting agreement (including data processing, software programming and licensing
contracts) not terminable on 60 days or less notice involving the payment of more than $50,000 per
annum, in the case of any such agreement with an individual, or $100,000 per annum, in the case of
any other such agreement or (v) which materially restricts the conduct of any line of business by
ProCentury or any of its Subsidiaries. Each contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding of
the type described in this Section 4.15(a), whether or not set forth in Section 4.15(a) of the
ProCentury Disclosure Schedule, is referred to herein as a “ProCentury Contract.” ProCentury has
previously made available to Meadowbrook and Merger Sub true and correct copies of each ProCentury
Contract.
(b) Each ProCentury Contract is a valid and binding obligation of ProCentury or its Subsidiary
which is a party thereto and, to the knowledge of ProCentury, of each other party thereto, is in
full force and effect, except where such failure to be in full force and effect would not have or
be reasonably likely to have a ProCentury Material Adverse Effect. ProCentury and each of its
Subsidiaries have performed all obligations required to be performed by them to date under each
ProCentury Contract, except where such nonperformance, individually or in
the aggregate, would not
have or be reasonably likely to have a ProCentury Material Adverse Effect. No event or condition
exists which constitutes or, after notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute, a material
default on the part of ProCentury or any of its Subsidiaries under any such ProCentury Contract,
except where such default, individually or in
27
the aggregate, would not have or be reasonably likely
to have a ProCentury Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of ProCentury, no other party to any
ProCentury Contract is in default under the terms of any ProCentury Contract, except where such
default, individually or in the aggregate, would not have or be reasonably likely to have a
ProCentury Material Adverse Effect.
4.16 Investment Securities. Section 4.16 of the ProCentury Disclosure Schedule sets
forth the book and market value as of December 31, 2007 of the investment securities and securities
held for investment, sale or trading of ProCentury and its Subsidiaries other than stock of direct
or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries of ProCentury. To the knowledge of ProCentury, there are no
events which may be reasonably expected to result in any material adverse change in the quality or
performance of the investment portfolio of ProCentury or its Subsidiaries.
4.17 Intellectual Property. ProCentury and each of its Subsidiaries owns (without any
Lien other than the Permitted Liens) or is licensed or otherwise possesses legally enforceable
rights to use all material patents, copyrights, trade secrets, trade names, servicemarks,
trademarks and computer software used in its businesses as currently conducted (the “ProCentury
Intellectual Property”); and neither ProCentury nor any of its Subsidiaries has, since the
Applicable Date, received any written notice of conflict with respect to any material ProCentury
Intellectual Property that asserts the right of any third party with respect to the use or
ownership of any ProCentury Intellectual Property. All ProCentury Intellectual Property that has
been licensed by ProCentury or any of its Subsidiaries is being used substantially in accordance
with the applicable license pursuant to which ProCentury or such Subsidiary acquired the right to
use such ProCentury
Intellectual Property, except where such use would not, individually or in the aggregate, have
or be reasonably likely to have a ProCentury Material Adverse Effect.
4.18 Undisclosed Liabilities. Except for (a) those liabilities that are fully
reflected or reserved against on the consolidated balance sheet (or notes thereto) of ProCentury
included in its Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2007; (b) liabilities incurred in the
ordinary course of business since September 30, 2007 that, either alone or when combined with all
similar liabilities, have not had, and could not reasonably be expected to have, a ProCentury
Material Adverse Effect and (c) those liabilities permitted or contemplated by this Agreement,
neither ProCentury nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any liability of any nature whatsoever
required by GAAP to be set forth on a balance sheet or financial statement of ProCentury or in the
notes thereto.
4.19 State Takeover Laws; Required Vote. ProCentury has (a) “opted out” of the
application of the provisions of Chapter 1704 of the Ohio Revised Code (the Ohio Business
Combination Statute) in its articles of incorporation, and such provisions will not apply to this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and (b) has provided in its articles of
incorporation that the vote required to adopt this Agreement at the ProCentury Shareholder Meeting
is the affirmative vote of the holders of ProCentury Common Shares entitling them to exercise at
least a majority of the voting power of ProCentury.
4.20 Environmental Matters. Except in the ordinary course of business or as has not
had or would not reasonably be expected to have a ProCentury Material Adverse Effect, (a) since
28
the
Applicable Date, each of ProCentury and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable
Environmental Laws necessary to conduct its current operations and (b) neither ProCentury nor any
of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice from any Governmental Entity alleging that
ProCentury or any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of, or liable under, any Environmental Law.
4.21 Opinion. ProCentury has received a written opinion, dated the date hereof, from
Friedman, Billings, Xxxxxx and Co., Inc. to the effect that, subject to the terms, conditions and
qualifications set forth therein, as of the date thereof the Aggregate Merger Consideration to be
received by holders of ProCentury Common Shares pursuant to this Agreement is fair, from a
financial point of view, to such holders.
4.22 ProCentury Insurance Subsidiaries.
(a) As of the date hereof, ProCentury conducts its insurance operations solely through the
following Subsidiaries: Century Surety Company, ProCentury Risk Partners Insurance Company and
ProCentury Insurance Company (collectively, the “ProCentury Insurance Subsidiaries”). Each of the
ProCentury Insurance Subsidiaries is (i) duly licensed or
authorized as an insurance company and, where applicable, a reinsurance company, in its
jurisdiction of incorporation, (ii) duly licensed or authorized as an insurance company and, where
applicable, a reinsurance company, in each other jurisdiction where it is required to be so
licensed or authorized and (iii) duly authorized in its jurisdiction of incorporation and each
other applicable jurisdiction to write each line of business reported as being written in the
ProCentury SAP Statements, except, in any such case, where the failure to be so licensed or
authorized is not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably likely to have a ProCentury
Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The business and operations of the ProCentury Insurance Subsidiaries, since the Applicable
Date, have been and are now being conducted in compliance with all Laws relating to the regulation
of insurance and market conduct recommendations resulting from market conduct examinations by
insurance regulatory authorities (collectively, “Insurance Laws”), except where the failure to so
conduct such business and operations is not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably likely to
have a ProCentury Material Adverse Effect.
(c) No insurance regulator in any state has notified ProCentury or any of the ProCentury
Insurance Subsidiaries in writing that any ProCentury Insurance Subsidiary is commercially
domiciled in any jurisdiction and to the knowledge of ProCentury, there are no facts that would
result in any ProCentury Insurance Subsidiary being commercially domiciled in any state. To the
knowledge of ProCentury, none of ProCentury or any ProCentury Insurance Subsidiary, or any of their
respective Affiliates, (i) has purposefully engaged in, or colluded with or assisted any other
Persons with, the paying of contingent commissions or similar incentive payments to steer business
to them or colluded with Agents or brokers or other producers or intermediaries to “rig bids” or
submit false quotes to customers or (ii) is a party to any agreement that provides for any payment
by or to any Person of any variable or contingent commissions or payments based upon the
profitability, claims handling, sales volume or loss ratio of the business that is the subject of
such agreement. Since the Applicable Date, ProCentury and each
29
ProCentury Insurance Subsidiary
have made all required notices, submissions, reports or other filings under applicable Insurance
Law, including insurance holding company statutes, except for any such failures or instances of
noncompliance that would not reasonably be likely, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a
ProCentury Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Neither ProCentury nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any cease-and-desist or other
order issued by, or is a party to any written agreement, consent agreement or memorandum of
understanding with, or is a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is subject
to any order or directive by, or is a recipient of any supervisory letter from, or has adopted any
board resolutions at the request of (each, a “Regulatory Agreement”), any regulatory agency or
other Governmental Entity that restricts the conduct of its business or that in any manner relates
to its capital adequacy, its underwriting policies, its management or its business, nor has
ProCentury or any of its Subsidiaries been advised by any regulatory agency or other Governmental
Entity that it is considering issuing or requesting any Regulatory Agreement.
(e) Except as otherwise is not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
ProCentury Material Adverse Effect, all policies, binders, slips, certificates, and other
agreements of insurance, in effect as of the date hereof that are issued by the ProCentury
Insurance Subsidiaries (the “ProCentury Insurance Contracts”) and any and all marketing
materials, are, to the extent required under applicable Law, on forms approved by applicable
insurance regulatory authorities which have been filed and not objected to by such authorities
within the period provided for objection (the “Forms”). The Forms comply in all material respects
with the Insurance Laws applicable thereto and, as to premium rates established by any ProCentury
Insurance Subsidiary which are required to be filed with or approved by insurance regulatory
authorities, the rates have been so filed or approved and the premiums charged are within the
amount permitted by Insurance Laws applicable thereto, except where the failure to be so filed or
approved is not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably likely to have a ProCentury Material
Adverse Effect.
(f) All reinsurance and coinsurance treaties or agreements, including retrocessional
agreements, to which any ProCentury Insurance Subsidiary is a party or under which any ProCentury
Insurance Subsidiary has any existing rights, obligations or liabilities are in full force and
effect, except for such treaties or agreements the failure to be in full force and effect of which
is not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a ProCentury Material Adverse
Effect. Except as is not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a ProCentury
Material Adverse Effect, no ProCentury Insurance Subsidiary, or, to the knowledge of ProCentury,
any other party to a material reinsurance or coinsurance treaty or agreement to which any
ProCentury Insurance Subsidiary is a party, is in default in any material respect as to any
provision thereof, and no such agreement contains any provision providing that the other party
thereto may terminate such agreement, or that such agreement will be automatically terminated, by
reason of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. To the knowledge of ProCentury, the
financial condition of the other parties to any such agreement is impaired with the result that a
default thereunder may reasonably be anticipated, whether or not such default may be cured by the
operation of any offset clause in such agreement, that is, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably likely to have a ProCentury Material Adverse Effect.
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All reinsurance and retrocession
agreements to which any ProCentury Insurance Subsidiary is a party, either as a cedent or a
reinsurer or retrocessionaire, comply in all material respects with all risk transfer criteria
under GAAP and applicable SAP, and to the knowledge of ProCentury, there is no investigation,
inquiry or proceeding currently pending before or by Governmental Entity, to which ProCentury or
any ProCentury Insurance Subsidiary is subject, with respect to the risk transfer characteristics
or the reporting or disclosure thereof, of any such reinsurance or retrocession except any such
investigation, inquiry or proceeding which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
be likely to have a ProCentury Material Adverse Effect.
(g) Prior to the date hereof, ProCentury has delivered or made available to Meadowbrook and
Merger Sub a true and complete copy of any material actuarial reports prepared by actuaries,
independent or otherwise, with respect to any ProCentury Insurance Subsidiary since the Applicable
Date, and all material attachments, addenda, supplements and modifications thereto (the “ProCentury
Actuarial Analyses”). The information and data furnished by any ProCentury Insurance Subsidiary to
its actuaries in connection with the preparation of the ProCentury Actuarial Analyses were accurate
in all material respects. The aggregate reserves for claims, losses (including incurred but not
reported losses), loss adjustment expenses (whether allocated or unallocated) and unearned premium,
as reflected in each of the ProCentury SAP Statements, (i) were determined in accordance with
presently accepted actuarial standards consistently applied (except as otherwise noted in the
financial statements and notes thereto
included in such financial statements); (ii) are fairly stated in accordance with sound
actuarial principles; (iii) were computed on the basis of methodologies consistent in all material
respects with those used in computing the corresponding reserves in the prior fiscal years (except
as otherwise noted in the financial statements and notes thereto included in such financial
statements) and (iv) include provisions for all actuarial reserves and related items which ought to
be established in accordance with applicable Laws.
(h) A.M. Best Company has not announced that it has under surveillance or review (with
negative implications) its rating of the financial strength or claims-paying ability of any
ProCentury Insurance Subsidiary or imposed conditions (financial or otherwise) on retaining any
currently held rating assigned to any ProCentury Insurance Subsidiary which is rated as of the date
hereof, and ProCentury has no reason (other than the entry into the Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby) to believe that any rating presently held by the ProCentury Insurance
Subsidiaries is likely to be modified, qualified, lowered or placed under such surveillance for any
reason. As of the date hereof, Century Surety Company and ProCentury Insurance Company have been
assigned A- (Excellent) financial strength ratings and “a-” issuer credit ratings and ProCentury
has been assigned a “bbb-” issuer credit rating by A.M. Best Company.
(i) Section 4.22(i) of the ProCentury Disclosure Schedule lists the top 60 Agents (by gross
written premiums sold) of the ProCentury Insurance Subsidiaries for the year ended December 31,
2007, and the gross written premium sold by each of these agents in such year with respect to
products issued by any ProCentury Insurance Subsidiary. To the knowledge of ProCentury, the
contracts and other agreements pursuant to which agents act on behalf of the ProCentury Insurance
Subsidiaries are valid, binding and in full force and effect in all material respects in accordance
with their terms and the parties to such contracts and agreements are not
31
in default thereunder in
any material respects. To the knowledge of ProCentury, since January 1, 2008 through the date
hereof, none of the agents listed on Section 4.22(i) of the ProCentury Disclosure Schedule has (a)
terminated its relationship with any of the ProCentury Insurance Subsidiaries or (b) materially
decreased the placement, marketing or sales of products issued by the ProCentury Insurance
Subsidiaries. To the knowledge of ProCentury, each insurance agent, at the time such agent wrote,
sold or produced any insurance policy for a ProCentury Insurance Subsidiary, (i) was duly licensed
as an insurance agent for the type of business written, sold or produced in the particular
jurisdiction in which such agent wrote, sold or produced such business for such ProCentury
Insurance Subsidiary and (ii) was duly appointed as an agent by such ProCentury Insurance
Subsidiary, except for any failures to be so licensed and appointed as would not, individually or
in the aggregate, have a ProCentury Material Adverse Effect. ProCentury has made available to
Meadowbrook and Merger Sub a true and complete copy of each standard form agency agreement used by
ProCentury and its Subsidiaries for new business as of the date hereof.
4.23 Labor and Employment Matters. Neither ProCentury nor its Subsidiaries is or has
ever been a party to, or is or has ever been bound by, any collective bargaining agreement,
contract, or other agreement or understanding with a labor union or labor organization with respect
to its employees, nor is ProCentury or its Subsidiaries the subject of any proceeding asserting
that it has committed an
unfair labor practice or seeking to compel it or any such Subsidiary to bargain with any labor
organization as to wages and conditions of employment, nor is the management of ProCentury aware of
any strike, other labor dispute, organizational effort or other activity taken with a view toward
unionization involving ProCentury or its Subsidiaries pending or threatened. ProCentury and its
Subsidiaries are in material compliance with applicable Laws regarding employment or employees and
retention of independent contractors and are in material compliance with all applicable employment
tax Laws.
4.24 Insurance. ProCentury and its Subsidiaries are presently insured, and since the
Applicable Date, have been insured, for reasonable amounts with financially sound and reputable
insurance companies, against such risks as companies engaged in a similar business would, in
accordance with good business practice, customarily be insured. Except as would not reasonably be
expected to have a ProCentury Material Adverse Effect, all of the insurance policies and bonds
maintained by ProCentury and its Subsidiaries outside the ordinary course of its business are in
full force and effect, ProCentury and its Subsidiaries are not in default thereunder and all
material claims thereunder have been filed in due and timely fashion.
4.25 Indemnification. Except as provided in ProCentury’s employment agreements, or
the articles of incorporation or code of regulations of ProCentury, neither ProCentury nor its
Subsidiaries is a party to any indemnification agreement with any of its present or future
directors, officers, employees, agents or other Persons who serve or served in any other capacity
with any other enterprise at the request of ProCentury (a “Covered Person”), and there are no
claims for which any Covered Person would be entitled to indemnification under the articles of
incorporation or code of regulations of ProCentury or any Subsidiary of ProCentury, applicable law,
regulation or any indemnification agreement.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF MEADOWBROOK
AND MERGER SUB
AND MERGER SUB
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Prior to the execution of this Agreement, Meadowbrook and Merger Sub have delivered to
ProCentury a schedule (the “Meadowbrook Disclosure Schedule”) setting forth, among other things,
items the disclosure of which is necessary or appropriate either in response to an express
disclosure requirement contained in a provision hereof or as an exception to one or more
representations or warranties contained in Article V or to one or more of its covenants contained
in Article VI hereof or additional agreements in Article VII. This Article V is qualified in its
entirety by such disclosures.
Subject to the foregoing, Meadowbrook and Merger Sub hereby represent and warrant to
ProCentury as of the date of this Agreement as follows:
5.1 Corporate Organization.
(a) Meadowbrook is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the Laws of the State of Michigan. Meadowbrook has the corporate power and authority to own or
lease all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted,
and is duly licensed or qualified to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the
business conducted by it or the character or location of the properties and assets owned or leased
by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so licensed
or qualified would not have a Meadowbrook Material Adverse Effect. The articles of incorporation
and bylaws of Meadowbrook, copies of which have previously been made available to ProCentury, are
true, complete and correct copies of such documents as in effect as of the date of this Agreement.
(b) Each Subsidiary of Meadowbrook is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization. Each of
Meadowbrook’s Subsidiaries has the corporate power and authority to own or lease all of its
properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and is duly
licensed or qualified to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business
conducted by it or the character or the location of the properties and assets owned or leased by it
makes such licensing or qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so licensed or
qualified would not have a Meadowbrook Material Adverse Effect. The articles of incorporation,
bylaws and similar governing documents of each Subsidiary of Meadowbrook, copies of which have
previously been made available to ProCentury, are true, complete and correct copies of such
documents as in effect as of the date of this Agreement.
(c) The Meadowbrook Trusts have been duly created and are validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of their establishment, such Meadowbrook Trusts will
not be deemed to be an Investment Company required to be registered under the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended, and each Meadowbrook Trust is classified as a “grantor trust” for United
States Federal Income Tax purposes. The securities issued under the Meadowbrook Trusts are valid
and legally binding obligations of the Meadowbrook Trusts, subject to or limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization
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conservatorship, receivership, moratorium and other
statutory or decisional laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or the reorganization of
financial institutions (including preference and fraudulent conveyance or transfer laws, heretofore
or hereafter enacted or an offset, affecting the rights of creditors generally).
5.2 Capitalization.
(a) As of the date of this Agreement, the authorized capital stock of Meadowbrook consists of
75,000,000 shares of Meadowbrook Common Stock and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value
$.01 per share (“Meadowbrook Preferred Stock”). No other capital stock is authorized. As February
15, 2008, there were 37,019,966 shares of Meadowbrook Common Stock and no shares of Meadowbrook
Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, and no shares of Meadowbrook Common Stock held in
Meadowbrook’s treasury. As of the date of this Agreement, no shares of Meadowbrook Common Stock or
Meadowbrook Preferred Stock were reserved for issuance, except that 2,000,000 shares of Meadowbrook
Common Stock were
reserved for issuance upon the exercise of long-term stock awards, stock options and other
equity-type rewards pursuant to the Meadowbrook Insurance Group, Inc. Amended and Restated 1995
Stock Option Plan and the Meadowbrook Insurance Group, Inc. Amended and Restated 2002 Stock Option
Plan (the “Meadowbrook Stock Plans”). All of the issued and outstanding shares of Meadowbrook
Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and
free of preemptive rights, with no personal liability attaching to the ownership thereof. Except
for the stock options set forth above, Meadowbrook does not have and is not bound by any
outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, commitments or agreements of any character
calling for the purchase or issuance of any shares of Meadowbrook Common Stock or Meadowbrook
Preferred Stock or any other equity securities of Meadowbrook or any securities representing the
right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of Meadowbrook Common Stock or Meadowbrook
Preferred Stock. The shares of Meadowbrook Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Merger will
be duly authorized and validly issued and, at the Effective Time, all such shares will be fully
paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights.
(b) Section 5.2(b) of the Meadowbrook Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and correct list
of all of Meadowbrook Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement. Meadowbrook owns, directly or
indirectly, all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Subsidiaries
of Meadowbrook, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens, and all of such shares are
duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights.
No Subsidiary of Meadowbrook has or is bound by any outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants,
calls, commitments or agreements of any character calling for the purchase or issuance of any
shares of capital stock or any other equity security of such Subsidiary or any securities
representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of capital stock or any other
equity security of such Subsidiary.
5.3 Authority; No Violation.
(a) Each of Meadowbrook and Merger Sub have full corporate power and authority to execute,
deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and, subject to the
34
receipt of the
Meadowbrook Shareholder Approval, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement by Meadowbrook and the consummation of the Merger and the
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly approved and adopted by the board of
directors of each of Meadowbrook and Merger Sub. The board of directors of Meadowbrook has
directed that the approval of the issuance of the Meadowbrook Common Stock contemplated by this
Agreement be submitted to Meadowbrook’s shareholders for approval at a meeting of such shareholders
and, except for (i) the Meadowbrook Shareholder Approval, (ii) the filings of the Certificates of
Merger with the Secretary of State of Ohio and the Michigan Department of Labor and (iii)
regulatory approvals, no other corporate proceedings on the part of Meadowbrook or Merger Sub are
necessary to approve this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This
Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Meadowbrook and Merger Sub and
(assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by ProCentury) constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of Meadowbrook and Merger Sub, enforceable against Meadowbrook and
Merger Sub in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by general
principles of equity whether applied in a court of law or a court of equity and by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and similar Laws affecting creditors’
rights and remedies generally.
(b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Meadowbrook or Merger Sub, nor the
consummation by Meadowbrook or Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor compliance
by Meadowbrook or Merger Sub with any of the terms or provisions hereof, will (i) violate any
provision of the articles of incorporation or bylaws of Meadowbrook or the articles of
incorporation, bylaws or similar governing documents of any of its Subsidiaries, or (ii) assuming
that the consents and approvals referred to in Section 5.4 are duly obtained, (x) violate any
applicable Law, or (y) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provision of or the loss
of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time, or
both, would constitute a default) under, result in the termination of or a right of termination or
cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, result in the obligation to sell or
result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the respective properties or assets of Meadowbrook
or any of its Subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond,
mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, agreement or other instrument or obligation to
which Meadowbrook or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or by which they or any of their
respective properties or assets may be bound or affected, except for any violation, conflict,
breach, default, acceleration, termination, modification or cancellation that would not reasonably
be expected to have a Meadowbrook Material Adverse Effect.
5.4 Consents and Approvals. Except for (a) approvals of or filings with insurance
regulatory authorities under the Insurance Laws, (b) the appropriate reports, filings and
statements required under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, including the filing with the SEC
of the Proxy Statement, (c) the Meadowbrook Shareholder Approval (d) the filings of the
Certificates of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio and the Michigan Department
of Labor and (e) the filing of a Pre-Merger Notification pursuant to the HSR Act and the expiration
or termination of any waiting period required by the HSR Act, no consents or approvals of or
filings or registrations with any Governmental Entity or with any third party are
35
necessary in
connection with (1) the execution and delivery by Meadowbrook or Merger Sub of this Agreement and
(2) the consummation by Meadowbrook and Merger Sub of the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby, except where the failure to obtain such consents or approvals or make such
filings or registrations would not have a Meadowbrook Material Adverse Effect.
5.5 Reports.
(a) Meadowbrook has filed or furnished, as applicable, all forms, statements, certifications,
reports and documents required to be filed or furnished by it with the SEC under the Exchange Act
or the Securities Act since the Applicable Date (the forms, statements, reports and documents filed
or furnished since the Applicable Date and those filed or furnished subsequent to the date hereof,
including any amendments thereto, the “Meadowbrook Reports”).
Each of the Meadowbrook Reports, as of its respective date (or, if amended prior to the date
hereof, as of the date of such amendment) complied in all material respects with, to the extent in
effect at the time of filing, the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act
and the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder applicable to the
Meadowbrook Reports. As of their respective dates (or, if amended prior to the date hereof, as of
the date of such amendment), the Meadowbrook Reports did not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.
(b) Except as permitted by the Exchange Act, including Sections 13(k) or rules of the SEC,
since the enactment of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act, neither Meadowbrook nor any of its Subsidiaries has
extended or maintained credit, arranged for the extension of credit or renewed an extension of
credit in the form of a personal loan to any executive officer or director of Meadowbrook within
the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.
(c) Meadowbrook maintains disclosure controls and procedures required by Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15
under the Exchange Act. Such disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed to ensure
that information required to be disclosed by Meadowbrook is recorded and reported on a timely basis
to the individuals responsible for the preparation of Meadowbrook’s filings with the SEC and other
public disclosure documents. Meadowbrook and its Subsidiaries maintain internal control over
financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15, as applicable, under the Exchange Act).
Meadowbrook has completed an evaluation of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial
reporting in compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act for the year ended December 31,
2006, and such evaluation concluded that such controls were effective. Meadowbrook has disclosed
and identified, based on the most recent evaluation of its chief executive officer and its chief
financial officer prior to the date hereof, for Meadowbrook’s auditors and the audit committee of
Meadowbrook’s board of directors (A) any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of its
internal controls over financial reporting that are reasonably likely to adversely affect
Meadowbrook’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information, (B) any
material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting and (C) any fraud, whether or not
material, that involves
36
management or other employees who have a significant role in Meadowbrook’s
or its Subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting.
5.6 Financial Statements.
(a) The consolidated balance sheets included in or incorporated by reference into the
Meadowbrook Reports (including the related notes and schedules) fairly present, in all material
respects, the consolidated financial position of Meadowbrook and its consolidated Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, as of their respective dates, and the consolidated statements of operations,
changes in shareholders equity (deficit) and cash flows included in or incorporated by reference
into the Meadowbrook Reports (including any related notes and schedules) fairly present, in all
material respects, the results of operations, retained earnings (loss) and changes in financial
position, as the case may be, of Meadowbrook and its consolidated Subsidiaries, taken
as a whole, for the periods set forth therein (subject, in the case of unaudited statements,
to notes and normal year-end audit adjustments and to any other adjustments described therein
(including in the notes thereto)); and in each case were prepared in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied during the periods involved, except as may be noted therein, or in the case of
unaudited statements, as permitted by the SEC.
(b) Meadowbrook has previously furnished or made available to ProCentury true and complete
copies of the annual statements or other comparable statements for each of the years ended December
31, 2005, and December 31, 2006, together with all exhibits and schedules thereto (collectively,
the “Meadowbrook SAP Statements”), with respect to each of the Meadowbrook Insurance Subsidiaries,
in each case as filed with the Governmental Entity charged with supervision of insurance companies
of such Meadowbrook Insurance Subsidiary’s jurisdiction of domicile. The Meadowbrook SAP Statements
were prepared in conformity SAP and present fairly, in all material respects, the statutory
financial condition and results of operations of such Meadowbrook Insurance Subsidiary as of the
respective dates thereof and for the respective periods set forth therein, in each case in
accordance with SAP. Since December 31, 2005, the Meadowbrook SAP Statements were filed with the
applicable Governmental Entity in a timely fashion on forms prescribed or permitted by such
Governmental Entity, except for such filings, the failure so to file or timely file would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Meadowbrook Material Adverse
Effect. No deficiencies or violations material to the financial condition of any of the Meadowbrook
Insurance Subsidiaries, individually, whether or not material in the aggregate, have been asserted
in writing by any Governmental Entity which have not been cured or otherwise resolved to the
satisfaction of such Governmental Entity (unless not currently pending). Meadowbrook has made
available to ProCentury true and complete copies of all financial examinations, market-conduct
examinations and other material reports of Governmental Entities since December 31, 2004, including
the most recent reports of state insurance regulatory authorities, relating to each Meadowbrook
Insurance Subsidiary.
5.7 Broker’s Fees. Except for Paracap Group, LLC, neither Meadowbrook nor any
Subsidiary of Meadowbrook, nor any of their respective officers or directors, has employed any
broker or finder or incurred any liability for any broker’s fees, commissions or finder’s fees in
connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Meadowbrook has
37
provided a
correct and complete copy of each agreement between Meadowbrook and Paracap Group, LLC relating to
the transactions contemplated hereby.
5.8 Absence of Certain Changes or Events.
(a) Except as disclosed in the Meadowbrook Reports filed prior to the date hereof, since
September 30, 2007, no event has occurred which has caused, or is reasonably likely to cause,
individually or in the aggregate, a Meadowbrook Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Except as set forth in Section 5.8(b) of the Meadowbrook Disclosure Schedule, since
September 30, 2007, Meadowbrook and its Subsidiaries each (i) has been operated in all material
respects in the ordinary course of business and (ii) has not made any material changes in its
respective capital or corporate structures.
5.9 Legal Proceedings.
(a) Other than ordinary course claims under insurance policies written by Meadowbrook or any
of its Subsidiaries, neither Meadowbrook nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any and there
are no pending or to the knowledge of Meadowbrook, threatened in writing, legal, administrative,
arbitral or other proceedings, claims, actions, suits or governmental or regulatory investigations
(i) of any nature against Meadowbrook or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) challenging the validity
or propriety of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as to which there is a reasonable
probability of an adverse determination and which, if adversely determined, would, individually or
in the aggregate, have or be reasonably likely to have a Meadowbrook Material Adverse Effect.
(b) There is no injunction, order, judgment, decree, or regulatory restriction imposed upon
Meadowbrook, any of its Subsidiaries or the assets of Meadowbrook or any of its Subsidiaries which
has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Meadowbrook Material Adverse Effect.
5.10 Taxes. Each of Meadowbrook and its Subsidiaries has (i) duly and timely filed or
will duly and timely file (including applicable extensions granted without penalty) all Tax Returns
required to be filed at or prior to the Effective Time, and such Tax Returns which have heretofore
been filed are, and those to be hereinafter filed will be, complete and accurate in all material
respects, and (ii) paid in full or have made adequate provision for on the financial statements of
Meadowbrook (in accordance with GAAP) all Taxes and will pay in full or make adequate provision for
all Taxes. There are no material Liens for Taxes upon the assets of either Meadowbrook or its
Subsidiaries except for statutory Liens for current Taxes not yet due. Neither Meadowbrook nor any
of its Subsidiaries has requested any extension of time within which to file any Tax Returns in
respect of any fiscal year which have not since been filed and no request for waivers of the time
to assess any Taxes are pending or outstanding. Since the Applicable Date, the federal and state
income Tax Returns of Meadowbrook and its Subsidiaries have been audited by the IRS or appropriate
state tax authorities only with respect to those periods and jurisdictions set forth on Section
5.10 of the Meadowbrook Disclosure Schedule. Neither Meadowbrook nor any of its Subsidiaries is
presently subject to any
audits,
38
investigations or proceeding by any tax authority, and neither
Meadowbrook nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice from any tax authority that
it intends to conduct any such audit, investigation or proceeding. Since the Applicable Date, no
written claim has been made by a tax authority in a jurisdiction where Meadowbrook or any of its
Subsidiaries does not file a tax return that Meadowbrook or any of its Subsidiaries is or may be
subject to taxation in the jurisdiction. Neither Meadowbrook nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) is a
party to any agreement providing for the allocation or sharing of Taxes
(other than the allocation of federal income taxes as provided by Regulation 1.1552-l(a)(l))
under the Code; (ii) is required to include in income any adjustment pursuant to Section 481(a) of
the Code, by reason of the voluntary change in accounting method (nor has any taxing authority
proposed in writing any such adjustment or change of accounting method) or (iii) has filed a
consent pursuant to Section 341(f) of the Code.
5.11 Employee Benefit Plan Matters. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.11 of the
Meadowbrook Disclosure Schedule, (i) each employee benefit plan, as the term is defined in Section
3(3) of ERISA, and other arrangement or agreement providing benefits to any employee or former
employee of Meadowbrook or any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate that is maintained or
contributed to as of the date of this Agreement (collectively referred to as “Meadowbrook Plans”)
by Meadowbrook, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate, all of which together with
Meadowbrook would be deemed a single employer within the meaning of Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA,
has been operated and administered in all material respects in accordance with its terms and
applicable law, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code, (ii) each of Meadowbrook Plans
intended to be “qualified” within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code has either (1) received
a favorable determination letter from the IRS or (2) is or will be the subject of an application
for a favorable determination letter, and Meadowbrook is not aware of any circumstances likely to
result in the revocation or denial of any such favorable determination letter, (iii) no Meadowbrook
Plan provides benefits, including death or medical benefits (whether or not insured), with respect
to current or former employees of Meadowbrook, its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate beyond their
retirement or other termination of service, other than (w) coverage mandated by applicable law, (x)
death benefits or retirement benefits under any “employee pension plan,” as that term is defined in
Section 3(2) of ERISA, (y) deferred compensation benefits accrued as liabilities on the books of
Meadowbrook, its Subsidiaries or the ERISA Affiliates or (z) benefits the full cost of which is
borne by the current or former employee (or his beneficiary), (iv) no liability under Title IV of
ERISA has been incurred by Meadowbrook, its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate that has not been
satisfied in full, and no condition exists that presents a material risk to Meadowbrook, its
Subsidiaries or a Meadowbrook ERISA Affiliate of incurring a material liability thereunder, (v) no
Meadowbrook Plan is a “multiemployer pension plan,” as such term is defined in Section 3(37) of
ERISA, (vi) all contributions or other amounts payable by Meadowbrook, its Subsidiaries or any
ERISA Affiliates as of the Effective Time with respect to each Meadowbrook Plan for any period
through the date hereof have been paid or accrued in accordance with GAAP, (vii) neither
Meadowbrook, its Subsidiaries nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a merger in connection with
which Meadowbrook, its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate could be subject to either a civil
penalty assessed pursuant to Section 406 or 502(i) of ERISA or a tax imposed pursuant to Section
4975 or 4976 of the Code and (viii) there are no pending, or, to the knowledge of
39
Meadowbrook,
threatened claims (other than routine claims for benefits) by, on behalf of or against any of the
Meadowbrook Plans or any trusts related thereto.
5.12 Meadowbrook Information. The information relating to Meadowbrook and its
Subsidiaries to be contained in, or incorporated by reference in, the Proxy Statement and the S-4
(except for such portions thereof
that relate only to ProCentury or any of its Subsidiaries as represented in Section 4.12
hereof), or in any other document filed with any other regulatory agency in connection herewith,
will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not
misleading. The S-4 (except for such portions thereof that relate only to ProCentury or any of its
Subsidiaries as represented in Section 4.12 hereof) will comply in all material respects with the
provisions of the Securities Act and Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
5.13 Ownership of ProCentury Common Stock. None of Meadowbrook or any of its
Subsidiaries (i) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly or (ii) is a party to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of, in each
case, any shares of capital stock of ProCentury.
5.14 Compliance with Applicable Law.
(a) The businesses of each of Meadowbrook and its Subsidiaries have not been since the
Applicable Date, and are not being conducted in violation of any applicable Laws (except for Laws
with respect to matters that are subject to Sections 5.10 (Taxes), 5.11 (Employee Benefit Matters),
5.19 (Environmental Matters) or 5.20 (Insurance Matters), which matters are subject solely of such
respective sections) except for violations that, individually or in the aggregate, are not
reasonably likely to have a Meadowbrook Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Meadowbrook and its Subsidiaries each has obtained and is in compliance with all Licenses
(except for Licenses with respect to matters that are subject to Sections 5.10 (Taxes), 5.11
(Employee Benefit Matters), 5.19 (Environmental Matters) or 5.20 (Insurance Matters)) necessary to
conduct its business as presently conducted, except those the absence of which would not,
individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably likely to have a Meadowbrook Material Adverse
Effect.
5.15 Certain Contracts.
(a) Except for this Agreement, neither Meadowbrook nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to
or bound by any contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding (whether written or oral) which
is a material contract (as defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the SEC) to be performed
after the date hereof that has not been filed or incorporated by reference in the Meadowbrook
Reports or (ii) which materially restricts the conduct of any line of business by Meadowbrook or
any of its Subsidiaries. Each contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding of the type
described in this Section 5.15(a), whether or not set forth in Section 5.15(a) of the Meadowbrook
Disclosure Schedule, is referred to herein
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as a “Meadowbrook Contract.” Meadowbrook has previously
made available to ProCentury true and correct copies of each Meadowbrook Contract.
(b) Each Meadowbrook Contract is a valid and binding obligation of Meadowbrook or its
Subsidiary which is a party thereto and, to the knowledge of Meadowbrook, of each other party
thereto, is in full force and effect, except where such failure to be in full force and effect
would not have or be reasonably likely to have a Meadowbrook Material Adverse Effect. Meadowbrook
and each of its Subsidiaries have performed all obligations required to be performed by them to
date under each Meadowbrook Contract, except where such nonperformance, individually or in the
aggregate, would not have or be reasonably likely to have a Meadowbrook Material Adverse Effect.
No event or condition exists which constitutes or, after notice or lapse of time or both, would
constitute, a material default on the part of Meadowbrook or any of its Subsidiaries under any such
Meadowbrook Contract, except where such default, individually or in the aggregate, would not have
or be reasonably likely to have a Meadowbrook Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of
Meadowbrook, no other party to any Meadowbrook Contract is in default under the terms of any
Meadowbrook Contract, except where such default, individually or in the aggregate, would not have
or be reasonably likely to have a Meadowbrook Material Adverse Effect.
5.16 Intellectual Property. Meadowbrook and each of its Subsidiaries owns (without
any Lien other than Permitted Liens) or is licensed or otherwise possesses legally enforceable
rights to use all material patents, copyrights, trade secrets, trade names, servicemarks,
trademarks and computer software used in its businesses as currently conducted (the “Meadowbrook
Intellectual Property”); and neither Meadowbrook nor any of its Subsidiaries has, since the
Applicable Date, received any written notice of conflict with respect to any material Meadowbrook
Intellectual Property that asserts the right of any third party with respect to the use or
ownership of any Meadowbrook Intellectual Property. All Meadowbrook Intellectual Property that has
been licensed by Meadowbrook or any of its Subsidiaries is being used substantially in accordance
with the applicable license pursuant to which Meadowbrook or such Subsidiary acquired the right to
use such Meadowbrook Intellectual Property, except where such use would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have or be reasonably likely to have a Meadowbrook Material Adverse Effect.
5.17 Undisclosed Liabilities. Except for (a) those liabilities that are fully
reflected or reserved against on the consolidated balance sheet (or notes thereto) of Meadowbrook
included in its Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2007, (b) liabilities incurred in the
ordinary course of business since September 30, 2007 that, either alone or when combined with all
similar liabilities, have not had, and could not reasonably be expected to have, a Meadowbrook
Material Adverse Effect and (c) those liabilities permitted or contemplated by this Agreement,
neither Meadowbrook nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any liability of any nature whatsoever
required by GAAP to be set forth on a balance sheet or financial statement of Meadowbrook or in the
notes thereto.
5.18 Required Vote. No vote of the shareholders of Meadowbrook is required by law,
Meadowbrook’s articles of incorporation and bylaws or otherwise to approve this Agreement and the
Merger
other than the vote of shareholders of Meadowbrook to approve the issuance of
00
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx Stock contemplated by this Agreement as required by the rules of the NYSE.
5.19 Environmental Matters. Except in the ordinary course of business or as has not
had or would not reasonably be expected to have a Meadowbrook Material Adverse Effect, (a) since
the Applicable Date, each of Meadowbrook and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable
Environmental Laws necessary to conduct its current operations and (b) neither Meadowbrook nor any
of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice from any Governmental Entity alleging that
Meadowbrook or any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of, or liable under, any Environmental Law.
5.20 Meadowbrook Insurance Subsidiaries.
(a) As of the date hereof, Meadowbrook conducts its insurance operations solely through the
following Subsidiaries: Star Insurance Company, Ameritrust Insurance Corporation, Savers Property
and Casualty Insurance Company and Williamsburg National Insurance Company (collectively, the
“Meadowbrook Insurance Subsidiaries”). Each of the Meadowbrook Insurance Subsidiaries is (i) duly
licensed or authorized as an insurance company and, where applicable, a reinsurance company, in its
jurisdiction of incorporation, (ii) duly licensed or authorized as an insurance company and, where
applicable, a reinsurance company, in each other jurisdiction where it is required to be so
licensed or authorized, and (iii) duly authorized in its jurisdiction of incorporation and each
other applicable jurisdiction to write each line of business reported as being written in the
Meadowbrook SAP Statements, except, in any such case, where the failure to be so licensed or
authorized is not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably likely to have a Meadowbrook
Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The business and operations of the Meadowbrook Insurance Subsidiaries, since the
Applicable Date, have been and are now being conducted in compliance with all Insurance Laws,
except where the failure to so conduct such business and operations is not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably likely to have a Meadowbrook Material Adverse Effect.
(c) No insurance regulator in any state has notified Meadowbrook or any of the Meadowbrook
Insurance Subsidiaries in writing that any Meadowbrook Insurance Subsidiary is commercially
domiciled in any jurisdiction and to the knowledge of Meadowbrook, there are no facts that would
result in any Meadowbrook Insurance Subsidiary being commercially domiciled in any state. To the
knowledge of Meadowbrook, none of Meadowbrook or any Meadowbrook Insurance Subsidiary, or any of
their respective Affiliates, (i) has purposefully engaged in, or colluded with or assisted any
other Persons with, the paying of contingent commissions or similar incentive payments to steer
business to them or colluded with Agents or brokers or other producers or intermediaries to “rig
bids” or submit false quotes to customers or (ii) is a party to any agreement that provides for any
payment by or to any Person of any variable or contingent commissions or payments based upon the
profitability, claims handling, sales volume or loss ratio of the business that is the subject of
such agreement. Since the Applicable Date, Meadowbrook and each Meadowbrook Insurance Subsidiary
have made all required
notices, submissions, reports or other filings under applicable Insurance Law, including
42
insurance holding company statutes, except for any such failures or instances of noncompliance that
would not reasonably be likely, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Meadowbrook
Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Neither Meadowbrook nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any cease-and-desist or
other order issued by, or is a party to any Regulatory Agreement with, any regulatory agency or
other Governmental Entity that restricts the conduct of its business or that in any manner relates
to its capital adequacy, its underwriting policies, its management or its business, nor has
ProCentury or any of its Subsidiaries been advised by any regulatory agency or other Governmental
Entity that it is considering issuing or requesting any Regulatory Agreement.
(e) Except as otherwise is not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Meadowbrook Material Adverse Effect, all policies, binders, slips, certificates, and other
agreements of insurance, in effect as of the date hereof that are issued by the Meadowbrook
Insurance Subsidiaries (the “Meadowbrook Insurance Contracts”) and any and all marketing materials,
are, to the extent required under applicable Law, on the Forms. The Forms comply in all material
respects with the Insurance Laws applicable thereto and, as to premium rates established by any
Meadowbrook Insurance Subsidiary which are required to be filed with or approved by insurance
regulatory authorities, the rates have been so filed or approved and the premiums charged are
within the amount permitted by Insurance Laws applicable thereto, except where the failure to be so
filed or approved is not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably likely to have a Meadowbrook
Material Adverse Effect.
(f) All reinsurance and coinsurance treaties or agreements, including retrocessional
agreements, to which any Meadowbrook Insurance Subsidiary is a party or under which any Meadowbrook
Insurance Subsidiary has any existing rights, obligations or liabilities are in full force and
effect, except for such treaties or agreements the failure to be in full force and effect of which
is not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Meadowbrook Material Adverse
Effect. Except as is not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Meadowbrook
Material Adverse Effect, no Meadowbrook Insurance Subsidiary, or, to the knowledge of Meadowbrook,
any other party to a material reinsurance or coinsurance treaty or agreement to which any
Meadowbrook Insurance Subsidiary is a party, is in default in any material respect as to any
provision thereof, and no such agreement contains any provision providing that the other party
thereto may terminate such agreement, or that such agreement will be automatically terminated, by
reason of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. To the knowledge of Meadowbrook, the
financial condition of the other parties to any such agreement is impaired with the result that a
default thereunder may reasonably be anticipated, whether or not such default may be cured by the
operation of any offset clause in such agreement, that is, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably likely to have a Meadowbrook Material Adverse Effect. All reinsurance and retrocession
agreements to which any Meadowbrook Insurance Subsidiary is a party, either as a cedent or a
reinsurer or retrocessionaire, comply in all material respects with all risk transfer criteria
under GAAP and applicable SAP, and to the knowledge of Meadowbrook, there is no investigation,
inquiry or proceeding currently pending before or by Governmental Entity, to which Meadowbrook or
any Meadowbrook Insurance Subsidiary is subject, with respect to the risk transfer characteristics
or
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the reporting or disclosure thereof, of any such reinsurance or retrocession except any such
investigation, inquiry or proceeding which would no, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
be likely to have a Meadowbrook Material Adverse Effect.
(g) Prior to the date hereof, Meadowbrook has delivered or made available to ProCentury a true
and complete copy of any material actuarial reports prepared by actuaries, independent or
otherwise, with respect to any Meadowbrook Insurance Subsidiary since the Applicable Date, and all
attachments, addenda, supplements and modifications thereto (the “Meadowbrook Actuarial Analyses”).
The information and data furnished by any Meadowbrook Insurance Subsidiary to its actuaries in
connection with the preparation of the Meadowbrook Actuarial Analyses were accurate in all material
respects. The aggregate reserves for claims, losses (including, without limitation, incurred but
not reported losses), loss adjustment expenses (whether allocated or unallocated) and unearned
premium, as reflected in each of the Meadowbrook SAP Statements, (i) were determined in accordance
with presently accepted actuarial standards consistently applied (except as otherwise noted in the
financial statements and notes thereto included in such financial statements), (ii) are fairly
stated in accordance with sound actuarial principles, (iii) were computed on the basis of
methodologies consistent in all material respects with those used in computing the corresponding
reserves in the prior fiscal years (except as otherwise noted in the financial statements and notes
thereto included in such financial statements) and (iv) include provisions for all actuarial
reserves and related items which ought to be established in accordance with applicable Laws.
(h) A.M. Best Company has not announced that it has under surveillance or review (with
negative implications) its rating of the financial strength or claims-paying ability of any
Meadowbrook Insurance Subsidiary or imposed conditions (financial or otherwise) on retaining any
currently held rating assigned to any Meadowbrook Insurance Subsidiary which is rated as of the
date of this Agreement, and Meadowbrook has no reason (other than the entry into the Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby) to believe that any rating presently held by the Meadowbrook
Insurance Subsidiaries is likely to be modified, qualified, lowered or placed under such
surveillance for any reason. As of the date hereof, Meadowbrook and each of the Meadowbrook
Insurance Subsidiaries have been assigned an A- (Excellent) financial strength rating by A.M. Best
Company.
5.21 Labor and Employment Matters. Neither Meadowbrook nor its Subsidiaries is or has
ever been a party to, or is or has ever been bound by, any collective bargaining agreement,
contract, or other agreement or understanding with a labor union or labor organization with respect
to its employees, nor is Meadowbrook or its Subsidiaries the subject of any proceeding asserting
that it has committed an unfair labor practice or seeking to compel it or any such Subsidiary to
bargain with any labor organization as to wages and conditions of employment, nor is the management
of Meadowbrook aware of any strike, other labor dispute, organizational effort or other activity
taken with a view toward unionization involving Meadowbrook or its Subsidiaries pending or
threatened. Meadowbrook and its Subsidiaries are in material compliance with applicable Laws
regarding employment or employees and retention of independent contractors and are in material
compliance with all applicable employment tax Laws.
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5.22 Insurance. Meadowbrook and its Subsidiaries are presently insured, and since the
Applicable Date, have been insured, for reasonable amounts with financially sound and reputable
insurance companies, against such risks as companies engaged in a similar business would, in
accordance with good business practice, customarily be insured. Except as would not reasonably be
expected to have a Meadowbrook Material Adverse Effect, all of the insurance policies and bonds
maintained by Meadowbrook and its Subsidiaries outside the ordinary course of its business are in
full force and effect, Meadowbrook and its Subsidiaries are not in default thereunder and all
material claims thereunder have been filed in due and timely fashion.
5.23 Financing. Section 5.23 of the Meadowbrook Disclosure Schedule sets forth the
amount, as of the date hereof, of Meadowbrook’s cash and cash equivalents, the amount of the cash
and cash equivalents of the Meadowbrook Insurance Subsidiaries’ available to pay a dividend to
Meadowbrook without obtaining the approval of the Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation and
the borrowings currently available under the Meadowbrook Credit Facility is as set forth in Section
5.23 of the Meadowbrook Disclosure Schedule. As of the Closing Date, Meadowbrook will have cash
and availability under the Meadowbrook Credit Facility in amounts sufficient to pay the Maximum
Cash Consideration.
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
6.1 Covenants of ProCentury. From the date hereof until the Effective Time, except as
expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement or as previously disclosed in the ProCentury
Disclosure Schedule (“Previously Disclosed”), without the prior written consent of Meadowbrook,
ProCentury will not and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to:
(a) Ordinary Course. Conduct its business other than in the ordinary and usual course
consistent with past practice or fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve its
business organization, keep available the present services of its employees and preserve for itself
and Meadowbrook the goodwill of the customers of ProCentury and its Subsidiaries and others with
whom business relations exist; provided, however, that no action by ProCentury or its Subsidiaries
with respect to matters specifically addressed by Sections 6.1(b) through 6.1(u) will be deemed a
breach of this Section 6.1(a) unless such action would constitute a breach of such other provision.
(b) Capital Stock. Other than pursuant to the ProCentury Options outstanding on the
date hereof, (i) issue, sell or otherwise permit to become outstanding, or authorize the creation
of, any additional shares of stock or any rights or (ii) permit any additional shares of stock to
become subject to grants of employee or director stock options or other rights.
(c) Dividends; Etc. (i) Make, declare, pay or set aside for payment any dividend on
or in respect of, or declare or make any distribution on any ProCentury Common Shares, other than
normal quarterly dividends in the amount of no more than $0.04 per ProCentury Common Share per
quarter with customary record and payment dates or (ii) directly
or indirectly adjust, split, combine, redeem, reclassify, purchase or otherwise acquire, any
shares of its capital stock.
45
(d) Compensation; Employment Agreements; Etc. Enter into or amend or renew any
employment, consulting, severance or similar agreements or arrangements with any director, officer
or employee of ProCentury or grant any salary or wage increase or increase any employee benefit
(including incentive or bonus payments), except (i) for the employment of individuals in the
ordinary course of business on an at-will basis, (ii) for normal individual increases in
compensation to employees in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (iii)
for other changes that are required by applicable Law, (iv) to satisfy contractual obligations
existing as of the date hereof which are set forth in Section 6.1(d) or (v) of the ProCentury
Disclosure Schedule to satisfy the terms of any ProCentury Plan.
(e) Benefit Plans. For the 2008 calendar year, enter into, establish, adopt or amend,
or make any contributions to (except (i) as may be required by applicable Law or (ii) to satisfy
contractual obligations existing as of the date hereof which are set forth in Section 6.1(d) of
ProCentury Disclosure Schedule or the terms of any ProCentury Plan), any pension, retirement, stock
option, stock purchase, savings, profit sharing, deferred compensation, consulting, bonus, group
insurance or other employee benefit, incentive or welfare contract, plan or arrangement, or any
trust agreement (or similar arrangement) related thereto, in respect of any director, officer or
employee of ProCentury or any Subsidiary or take any action, other than contemplated by this
Agreement, to accelerate the vesting or exercisability of stock options, restricted stock or other
compensation or benefits payable thereunder.
(f) Dispositions. Sell, transfer, mortgage, encumber or otherwise dispose of or
discontinue any of its material assets, business or properties including investment securities
other than in the ordinary course of business.
(g) Acquisitions. Acquire all or any material portion of the assets, business,
deposits or properties of any other entity other than in the ordinary course of business or as
contemplated by Section 6.1(h).
(h) Capital Expenditures. Make any capital expenditures not contemplated by
ProCentury’s capital expenditure budget having an aggregate value exceeding $150,000.
(i) Governing Documents. Amend its articles of incorporation, code of regulations or
similar governing documents.
(j) Accounting Methods. Implement or adopt any material change in its accounting
principles, practices or methods, other than as may be required by changes in Laws or GAAP which
are disclosed promptly to Meadowbrook in writing.
(k) Contracts. Enter into any agreement that would be required to be listed on
Section 4.15(a) of the ProCentury Disclosure Schedule or renew or terminate or amend or modify in
any material respect in a manner that is adverse to ProCentury any agreement for services to be
provided to ProCentury or any Subsidiary or any other contract obligating ProCentury to pay an
amount in excess of $150,000, other than agreements or arrangements entered into in the ordinary
course of business in connection with the defense of claims,
46
including litigated claims, made under policies of insurance issued by a ProCentury Insurance
Subsidiary.
(l) Claims. Except for the settlement, in the ordinary course of business, of claims
(including litigated claims) made under insurance policies issued by ProCentury or its
Subsidiaries, enter into any settlement or similar agreement with respect to any action, suit,
proceeding, order or investigation to which ProCentury or any Subsidiary is or becomes a party
after the date hereof, which settlement, agreement or action involves payment by ProCentury or any
Subsidiary of an amount which exceeds $50,000 and/or would impose any material restriction on the
business of ProCentury or any Subsidiary.
(m) ProCentury Operations. Enter into any new material line of business or otherwise
change its investment policies, except as required by applicable Law.
(n) Indebtedness. Incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or assume, guarantee,
endorse or otherwise as an accommodation become responsible for the obligations of any other
Person, other than indebtedness incurred under ProCentury’s existing credit facility in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.
(o) Loans. Make, purchase, renew or otherwise modify any loan, loan commitment,
letter of credit or other extension of credit other than in the ordinary course of business.
(p) Investments in Real Estate. Make any investment or commitment to invest in real
estate or in any real estate development project.
(q) Certain Transactions. Enter into any agreement that could reasonably be expected
to have the result of delaying or hindering the approval of the ProCentury shareholders or any
Governmental Entity.
(r) Adverse Actions. (i) Take any action that would, or is reasonably likely to,
prevent or impede the Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section
368(a)(1)(A) of the Code or (ii) take any action that is intended or is reasonably likely to result
in (x) any of its representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement being or becoming
untrue in any material respect at any time at or prior to the Effective Time, (y) any of the
conditions to the Merger set forth in Article VIII not being satisfied or (z) a material violation
of any provision of this Agreement except as may be required by applicable Law or regulation.
(s) Board Membership. Elect to the board of directors of itself or any of its
Subsidiaries or to any office of its Subsidiaries any Person who is not a member of the board of
directors or an officer of ProCentury or its Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement;
provided, however, that if an additional vacancy is created on the board of directors of
ProCentury, ProCentury may fill such vacancy with a Person who is not an officer of ProCentury or
its Subsidiaries.
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(t) No New Subsidiaries. Neither ProCentury nor its Subsidiaries will establish,
acquire or otherwise create any new entity.
(u) Commitments. Enter into any contract with respect to, or otherwise agree or
commit to do, any of the foregoing.
6.2 Covenants of Meadowbrook and Merger Sub. From the date hereof, until the
Effective Time, except as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, without the prior
written consent of ProCentury, Meadowbrook and Merger Sub will not, and will cause each of their
Subsidiaries not to:
(a) Ordinary Course. Conduct its business other than in the ordinary and usual course
consistent with past practice or fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve its
business organization, keep available the present services of its employees and preserve for itself
the goodwill of its customers and others with whom business relations exist; provided, however,
that no action by Meadowbrook or Merger Sub or their Subsidiaries with respect to matters
specifically addressed by Sections 6.2(b) through 6.2(i) will be deemed a breach of this Section
6.2(a) unless such action would constitute a breach of such other provision.
(b) Acquisitions or Capital Expenditures. (i) Acquire all or any material portion of
the assets, business, deposits or properties of any other entity other than in the ordinary course
of business or as contemplated by clause (ii) hereof or (ii) make any capital expenditures not
contemplated by Meadowbrook’s capital expenditure budget as in effect on the date hereof having an
aggregate value exceeding $150,000, in each case if such acquisition or expenditure would
materially affect Meadowbrook’s ability to pay the Maximum Cash Consideration.
(c) Capital Stock. Other than equity awards issued and granted under the Meadowbrook
Stock Plans, issue, sell or otherwise permit to become outstanding, or authorize the creation of,
any additional shares of stock or any rights.
(d) Dispositions. Sell, transfer, mortgage, encumber or otherwise dispose of or
discontinue any of its material assets, deposits, business or properties including investment
securities and loans other than in the ordinary course of business.
(e) Accounting Methods. Implement or adopt any material change in its accounting
principles, practices or methods, other than as may be required by changes in Laws or GAAP.
(f) Certain Transactions. Enter into any agreement that could reasonably be expected
to have the result of delaying or hindering the approval of the Meadowbrook shareholders or any
Governmental Entity.
(g) Adverse Actions. (i) Take any action that would, or is reasonably likely to,
prevent or impede the Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of
48
Section
368(a)(1)(A) of the Code or (ii) take any action that is intended or is reasonably likely to result
in (x) any of its representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement being or becoming
untrue in any material respect at any time at or prior to the Effective Time, (y) any of
the conditions to the Merger set forth in Article VIII not being satisfied or (z) a material
violation of any provision of this Agreement, except as may be required by applicable Law or
regulation.
(h) Governing Documents. Amend its articles of incorporation, bylaws or code of
regulations, which as a direct result of such amendment the holders of ProCentury Common Shares
would be adversely affected.
(i) Commitments. Enter into any contract with respect to, or otherwise agree or
commit to do, any of the foregoing.
ARTICLE VII
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
7.1 Reasonable Best Efforts. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
each of ProCentury, Meadowbrook and Merger Sub agrees to use its reasonable best efforts (subject
to, and in accordance with applicable Law) in good faith to take, or cause to be taken, all
actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or desirable, or advisable
under applicable Laws, so as to permit consummation of the Merger as promptly as practicable and
otherwise to enable consummation of the Merger including the satisfaction of the conditions set
forth in Article VIII, and shall cooperate fully with the other Parties hereto to that end.
7.2 Shareholder Approval.
(a) ProCentury agrees to take, in accordance with applicable Law and its articles of
incorporation and code of regulations, all action necessary to convene as soon as reasonably
practicable a special meeting of its shareholders to consider and vote upon the approval and
adoption of this Agreement, including the Merger, and any other matters required to be approved by
ProCentury’s shareholders for consummation of the Merger (including any adjournment or
postponement, the “ProCentury Shareholder Meeting”). Except with the prior approval of
Meadowbrook, no other matters shall be submitted for the approval of ProCentury shareholders at the
ProCentury Shareholder Meeting, other than the election of directors in the event the Agreement is
not approved and adopted. The board of directors of ProCentury shall at all times prior to and
during such meeting recommend such approval and adoption and shall take all reasonable lawful
action to solicit such approval and adoption by its shareholders; provided that nothing in this
Agreement shall prevent the board of directors of ProCentury from withholding, withdrawing,
amending or modifying its recommendation if the board of directors of ProCentury determines, after
consultation with its outside counsel, that failing to take such action would be reasonably likely
to constitute a breach of its fiduciary duties to the ProCentury shareholders under applicable Law;
provided, further, that Section 7.7 shall govern the withholding, withdrawing, amending or
modifying of such recommendation in the circumstances described therein.
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(b) Meadowbrook agrees to take, in accordance with applicable Law and its articles of
incorporation and bylaws, all action necessary to convene as soon as reasonably
practicable a special meeting of its shareholders to consider and vote upon the issuance of
the Meadowbrook Common Stock contemplated by this Agreement and any other matters required to be
approved by Meadowbrook’s shareholders for consummation of the Merger (including any adjournment or
postponement, the “Meadowbrook Shareholder Meeting”). Except with the prior approval of
ProCentury, no other matters shall be submitted for the approval of Meadowbrook shareholders at the
Meadowbrook Shareholder Meeting, other than matters customarily brought before the Meadowbrook
shareholders at an annual meeting. The board of directors of Meadowbrook shall at all times prior
to and during such meeting recommend such approval and shall take all reasonable lawful action to
solicit such approval by its shareholders; provided that nothing in this Agreement shall prevent
the board of directors of Meadowbrook from withholding, withdrawing, amending or modifying its
recommendation if the board of directors of Meadowbrook determines, after consultation with its
outside counsel, that such action is legally required in order for the directors to comply with
their fiduciary duties to the Meadowbrook shareholders under applicable Law.
7.3 Registration Statement.
(a) Meadowbrook agrees to prepare an S-4 or other applicable registration statement to be
filed by Meadowbrook with the SEC in connection with the issuance of Meadowbrook Common Stock in
the Merger (including the Proxy Statement and other proxy solicitation materials of ProCentury and
Meadowbrook constituting a part thereof and all related documents). ProCentury shall prepare and
furnish such information relating to it and its directors, officers and shareholders as may be
reasonably required in connection with the above referenced documents based on its knowledge of and
access to the information required for said documents, and ProCentury, and its legal, financial and
accounting advisors, shall have the right to review and approve (which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed) the S-4 prior to its filing. ProCentury agrees to cooperate with
Meadowbrook and Merger Sub and Meadowbrook’s and Merger Sub’s counsel and accountants in requesting
and obtaining appropriate opinions, consents and letters from its financial advisor and independent
auditor in connection with the S-4 and the Proxy Statement. Provided that ProCentury has
cooperated as described above, Meadowbrook agrees to file, or cause to be filed, the S-4 with the
SEC as promptly as reasonably practicable. Each of ProCentury, Meadowbrook and Merger Sub agrees
to use its reasonable best efforts to cause the S-4 to be declared effective under the Securities
Act as promptly as reasonably practicable after the filing thereof. Meadowbrook also agrees to use
its reasonable best efforts to obtain all necessary state securities Law or “Blue Sky” permits and
approvals required to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. After the S-4 is
declared effective under the Securities Act, ProCentury and Meadowbrook shall promptly mail the
Proxy Statement to their respective shareholders.
(b) Each of ProCentury and Meadowbrook agrees that none of the information supplied or to be
supplied by it for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i) the S-4 shall, at the time the
S-4 and each amendment or supplement thereto, if any, becomes effective under the Securities Act,
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (ii)
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the Proxy
Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto shall, at the date(s) of mailing to
shareholders and at the time of the ProCentury Shareholder Meeting and the Meadowbrook
Shareholder Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
Each of ProCentury and Meadowbrook further agrees that if such Party shall become aware prior to
the Effective Time of any information furnished by such Party that would cause any of the
statements in the S-4 or the Proxy Statement to be false or misleading with respect to any material
fact, or to omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not false or
misleading, to promptly inform the other Parties thereof and to take the necessary steps to correct
the S-4 or the Proxy Statement.
(c) Meadowbrook agrees to advise ProCentury, promptly after Meadowbrook receives notice
thereof, of the time when the S-4 has become effective or any supplement or amendment has been
filed, of the issuance of any stop order or the suspension of the qualification of Meadowbrook
Common Stock for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or, to the extent
Meadowbrook is aware thereof, threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by
the SEC for the amendment or supplement of the S-4 or for additional information.
7.4 Regulatory Filings.
(a) Each of Meadowbrook, Merger Sub and ProCentury shall cooperate and use their respective
reasonable best efforts to prepare all documentation, to effect all filings and to obtain all
permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of all third parties and Governmental Entities
necessary to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby; and any initial
filings with Governmental Entities shall be made by Meadowbrook and Merger Sub as soon as
reasonably practicable after the execution of this Agreement. Each of Meadowbrook, Merger Sub and
ProCentury shall have the right to review and approve (which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed), and to the extent practicable each shall consult with the other, in each case
subject to applicable Laws relating to the exchange of information, with respect to all written
information submitted to any third party or any Governmental Entity in connection with the Merger.
In exercising the foregoing right, each of such Parties agrees to act reasonably and as promptly as
practicable. Each Party agrees that it shall consult with the other Parties with respect to the
obtaining of all permits, consents, approvals, waivers and authorizations of all third parties and
Governmental Entities necessary or advisable to consummate the Merger, and each Party shall keep
the other Parties apprised of the status of material matters relating to completion of the Merger.
(b) ProCentury and Meadowbrook shall: (i) within twenty (20) business days following the
execution of this Agreement, file the Notification and Report Forms required of it under the HSR
Act relating to the Merger with the United States Department of Justice and the Federal Trade
Commission; (ii) promptly respond to inquiries from the United States Department of Justice and the
Federal Trade Commission or any other governmental agency in connection with such notification;
(iii) request early termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act and (iv) take all other
commercially reasonable actions necessary or appropriate to gain all approvals necessary to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement under the
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HSR Act. Subject to such confidentiality restrictions as may be reasonably requested, each
Party hereto shall coordinate and cooperate with the other Parties in preparing the Notification
and Report Forms, responding to such inquiries and taking all such other actions.
(c) Each of the Parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to: (i) within twenty (20)
business days following the execution of this Agreement, file a Form A (Statement Regarding the
Acquisition of Control of or Merger with a Domestic Insurer) with the Ohio Department of
Insurance, the Texas Department of Insurance and the Washington D.C. Department of Insurance; (ii)
promptly respond to inquiries from the Ohio Department of Insurance, the Texas Department of
Insurance and the Washington D.C. Department of Insurance in connection with such filings or
requests and (iii) take all other commercially reasonable actions necessary or appropriate to
obtain the approval of Governmental Entities necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.
(d) Each Party agrees, upon request, to furnish the other Parties with all information
concerning itself, its Subsidiaries (if applicable), directors, officers and shareholders and such
other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable in connection with any filing, notice or
application made by or on behalf of such other Parties or any of their Subsidiaries (if applicable)
to any third party or Governmental Entity.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any of the Parties be obligated to take
any action, including divesting or holding separate any assets, in order to obtain any consent,
waiver, approval or authorization relating to, or to resolve any objections to the transactions
contemplated hereby, asserted by any Governmental Entity.
(f) Each Party shall promptly inform the other party in advance of any proposed meetings,
discussions or other material communications with the Federal Trade Commission or the United States
Department of Justice or any other Governmental Entity regarding the transactions contemplated
hereby (and as soon as practicable following any communication from any such entity).
(g) Upon any HSR Act filing made in accordance with this Agreement, ProCentury and Meadowbrook
will each pay one-half of all HSR Act filing fees.
7.5 Press Releases. ProCentury, Meadowbrook and Merger Sub shall consult with each
other before issuing any press release with respect to the Merger or this Agreement. Meadowbrook
and ProCentury will issue a joint press release with respect to the Merger or this Agreement as
soon as practicable after this Agreement is fully executed. ProCentury shall not issue any press
release with respect to the Merger or this Agreement or make any such public statements without the
prior written consent of Meadowbrook and Merger Sub, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld; provided, however, that ProCentury may, without the prior consent of Meadowbrook or
Merger Sub (but after consultation with Meadowbrook and Merger Sub, to the extent practicable under
the circumstances), issue such press release or make such public statements as may upon the advice
of outside counsel be required by Law or the rules or regulations of Nasdaq. ProCentury, Merger
Sub and Meadowbrook shall cooperate to develop all public announcement
materials and make appropriate management available at presentations
52
related to the Merger as
reasonably requested by the other Parties.
7.6 Access; Information.
(a) ProCentury agrees that upon reasonable notice and subject to applicable Laws relating to
the exchange of information, it shall afford Meadowbrook and Merger Sub and their officers,
employees, counsel, accountants and other authorized representatives such access during normal
business hours throughout the period prior to the Effective Time to the books, records (including
Tax Returns and work papers of independent auditors), properties and personnel of ProCentury and to
such other information relating to ProCentury as Meadowbrook may reasonably request and, during
such period, it shall furnish promptly to Meadowbrook and Merger Sub all information concerning the
business, properties and personnel of ProCentury as Meadowbrook and Merger Sub may reasonably
request, subject to applicable Law.
(b) Meadowbrook and Merger Sub agree that upon reasonable notice and subject to applicable
Laws relating to the exchange of information, they shall afford ProCentury and its officers,
employees, counsel, accountants and other authorized representatives such access during normal
business hours throughout the period prior to the Effective Time to the books, records (including
Tax Returns and work papers of independent auditors), properties and personnel of Meadowbrook and
Merger Sub and to such other information relating to Meadowbrook and Merger Sub as ProCentury may
reasonably request and, during such period, they shall furnish promptly to ProCentury all
information concerning the business, properties and personnel of Meadowbrook and Merger Sub as
ProCentury may reasonably request, subject to applicable Law.
(c) No investigation by any Party of the business and affairs of any other Party shall affect
or be deemed to modify or waive any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement in this
Agreement, or the conditions to any Party’s obligation to consummate the Merger.
7.7 Acquisition Proposals. ProCentury agrees that it shall not, and that it shall
cause its directors and officers not to, directly or indirectly, initiate, solicit, knowingly
encourage or otherwise knowingly facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal or offer
with respect to a merger, reorganization, share exchange, consolidation or similar transaction
involving ProCentury, or any purchase of all or substantially all of the assets of ProCentury or
more than 20% of the outstanding equity securities of ProCentury (any such proposal or offer being
hereinafter referred to as an “Acquisition Proposal”). ProCentury further agrees that it shall
not, and that it shall cause its directors and officers not to, directly or indirectly, engage in
any negotiations concerning, or provide any confidential information or data to, or have any
discussions with, any Person relating to an Acquisition Proposal, or otherwise knowingly facilitate
any effort or attempt to make or implement an Acquisition Proposal; provided, however, that nothing
contained in this Agreement shall prevent ProCentury or the board of directors of ProCentury from
(A) complying
with its disclosure obligations under federal or state Law; (B) providing information in
response to a request therefor by a Person who has made an unsolicited bona fide written
Acquisition Proposal if the board of directors of ProCentury receives from the Person so requesting
such information an executed confidentiality agreement;
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(C) engaging in any negotiations or
discussions with any Person who has made an unsolicited bona fide written Acquisition Proposal or
(D) recommending such an Acquisition Proposal to the shareholders of ProCentury, if and only to the
extent that, in each such case referred to in clause (B), (C) or (D) above, (i) the ProCentury
board of directors determines in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal counsel)
that failure to take such action would reasonably be expected to result in a violation of its
fiduciary duties under applicable law and (ii) the ProCentury board of directors determines in good
faith (after receipt of advice of its financial advisor) that such Acquisition Proposal, if
accepted, is reasonably likely to be consummated, taking into account all legal, financial and
regulatory aspects of the proposal and the Person making the proposal and could reasonably be
expected, if consummated, to result in a transaction more favorable to ProCentury’s shareholders
from a financial point of view than the Merger. An Acquisition Proposal which is received and
considered by the ProCentury in compliance with this Section 7.7 and which meets the requirements
set forth in clause (D) of the preceding sentence is herein referred to as a “Superior Proposal.”
ProCentury agrees that it will immediately cease and cause to be terminated any existing
activities, discussions or negotiations with any Persons conducted heretofore with respect to any
Acquisition Proposals. ProCentury agrees that it will notify Meadowbrook and Merger Sub if any
such inquiries, proposals or offers are received by, any such information is requested from, or any
such discussions or negotiations are sought to be initiated or continued with, ProCentury or any of
its representatives.
7.8 NYSE Listing. Meadowbrook agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to list,
prior to the Effective Time, on the NYSE the shares of Meadowbrook Common Stock to be issued in
connection with the Merger.
7.9 Benefit Plans.
(a) Meadowbrook shall take all commercially reasonable action so that either contemporaneously
with or as soon as administratively practicable after the Effective Time, employees of ProCentury
and its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time will be eligible to participate in the employee
benefit plans of Meadowbrook on substantially the same terms and conditions of similarly situated
employees of Meadowbrook. Except as provided elsewhere in this Section 7.9(a) and in Section
7.9(b), nothing in this Agreement shall require that Meadowbrook or the Surviving Corporation, as
applicable, continue the ProCentury Plans or shall limit the ability of the Surviving Corporation
to amend or terminate any of ProCentury’s Plans in accordance with their terms at any time. On or
before the Effective Time, if directed in writing to do so by Meadowbrook, ProCentury shall take or
cause to be taken all such action necessary to terminate the Century Surety Company 401(k) Plan
(“Century 401(k) Plan”) and, as soon as reasonably practicable following the effective date of the
termination, file an application for a favorable determination of the qualified status of the
ProCentury 401(k) Plan upon its
termination; provided, however, ProCentury shall not be obligated to take any such requested
action that is irrevocable until immediately prior to the Effective Time. Meadowbrook shall take
such action as is reasonably necessary to permit any outstanding participant loans under the
Century 401(k) Plan of employees of ProCentury and its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time to be
transferred to a 401(k) plan maintained by Meadowbrook or its Subsidiaries (the “Meadowbrook 401(k)
Plan”) prior to the date that such loans would go into a default status under the Century 401(k)
Plan. As soon as reasonably practicable following the termination of
54
the Century 401(k) Plan and
the issuance of a favorable determination letter by the Internal Revenue Service confirming the
qualified status of the Century 401(k) Plan upon its termination, the participants in the Century
401(k) Plan who are employees of the Surviving Corporation or Meadowbrook or its Subsidiaries shall
be eligible to roll over their account balances, including any outstanding participant loans, into
the Meadowbrook 401(k) Plan. All employees of ProCentury and its Subsidiaries shall be eligible to
participate in the Meadowbrook 401(k) Plan as of the Effective Time; provided that such employees
were, immediately prior to the Effective Time, eligible to participate in the Century 401(k) Plan
and had reached their Entry Date (as defined in the Century 401(k) Plan). Employees of ProCentury
and its Subsidiaries who, immediately prior to the Effective Time, had not reached their Entry Date
(as defined in the Century 401(k) Plan), shall be eligible to participate in the Meadowbrook 401(k)
Plan as of their Entry Date (as defined in the Meadowbrook 401(k) Plan), taking into account such
employee’s service with both ProCentury and its Subsidiaries and Meadowbrook and its Subsidiaries.
(b) At and following the Effective Time, Meadowbrook and the Surviving Corporation shall
honor, and the Surviving Corporation shall continue to be obligated to perform, in accordance with
their terms, all contractual rights of current and former employees of ProCentury existing as of
the Effective Time, and all employment, “change-in-control”, deferred compensation and incentive
compensation agreements of ProCentury and its Subsidiaries, in each case, which are Previously
Disclosed.
(c) For purposes of eligibility and vesting (but not for benefit accruals) under the employee
benefit plans of Meadowbrook and its Subsidiaries providing benefits to any employees of ProCentury
and its Subsidiaries after the Effective Time, each such employee shall be credited with his or her
years of service with ProCentury and its Subsidiaries and their respective predecessors before the
Effective Time, to the same extent as such employee was entitled, before the Effective Time, to
credit for such service under any similar ProCentury Plan in which such employee participated or
was eligible to participate immediately prior to the Effective Time; provided that the foregoing
shall not apply to the extent that its application would result in a duplication of benefits with
respect to the same period of service. At such time as employees of ProCentury become eligible to
participate in a medical, dental or health plan of Meadowbrook or its Subsidiaries, Meadowbrook
shall cause each such plan to (i) provide full credit under such plans for any deductibles,
co-payment and out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the employees of ProCentury and their
beneficiaries during the portion of the calendar year prior to such participation as if such
amounts had been paid in accordance with such plan of Meadowbrook or its Subsidiaries and (ii)
waive any waiting period limitation, evidence of insurability or actively-at-work requirement which
would otherwise be applicable to such employee on or after the Effective Time to the extent such
employee had satisfied any similar limitation or requirement under an analogous ProCentury Plan.
The Surviving Corporation shall assume full responsibility for providing COBRA continuation
coverage to current and former
ProCentury employees who are M&A Qualified Beneficiaries as the term is defined in Treas. Reg.
§§ 54.4980B-1 – B-10 until such time as the Surviving Corporation terminates its own health plan or
plans. Nothing in this Section 7.9(c) shall prevent Meadowbrook or the Surviving Corporation from
terminating its group health plan or plans. On or before the Effective Time, if directed in
writing to do so by Meadowbrook, ProCentury shall take or cause to be taken all such
55
action
necessary to terminate some or all of ProCentury’s Plans that are welfare benefit plans; provided,
however, ProCentury shall not be obligated to take any such requested action that is irrevocable
until immediately prior to the Effective Time. All employees of ProCentury and its Subsidiaries
shall be eligible to participate in Meadowbrook’s welfare benefit plans as of the Effective Time.
7.10 Notification of Certain Matters. Each of ProCentury, Merger Sub and Meadowbrook
shall give prompt notice to the other of any fact, event or circumstance known to it that (i) is
reasonably likely, individually or taken together with all other facts, events and circumstances
known to it, to result in any Material Adverse Effect with respect to it and its respective
Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (ii) would cause or constitute a material breach of any of its
representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained herein.
7.11 Indemnification and Insurance.
(a) Meadowbrook shall, and shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, jointly and severally,
honor all of ProCentury’s and its Subsidiaries’ obligations to indemnify (including any obligations
to advance funds for expenses) the current and former directors and officers of ProCentury and its
Subsidiaries (each, an “Indemnified Party”) for acts or omissions by such Indemnified Parties
occurring prior to the Effective Time to the extent that such obligations of ProCentury and such
Subsidiaries exist on the date hereof, whether pursuant to articles of incorporation, code of
regulations, bylaws of ProCentury or its Subsidiaries or pursuant to such indemnity agreements as
are disclosed in Section 7.11 of the ProCentury Disclosure Schedule, and such obligations shall
survive the Merger and shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with the terms
thereof.
(b) Meadowbrook will obtain, fully pay for and maintain for six years A-Side coverage
including Difference in Conditions coverage (“DIC”) drop down, reasonably acceptable to
ProCentury, with a prior and pending/ retroactive date of March 19, 2007 for the DIC coverage and
March 19, 2004 for the main coverage grant, which provides substantially the same amounts and
scope of coverage as are provided under ProCentury’s existing policies; provided, however,
that if the aggregate premium for the foregoing coverage is greater than $1,000,000, such
insurance shall be reduced in scope, amount or duration (at ProCentury’s option) to insurance
coverage the premium for which equals $1,000,000 in the aggregate.
(c) If an Indemnified Party prevails in enforcing the indemnity and other obligations provided
in this Section 7.11, Meadowbrook shall pay all reasonable expenses, including reasonable
attorneys’ fees, incurred by the Indemnified Party in such enforcement.
(d) If Meadowbrook or the Surviving Corporation (A) consolidates with or merges into any other
person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or
merger or (B) transfers all or substantially all of its properties or assets to any person, then,
and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that such continuing or surviving
corporation or entity or transferee of such assets, as the case may be, shall assume the
obligations set forth in this Section 7.11.
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(e) The rights of each Indemnified Party hereunder shall be in addition to and not in
limitation of, any other rights such Indemnified Party may have under the articles of
incorporation, code of regulations, bylaws or other organizational documents of ProCentury or any
of its Subsidiaries or the Surviving Corporation, any other indemnification arrangement, the Ohio
Revised Code or otherwise. The provisions of this Section 7.11 shall survive the consummation of
the Merger and expressly are intended to benefit, and are enforceable by, each of the Indemnified
Parties.
7.12 Financing. Meadowbrook and Merger Sub shall take all action that is necessary so
that at the Effective Time Meadowbrook and Merger Sub have sufficient cash and cash equivalents and
available amounts under then-existing credit facilities to pay the Maximum Cash Consideration and
all related fees and expenses payable by Meadowbrook and Merger Sub in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
7.13 Current Information. During the period from the date of this Agreement to the
Effective Time, each of ProCentury, on the one hand, and Meadowbrook and Merger Sub, on the other
hand, will cause one or more of its designated representatives to notify on a regular and frequent
basis (not less than monthly) representatives of Meadowbrook or ProCentury, as the case may be, and
to report (i) the general status of the ongoing operations of it and its Subsidiaries; and (ii) the
status of, and the action proposed to be taken with respect to, any matters outside the ordinary
course of its and its Subsidiaries’ businesses. Each of ProCentury, on the one hand, and
Meadowbrook and Merger Sub, on the other hand, will promptly notify the other of any material
change in the normal course of business or in the operation of its properties or the properties of
any of its Subsidiaries and all regulatory communications and governmental complaints,
investigations or hearings (or communications indicating that the same may be contemplated), or the
institution or the threat of significant litigation involving itself or any of its Subsidiaries,
and will keep the other fully informed of such events.
7.14 Continuing Directors. Meadowbrook shall take such actions as may be required to
appoint, effective as of the Effective Time, two Persons currently serving on the ProCentury board
of directors (the “ProCentury Directors”), as designated by ProCentury, to the board of directors
of Meadowbrook.
ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
8.1 Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation To Effect the Merger. The respective
obligation of each Party to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent
permitted by applicable Law, written waiver by the Parties at or prior to the Effective Time of
each of the following conditions:
(a) ProCentury Shareholder Approval. This Agreement shall have been adopted at the
ProCentury Shareholder Meeting by the requisite affirmative vote of the holders of at least a
majority of the outstanding ProCentury Common Shares entitled to vote thereon (the “ProCentury
Shareholder Approval”).
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(b) Meadowbrook Shareholder Approval. The issuance of Meadowbrook Common Stock
contemplated by this Agreement shall have been approved by the requisite affirmative vote of at
least a majority of the votes cast (assuming a quorum is present) at the Meadowbrook Shareholder
Meeting (the “Meadowbrook Shareholder Approval”).
(c) NYSE Stock Market Listing. The shares of Meadowbrook Common Stock which shall be
issued to the shareholders of ProCentury upon consummation of the Merger shall have been authorized
for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.
(d) Other Approvals. The following material registrations, filings, applications,
notices, consents, approvals, orders, qualifications and waivers shall have been made, filed, given
or obtained: (i) the approvals of or filings with insurance regulatory authorities under all
applicable Laws regulating the business of insurance, including the filing of a Form A (Statement
Regarding the Acquisition or Change of Control of a Domestic Insurer) with the Ohio Department of
Insurance with respect to Century Surety Company, the Texas Department of Insurance with respect to
ProCentury Insurance Company and the Washington D.C. Department of Insurance with respect to
ProCentury Risk Partners and approval or non-objection of such statements by the applicable
Governmental Entities; and (ii) the filing of a Pre-Merger Notification pursuant to the HSR Act and
the expiration or termination of any waiting period required by the HSR Act, required to be made,
filed, given or obtained with, to or from any Governmental Entity in connection with the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (all such registrations, filings,
applications, notices, consents, approvals, orders, qualifications and waivers being referred to
herein as the “Requisite Regulatory Approvals”).
(e) S-4. The S-4 shall have become effective under the Securities Act and no stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the S-4 shall have been issued and no proceedings for that
purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the SEC.
(f) No Injunctions or Restraints; Illegality. No order, injunction or decree issued
by any court or agency of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition (an
“Injunction”) preventing the consummation of the Merger or any of the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement shall be in effect and no proceeding therefor shall have been
initiated by any Governmental Entity. No statute, rule, regulation, order, injunction or decree
shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any Governmental Entity which
prohibits, restricts or makes illegal consummation of the Merger.
(g) No Burdensome Condition. None of the Requisite Regulatory Approvals shall impose
any term, condition or restriction upon Meadowbrook, ProCentury or any of their respective
Subsidiaries that Meadowbrook, or ProCentury, in good faith, reasonably determines would so
materially adversely affect the economic or business benefits of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement to Meadowbrook or ProCentury as to render inadvisable in the reasonable good faith
judgment of Meadowbrook or ProCentury, the consummation of the Merger (a “Burdensome Condition”).
8.2 Conditions to Obligations of Meadowbrook and Merger Sub. The obligation of
Meadowbrook and Merger Sub to effect the Merger is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver
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by
Meadowbrook and Merger Sub at or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties of ProCentury. The representations and warranties
of ProCentury set forth in this Agreement that are qualified by a “ProCentury Material Adverse
Effect” qualification shall be true and correct in all respects as so qualified as of the Closing
Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent any particular
representations and warranties speak as of a specific earlier date), and the representations and
warranties of ProCentury that are not so qualified, shall be true and correct as of the Closing
Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations and
warranties speak as of an earlier date), subject to such exceptions as do not have, and would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a ProCentury Material Adverse
Effect. Meadowbrook and Merger Sub shall have received a certificate dated as of the Closing Date
signed on behalf of ProCentury by the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of
ProCentury to the foregoing effect.
(b) Performance of Obligations of ProCentury. ProCentury shall have performed in all
material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior
to the Closing Date, and Meadowbrook and Merger Sub shall have received a certificate dated as of
the Closing Date signed on behalf of ProCentury by the chief executive officer and the chief
financial officer of ProCentury to such effect.
(c) Federal Tax Opinion. Meadowbrook shall have received an opinion of Meadowbrook’s
counsel, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Meadowbrook, substantially to the effect
that, on the basis of facts, representations and assumptions set forth in such opinion which are
consistent with the state of facts existing at the Effective Time, the Merger will be treated as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Code. In rendering such opinion,
Meadowbrook’s counsel may require and rely upon representations and covenants, including those
contained in certificates of officers of Meadowbrook, Merger Sub, ProCentury and others, reasonably
satisfactory to such counsel.
(d) Consents. The consents, approvals or waivers listed on Section 8.2(d) of the
ProCentury Disclosure Schedule shall have been obtained.
(e) Other Actions. ProCentury shall have furnished Meadowbrook and Merger Sub with
such certificates of its officers or others and such other documents to evidence
fulfillment of the conditions set forth in Section 8.1 and this Section 8.2 as Meadowbrook may
reasonably request.
8.3 Conditions to Obligations of ProCentury. The obligation of ProCentury to effect
the Merger is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver by ProCentury at or prior to the Effective
Time of the following conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties of Meadowbrook and Merger Sub. The representations
and warranties of Meadowbrook and Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement that are qualified by a
“Meadowbrook Material Adverse Effect” qualification shall be true and correct in all respects as so
qualified as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the
59
Closing Date (except to the extent
any particular representations and warranties speak as of a specific earlier date), and the
representations and warranties of Meadowbrook and Merger Sub that are not so qualified, shall be
true and correct as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the
extent such representations and warranties speak as of an earlier date), subject to such exceptions
as do not have, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Meadowbrook Material Adverse Effect. ProCentury shall have received a certificate dated as of the
Closing Date signed on behalf of Meadowbrook and Merger Sub by the chief executive officer and the
chief financial officer of Meadowbrook and Merger Sub to the foregoing effect.
(b) Performance of Obligations of Meadowbrook and Merger Sub. Meadowbrook and Merger
Sub shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by them
under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, and ProCentury shall have received a
certificate dated as of the Closing Date signed on behalf of Meadowbrook and Merger Sub by the
chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of Meadowbrook and Merger Sub to such
effect.
(c) Deposit of Cash and Stock Consideration. Meadowbrook shall have deposited with
the Exchange Agent the Cash Consideration, the Stock Consideration and the Option Merger
Consideration to be paid to holders of ProCentury Common Shares pursuant to Article III.
(d) Federal Tax Opinion. ProCentury shall have received an opinion of ProCentury’s
counsel, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to ProCentury, substantially to the effect
that, on the basis of facts, representations and assumptions set forth in such opinion which are
consistent with the state of facts existing at the Effective Time, the Merger will be treated as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Code. In rendering such opinion,
ProCentury’s counsel may require and rely upon representations and covenants, including those
contained in certificates of officers of Meadowbrook, Merger Sub, ProCentury and others, reasonably
satisfactory to such counsel.
(e) Consents. The consents, approvals or waivers listed on Section 8.3(e) of the
Meadowbrook Disclosure Schedule shall have been obtained.
(f) Other Actions. Meadowbrook and Merger Sub shall have furnished ProCentury with
such certificates of its officers or others and such other documents to evidence
fulfillment of the conditions set forth in Section 8.1 and this Section 8.3 as ProCentury may
reasonably request.
ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT
TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT
9.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective
Time, whether before or after approval of the matters presented in connection with the Merger by
the shareholders of ProCentury or the shareholders of Meadowbrook:
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(a) Mutual Consent. By mutual consent of ProCentury and Meadowbrook in a written
instrument, if the board of directors of each so determines by a majority vote of the members of
its entire Board;
(b) No Regulatory Approval. By either Meadowbrook or ProCentury upon written notice
to the other Party (i) twenty (20) business days after the date on which any request or application
for a Requisite Regulatory Approval shall have been denied or withdrawn at the request or
recommendation of the Governmental Entity which must grant such Requisite Regulatory Approval,
unless within the twenty (20) business day period following such denial or withdrawal a petition
for rehearing or an amended application has been filed with the applicable Governmental Entity;
provided, however, that no Party shall have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this
Section 9.1(b)(i) if such denial or request or recommendation for withdrawal shall be due to the
failure of the Party seeking to terminate this Agreement to perform or observe the covenants and
agreements of such Party set forth herein; (ii) if any Governmental Entity of competent
jurisdiction shall have issued a final nonappealable order enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (iii) there shall be a
Burdensome Condition upon Meadowbrook, Merger Sub or ProCentury;
(c) Delay. By either Meadowbrook or ProCentury if the Merger shall not have been
consummated on or before September 30, 2008 (the “Drop Dead Date”), unless the failure of the
Closing to occur by such date shall be due to the failure of the Party (including Merger Sub with
respect to a termination by Meadowbrook) seeking to terminate this Agreement to perform or observe
the covenants and agreements of such Party set forth herein; provided, however that if Meadowbrook
or ProCentury determines that additional time is necessary to forestall any action to restrain,
enjoin or prohibit the Merger by any Governmental Entity, the Drop Dead Date may be extended to a
date not later than December 31, 2008;
(d) ProCentury Shareholder Approval. By either Meadowbrook or ProCentury (provided
that if ProCentury is the terminating Party it shall not be in material breach of any of its
obligations under Section 7.2(a)) if any approval of the shareholders of ProCentury required for
the consummation of the Merger shall not have been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the
required vote at the ProCentury Shareholder Meeting;
(e) Meadowbrook Shareholder Approval. By either Meadowbrook or ProCentury (provided
that if Meadowbrook is the terminating Party it shall not be in material
breach of any of its obligations under Section 7.2(b)) if any approval of the shareholders of
Meadowbrook required for the consummation of the Merger and issuance of Meadowbrook Common Stock in
connection therewith shall not have been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the required
vote at the Meadowbrook Shareholder Meeting;
(f) Breach of Representations; Material Adverse Effect. By either Meadowbrook or
ProCentury (provided that the terminating Party (including Merger Sub with respect to a termination
by Meadowbrook) is not then in material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other
agreement contained herein) if there shall have been a breach of any of the representations or
warranties set forth in this Agreement on the part of the other Party
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(including Merger Sub with
respect to a termination by ProCentury), which breach would reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Meadowbrook Material Adverse Effect or ProCentury Material
Adverse Effect;
(g) Breach of Covenants; Material Adverse Effect. By either Meadowbrook or ProCentury
(provided that the terminating Party (including Merger Sub with respect to a termination by
Meadowbrook) is not then in material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other
agreement contained herein) if there shall have been a breach of any of the covenants or agreements
set forth in this Agreement on the part of the other Party (including Merger Sub with respect to a
termination by ProCentury), which breach would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Meadowbrook Material Adverse Effect or ProCentury Material Adverse Effect;
(h) ProCentury Failure to Recommend. By Meadowbrook, if (i) the board of directors of
ProCentury does not recommend in the Proxy Statement that its shareholders adopt this Agreement;
(ii) after recommending in the Proxy Statement that shareholders adopt this Agreement, the board of
directors shall have withdrawn, modified or qualified such recommendation adverse to the interest
of Meadowbrook or (iii) ProCentury fails to call, give proper notice of, convene and hold the
ProCentury Shareholder Meeting;
(i) Meadowbrook Failure to Recommend. By ProCentury, if (i) the board of directors of
Meadowbrook does not recommend in the Proxy Statement that its shareholders adopt this Agreement or
approve the issuance of the Meadowbrook Common Stock in connection with the Merger; (ii) after
recommending in the Proxy Statement that shareholders approve this Agreement or the issuance of the
Meadowbrook Common Stock in connection with the Merger, the board of directors shall have
withdrawn, modified or qualified such recommendation adverse to the interest of ProCentury or (iii)
Meadowbrook fails to call, give proper notice of, convene and hold the Meadowbrook Shareholder
Meeting.
(j) Superior Proposal. At any time prior to the ProCentury Shareholder Meeting, by
ProCentury in order to enter into an acquisition agreement or similar agreement (each, an
“Acquisition Agreement”) with respect to a Superior Proposal which has been received and considered
by ProCentury and the board of directors of ProCentury is in full compliance with all of the
requirements of Section 7.7; provided, however, that this Agreement may be terminated by ProCentury
pursuant to this Section 9.1(j) only after the tenth business day following ProCentury’s provision
of written notice to Meadowbrook advising Meadowbrook that the board of directors of ProCentury is
prepared to accept a Superior Proposal, and only if,
during such ten-business day period, Meadowbrook does not, in its sole discretion, make an
offer to ProCentury that the board of directors of ProCentury determines in good faith, after
consultation with its financial and legal advisors, is at least as favorable as the Superior
Proposal.
(k) Governmental Orders. By either Meadowbrook or ProCentury if a Governmental Entity
shall have issued or entered a judgment, order, injunction or decree or taken any other action
permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the Merger and such
judgment, order, injunction or decree or any other action shall have become final and
non-appealable; provided, that the Party seeking to terminate this
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Agreement pursuant to this
Section 9.1(k) shall have used its reasonable best efforts to have such injunction lifted; or
(l) Certain Tender or Exchange Offers. By Meadowbrook if a tender offer or exchange
offer for 50% or more of the outstanding shares of ProCentury Common Stock is commenced (other than
by Meadowbrook or a Subsidiary thereof), and the ProCentury board of directors recommends that the
shareholders of ProCentury tender their shares in such tender or exchange offer within the
ten-business day period specified in Rule 14e-2(a) under the Exchange Act.
9.2 Effect of Termination.
(a) In the event of termination of this Agreement and the abandonment of the Merger pursuant
to this Article IX, no Party to this Agreement shall have any liability or further obligation to
any other Party hereunder except (i) as set forth in this Section 9.2, Section 10.2 and 10.3, (ii)
that termination will not relieve a breaching Party from liability for any willful breach of any
covenant, agreement, representation or warranty of this Agreement giving rise to such termination
and (iii) that in the event of a termination by ProCentury (so long as ProCentury is not in
material breach of this Agreement), ProCentury shall be entitled to pursue any and all of its
remedies, including on behalf of its shareholders, for any breach by Meadowbrook of Section 5.23 or
Section 7.12.
(b) In recognition of the efforts, expenses and other opportunities foregone by Meadowbrook
while structuring and pursuing the Merger, the Parties agree that ProCentury shall pay to
Meadowbrook a termination fee of $9.5 million (the “Termination Fee”) in the manner set forth below
if:
(i) this Agreement is terminated by Meadowbrook pursuant to Section 9.1(h) or (l); or
(ii) this Agreement is terminated by (A) Meadowbrook pursuant to Section 9.1(c) (but only if
the failure of the Closing to occur by the Drop Dead Date is caused by a material breach of this
Agreement by ProCentury, or (B) either Meadowbrook or ProCentury pursuant to Section 9.1(d) (other
than by reason of any breach by Meadowbrook), and in the case of any termination pursuant to the
clauses set forth in (A) or (B) an Acquisition Proposal shall have been publicly announced or
otherwise communicated or made known to the ProCentury board of directors or any of its members (or
any Person shall have publicly announced, communicated or made known an intention, whether or not
conditional, to make an Acquisition
Proposal) at any time after the date of this Agreement and prior to the taking of the vote of
the shareholders of ProCentury contemplated by this Agreement at the ProCentury Shareholder
Meeting, in the case of clause (B), or the date of termination of this Agreement, in the case of
clause (A); or
(iii) this Agreement is terminated by ProCentury pursuant to Section 9.1(j).
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In the event the Termination Fee shall become payable pursuant to this Section 9.2(b), the
Termination Fee shall be paid within five days following the date of termination of this Agreement.
Any amount that becomes payable pursuant to this Section 9.2(b) shall be paid by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to an account designated by Meadowbrook.
(c) ProCentury and Meadowbrook agree that the agreement contained in Sections 9.2(b) and (c)
hereof is an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, that without such
agreement Meadowbrook would not have entered into this Agreement and that such amounts constitute
liquidated damages, but not a penalty, in the event of a breach of this Agreement by ProCentury. If
ProCentury fails to pay Meadowbrook the amounts due under paragraph (b) above within the time
periods specified therein, ProCentury shall pay the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal
fees and expenses) incurred by Meadowbrook in connection with any action in which Meadowbrook
prevails, including the filing of any lawsuit, taken to collect payment of such amounts, together
with interest on the amount of any such unpaid amounts at the prime lending rate prevailing during
such period as published in The Wall Street Journal, calculated on a daily basis from the date such
amounts were required to be paid until the date of actual payment.
9.3 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, the Parties, by
action taken or authorized by their respective boards of directors, may, to the extent legally
allowed, (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the
other Parties, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the other
Parties contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance with
any of the agreements or conditions of the other Parties contained herein. Any agreement on the
part of a Party to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a written
instrument signed on behalf of such Party, but such extension or waiver or failure to insist on
strict compliance with an obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a
waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.
ARTICLE X
GENERAL PROVISIONS
GENERAL PROVISIONS
10.1 Closing. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the closing of
the Merger (the “Closing”) will take place at 10:00 a.m. on a date to be specified by the Parties,
which shall be the first day which is at least two business days after the satisfaction or waiver
(subject to applicable Law) of the latest to occur of the conditions set forth in Article VIII
(other than such
conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied on the Closing Date) but in no event
earlier than the 11th day following the ProCentury Shareholder Meeting (the “Closing
Date”), at the offices of Meadowbrook’s counsel unless another time, date or place is agreed to in
writing by the Parties.
10.2 Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements. None of the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in this Agreement or in any instrument
delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time (except for those covenants
and agreements contained herein and therein which by their terms apply in whole or in part after
the Effective Time) or the termination of this Agreement if this Agreement is
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terminated prior to
the Effective Time (other than Sections 9.1, 9.2 and this Article X, which shall survive any such
termination). Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, no representations,
warranties, agreements and covenants contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to be terminated
or extinguished so as to deprive any Party or any of their affiliates of any defense at Law or in
equity which otherwise would be available against the claims of any Person.
10.3 Expenses. Except as provided in Section 7.4(g) and as costs and expenses may be
payable pursuant to Section 9.2, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby, including fees and expenses of its own financial
consultants, accountants and counsel shall be paid by the Party incurring such expense; provided,
however, that all filing and other fees paid to the SEC or any other Governmental Entity in
connection with the Merger and other transactions contemplated thereby shall be borne by
Meadowbrook, provided, further, however, that nothing contained herein shall limit any Party’s
rights to recover any liabilities or damages arising out of another Party’s willful breach of any
provision of this Agreement.
10.4 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be deemed given if delivered personally, telecopied (with confirmation), mailed by registered
or certified mail (return receipt requested) or delivered by an express courier (with confirmation)
to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be
specified by like notice):
(a) if to Meadowbrook or Merger Sub, to:
Meadowbrook Insurance Group, Inc.
MBKPC Corp.
00000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
General Counsel, Secretary and Senior Vice President
MBKPC Corp.
00000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
General Counsel, Secretary and Senior Vice President
with a copy to:
Bodman LLP
6th Floor at Ford Field
0000 Xx. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
6th Floor at Ford Field
0000 Xx. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
(b) if to ProCentury, to:
ProCentury Corporation
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer
with a copy to:
Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx LLP
3200 National City Center
0000 Xxxx 0xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
3200 National City Center
0000 Xxxx 0xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
10.5 Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to Sections, Exhibits
or Schedules, such reference shall be to a Section of or Exhibit or Schedule to this Agreement
unless otherwise indicated. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes
only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the
words “include,” “includes” or ‘‘including’’ are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be
followed by the words “without limitation.” The phrases “the date of this Agreement,” “the date
hereof” and terms of similar import, unless the context otherwise requires, shall be deemed to
refer to February 20, 2008.
10.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the documents and the instruments
referred to herein) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof,
other than the Confidentiality Agreement, dated August 30, 2007, between ProCentury and
Meadowbrook.
10.7 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the Laws of the State of Ohio without regard to conflicts-of-law principles that would require
the application of any other Law.
10.8 Enforcement of the Agreement . The Parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the
provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were
otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction
or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and
provisions hereof in any court of the United States or any state having jurisdiction, this being in
addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at Law or in equity.
10.9 Severability. Except to the extent that application of this Section 10.9 would
have a Material Adverse Effect on ProCentury or Meadowbrook and their respective Subsidiaries taken
as a whole, any term or provision of this 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 Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of any of the terms or provisions of
this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. If any provision of this Agreement is so broad as to be
unenforceable, the provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable. In all
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such cases, the Parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to substitute a valid, legal and
enforceable provision which, insofar as practicable, implements the original purposes and intents
of this Agreement.
10.10 Amendment. Subject to compliance with applicable Law, this Agreement may be
amended by the Parties, by action taken or authorized by their respective boards of directors, at
any time before or after adoption of the Agreement by the shareholders of either ProCentury or
Meadowbrook; provided, however, that after adoption of the Agreement by ProCentury’s shareholders,
there may not be, without further approval of such shareholders, any amendment of this Agreement
which reduces the amount or changes the form of the consideration to be delivered to ProCentury
shareholders hereunder other than as contemplated by this Agreement or as otherwise required by
applicable Law. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on
behalf of each of the Parties.
10.11 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or
obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the Parties (whether by operation of Law or
otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other Parties. Subject to the preceding
sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
Parties and their respective successors and assigns.
10.12 Execution of Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original copy of this Agreement and all of
which, when taken together, will be deemed to constitute one and the same agreement. This
Agreement shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been executed by each of the
Parties and delivered to the other Parties. The exchange of copies of this Agreement and of
signature pages by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall constitute effective execution
and delivery of this Agreement as to
the Parties and may be used in lieu of the original Agreement for all purposes. Signatures of
the Parties transmitted by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be deemed to be their
original signatures for all purposes.
10.13 No Third Party Beneficiaries Except as set forth in Section 7.11, nothing in
this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall be construed to confer upon or give any
Person other than the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns, any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under or with respect to this Agreement.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Meadowbrook, Merger Sub and ProCentury have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.
MEADOWBROOK INSURANCE GROUP, INC. | ||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |||||
MBKPC CORP. | ||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||||
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |||||
PROCENTURY CORPORATION | ||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||||
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer |
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