ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND COST SHARING AGREEMENT
Exhibit
10.15
This
Agreement made and entered into this 1st day of January, 2007 by UTG, INC., a
Delaware corporation ("UTG") and UNIVERSAL GUARANTY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, an
Ohio life insurance company ("UG").
WHEREAS,
UG is engaged in the general life insurance business;
WHEREAS,
UG has as one of its primary objectives to operate in the most efficient and
profitable manner;
WHEREAS,
UTG, through its officers, agents and employees, has extensive experience and
expertise in acquiring, managing and operating corporations and other business
entities engaged in the general life insurance business as well as other
financial and investment activities; and has been successful in reducing the
general expenses of such businesses;
WHEREAS,
UG desires that the experience, expertise, sources of information, advice,
counseling and assistance of UTG and its officers and employees be available to
UG in the future, and to have UTG undertake certain duties and responsibilities
and perform certain services on behalf of UG, subject to the supervision of the
Board of Directors of UG, as provided herein; and,
WHEREAS,
UTG is willing to undertake to render such services for UG, subject to the
supervision of the Board of Directors of UG, on the terms and conditions herein
set forth;
WHEREAS,
UG is a direct subsidiary and member of the same holding company structure of
UTG.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein
contained, it is mutually agreed between the parties as follows:
1.
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Services
of UTG. During the terms of this Agreement, UTG shall consult with the
Board of Directors and executive officers of UG in connection with all
management and policy decisions to be made by such Board of Directors and
executive officers with respect to the management, operations, insurance
programs, and acquisition programs of UG. UTG shall, in conformity with
such directives of the Board of Directors of UG, perform and render at
UTG's expense (except as otherwise provided herein) all of the services
necessary for UG to carry on all of the business of UG that is currently
being conducted including, but not by way of
limitation.
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a.
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provide
data processing services necessary to process and administer all of the
insurance business in force of UG;
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b.
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provide
all services and perform all functions necessary to meet regulatory
requirements, including, but not by way of limitation, requirements of
state insurance departments and requirements of the Internal Revenue
Service;
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c.
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provide
all services and perform all functions necessary to process the existing
investment portfolio and any addition to or deletion from that portfolio
mandated by the Board of Directors of UG;
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d.
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investigate,
evaluate and assist in the selection of and participate in consultations
and negotiations with accountants, lenders, attorneys, brokers, actuaries,
underwriters, corporate fiduciaries, escrow agents, depositories,
custodians, banks and other persons acting in any other capacity deemed by
the Board of Directors of UG necessary or appropriate;
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e.
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advise,
consult and negotiate with respect to purchases, sales, mergers,
reorganizations and other acquisitions or dispositions of assets by
UG;
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f.
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act
as attorney-in-fact or agent in purchase, sales, mergers, reorganizations
and other acquisitions or disposition of assets by UG;
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g.
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advise
and consult in the agency operations of UG including, but not limited to,
the design of insurance products to be offered to the public, the
structuring of sales programs, conservation programs and training programs
and the establishment of commission rate schedules payable to agents and
agencies;
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h.
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perform,
advise, consult or assist in the performance of such administrative and
management functions necessary or appropriate in the management of UG as
may be agreed upon by UTG and the Board of Directors of
UG;
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i.
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advise
and consult with respect to the capital and debt structure of
UG;
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j.
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advise,
consult and negotiate with respect to any financings by UG either on a
public or private basis;
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k.
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advise
and consult with respect to proceedings and hearings held and conducted by
regulatory agencies, including, but not limited to, insurance regulatory
hearings or proceedings; and
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l.
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attend,
if required, meetings of the Board of Directors of UG.
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2.
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Information
to UTG. UG shall, at all times, keep UTG fully informed with regard to (i)
the operations of UG, (ii) the investments and assets owned by UG, (iii)
the funds of UG available or to become available for investment, and (iv)
generally as to the condition of the affairs of UG. In particular, UG
shall notify UTG promptly of any material purchase, sale or other
acquisition or disposition of assets by UG. UG shall furnish UTG with a
copy of all financial statements of UG, a copy of each report prepared by
certified public accountants, and such other information with regard to
the affairs of UG as UTG may, from time to time, reasonably
request.
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3.
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Officers
and Employees. Officers and employees of UTG shall serve, if elected, as
directors, officers and members of committees of UG.
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Fees.
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a.
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Fees. As
consideration for providing services under this Agreement UG agrees to pay
UTG, a fee equal to UG’s pro rata share of the costs incurred by UTG to
provide such services including but not limited to all personnel costs and
taxes, costs to maintain UTG as a corporation in good standing and
interest costs on borrowings of UTG.
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b.
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Accountings. UG
shall advance to UTG on a monthly basis, the projected estimated share of
expenses allocable to UG. Not less than quarterly, UTG shall
provide on accounting of the actual expenses allocable to
UG. Said accounting shall be in such detail and be accompanied
by substantive documentation satisfactory to UG. Any balance
due to or from the other party as a result of the actual accounting shall
be settled within 90 (ninety) days.
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c.
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Allocation. UG
shall be responsible for the reimbursement of its pro rata share of the
above described costs to UTG based on; UG’s percentage of the total amount
of all life insurance subsidiaries of UTG using the following formula, the
actual number of direct policies in force by policy type multiplied by the
standard base TPA pricing per policy as used from time to time by UTG and
its affiliates with outside third parties. Said formula and
resulting percentage allocations shall be updated as UTG deems reasonable
but in no event not less than annually.
The
costs shall be apportioned in accordance with SSAP No. 70, “Allocation of
Expenses.” The books, accounts and records shall be so
maintained as to clearly and accurately disclose the nature and details of
the transactions including such accounting information as is necessary to
support the expenses apportioned to the respective
parties.
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d.
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The
monthly fee to be paid to UTG by UG shall be reduced by any and all
amounts paid directly by UG for services which are to be provided by
UTG.
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e.
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In
addition to the above fees, UG shall reimburse UTG or pay directly for
expenses related to:
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i.
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mergers,
acquisitions of new companies, or internal ownership
restructuring;
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ii.
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changes
in the products being offered for sale;
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iii.
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changes
in the manner of soliciting new business, such as using direct mail or
other forms of advertising;
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iv.
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the
moving of administrative offices, such as travel, severance pay, movers,
prepayment of existing leases and the like; and
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v.
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Legal
fees of outside counsel related specifically to UG.
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vi.
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Third
party administrative services provided by UG. It is agreed such
expense reimbursement shall be equal to 75% of the gross revenue received
by UG for such services.
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5.
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Expenses.
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UG
hereby agrees that it shall be solely responsible for its expenses
of:
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a.
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interest
and other costs for borrowed money;
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b.
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taxes,
licenses and fees;
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c.
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commissions
of every kind;
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d.
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all
policy benefits;
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e.
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all
expenses and costs relating to its investment
activities;
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f.
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all
income taxes; and
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g.
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any
other expenses not relating to insurance operations.
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6.
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Facilities
and Staff. UTG shall provide its officers and employees with adequate
office space and adequate office equipment and other furniture, and
clerical and secretarial personnel for the performance of the services
provided for hereunder, and assume the expenses of
same.
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7.
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Responsibility
of UTG. UTG shall be responsible to render the services provided for
herein in good faith and in a reasonably competent manner. UTG shall use
its best efforts to keep itself informed as to the business and affairs of
UG. UTG shall keep accurate records of all transactions handled for UG and
make those records available at all times to UG. UTG shall use its best
efforts to maintain the confidentiality of all matters relating to the
business of UG. UTG shall indemnify and hold harmless UG from any loss,
liability or expense occasioned by UTG's failure to perform its
obligations hereunder, provided, however, that neither UTG nor any of its
officers, directors or employees shall be liable to UG or any third person
hereunder unless UTG is guilty of bad faith, willful misfeasance or gross
negligence. It is expressly understood and agreed that UTG and UG are not
partners or joint venturers and nothing herein shall be construed so as to
make them partners or joint venturers or impose any liability as such on
either of them. The relationship between UTG and UG shall be that of
independent contractors.
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8.
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Freedom
of Activity. Nothing in this Agreement shall otherwise limit or restrict
the right of UTG or any officer or employee of UTG to engage in any other
business or to render services of any kind to any other corporation, firm,
individual or association.
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9.
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Term.
This agreement shall remain in full force and effect for a period of 24
months from the date hereof and may not be terminated by any party during
said term except as otherwise provided herein. Upon the expiration of the
term of this Agreement, it shall remain in full force and effect from
month to month unless terminated by any party, upon ninety (90) days'
prior written notice.
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10.
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Nonassignability.
This agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of any
assignment hereof by UTG. An assignment by UTG to a corporation or other
entity that is a successor to UTG shall not be deemed an assignment for
purposes hereof. This Agreement shall not be assignable by UG without the
consent of UTG, except in the case of an assignment by UG to a corporation
or other entity that is a successor, in which event such other corporation
or entity shall be bound hereunder and by the terms of such assignment in
the same manner as UG is bound hereunder.
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11.
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Termination.
This Agreement shall be and become terminated immediately upon written
notice of termination from UG to UTG if any of the following events shall
occur.
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a.
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UTG
shall violate any provisions of this Agreement and shall fail to cure such
default within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice of such
violation; or
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b.
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Without
consent of UG, UTG shall be adjudged bankrupt or insolvent by a court of
competent jurisdiction, or an order shall be made by a court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator or trustee of
UTG, or of all or substantially all of its property by reason of the
foregoing, or approving any petition filed against UTG for its
reorganization, and such adjudication or order shall remain in force or
unstayed for a period of ninety (90) days; or
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c.
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UTG
shall institute proceedings of voluntary bankruptcy, or shall file a
petition seeking reorganization under the federal bankruptcy laws, or for
relief under any law for the relief of debtor, or shall consent to the
appointment of a receiver of UTG or of all or substantially all of its
property, or shall make a general assignment for the benefits of its
creditor, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts
generally as they become due.
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If
any of the events specified in subparagraphs (b) and (c) of this Section
11 shall occur, UTG shall give written notice thereof to UG within fifteen
(15) days after the happening of such event.
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12.
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Disclosure
of Information. UTG agrees all information communicated to it
by or on behalf of UG while this Agreement is in force shall be used by
UTG only for the purposes of this Agreement and during the term of this
Agreement, and thereafter. UTG will not disclose such
information to any person who is not a Director, Officer, employee or
agent of UG or of any of its affiliated companies, except to the extent
such disclosure is directly or indirectly related to the performance of
this Agreement or is otherwise required by any applicable law, rule or
regulation.
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13.
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Records
and Reports. Except as provided herein, all forms, records,
statements, reports, files and other data and information prepared,
maintained or collected by UTG in the performance of this Agreement shall
become the sole property of UG and shall be furnished to UG upon
request.
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14.
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Inspection
of Books and Records. UTG shall keep proper books of account
and records relating to the services performed hereunder in which full and
correct entries will be made. UG or its designated agents
shall, upon ten (10) days prior written notice to UTG have the right to
inspect the books and records of UTG at the offices of UTG in which said
books and records are maintained during normal business hours for any
purpose related to administration performance of this Agreement or the
collection and determination of the fees required to be paid by UG to UTG
under this Agreement.
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15.
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Performance.
The failure of either party to insist upon strict performance of any
provision of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of the right to
insist upon strict performance or the obligation to strictly perform
thereafter.
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16.
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Notices.
Any notice, report or other communication required or permitted to be
given hereunder shall be in writing and shall, unless some other method of
giving such notice, report or other communication is accepted by the party
to whom it is given, be given by being mailed by certified mail, postage
prepaid, to the following address of the parties
thereto:
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If
to UTG:
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UTG,
Inc
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Attn: Corporate
Secretary
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X.X.
Xxx 0000
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Xxxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
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If
to UG:
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Universal
Guaranty Life Insurance Company
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Attn: Corporate
Secretary
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X.X.
Xxx 0000
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Xxxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
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Any
party may, at any time, give written notice to the other parties, changing
its address for the purposes of this Section 16.
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17.
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Entire
Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties
hereto and supersedes all prior agreements of the parties with respect to
the subject matter contained herein.
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18.
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Modification. This
Agreement shall not be amended, changed, modified, terminated or
discharged, in whole or in part, except by an instrument, in writing, duly
executed by all parties hereto or their respective successors or
assigns.
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19.
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Binding
Effect. This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and any successors of the parties hereto.
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20.
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Applicable
Law. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted
in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware as at the time in
effect.
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21.
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Severability.
If any provisions of this Agreement shall be found to be invalid by any
court or competent jurisdiction, such findings shall not affect the
remaining provisions of this Agreement and all other provisions herein
shall remain in full force and effect.
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22.
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Titles
Not to Affect Interpretation. The titles of paragraphs and subparagraphs
contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only
and neither form a part of this Agreement nor are they to be used in the
construction or interpretation hereof.
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their officers thereunto duly authorized as of the day and
year first above written.
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UTG,
INC
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Universal
Guaranty Life Insurance Company
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxx
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxx
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Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
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Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
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President
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President
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Attest:
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Attest:
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/s/ Xxxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxx
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/s/ Xxxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxx
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Xxxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
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Xxxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
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Secretary
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Secretary
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