Nicor Inc.
Form 10-Q
Exhibit 10.2
AGREEMENT AND MUTUAL RELEASE
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This Agreement and Mutual Release ("Agreement") is entered into as of
April 23, 2004 by and among the following parties (the "Parties"): (1) [***]
(collectively [***] or "Insurer"); (2) Nicor Inc. ("Nicor"); and (3) the
following Nicor-related individuals: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx; Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx X. Xxxx, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx, Xxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx, III, Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxx, and Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx ("Nicor
Individuals") (collectively with Nicor, the "Insureds").
WHEREAS, [***] issued to Nicor the Directors and Officers Liability
Insurance Policy No. [***] (the "Policy") for the period November 1, 2000 to
November 1, 2003 (the "Policy Period");
WHEREAS, various claims, lawsuits, and proceedings, including without
limitation those matters identified in Exhibit A to this Agreement (collectively
the "Proceedings"), have been made or brought against the Insureds, for which
the Insureds seek coverage from [***] under the Policy;
WHEREAS, [***] has raised certain coverage issues and defenses under the
Policy with respect to the Proceedings and has otherwise reserved all of its
rights and defenses under the Policy and available at law;
WHEREAS, the Insureds have disputed the coverage issues and defenses
raised by [***];
WHEREAS, the Insureds have incurred, are incurring, and will incur in the
future certain costs, fees, and expenses in defending and settling the
Proceedings, and have demanded reimbursement from [***] under the Policy for
Loss incurred in connection with the Proceedings;
WHEREAS, the Parties desire to compromise, settle and resolve all current
and future disputes, claims, actions, suits, demands, and causes of action for
coverage under the Policy, including, but not limited to, those relating to the
Proceedings.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants
contained herein, [***] and the Insureds (collectively, the "Parties") agree as
follows:
1. On or before May 11, 2004, [***] shall pay the sum of twenty-nine
million dollars ($29,000,000) into an account ("Account") designated by the
Insureds. At least three (3) business days prior to [***]' payment into the
Account, the Insureds shall provide [***] with standard wire transfer
instructions for such payment. The Parties stipulate and agree that [***]'
payment of the $29,000,000 into the Account shall exhaust the limits of
coverage available under the Policy.
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*** Certain information on this page has been omitted and filed separately with
the Commission. Confidential treatment has been requested with respect to
the omitted portions.
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2. Upon [***]' payment of the funds set forth in Paragraph 1 above, the
Insureds, on their own behalf and on behalf of their subsidiaries, affiliates,
shareholders and all of their respective agents, representatives, attorneys,
successors, predecessors, owners, assigns, executors, administrators,
principals, directors, officers, employees, insurers and reinsurers ("Insured
Parties"), hereby release and forever discharge [***], its subsidiaries,
affiliates, shareholders and all of their respective agents, representatives,
attorneys, successors, predecessors, owners, assigns, executors, administrators,
principals, directors, officers, employees, insurers and reinsurers ("Insurer
Parties") from any and all actual or potential actions, causes of action, suits,
claims for sums of money, contracts, controversies, agreements, costs,
attorneys' fees, expenses, damages, judgments and demands whatsoever in law or
in equity, known or unknown, now existing or hereafter arising, whether
contractual, extra-contractual, in tort or otherwise, which the Insured Parties
had, have, or may have in the future against the Insurer Parties arising out of
or under the Policy, including without limitation any and all actual or
potential actions, causes of action, suits, claims for sums of money, contracts,
controversies, agreements, costs, attorneys' fees, expenses, damages, judgments
and demands whatsoever in law or in equity, known or unknown, now existing or
hereafter arising, whether contractual, extra-contractual, in tort or otherwise,
arising out of or under the Proceedings, and including but not limited to any
action, proceeding or claim arising from [***]' investigation, evaluation,
handling or settlement of the Proceedings or alleging any "bad faith" or breach
of any promise, oral or written, or breach of any duty grounded in law or in
contract relating thereto, with the exception of those obligations expressly
agreed to and imposed by this Agreement.
3. Upon [***]' payment of the funds set forth in Paragraph 1 above, the
Insurer Parties hereby release and forever discharge the Insured Parties from
any and all actual or potential actions, causes of action, suits, claims for
sums of money, contracts, controversies, agreements, costs, attorneys' fees,
expenses, damages, judgments and demands whatsoever in law or in equity, known
or unknown, now existing or hereafter arising, whether contractual,
extra-contractual, in tort or otherwise, which the Insurer Parties had, have,
or may have in the future against the Insured Parties arising out of or under
the Policy or the Proceedings, including without limitation any premium, loss
adjustment, deductible, self-insured retention, or individual experience
retrospective rating charges or expenses, be it contractual, statutory, in tort,
or otherwise, with the exception of those obligations expressly agreed to and
imposed by this Agreement. The Insurer Parties agree to assert no Claim for
subrogation against the Insured Parties or any other Person arising out of
[***]' payment hereunder, and agree that they are not entitled to any part of
any judgment that may be entered in favor of the Insured Parties and against
any other party against whom the Insured Parties have a claim arising out of
the matters settled under this Agreement.
4. Upon [***]' payment of the funds set forth in Paragraph 1, Nicor agrees
to indemnify, hold harmless, and defend the Insurer Parties, up to the amount of
the settlement payment set forth in Paragraph 1, from and against any and all
claims or other matters, including any third-party claim of any kind, whether
now pending or which might be asserted in the future, released by the Insured
Parties pursuant to Paragraph 2 of this Agreement. In the event litigation
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*** Certain information on this page has been omitted and filed separately with
the Commission. Confidential treatment has been requested with respect to
the omitted portions.
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is initiated against the Insurer Parties with respect to such
matters, [***] promptly shall send written notice to: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx.,
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel, Nicor Inc., 0000 Xxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000. The Insurer Parties shall select counsel to
defend its interests in such litigation subject to Nicor's consent which
shall not be withheld unreasonably.
5. This Agreement represents a compromise of disputed claims, and payment
hereunder shall not to be construed as an admission of liability by the Parties
nor of coverage on the part of the Insurer Parties.
6. Each of the Parties acknowledges that it may have sustained or may in
the future sustain damages, losses, fees, costs, or expenses that are presently
unknown and unsuspected, and that are otherwise subject to the releases in
Paragraphs 2 and 3 above. Nevertheless, each of the Parties acknowledges that
(i) this Agreement has been negotiated and agreed upon in light of such possible
damages, losses, fees, costs and expenses, and is intended to apply thereto and
(ii) each of the Parties expressly waives any and all rights that may be
available against another Party under any statute, rule, regulation, or common
law with respect thereto.
7. The Parties represent and warrant that there has been no, and agree
that there will be no, assignment or other transfer of any interest in any claim
which they release and discharge pursuant to this Agreement.
8. The Parties agree and acknowledge that this Agreement constitutes the
entire agreement among the Parties regarding the settlement and release of the
matters specified herein and that this Agreement shall not be altered, amended,
modified, or otherwise changed in any respect whatsoever except by a duly
executed writing signed by all of the Parties.
9. This Agreement shall not be construed in favor of any particular Party
but shall be construed as if it were drafted by all Parties to the Agreement.
10. In the event any of the provisions of this Agreement are deemed to be
invalid and unenforceable, those provisions shall be severed from the remainder
of this Agreement only if and to the extent agreed upon by the Parties.
11. Each Party to this Agreement understands, acknowledges and agrees that
if any fact now believed to be true is found hereafter to be other than, or
different from, that which is now believed, each Party expressly assumes the
risk of such difference in fact and agrees that this Agreement shall and will
remain effective notwithstanding any such difference in fact.
12. The Parties agree that Illinois law shall govern the interpretation and
enforcement of this Agreement.
13. The Parties hereby acknowledge that they have been represented and
advised by counsel in connection with the execution of this Agreement.
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*** Certain information on this page has been omitted and filed separately with
the Commission. Confidential treatment has been requested with respect to
the omitted portions.
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14. The Parties agree that this Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, and in both original form and one or more photocopies, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which shall be deemed to be
and constitute one and the same instrument.
15. This Agreement may be executed on behalf of any Party by the Party's
attorney with the same force and effect as if the Party had personally executed
the Agreement. Each person signing this Agreement warrants and represents that
he or she has read this Agreement and has the necessary authority to execute the
Agreement individually and on behalf of his or her respective principals, if
any. Nothing in this Agreement shall release, discharge, limit or restrict in
any way any rights, obligations, claims or duties of any person or entity if and
to the extent a Party is not legally authorized to act on behalf of such person
or entity with respect to this Agreement.
16. This Agreement and its terms and conditions shall be treated hereafter
by all Parties as confidential, except as and only to the extent required to
comply with applicable law, a court order or to enforce this Agreement. This
Paragraph shall not limit or restrict the Insurer from communicating the
existence and contents of this Agreement to its reinsurers or regulators as
required to conduct the Insurer's business, nor shall this Paragraph limit or
restrict the Insureds from (a) disclosing or communicating the existence and
amount of the settlement payment made pursuant to this Agreement, provided that
any public disclosure made by the Insureds shall not expressly identify or refer
to [***], or (b) disclosing or communicating the existence and contents of this
Agreement to any insurer providing coverage excess of the Policy.
CAUTION: THIS AGREEMENT INCLUDES A RELEASE OF YOUR RIGHTS. READ THE
AGREEMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the authorized counsel for the Insureds and for [***]
execute this Agreement on behalf of their principals.
[***]
By: /s/ Xxx X. Xxxxxx
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Date: 4-27-04 Title: Counsel
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Nicor Inc.
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Date: 4/23/04 Title: President
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*** Certain information on this page has been omitted and filed separately with
the Commission. Confidential treatment has been requested with respect to
the omitted portions.
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Nicor Individuals
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Date: 4/23/04 On behalf of: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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By: /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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Date: 4/23/04 On behalf of: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Date: 4/23/04 On behalf of: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X Xxxx
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Date: 4/23/04 On behalf of: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
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By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Date: 4/23/04 On behalf of: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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By: /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx
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Date: 4/23/04 On behalf of: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx
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By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, III
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Date: 4/23/04 On behalf of: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, III
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By: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Date: 4/23/04 On behalf of: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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By: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Date: 4/23/04 On behalf of: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx
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Date: 4/23/04 On behalf of: Xxxx X. Xxxxx
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By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Date: 4/23/04 On behalf of: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Date: 4/23/04 On behalf of: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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By: /s/ Xxxx Xxx
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Date: 4/23/04 On behalf of: Xxxx Xxx
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By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Date: April 22, 2004 On behalf of: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Exhibit A to Mutual Release and Agreement
Nicor, Inc. Proceedings
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1. Xxxx Xxxxxx, et al. v Nicor, Inc., et al., Case Xx. 00X-0000, Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx of Illinois (also known as In
Re Nicor, Inc. Securities Litigation);
2. In Re Nicor, Inc. Shareholder Derivative Litigation, Case No. 02
CH 15499, Circuit court of Xxxx County, Illinois;
3. Xxxxxxx Xxxxx v. Nicor Energy Services Company d/b/a Nicor Services,
et al., Case Xx. 00 XX 00000, Xxxxxxx Xxxxx xx Xxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx;
4. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx v. Northern Illinois Gas Company d/b/a Nicor Gas
Company and Nicor, Inc., Case Xx. 00 XX 00000, Xxxxxxx Xxxxx xx
Xxxx Xxxxxx;
5. Illinois Commerce Commission v. Northern Illinois Gas Company,
Docket Nos. 01-0705, 02-0067, 02-0725, Illinois Commerce
Commission;
6. In the Matter of Nicor, Inc., Matter No. MC-3652 (U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission);
7. Grand Jury Investigation convened in the Northern District of
Illinois; and
8. Investigation by the United States District Attorney for the
Northern District of Illinois.
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