RENEWAL RIGHTS AND ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Confidential
Treatment Requested
Under
17
C.F.R. Sections 200.80(B)(4),
200.83
and 230.406
This
RENEWAL RIGHTS AND ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”),
dated
as of May __, 2006 (the “Effective
Date”),
is
entered into by and between Muirfield
Underwriters, Ltd., a Delaware corporation (the “Seller”)
and
AmTrust North America, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Purchaser”).
RECITALS:
WHEREAS,
the Seller desires to sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser desires to
acquire from the Seller, the Subject Business, including the right to renew
the
Insurance Contracts and all assets required to conduct the Subject Business;
and
WHEREAS,
since the Purchaser has required Aon Group, Inc., the corporate parent of the
Seller, to execute a certain Guaranty, which is attached to this Agreement
as
Exhibit B, Aon Group will be required to receive certain notifications of events
bearing on the status of the transaction provided for in this Agreement, as
more
fully set forth herein; and
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual promises
and covenants set forth herein, and in reliance upon the representations,
warranties, conditions and covenants contained herein, and intending to be
legally bound hereby and thereby, the parties hereto do hereby agree as
follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
1.1. Definitions.
The
following terms, when used in this Agreement, have the meanings set forth in
this Section 1.1.
“Affiliate”
of
any
Person means another Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled
by, or is under common control with, such first Person, where “control”
means
the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management policies of a Person, whether through the ownership
of voting securities, by contract, as trustee or executor, or
otherwise.
“Ancillary
Agreements”
means
the (i) the Xxxx of Sale and General Assignment Agreement, (ii) the Guaranty
Agreement and (iii) the Sublease Agreement(s) for the offices in Des Moines,
Iowa, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Peoria, Illinois.
“Applicable
Law”
means
any applicable order, law, statute, regulation, rule, pronouncement, ordinance,
bulletin, writ, injunction, directive, judgment, decree, principle of common
law, constitution or treaty enacted, promulgated, issued, enforced or entered
by
any Governmental Authority applicable to the parties hereto, or any of their
respective businesses, properties or assets.
“Base
Compensation”
means
a
Transferred Employee’s annual salary, exclusive of any “Success Bonus”, “Stay
Bonus” or other bonuses, as of April 1, 2006.
“Xxxx
of Sale and General Assignment Agreement”
means
the Xxxx of Sale and General Assignment Agreement in the form annexed as
Exhibit
A.
“Books
and Records”
means
originals or copies of all the Seller’s administrative records, claim records,
policy forms and files owned by the Seller, sales records and files, customer
lists, Producer lists, policy information and underwriting records (in whatever
form maintained, including computer generated, recording or stored) owned by
Seller relating to the Subject Business.
“Business
Day”
means
any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions
in
the State of New York are permitted or obligated by Applicable Law to be closed
for regular banking business.
“Closing”
and
“Closing
Date”
have
the respective meanings set forth in Section 2.1.
“Code”
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated
thereunder.
“Covered
Insurance Policies”
has
the
meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.5.
“Covered
Premium”
means
all Gross Written Premium collected by or on behalf of the Purchaser, any of
the
Purchaser’s Affiliates, on or with respect to the Covered Insurance Policies,
including any premium developed by audits for policies written during the
Renewal Period or retro or Variable Ratio Plan (“VRP”) adjustments, no matter
when such audits or adjustments occur.
“Damages”
has
the
meaning ascribed to it in Section 12.2(a).
“Employee
Group”
has
the
meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.1
“ERISA”
means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Governmental
Authority”
means
any foreign, domestic, federal, territorial, state or local U.S. or non-U.S.
governmental authority, quasi-governmental authority, instrumentality, court
or
government, self-regulatory organization, commission, tribunal or organization
or any political or other subdivision, department, branch or representative
of
any of the foregoing.
2
“Gross
Written Premium”
means
any and all amounts charged to a Policyholder or other Person on or with respect
to a Covered Insurance Policy that are required to be reported as premium on
the
statutory financial statement of the Purchaser or its Insurer Affiliates, as
the
case may be, in accordance with Applicable Law, exclusive of any surcharges,
however described, that are billed on behalf of, and the extent remitted to,
any
Governmental Authority, less any such amounts returned for cancellation of
any
such Covered Insurance Policy.
“Guaranty”
means
the Guaranty in the form annexed as Exhibit
B
by which
Seller’s parent, Aon Group, Inc., guarantees all of Seller’s obligations under
this Agreement.
“Indemnified
Party”
has
the
meaning ascribed to it in Section 12.3(a).
“Indemnifying
Party”
has
the
meaning ascribed to it in Section 12.3(a).
“Insurance
Contracts”
means
all insurance contracts, policies, certificates, binders, slips, covers or
other
agreements of insurance, including all supplements, riders, endorsements,
renewals and extensions produced by the Seller in connection with the Subject
Business, including those identified on Schedule
1.1,
that
are in-force as of the Closing Date.
“Insurer
Affiliate”
as
to
the Seller or the
Purchaser, means an Affiliate of such Person that is a duly licensed, eligible
or otherwise authorized insurance company.
“Knowledge
of the Seller”
means
the actual knowledge or the knowledge that a director or officer of the Seller
should reasonably be expected to discover or otherwise become aware of in the
course of his or her responsibilities as a director or officer of the
Seller.
“Liability”
or
“Liabilities”
means
a
liability, obligation, commitment, expense, claim or cause of action (of any
kind or nature whatsoever, whether absolute, accrued, contingent or other,
and
whether known or unknown).
“Lien”
shall
mean any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, lien (statutory or
otherwise), preference, priority, charge or other encumbrance, charge, adverse
claim (whether pending or, to the knowledge of the Person against whom the
adverse claim is being asserted, threatened) or restriction of any kind
affecting title or resulting in an encumbrance against property, real or
personal, tangible or intangible, or a security interest of any kind, including,
without limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement,
any
right of first refusal, any lease in the nature thereof, and any filing of
or
agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code
(or
equivalent statute) of any jurisdiction (other than a financing statement which
is filed or given solely to protect the interest of a lessor).
“Litigation”
means
any action, cause of action (whether at law or in equity), arbitration, claim
or
complaint by any Person alleging potential liability, wrongdoing or misdeed
of
another Person, or any administrative or other similar proceeding, criminal
prosecution or investigation by any Governmental Authority alleging potential
liability, wrongdoing or misdeed of another Person.
3
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means
a
material adverse effect on the ability of the Purchaser to renew, or write
new
insurance policies with respect to, the Subject Business, taken as a whole;
provided,
however,
that
the following shall be excluded from the definition of “Material Adverse Effect”
and from any determination as to whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred
or may occur: (i) the effects of changes affecting the economy and securities
markets generally; (ii) the effects of changes affecting the insurance,
reinsurance and financial services industries generally; (iii) any changes
in
laws, regulations, accounting or actuarial principles, or regulations or
policies of general applicability; (iv) any changes in general economic,
regulatory, or political conditions; (v)
any
changes
resulting from actions or omissions of a party hereto taken with the prior
written consent of the other parties with respect to this Agreement or the
Ancillary Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby; and
(vi) any change that is brought about by compliance by either party with
applicable local law.
“Non-Transferred
Employees”
has
the
meaning
ascribed
to it in Section 7.1.
“Offer
of Employment”
has
the
meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.1.
“Permitted
Liens”
mean
(i) Liens securing the payment of Taxes, either not yet due and payable or
the
validity of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;
(ii) reservations, exceptions, encroachments, easements, rights-of-way,
covenants, conditions, restrictions, leases and other title exceptions and
encumbrances affecting real property which do not materially affect the
property, or the intended use of the property, secured thereby; and (iii) Liens
of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen, and landlords incurred in
the
ordinary course of business for sums not overdue or being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings.
“Person”
means
an individual, corporation, partnership, association, joint stock company,
limited liability company, Governmental Authority, trust joint venture, labor
union, estate, unincorporated organization or other entity.
“Policyholders”
means
policyholders and named insureds of the Insurance Contracts.
“Producers”
means
(i) the agents, brokers, and
producers through whom or which any Policyholder has or may have secured any
Insurance Contract by or through the Seller
at any
time during the three (3) years prior to this Agreement and which are identified
on Schedule
3.10(a);
and
(ii) agents, brokers and producers, including, but not limited to those
identified on Schedule
3.10(a),
who or
which produce workers’ compensation business for the Purchaser or its Insurer
Affiliates following the Closing Date as a result of the efforts of the
Transferred Employees or
any
employee of the Purchaser under the supervision of any of the Transferred
Employees.
4
“Purchaser”
has
the
meaning
ascribed
to it in the introduction to this Agreement.
“Purchaser
Indemnity Cap”
has
the
meaning ascribed to it in Section 12.2(b).
“Purchaser
Indemnity Deductible”
has
the
meaning ascribed to it in Section 12.2(b).
“Purchaser
New Policies”
has
the
meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.5.
“Purchaser
Renewal Policies”
has
the
meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.5.
“Quarterly
Payments”
has
the
meaning ascribed to in Section 2.6(c).
“Quarterly
Payments Offset”
has
the
meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.6(d).
“Renewal
Period”
has
the
meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.6(c)
“Renewal
Rights”
means
all of the Seller’ existing rights to offer, quote and/or solicit the renewals
of any of the Insurance Contracts, including (i) the right to offer to cancel
and rewrite any of the Insurance Contracts and to solicit replacement insurance
coverage with no restriction as to geographical territory, and (ii) the
relationships that the Seller enjoys with each of the Producers, subject in
each
case to all rights of Producers and Policyholders and Applicable
Law.
“Representative”
means,
with respect to any Person, such Person’s officers, directors, employees,
Affiliates, agents and representatives (including any investment banker,
financial advisor, accountant, actuary, appraiser, analyst, consultant, legal
counsel, agent, representative or expert retained by or acting on behalf of
such
Person or its subsidiaries).
“Restriction
Period”
has
the
meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.1.
“Seller”
has
the
meaning ascribed to it in the introduction.
“Seller
Indemnity Cap”
has
the
meaning ascribed to it in Section 12.2(a).
“Seller
Indemnity Deductible”
has
the
meaning ascribed to it in Section 12.2(a).
“Subject
Business”
means
all of Seller’s workers’ compensation business, including, but not limited to
the Renewal Rights and Seller’s relationships with Producers, regardless of
whether a Producer and Seller have entered into a written agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Subject Business does not include policies issued
by the Seller on behalf of workers’ compensation assigned risk plans in Illinois
and in the District of Columbia,
5
“Sublease
Agreement(s)”
means
the Sublease Agreements for Seller’s offices in Des Moines, Iowa, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, Peoria, Illinois in a form and content mutually agreeable to the
parties.
“Taxes”
means
all taxes, charges, duties, fees, levies, or other similar assessments or
liabilities, including all net and gross income, gross receipts, ad valorem,
premium, excise, real property, personal property, windfall profit, sales,
use,
transfer, license, withholding, employment, payroll, profit, estimated,
severance, stamp, occupation, value added, registration, environmental, workers’
compensation, social security and franchise
taxes
imposed by the United States Internal Revenue Service or any taxing authority
(whether domestic or foreign including, any state, county, local or foreign
government or any subdivision or taxing agency thereof (including a United
States possession)); and such term shall include any interest, fines, penalties,
assessments, or additions to tax relating to, resulting from, attributable
to,
or incurred in connection with any such tax or any contest or dispute
thereof.
“Termination
Date”
means
June 30, 2006.
“Third
Party Claims”
has
the
meaning ascribed to it in Section 12.3.
“Transfer
Date”
means
in respect of a Transferred Employee, the date a Transferred Employee becomes
an
employee of the
Purchaser or any of its Affiliates.
“Transferred
Assets”
means
those assets of
the
Seller relating to the Subject Business specifically identified on Exhibit
C
and the
right to use the name “Muirfield Underwriters, Ltd.”.
“Transferred
Employees”
has
the
meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.1.
1.2. Interpretation.
(a) The
parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of
this
Agreement. Consequently, in the event that an ambiguity or question of intent
or
interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly
by
the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring
or
disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this
Agreement.
(b) When
a
reference is made in this Agreement to a section or article, such reference
will
be to a section or article of this Agreement unless otherwise clearly indicated
to the contrary. Whenever the words “include”,
“includes”
or
“including”
are
used in this Agreement they will be deemed to be followed by the words
“without limitation.”
The
words “hereof,”
“herein”
and
“herewith”
and
words of similar import will, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer
to
this Agreement (including the schedules and exhibits) as a whole and not to
any
particular provision of this Agreement. The meaning assigned to each term used
in this Agreement will be equally applicable to both the singular and the plural
forms of such term, and words denoting any gender will include all genders.
Where a word or phrase is defined herein, each of its other grammatical forms
will have a corresponding meaning.
6
(c) The
annexed schedules and exhibits are incorporated into this Agreement and will
be
deemed a part hereof as if set forth herein in full. In the event of any
conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and any schedule or exhibit,
the provisions of this Agreement will control. Capitalized terms used in the
schedules have the meanings assigned to them in this Agreement. The section
references referred to in the schedules are to sections of this Agreement,
unless otherwise expressly indicated
ARTICLE
II
TRANSFER
OF ASSETS
2.1. The
Closing.
The
closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”)
will
take place at the offices of the Seller, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx at 10:00 a.m. on June 1, 2006 or at such other time and place as the
parties mutually agree (the “Closing
Date”),
but
in no event later than the Termination Date. The transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement shall be deemed to be effective as of 12:01 a.m. on the date
thereof.
2.2. The
Closing Transactions.
Upon
the terms, conditions, and limitations of this Agreement, and for the
consideration stated herein, on the Closing Date (i) the Seller will sell,
assign and transfer to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser will accept and acquire,
all of the Seller’s respective rights, title and interest in the Renewal Rights
and the Transferred Assets.
All
sales, assignments and transfers of the Transferred Assets to the Purchaser
hereunder will be evidenced by the Xxxx of Sale and General Assignment Agreement
which will be executed and delivered on the Closing Date by the Seller. The
Transferred Assets shall not include, or otherwise be deemed to include, any
other assets or properties of the Seller, other than those assets of the Seller
relating to the Subject Business specifically identified on Exhibit
C.
On or
before the Closing Date, in accordance with Article VII, the Purchaser shall
extend offers of employment to all the employees of the Seller in the Employee
Group.
2.3. Non-Assumption
of Liabilities.
Other
than pursuant to the Sublease Agreement(s), neither
the
Purchaser nor any of its Affiliates will, directly or indirectly, assume any
Liability of the Seller or its Affiliates of any kind, character or description
attributable to the conduct of the Subject Business or the ownership or use
of
the Transferred Assets, in each case, prior to the Closing Date, regardless
of
when discovered or reported, including, but not limited to, the following
Liabilities,
which shall remain Liabilities of the Seller and/or its Affiliates:
(a) any
Liability relating to any failure or alleged failure to comply with, or any
violation or
alleged violation of, any Applicable Law,
which
failure or violation occurred or is alleged to have occurred prior to the
Closing Date;
7
(b) any
Liability relating to any breach of any contract included in the Transferred
Assets occurring prior
to
the Closing Date;
(c) any
Liability
with
respect to (i) any employee benefit plan or employee benefits maintained by
the
Seller, (ii) the termination of any such
employee benefits or employee benefit plan by
the
Seller, (iii) payroll and employee benefits accrued by any employee of
the
Seller, (iv) the termination of employment of any officer,
employee,
Representative, or Producer by the
Seller (including, but not limited to, any such termination deemed to have
occurred upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement) or (v) any “Success Bonus”, “Stay Bonus” or other bonus payable to
any Transferred Employee pursuant to any bonus plan of Seller or its
Affiliates;
(d) any
legal, accounting, transactional, consultant, financial advisor or other expense
relating to the negotiation and consummation of the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement by or on behalf of the Seller and its Affiliates, shareholders,
equity holders, officers, directors, and Representatives;
(e) any
Liability
arising under
the
express terms and conditions of the Insurance Contracts produced,
issued, renewed or written
by
the
Seller prior to the Closing Date; and
(f) any
Liability for Taxes related to the Subject Business arising prior to the Closing
Date
2.4. Closing
Deliveries.
(a) At
the
Closing, the Purchaser will deliver to the Seller the following:
(i) Payment
of the Initial Payment, in accordance with Section 2.6;
(ii) The
Sublease Agreement(s) for Seller’s offices in Des Moines, Iowa, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, and Peoria, Illinois executed by the Purchaser; and
(iii) any
other
deliveries contemplated by Article X or the other provisions
hereof.
(b) At
the
Closing, the Seller will deliver to the Purchaser the following:
(i) The
Xxxx
of Sale and General Assignment Agreement in the form annexed as Exhibit
A;
(ii) The
list
of In-Force Insurance Contracts to be attached hereto as Schedule
1.1;
8
(iii)
The
Sublease Agreement(s) for Seller’s offices in Des Moines, Iowa, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin and Peoria, Illinois and any consents required in connection
therewith;
(iv) The
Guaranty in the form annexed as Exhibit
B
executed
by Seller’s parent company, Aon Group, Inc.; and
(v)
any
other
deliveries contemplated by Article IX or the other provisions
hereof.
2.5. *
2.6. *
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER
The
Seller represents and warrants to the Purchaser (that as of the Effective Date
(or, if made as of a specified date, as of such date):
3.1. Corporate
Existence.
The
Seller has been duly organized, is validly existing and is in good standing
under the laws of its state of incorporation or domicile.
3.2. Corporate
Authority.
The
execution, delivery and performance by the Seller of this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements are within its powers and have been duly authorized by
all
necessary corporate action on the part of the Seller. This Agreement
constitutes, and when executed and delivered the Ancillary Agreements will
constitute, valid and legally binding agreements, enforceable against each
party
thereto in accordance with its terms, subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, fraudulent transfer, moratorium and other similar laws now
or
hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and the
rights of creditors of insurance companies generally, and (ii) general
principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law
or
in equity).
3.3. Non-Contravention.
The
execution and delivery of, and performance by the Seller of its obligations
under, this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements shall not:
(a) result
in
a breach of any provision of the articles of incorporation or by-laws of the
Seller;
(b) result
in
any violation of Applicable Law or a breach of any order, judgment or decree
of
any Governmental Authority relating to the Subject Business, except for any
such
violations or breaches that, individually or in the aggregate, could not
reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect; or
*
Confidential Treatment Requested
9
(c) result
in
the breach of or default under (or with notice, lapse of time, or both, would
result in such a breach or default) any agreement to which the Seller is a
party, including but not limited to, any agreements, whether written or oral,
between Seller and any current underwriter of the Subject Business, by which
Seller currently acts as a producer for such underwriter, except for any such
violations that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be
expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect.
3.4. Compliance
with Laws.
The
Subject Business has been conducted in all material respects in accordance
with
Applicable Law and there is no investigation, inquiry, order, decree or judgment
of any Governmental Authority outstanding or, to the Knowledge of the Seller,
threatened against the Seller which could have a Material Adverse
Effect.
3.5. Transferred
Assets; Ownership of Renewal Rights.
(a) The
Seller has good and marketable title to the Transferred Assets, free and clear
of all Liens other than Permitted Liens, and at the Closing the Purchaser will
acquire good title thereto, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted
Liens.
(b) The
Transferred Assets comprise all of the assets required for the continued conduct
of the Subject Business by the Purchaser after the Closing in the manner the
Subject Business is now being conducted.
(c) The
Seller owns, free and clear of all Liens and no third party, including any
current underwriter of the Subject Business, has or will assert any right to
or
interest in the Renewal Rights, subject to the rights of Producers and
Policyholders and Applicable Law.
(d) The
Seller is the sole administrator of the issuance and renewal of all Insurance
Contracts and no current underwriter of the Insurance Contracts has a direct
relationship with any Producer in connection with such Insurance
Contracts.
3.6. Litigation.
Except
as set forth in Schedule
3.6,
there
is no Litigation pending or, to the Knowledge of the Seller, threatened against
the Seller with respect to the Subject Business, except as would not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
3.7. Consents
and Approvals.
Except
as set forth in Schedule
3.7,
the
execution, delivery and performance by the Seller of this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby in accordance with their terms do not require the Seller
to
obtain any permit or any consent, approval or action of, make any filing with,
or give any notice to, any Governmental Authority or any other
Person.
3.8. Tax
Matters.
(a) Tax
Returns and Payments of Taxes.
Except
as
set forth in Schedule
3.8,
with
respect to the Seller, all Tax Returns required to be filed with respect to
the
Subject Business have been timely filed, and all such Tax Returns are complete
and correct in all material respects. All federal, state, local, foreign,
estimated and other Taxes owed by the Seller with respect to the Subject
Business have been timely paid to the proper Governmental Authorities. The
Seller has timely collected or withheld (or there has been collected or withheld
on its behalf) all Taxes required to have been collected or withheld by the
Seller with respect to the Subject Business and such collected or withheld
Taxes
have been timely paid to the proper Governmental Authorities or properly set
aside in accounts for such purpose. There are no outstanding liens for Taxes
(other than liens for Taxes which are not yet due and payable) upon the Subject
Business or Transferred Assets.
10
(b) Other
Tax Matters.
To the
Knowledge of the Seller, except as set forth in Schedule 3.8:
(i)
|
There
is no unresolved audit or other examination by any Governmental Authority
of any Taxes with respect to the Subject Business (and no such audit
is
pending or likely to be commenced).
|
(ii)
|
There
has been no claim or issue (other than a claim or issue that has
been
finally settled) asserted or raised in writing by any Governmental
Authority concerning any liability for Taxes with respect to the
Subject
Business.
|
(iii)
|
No
Person is currently contesting the liability for Taxes before any
court,
tribunal or agency, or has applied for and/or received a ruling or
determination from a Tax Authority regarding a past or prospective
transaction relating to the Subject
Business.
|
(iv)
|
No
Transferred Assets are subject to any Tax allocation, sharing, indemnity
or similar agreement or arrangement that will continue in force after
the
Closing Date.
|
3.9 Absence
of Changes.
Except
as
set forth in Schedule
3.9,
since
December 31, 2005, with respect to the Subject Business, the Seller have
not:
(a) suffered
any Material Adverse Effect;
(b) subjected
any of the Transferred Assets to any Lien;
(c) paid,
granted or committed to grant any increase of more than $5,000 in any
remuneration (including salary, incentive, change in control, retention or
severance compensation or benefits) of any employee in the Employee Group,
with
the exception of any “Success Bonus” or “Stay Bonus” that might have agreed to
by the Seller with certain members of the Employee Group, or any standard
promotion or merit increases in accordance with Aon Corporation’s Compensation
Guidelines;
11
(d) instituted,
settled or agreed to settle any Litigation, action or proceeding before any
Governmental Authority relating to the Subject Business other than in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practices;
(e) entered
into any contract relating to this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or
the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby with, or given any assurances
in
respect thereof to, any labor unions or other organizations representing or,
to
the Knowledge of the Seller, purporting to represent or attempting to represent
any employees in the Employee Group;
(f) paid
any
bonus to any Producer, or granted to any Producer or employee in the Employee
Group any other material increase in compensation in any form;
(g) failed
to
continue to pay all accounts payable in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past practice; or
(h) taken
any
action or omitted to take any action that would result in the occurrence of
any
of the foregoing in the future.
3.10 *
3.11 Intellectual
Property.
(a) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
3.11,
the
Seller does not own intellectual property rights of any kind and does not use
any intellectual property pursuant to any license agreement or otherwise, in
connection with and which is necessary for the conduct of, or otherwise material
to, the Subject Business.
(b) There
are
no licenses, sublicenses or agreements pursuant to which any Person unrelated
to
the Seller is authorized to use the Seller’s name.
3.12 Employee;
Labor Matters.
(a) The
Seller is not a party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement or
understanding, and there are no labor unions or other organizations representing
or, to Knowledge of the Seller, purporting or attempting to represent any
employee of Seller engaged in the Subject Business;
(b) there
has
not occurred or, to Knowledge of the Seller, been threatened any strike,
slowdown, picketing, work stoppage, concerted refusal to work overtime or other
similar labor activity with respect to any current or former employee of the
Seller engaged in the Subject Business;
*
Confidential Treatment Requested\
12
(c) To
Knowledge of the Seller, the Seller has complied with all applicable provisions
of Applicable Law pertaining to the employment or termination of employment
of
any Person engaged in the Subject Business, including all such Applicable Laws
relating to labor relations, equal employment, fair employment practices,
entitlements, prohibited discrimination, immigration status, Tax information
reporting, Employment and Withholding Taxes or other similar employment
practices or acts;
(d) The
Seller has not received any notice in writing regarding a current claim against
it for (i) overtime pay, wages, salary or bonus, excluding current payroll
periods, or (ii) vacation time, excluding time earned in current payroll
periods; and
(e) There
are
no employment agreements in effect between the Seller or an Affiliate and any
employee of the Seller, with the exception of “Success Bonuses” or “Stay
Bonuses,” or any similar agreements, for selected employees.
3.13 Financial
Records
The
Seller has furnished to Purchaser financial
records, reflecting accurate expenses, commissions, written premium, gross
and
net earned premium, loss ratios, expense ratios, combined ratios for the Subject
Business, in each case by state, for the annual period ended December 31 for
each of the last three years
(collectively, the “Financial
Records”). The Financial Records are set forth on Schedule 3.13 hereto. Except
as set forth therein, the Financial
Records (i) were derived from the books and records of the Seller, which books
and records are accurate, true and correct in all material respects, and (ii)
are accurate, true and complete in all material respects
as of the respective dates and for the respective periods covered.
3.14 Territorial
Restrictions.
Neither
the Seller, nor any employee in the Employee Group are restricted
by any contract with another Person from carrying on the Subject Business in
any
territory where the Subject Business is being carried on as of the date of
Closing. The Employee Group does not include any employee employed in
territories or in business activities that would violate any agreement to which
the Seller or such an employee may be a party. Purchaser, as a result of its
acquisition of the Subject Business, will not be restricted in the conduct
of
the Subject Business.
3.15. Absence
of Certain Business Practices.
Neither
the Seller, any officer or director, employee or agent or Affiliate of the
Seller, nor any other Person acting on their behalf, has, directly or
indirectly, within the past five (5) years given or agreed to give, received
or
agreed to receive any gift or similar benefit to or from any Producer, customer,
supplier, governmental employee or other Person who is or may be in a position
to help or hinder the Subject Business (or assist the Seller or any of their
Affiliates in connection with any actual or proposed transaction relating to
the
Subject Business) or who may benefit from the Subject Business or otherwise
acted in a manner:
13
(a) which
subjected or might have subjected the Seller or any of its Affiliates to any
damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or
proceeding;
(b) for
any
of the purposes described in Section 162(c) of the Code;
(c) for
the
purpose of establishing or maintaining any concealed fund or concealed bank
account;
(d) which
would reasonably be expected to bring the Purchaser or any of its Affiliates
or
businesses into public disrepute, contempt, scandal or ridicule or reflect
unfavorably upon the Seller, the Purchaser, or any of their respective
Affiliates or businesses; or
(e) in
the
case of any gift or similar benefit in excess of $500, (i)
which
if not given in the past, might reasonably be expected to have had a Material
Adverse Effect, or (ii)
which
if not continued in the future, might reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
3.16
Disclosure.
(a) No
representation or warranty by or on behalf of the Seller contained in this
Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements nor any of the statements or
certificates furnished or to be furnished at the Closing, as the case may be,
by
or on behalf of Seller to the Purchaser or its Representatives in connection
with or pursuant to this Agreement contains or will contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omits or will omit to state any material fact required
to
make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading.
(b) To
Knowledge of the Seller, there is no fact (other than matters of a general
economic or political nature which do not affect the Subject Business uniquely)
that has not been disclosed to the Purchaser that might reasonably be expected
to have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.
3.17
Brokers.
There
is no investment banker, non-insurance broker, finder or other intermediary
which has been retained by or is authorized to act on behalf of the Seller
who
might be entitled to any fee or commission upon consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER
The
Purchaser represents and warrants to the Seller that as of the Effective Date
(or, if made as of a specified date, as of such date):
14
4.1. Corporate
Existence.
The
Purchaser has been duly organized, is validly existing and is in good standing
under the laws of its state of incorporation or domicile.
4.2. Corporate
Authority.
The
execution, delivery and performance by the Purchaser of this Agreement and
the
Ancillary Agreements are within its powers and have been duly authorized by
all
necessary corporate action on the part of the Purchaser. This Agreement
constitutes, and when executed and delivered the Ancillary Agreements will
constitute, valid and legally binding agreements, enforceable against each
party
thereto in accordance with its terms, subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, fraudulent transfer, moratorium and other similar laws now
or
hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and the
rights of creditors of insurance companies generally and (ii) general principles
of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in
equity).
4.3. Non-Contravention.
The
execution and delivery of, and performance by the Purchaser of its obligations
under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, shall not:
(a) result
in
a breach of any provision of the articles of incorporation or by-laws of the
Purchaser; or
(b) result
in
a breach of any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority to
which
the
Purchaser is a party or by which
the
Purchaser is bound.
4.4 Consents
and Approvals.
The
execution, delivery and performance by the Purchaser of this Agreement and
the
Ancillary Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby in accordance with their terms do not require the Purchaser
to obtain any permit or any consent, approval or action of, make any filing
with, or give any notice to, any Governmental Authority or any other
Person.
4.5 Brokers.
There
is no investment banker, non-insurance broker, finder or other intermediary
which has been retained by or is authorized to act on behalf of the Purchaser
who might be entitled to any fee or commission upon consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE
V
COVENANTS
OF THE SELLER
5.1. Further
Assurances.
The
Seller shall make commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken,
all actions or do, or cause to be done, all things or execute any documents
necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, subject to their
respective terms; provided, however, that any such additional documents must
be
reasonably satisfactory to each of the parties and not impose upon either party
any material liability, risk or obligation not contemplated by this Agreement
or
the Ancillary Agreements.
15
5.2. Compliance
With Law.
Following the Closing, the Seller and its Affiliates shall comply with all
Applicable Laws relating to their conduct in performing their respective
obligations under this Agreement and under the Ancillary
Agreements.
5.3. Conduct
of Business.
The
Seller shall conduct the Subject Business only in the ordinary course and
consistent with past practices.
5.4. Financial
Information and Reports.
As
promptly as practicable, the Seller will deliver to the Purchaser true and
complete copies of any financial information and any reports of premium income,
loss ratios or similar data regarding the Subject Business as may be prepared
or
received by the Seller prior to Closing and which shall not have been previously
furnished to the Purchaser.
5.5. No
Disposal of Transferred Assets.
The
Seller shall refrain from disposing of any of the Transferred Assets and from
permitting the Transferred Assets to be subjected to any Liens.
5.6. No
Breach or Default.
The
Seller will refrain from violating, breaching, defaulting, and from taking
or
failing to take any action that (with or without notice or lapse of time or
both) would constitute a violation, breach, or default, under any agreement
with
any Producer set forth on Schedule
3.10(b).
5.7. Books
and Records.
At the
Closing, the Seller shall transfer custody and control of the Books and Records
to the Purchaser; provided, if at any time after the Closing, the Seller shall
discover in its possession or under its control any other Books and Records,
the
Seller shall forthwith deliver such Books and Records to the Purchaser. In
the
event that the Seller is required to produce or needs access to said Books
and
Records after Closing, the Purchaser shall allow Seller access to said Books
and
Records for purposes of consulting or photocopying said Books and Records upon
reasonable notice during regular business hours. The Seller will grant the
Purchaser access and the right to copy any Books and Records that are not
transferred by the Seller to the Purchaser at the Closing.
5.8. Use
of
Name.
On the
Closing Date, the Seller shall limit the use of the name “Muirfield
Underwriters, Ltd.” to those obligations that survived the termination of the
Seller’s agreement with the current underwriter of its business and shall
consent to Purchaser’s concurrent use of the name. Thereafter, as soon as
commercially possible, the Seller shall file with the Secretary of State of
its
state of incorporation an amendment to its certificate of incorporation,
providing for the change of Seller’s name and amend its licenses in each state
in which it is licensed to do business under the name “Muirfield Underwriters,
Ltd.” to change its name.
ARTICLE
VI
COVENANTS
OF PURCHASER
6.1. Further
Assurances.
The
Purchaser shall make commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be
taken, all actions or do, or cause to be done, all things or execute any
documents necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements,
subject to their respective terms; provided, however, that any such additional
documents must be reasonably satisfactory to each of the parties and not impose
upon either party any material liability, risk or obligation not contemplated
by
this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements.
16
6.2. Compliance
With Law.
Following the Closing, the Purchaser and its Affiliates each will comply with
all Applicable Laws relating to their conduct in performing their respective
obligations under this Agreement and under the Ancillary
Agreements.
6.3. Transfer
of the Renewal Rights.
Subject
to (i) Purchaser’s timely and full payment to Seller of all consideration
provided for by Section 2.6, inclusive of the Initial Payment, Advance and
Quarterly Payments, and (ii) applicable local laws governing the cancellation
and non-renewal of workers’ compensation policies, in connection with the
transfer hereunder of the Renewal Rights to the Purchaser, the Purchaser
covenants and agrees, from and after the Closing
Date,
that, subject
to
the Purchaser’s
and its
Insurer Affiliates’ underwriting guidelines, as the same shall be in effect from
time to time, the Purchaser will
make
commercially reasonable efforts to quote, write and issue, and/or cause to
be
quoted, written or issued, the Covered Insurance Policies, as provided
herein,
and
effect the orderly transition of the Insurance Contracts to approved or
authorized policy forms and rates of Purchaser’s Insurer Affiliates in
accordance with Applicable Law and the terms of the Insurance Contracts and
this
Agreement.
In so
quoting, writing, issuing and servicing the Covered Insurance Policies,
the
Purchaser shall, and shall cause its Affiliates, to make commercially reasonable
efforts to preserve and promote the present relationships with all Producers
and
Policyholders.
6.4. Sublease
of Seller Office Space.
Effective as of the Closing Date, the Purchaser and the Seller shall execute
and
deliver the
Sublease Agreements for Seller’s office space at Des Moines, Iowa, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin and Peoria, Illinois . From
and
after the Effective Date, the Purchaser shall cooperate with the Seller in
order
to obtain the respective landlords’ consents to the Sublease Agreements and
provide all information reasonably requested by such landlords in connection
therewith.
6.5. Audit
Rights of Seller.
Upon
the request and reasonable advance written notice of the Seller, no more than
one time in each twelve month period through the one year anniversary of the
end
of the Renewal Period, the Purchaser shall provide to the Seller or the Seller’s
Representatives, access during regular business hours to the appropriate
management personnel of the Purchaser and to the books, records and accounts
of
the Purchaser directly relating to the Subject Business for review, inspection,
examination and reproduction. From and after the Closing Date, the Purchaser
shall maintain true, accurate and complete books, records and accounts which
relate to the Subject Business in the usual, regular and ordinary manner on
a
basis consistent with prior periods. The Purchaser shall provide to the Seller
or its Representatives any assistance that it or they reasonably require in
connection with the performance of any such audit. Any audits conducted under
this Section 6.5 shall be conducted in a manner that does not unreasonably
interfere with the normal business operations of the Purchaser.
17
6.6. Identification
of Covered Premiums.
Effective on the Closing Date and through the end of the Renewal Period, the
Purchaser shall maintain procedures to identify Covered Premiums subject to
this
Agreement.
ARTICLE
VII
EMPLOYEE
MATTERS
7.1. Offers
of Employment.
On or
before the Closing Date, in accordance with Section 2.2, the Purchaser shall
extend an Offer of Employment to at least fifty percent (50%) of the employees
of the Seller whom Purchaser, in its sole discretion, deems necessary to conduct
the Subject Business, who are identified on Schedule
7.1,
which
sets forth each such employee’s name, title and Base Compensation (collectively,
the “Employee
Group”).
Each
Offer of Employment by the Purchaser will be at a Base Compensation of no less
than such employee’s Base Compensation from the Seller (an “Offer
of Employment”),
including any increases granted in the ordinary course of business. Those
employees of the Seller who accept the Purchaser’s offer of employment effective
as of the Closing Date, are referred to, as of the date of such acceptance,
as
“Transferred
Employees.”
Employment of Transferred Employees with the Purchaser or an Affiliate of the
Purchaser will be effective as of the next business day after the Closing Date
or such date thereafter as the employment of the Transferred Employee by the
Purchaser commences (the “Transfer
Date”).
Those
employees who are not Transferred Employees will be referred to as “Non-Transferred
Employees.”
7.2. Termination
of Employment Agreements.
With
respect to any Transferred Employee who is a party to an employment agreement
with the Seller or an Affiliate, the Seller shall be responsible for obtaining,
on or prior to the Transfer Date, the consent of such Transferred Employee
to
the termination of such employment agreement. The Seller or Affiliate shall
release such Transferred Employee from any restrictive covenant in such
employment agreement which would impede, directly or indirectly, such
Transferred Employee, from engaging in the Subject Business and shall be
responsible for any and all liabilities with respect to, in connection with,
or
arising out of the termination of such employment agreement. For purposes of
this section, “Success Bonuses” or “Stay Bonuses,” or any agreements similar in
nature, with any member of the Employee Group, are not considered employments
agreements.
7.3. Employee
Benefits.
The
Purchaser will provide, or will cause to be provided, to Transferred Employees
employee benefits comparable to those provided to similarly
situated new hires commencing their employment by the
Purchaser.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Purchaser agrees that any pre-existing condition or waiting periods in its
applicable welfare plans shall be waived with respect to the Transferred
Employees. No assets of any employee benefit plan maintained by the Seller
will
be transferred to the Purchaser or any Affiliate of the Purchaser, and any
liabilities related to or arising out of such plans will remain with the Seller.
The Purchaser’s qualified and non-qualified retirement savings plans, health and
welfare benefit plans, including but not limited to vacation plans and severance
plans, if any, will recognize the Transferred Employees’ service with the Seller
for purposes of eligibility and vesting.
18
Purchaser’s
retirement savings plans will accept a rollover, at the election of the
Transferred Employees, of the vested account balance from the Seller’s savings
plan excluding any outstanding 401(k) loan balances.
7.4. Non-Transferred
Employees.
The
Seller will retain and be responsible for all compensation, benefit, severance
and employment related obligations and liabilities relating to each
Non-Transferred Employee. The Seller will retain and be responsible for all
compensation, benefit and employment related obligations and liabilities
relating to each Transferred Employee in respect of any period prior to such
Transferred Employee’s Transfer Date.
7.5. Transferred
Employees Cooperation.
From
and after the Closing
Date,
the Purchaser shall make commercially reasonable efforts
to cause the Transferred Employees to cooperate with and provide assistance
to
the Seller and/or any of its Affiliates, at the expense of the Seller, at times
and locations as reasonably requested by the Seller
that do
not materially interfere with or disrupt the operation of the Subject
Business
(i) in
the defense of any Litigation, arbitration, claim, complaint, audit, proceeding,
or investigation (whether threatened existing, initiated or contemplated prior
to, on or after the
Closing
Date) arising out of any event that occurred on or prior to the Closing Date,
including matters involving the Seller and/or any of its Affiliates or to which
they are or may become a party, or are or may become otherwise bound or directly
or indirectly affected or as to which the Seller and/or any of its Affiliates
have or may come to have a direct or indirect interest (including any
indirect economic interest derived by virtue of contractual relationships),
in
each case which involved or could reasonably be expected to involve facts or
circumstances with which any such Transferred Employees were involved or
acquainted as a director, officer or employee or advisor of the Seller and/or
any of its Affiliates, or as to which they have or could reasonably be expected
to have any knowledge and/or otherwise relating to or arising out of the Subject
Business (ii) in connection with any other transaction or matter that involved
or involves or may involve facts or circumstances with which any such
Transferred Employees were involved or acquainted with as a director, officer
or
employee or advisor of any of
the
Seller and/or any of its Affiliates, or as to which such Transferred Employee
has or could reasonably be expected to have knowledge, including any
Tax
matter relating to the Business.
ARTICLE
VIII
NON-COMPETITION
COVENANTS
8.1. Non-Competition
with Subject Business.
The
Seller hereby covenants and agrees that from and after the Closing Date and
for
a period of three years from the end of the Renewal Period (the “Restriction
Period”),
the
Seller and its Affiliates, shall not, directly or indirectly compete with the
Subject Business
by the
marketing, targeted at Producers, of a product which would be an alternative
to
workers’ compensation products currently offered by Seller; provided,
however,
that
the foregoing shall not prevent:
19
(i)
|
the
Seller from the ongoing administration and run-off of the Insurance
Contracts; or
|
(ii)
|
the
Seller and its Affiliates from engaging in any other business other
than
the Subject Business.
|
8.2 Non-Solicitation
of Employees.
During
the Restriction Period, the Seller will not, directly or indirectly, for its
own
account or the account of any other Person:
(i)
|
solicit
for employment or engagement or employ or otherwise engage any Transferred
Employee or otherwise intentionally interfere with the relationships
of
the Purchaser with the Transferred Employees;
or
|
(ii)
|
induce
any employee, officer, director, consultant, advisor or contractor
of the
Purchaser or any of its Affiliates, who is a member of management
to
engage in any activity that the Seller is prohibited from engaging
in
under this Agreement or to terminate such employment or
engagement.
|
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Seller or an Affiliate will be permitted to employ or
otherwise engage any Person referred to in clause (i) or (ii) of this Section
8.2 above who, without any solicitation or inducement by the Seller or an
Affiliate, who responds to general employment advertisements directed to the
public at large or whose employment with the Purchaser has terminated for any
reason other than a violation by Seller of this covenant.
8.3 Non-Solicitation
of Customers.
During
the Restriction Period, the Seller may not, directly or indirectly:
(i)
|
solicit,
divert, appropriate or attempt to solicit, divert, or appropriate;
or
|
(ii) otherwise
attempt to establish for the Seller or any other Person, whether for pay or
otherwise, any business produced by Producers or through the efforts of the
Transferred Employees, which relate to, directly or indirectly, the Subject
Business.
8.4 Reasonableness
of Restrictions.
The
parties agree that the foregoing non-competition covenants are reasonable and
necessary to enable the parties to realize the benefits of the Agreement and
the
transactions contemplated hereunder; provided,
however,
that,
if a court of competent jurisdiction or an arbitrator should determine such
restrictions to be unreasonable, then the same shall not be invalid but shall
be
enforced for such period of time and within such areas as the court or
arbitrator may find to be reasonable.
8.5 Injunctive
Relief.
The
Seller agrees that the covenants in this Article VIII are an integral part
of
the inducement of the Purchaser to enter into this Agreement and that the
Purchaser shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief in addition to all other
legal and equitable remedies available to it in connection with any breach
by
the Seller or its covered Affiliates said covenants and that, notwithstanding
the foregoing, no right, power, or remedy conferred upon or reserved or
exercised by the Purchaser pursuant to this Section 8.5 is intended to be
exclusive of any other right, power or remedy, each and every one of which
(now
or hereafter existing at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise) shall be
cumulative and concurrent.
20
ARTICLE
IX
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATION OF
PURCHASER
TO CLOSE
The
obligations of the Purchaser under this Agreement are subject to the
satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions, any
one or more of which may be waived by the Purchaser in writing:
9.1. Representations,
Warranties and Covenants.
(a) the
Seller shall have performed in all material respects all of its obligations
under this Agreement required to be performed by it on or prior to the Closing
Date; (b) the representations and warranties of the Seller contained in this
Agreement shall be true, complete and correct on the Effective Date and as
of
the Closing Date as if made at and as of the Closing Date, except that any
such
representations and warranties that are given as of a particular date and relate
solely to a particular date or period shall be true and correct as of such
date
or period, and except where the failure to be true and correct (without regard
to any materiality qualifiers or exceptions therein) would not reasonably be
expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;
and
(c) the Purchaser shall have received a certificate signed by an appropriate
executive officer of the Seller to the effect that the foregoing conditions
have
been satisfied.
9.2. Approvals.
All
filings with Governmental Authorities and other Persons required to consummate
the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements
shall have been made and all required approvals shall have been obtained and
shall be in full force and effect and without conditions or limitations that
are
unacceptable to the Purchaser in the Purchaser’s reasonable judgment. All
waiting periods under any federal or state statute or regulation shall have
expired or been terminated.
9.3. Closing
Deliveries.
All of
the closing deliveries of the Seller under Section
2.4(b)
shall have been delivered to the Purchaser.
9.4. Injunction
and Litigation.
There
shall be no effective injunction, writ, preliminary restraining order or any
other order of any nature issued by a Governmental Authority or any pending
Litigation that seeks to prohibit or enjoin, or that seeks material monetary
damages with respect to, the consummation of the transactions contemplated
in
this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements.
9.5. Other
Documents.
The
Seller shall have delivered to the Purchaser (a) a copy of the resolutions
(in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Purchaser) duly adopted by the board of directors of the Seller authorizing
the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the Ancillary
Agreements by the Seller, certified (in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to
the
Purchaser) by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Seller; (b)
certificates (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser)
of
the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Seller as to the incumbency
and
signatures of the officers of the Seller executing this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements, and (c) such other documents, certificates or records
as
the Purchaser or its counsel may reasonably request.
21
ARTICLE
X
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATION OF
SELLER
TO CLOSE
The
obligations of the Seller under this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction
on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions, any one or more
of
which may be waived by the Seller in writing:
10.1. Representations,
Warranties and Covenants.
(a) The
Purchaser shall have performed in all material respects all of its obligations
under this Agreement required to be performed by it on or prior to the Closing
Date; (b) the representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in
this
Agreement shall be true, complete and correct on the Effective Date and as
of
the Closing Date as if made at and as of the Closing Date, except that any
such
representations and warranties that are given as of a particular date and relate
solely to a particular date or period shall be true and correct as of such
date
or period, and except where the failure to be true and correct (without regard
to any materiality qualifiers or exceptions therein) would not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect
on
the ability of the Purchaser to perform any of its obligations under this
Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby; and (c) the Seller shall have received a
certificate signed by an appropriate executive officer of the Purchaser to
the
effect that the foregoing conditions have been satisfied.
10.2. Approvals.
All
filings with Governmental Authorities and other Persons required to consummate
the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements
shall have been made and all required approvals shall have been obtained and
shall be in full force and effect and without conditions or limitations that
are
unacceptable to the Seller in the Seller’s reasonable judgment. All waiting
periods under any federal or state statute or regulation shall have expired
or
been terminated.
10.3. Closing
Deliveries.
All of
the closing deliveries of the Purchaser under Section 2.4(a)
shall have been delivered to the Seller.
10.4. Payment
to the Seller.
The
Purchaser shall have paid the Seller the Initial Payment and Advance, in
accordance with Section 2.6.
10.5. Injunction
and Litigation.
There
shall be no effective injunction, writ, preliminary restraining order or any
other order of any nature issued by a Governmental Authority or any pending
Litigation that seeks to prohibit or enjoin, or
that
seeks material monetary damages with respect to, the consummation of the
transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the Related
Agreements.
22
10.6. Other
Documents.
The
Purchaser shall have delivered to the Seller: (a) a copy of the resolution
(in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Seller) duly adopted by the
board of directors of the Purchaser authorizing the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements by the Purchaser,
certified (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Seller) by
the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Purchaser; (b) certificates (in
form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Seller) of the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of the Purchaser as to the incumbency and signatures of
the
officers of the Purchaser executing this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements,
and (c) such other documents, certificates or records as the Seller or its
counsel may reasonably request.
ARTICLE
XI
TERMINATION
PRIOR TO CLOSING
11.1. Termination
of Agreement.
This
Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing as
follows:
(a) by
the
Seller or the Purchaser, by written notice to the other party, if there shall
be
any order, writ, injunction or decree of any Governmental Authority binding
on
the Seller or the Purchaser which prohibits or restrains the Seller or the
Purchaser from consummating the transactions contemplated in this Agreement
or
the Ancillary Agreements; provided,
however,
that
the Seller and the Purchaser, as the case may be, shall make commercially
reasonable efforts to have any such order, writ, injunction or decree lifted
and
the order, writ, injunction or decree is not lifted by the Termination
Date;
(b) by
the
Seller or the Purchaser, by written notice to the other party, if the Closing
has not been consummated on or prior to the Termination Date, unless the absence
of such occurrence is or will be due to the failure of the party seeking to
terminate this Agreement to materially perform each of its obligations under
this Agreement required to be performed by it at or prior to the
Closing;
(c) by
the
Purchaser, by written notice to the Seller, if a breach of any representation,
warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of the Seller set forth in this
Agreement shall have occurred which would cause any of the conditions set forth
in Article IX not to be satisfied, and such breach is incapable of being cured
or, if capable of being cured, shall not have been cured within thirty (30)
calendar days following receipt by the Seller of notice of such breach from
the
Purchaser;
(d) by
the
Seller, by written notice to the Purchaser, if a breach of any representation,
warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of the Purchaser set forth in this
Agreement shall have occurred which would cause any of the conditions set forth
in Article X not to be satisfied, and such breach is incapable of being cured
or, if capable of being cured, shall not have been cured within thirty (30)
calendar days following receipt by the Purchaser of notice of such breach from
the Seller; or
23
(e) at
any
time prior to the Closing by mutual written consent of the Seller and the
Purchaser.
11.2. Survival
Upon Termination.
If this
Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 11.1 hereof, this Agreement will
become null and void and of no force and effect, provided that, in the event
of
such a termination because of any breach, the breaching party will be liable
to
the other party for all actual damages arising directly from such breach. In
no
event will any party be entitled to consequential damages, including damages
for
lost profits, following a termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section
11.1
hereof.
ARTICLE
XII
SURVIVAL;
INDEMNIFICATION
12.1. Survival.
All
representations and warranties made by the Seller and the Purchaser in Articles
III and IV of this Agreement, respectively, in the Ancillary Agreements
and
in
any document, certificate, schedule or instrument delivered or executed in
connection herewith or therewith shall survive for a period of thirty-six months
after the Closing Date, whereupon they shall expire, and all claims for breach
of said representations and warranties will be deemed waived unless the
non-breaching party notifies the breaching party of the matters constituting
the
breach prior to the expiration of said
thirty-six month
period. All covenants, undertakings and agreements contained in this Agreement,
the Ancillary Agreements or any document, certificate, schedule or instrument
delivered or executed in connection herewith or therewith to be performed or
complied with after the Closing Date shall survive for the period of the
applicable statute of limitations.
12.2. Indemnification.
(a) Subject
to Section 12.1, the Seller shall indemnify the Purchaser and its Affiliates,
and its and their respective shareholders, subsidiaries, officers, directors,
employees, successors and permitted assigns
against
and agree to hold each of them harmless from any and all damage, loss, liability
and expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and reasonable expenses of
investigation in connection with any action, suit or proceeding) (collectively,
“Damages”),
incurred or suffered by the Purchaser or any
of its
Affiliates, arising out of:
(i)
|
any
breach of any representation or warranty, or any breach, nonfulfillment
or
default in the performance of any covenant or agreement, made by
the
Seller in this Agreement or in any Ancillary
Agreement;
|
(ii)
|
any
claim by any present or former employee of the Seller or an Affiliate
thereof, including the Transferred Employees, which arises under
federal,
state or local statute (including, without limitation, Title VII
of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act of 1990, the Equal Pay Act, the
Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990, ERISA and all other statutes regulating
the
terms and conditions of employment), regulation or ordinance, under
the
common law or in equity (including any claims for wrongful discharge
or
otherwise), or under any employee benefit plan or program of the
Seller or
any of their respective Affiliates, or under any policy, agreement,
understanding or promise, written or oral, formal or informal, between
the
Seller or an Affiliate thereof and such present or former employee,
which
arose solely out of any action, event or omission that occurred (or,
in
the case of omissions, failed to occur) prior to the Closing;
|
24
(iii)
|
the
operation of the Subject Business by the Seller or their respective
Affiliates prior to the
Closing Date, and
|
(iv)
|
the
enforcement of their rights under this Section 12.2(a).
|
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Seller shall not be liable under the foregoing clauses (i),
(ii), (iii) or (iv) of this Section 12.2(a) unless the total aggregate amount
of
Damages with respect to all such claims or matters relating to said clauses
referred to in this Section 12.2(a) exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars
($25,000) and, in such case, only to the extent of such excess (the
“Seller
Indemnity Deductible”).
The
maximum amount of the Seller’s collective and aggregate liability under the
foregoing clauses (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) of this Section 12.2(a) shall
in no
event exceed the total
consideration payable (the “Seller
Indemnity Cap”).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Seller’s liability under clauses (i),
(ii), (iii), and (iv) of this Section 12.2(a) exceeds the aggregate payments
received by the Seller pursuant to Section 2.6 at the time the indemnification
claim is payable (the difference between the indemnification obligation and
the
aggregate payments received by the Seller being the “Excess
Amount”),
then
the Seller, at such time, shall only have to pay an indemnification amount
up to
the aggregate payments received by the Seller pursuant to Section 2.6 and the
Purchaser shall be entitled to prospectively offset amounts due the Seller
pursuant to Sections 2.6, if any, against the Excess Amount.
(b) Subject
to Section 12.1, the Purchaser shall indemnify the Seller and its Affiliates,
and their respective shareholders, subsidiaries, officers, directors, employees,
successors and permitted
assigns
against
and agrees to hold each of them harmless from any and all Damages
incurred
or suffered by the Seller or any of its Affiliates, arising out of:
(i)
|
any
breach of any representation, warranty or certification, or any breach,
nonfulfillment or default in the performance of any covenant or agreement,
made by the Purchaser in this Agreement or in any Ancillary
Agreement;
|
(ii)
|
the
conduct of the Subject Business by the Purchaser after the Closing
Date,
except to the extent that the Purchaser, an Affiliate, or its or
their
respective shareholders, subsidiaries, officers, directors, employees,
successors and permitted assigns are entitled to indemnification
with
respect thereto under Section
12.2(a);
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25
(iii)
|
any
claim, complaint or charge, filed by any employee who is employed
by
Seller as of the date of this Agreement against Seller or any of
its
Affiliates for discrimination in hiring by Purchaser or a similar
cause of
action resulting solely from Purchaser’s extension of offers of employment
pursuant to Section 7.1; or
|
(iv)
|
the
enforcement of its rights under this Section 12.2(b).
|
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Purchaser shall not be liable under the foregoing clauses
(i), (ii) or (iii) of this Section 12.2(b) unless the total aggregate amount
of
Damages with respect to all such claims or matters relating to said clauses
referred to in this Section 12.2(b) exceed $25,000 and, in such case, only
to
the extent of such excess (the “Purchaser Indemnity Deductible”). The maximum
amount of the Purchaser’s collective and aggregate liability under the foregoing
clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of this Section 12.2(b) shall in no event exceed
the
total
aggregate payments
received, or to be received, by the Seller pursuant to Section
2.6 (the
“Purchaser Indemnity Cap”). Should any claim, or portion thereof, for Damages
made by the Seller hereunder remain unpaid as a result of the immediately
preceding sentence, such unpaid portion of the claim may be resubmitted to
the
Purchaser at any time, notwithstanding Section 12.1, for payment upon receipt
by
the Seller of additional payments pursuant to Section 2.6 and the Purchaser
shall pay such claim upon demand.
Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Purchaser Indemnity
Deductible and Purchaser Indemnity Cap do not apply to any claim by Seller
for
Quarterly Payments due pursuant to Section 2.6.
(c) All
indemnification payments payable hereunder shall be reduced by the amount of
insurance proceeds received by, or any Tax benefits inuring to the benefit
of,
the
Indemnified Party (as defined below) as a result of the loss for which the
Indemnified Party is seeking reimbursement.
(d) The
parties hereto shall make mutually available to each other all relevant
information in their possession relating to any Damages claimed hereunder
(except to the extent that such action would result in loss of attorney-client
privilege as to any material matter) and shall cooperate with each other in
the
defense thereof.
12.3. Procedures
for Third Party Claims.
(a) The
party
seeking indemnification under Section 12.2 (the “Indemnified
Party”)
agrees
to give prompt notice (in accordance with Section 13.11) to the party against
whom indemnity is sought (the “Indemnifying
Party”)
of the
assertion of any third party claim, or the commencement of any suit, action
or
proceeding in respect of which indemnity may be sought under Section 12.2 (the
“Third
Party Claims”).
Such
notice referred to in the preceding sentence shall state the relevant facts
and
include therewith relevant documents and a statement in reasonable detail as
to
the basis for the indemnification sought. The failure by any Indemnified Party
so to notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve any Indemnifying Party
from any Liability which it may have to such Indemnified Party with respect
to
any claim made pursuant to this Section 12.3, except to the extent such failure
shall actually prejudice an Indemnifying Party. In the event of the assertion
of
any claim or the commencement of any suit, action or proceeding in respect
of
which indemnity would be sought by the Indemnified Party but for the fact that
the notice of such claim, suit, action or proceeding was sent to the
Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall give prompt notice to the
Indemnified Party of such claim, suit, action or proceeding.
26
(b) Upon
receipt of notice from the Indemnified Party pursuant to Section 12.3(a), the
Indemnifying Party will have the right to, subject to the provisions of Section
12.3, assume the defense and control of such Third Party Claims. In the event
the Indemnifying Party assumes the defense of a Third Party Claim, the
Indemnified Party shall have the right but not the obligation to participate
in
the defense of such Third Party Claim with its own counsel and at its own
expense (provided that the Indemnifying Party shall pay the reasonable
attorneys’ fees of the Indemnified Party if (i) the employment of separate
counsel shall have been authorized in writing by such Indemnifying Party in
connection with the defense of such Third Party Claim, (ii) the Indemnifying
Party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified
Party to defend such Third Party Claim, (iii) the
Indemnified Party shall have reasonably concluded, upon advice of the
Indemnified Party’s counsel, that there may be material defenses available to
such Indemnified Party that are different from or additional to those available
to the Indemnifying Party,
(iv) the
Indemnifying Party’s counsel shall have advised the Indemnifying Party in
writing, with a copy delivered to the Indemnified Party, that there is a
conflict of interest that could make it inappropriate under applicable standards
of professional conduct to have common counsel, or (v) such Third Party Claim
shall seek injunctive or equitable relief that if granted would
materially interfere with the conduct of the Business) and the Indemnifying
Party will cooperate with the Indemnified Party. Any election by an Indemnifying
Party not to assume the defense of a Third Party Claim must be received by
the
Indemnified Party reasonably promptly following its receipt of the Indemnified
Party’s notice delivered pursuant to Section 12.3(a). If the Indemnifying Party
elects to assume the defense of a Third Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party
shall select counsel reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Party; shall
take
all steps necessary in the defense or settlement of such Third Party Claim;
and
shall at all times diligently and promptly pursue the resolution of such Third
Party Claim. The Indemnified Party shall, and shall cause each of its Affiliates
and Representatives to, cooperate fully with the Indemnifying Party in the
defense of any Third Party Claim defended by the Indemnifying
Party.
(c) The
Indemnifying Party shall be authorized to consent to a settlement of, or the
entry of any judgment arising from, any Third Party Claim as to which the
Indemnifying Party has assumed the defense in accordance with the terms of
Section 12.3, without the consent of any Indemnified Party, but only to the
extent that such settlement or entry of judgment (i) provides solely for the
payment of money by the Indemnifying Party or imposes an obligation of
confidentiality, and (ii) provides a complete release of any Indemnified Party
potentially affected by such Third Party Claim from all matters that were or
could have been asserted in connection with such claims. Except as provided
in
the foregoing sentence, settlement or consent to entry of judgment shall require
the prior approval of the Indemnified Party, such approval not to be
unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.
27
12.4. Procedures
for Direct Claims.
In the
event any Indemnified Party shall have a claim for indemnity against any
Indemnifying Party that does not involve a Third Party Claim, the Indemnified
Party shall deliver written
notice of such claim to the Indemnifying Party. Such notice referred to in
the
preceding sentence shall state the relevant facts and include therewith relevant
documents and a statement in reasonable detail as to the basis for the
indemnification sought. The failure by any Indemnified Party so to notify the
Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability
that it may have to such Indemnified Party with respect to any claim made
pursuant to Section 12.2, it being understood that notices for claims in respect
of a breach of a representation or warranty must be delivered prior to the
expiration of the survival period for such representation or
warranty.
12.5. Exclusive
Remedy.
The
parties hereto expressly acknowledge and agree that (i) except as otherwise
expressly provided in this
Agreement, the provisions of this Article XII shall be the sole and exclusive
remedy for Damages caused as a result of any breach of any representation or
warranty
or any
breach, nonfulfillment or default in the performance of any covenant or
agreement
contained in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, other than claims
based on fraud, or any Ancillary Agreement or to any further indemnification
or
other rights or claims, all of which the parties hereby waive, and (ii) except
as otherwise expressly provided in this
Agreement, no Indemnifying Party shall be liable for consequential, indirect,
punitive or treble Damages in connection with any action, suit or proceeding
brought by the Purchaser against the Seller or by the Seller against the
Purchaser, or for any Damages based on either the reduced current or future
profitability or earnings of the Business or the Renewal Rights or Damages
based
on a multiple of such profitability, earnings or other factor, or reduction
therein (it being understood that all Damages will for purposes of this Article
XII be determined and calculated on a direct, dollar-for-dollar basis), or
for
other Damages not provided for in this Article XII. Any liability for
indemnification hereunder will be determined without duplication of recovery
by
reason of the state of facts giving rise to such liability constituting a breach
of more than one representation, warranty, covenant or agreement.
12.6. Specific
Performance.
It is
agreed that any party hereto shall be entitled to seek an injunction or
injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically
the terms and provisions hereof, this being in addition to any other remedy
to
which they are entitled hereunder or otherwise.
ARTICLE
XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS
13.1. Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement, including all annexed Schedules and Exhibits, constitute the entire
contract between the parties and there are no understandings other than as
expressed in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement. All annexed Schedules
and Exhibits are expressly incorporated into and made a part of this Agreement
as fully as though completely set forth herein in full. In the event of any
conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and any Schedule or Exhibit,
the provisions of this Agreement will control. Capitalized terms used in the
Schedules and Exhibits shall have the meanings assigned to them in this
Agreement. The section references referred to in the Schedules are to sections
of this Agreement, unless otherwise expressly indicated. Any amendment or
modification hereto shall be null and void unless made by amendment to this
Agreement, and signed by the parties affected by such amendment.
28
13.2. Assignment;
Binding Effect.
No
party hereto shall transfer, delegate, subcontract or assign any of its rights
or obligations under this Agreement without first obtaining the written consent
of the other parties; provided,
however,
that
(i) the Purchaser may assign its rights to offer, quote, solicit, issue, write
and/or bind the Covered Insurance Policies to its
Insurer Affiliates, and (ii) the Seller may assign its rights to receive the
Quarterly Payments under Section 2.6, if any, to any Person with prior notice
to, but without obtaining the consent of, the Purchaser. Any purported
assignment,
delegation, subcontracting or transfer in violation of this Section 13.2 shall
be void.
13.3. No
Third-Party Beneficiaries.
Nothing
in this Agreement, except as expressly set forth in Article XII with respect
to
indemnification of the parties’ Affiliates and their respective shareholders,
subsidiaries, officers, directors and employees is intended or shall be
construed to give any Person other than the signatory parties hereto, any legal
or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or
any
provision contained herein.
13.4. Invalidity.
Unless
the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or portion thereof
frustrates the intent of the parties or the purpose of this Agreement, such
invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability
of the other provisions or portions thereof and where possible, the provisions
of this Agreement shall be interpreted so as to sustain their legality and
enforceability and for that purpose the provisions of this Agreement shall
be
read as if they cover only the specific situation to which they are being
applied. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement
in a specific situation shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
that
provision in other situations or of other provisions of this Agreement. In
the
event that such provision shall be declared unenforceable by a court of
competent jurisdiction, such provision or portion thereof, to the extent
declared unenforceable, shall be stricken. However, in the event any such
provision or portion thereof shall be declared unenforceable due to its scope,
breadth or duration, then it shall be modified to the scope, breadth or duration
permitted by Applicable Law and shall continue to the be fully enforceable
as so
modified.
13.5. Governing
Law.
This
Agreement shall be deemed to have been made under and governed by the laws
of
Illinois, without regard to conflicts or choice of law rules.
29
13.6. Waiver
of Jury Trial.
Subject
to Section 13.14, each of the Parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives any
and
all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or related
to
this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby
or thereby. The waiver in this Section 13.6 have been made with the advice
of
counsel and with a full understanding of the legal consequences thereof and
shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
13.7. Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall
be
deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the
same
instrument. This Agreement shall become effective when one or more counterparts
have been signed by each party hereto and delivered to the other parties
hereto.
13.8. Headings.
The
headings in this Agreement are for the convenience of reference only and shall
not affect its interpretations.
13.9. Transfer
Taxes.
The
Seller shall be solely responsible for and pay in a timely manner all transfer,
premium, sales, use, value added, stamp, documentary, gross receipts,
registration, conveyance, excise, recording, license and other similar Taxes
and
fees, if any, arising out of, or in connection with, or attributable to the
,
assignment or transfer of the Renewal Rights and Transferred Assets. The Seller
shall prepare and file, or cause to be prepared and filed, all Tax Returns
and
other documentation required with respect to such Taxes and, if required by
Applicable Law, the Purchaser shall join in the execution of any such Tax
Returns and other documentation as reasonably requested by the
Seller.
13.10. Communications.
The
parties shall jointly agree upon press releases and agent communications to
be
distributed with respect to the transactions contemplated under this Agreement,
except as may be required by Applicable Law.
13.11. Notices.
All
notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall be delivered personally, sent by facsimile transmission or sent by
overnight courier or certified, registered or express mail, postage prepaid.
Any
such notice or other communication shall be deemed given: (i) upon actual
delivery if presented personally or sent by facsimile transmission, (ii) one
(1)
Business Day following delivery to an overnight courier, or (iii) three (3)
Business Days following deposit in the United States mail, if sent by certified,
registered or express mail, postage prepaid, in each case to the following
addresses:
30
(i) | If to the Purchaser: | ||
AmTrust
North America, Inc.
00
Xxxxxx Xxxx, 0xx
xx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
E-mail:
xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
|
|||
(ii) | If to the Seller: | ||
Aon
Corporation
000
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Office
of the General Counsel
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
E-mail:
xxxxxxx_xxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xxx
|
|||
Copy
to:
|
Aon
Group, Inc.
000
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxxx
X. X’Xxxxxxxx
President and Chief Operating Officer
E-mail:
michael_o’xxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx
|
13.12. Waiver
of Compliance.
Any
waiver of any failure to comply with any obligation, covenant, agreement or
condition under this Agreement must be in writing and signed by the parties.
Any
waiver or failure to insist upon strict compliance with any obligation,
covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel
with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.
13.13. Expenses.
Except
as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, the parties to this
Agreement will bear their respective expenses incurred in connection with the
preparation, execution and performance of this Agreement and the consummation
of
the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
13.14. Arbitration.
(a) All
disputes and differences under this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements that
cannot be amicably agreed upon by the parties will be decided by arbitration
before a single arbitrator (the “Arbitrator”). The Arbitrator will have the
authority to interpret this Agreement and, in doing so, will consider the
customs and practices of the insurance and reinsurance industry. The Arbitrator
will consider this Agreement as an honorable engagement rather than merely
a
legal obligation, and he or she is relieved of all judicial formalities and
may
abstain from following the strict rules of law.
31
(b) To
initiate arbitration, either Seller or Purchaser will notify the other, in
writing, of its desire to arbitrate. The notice will state the nature of the
dispute and the desired remedies and propose four natural Persons to serve
as
the Arbitrator. The party to which the notice is sent will respond to the
notification in writing within thirty (30) days of receipt of the notice. At
that time, the responding party will state any additional dispute it may have
regarding the subject of arbitration and will propose four natural Persons
to
serve as the Arbitrator, who shall be disinterested, independent and unrelated
to the party and present
or former executives of an insurance or reinsurance company or an attorney
or
consultant with experience in the insurance or reinsurance business. From the
four Persons so designated by a party, the other party shall strike three,
and
the parties will draw lots to determine the Arbitrator. Each of the Seller
and
the Purchaser will pay 50% of the fees and expenses of the Arbitrator relating
to the applicable dispute.
(c) The
arbitration hearing shall be held on the date fixed by the Arbitrator. In no
event shall this date be later than four (4) months after the appointment of
the
Arbitrator. As soon as possible, the Arbitrator shall establish pre-arbitration
procedures as warranted by the facts and issues of the particular dispute.
Unless Seller and Purchase agree otherwise, the Arbitrator shall conduct a
hearing in Chicago, Illinois. At least ten (10) days prior to the arbitration
hearing, Seller and Purchaser shall provide the other and the Arbitrator with
a
detailed statement of the facts and arguments it will present at the arbitration
hearing. The Arbitrator may consider any relevant evidence. The Arbitrator
shall
give the evidence such weight as he or she deems it entitled to after
consideration of any objections raised concerning it. Each party may examine
any
witnesses who testify at the arbitration hearing. Within twenty days after
the
end of the arbitration hearing, the Arbitrator shall issue a written decision
resolving such dispute and awarding damages, subject to the limitations set
forth in Article XII. The Arbitrator is directed to seek efficiencies in time
and expense. The Arbitrator may limit discovery and is not bound by strict
rules
of evidence. The Arbitrator may not award punitive or exemplary
damages.
(d) Notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 13.5, any arbitration held pursuant to the provisions
of this Section 13.14 shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C.
1 et seq.).
All
arbitrations commenced pursuant to this Agreement or any other Ancillary
Agreement shall be consolidated and heard by the Arbitrator.
32
13.15. Confidentiality.
Each
party hereto will hold, and will use its commercially reasonable best efforts
to
cause its Affiliates, and their respective Representatives to hold, in strict
confidence from any Person (other than any such Affiliates or Representatives),
except with the prior written consent of the other party or unless (i) compelled
to disclose by judicial or administrative process (including in connection
with
obtaining the necessary approvals of this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements
and the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby of Governmental Authorities)
or by other requirements of Applicable Law, or (ii) disclosed in an action
or
proceeding brought by a party hereto in pursuit of its rights or in the exercise
of its remedies hereunder, all
documents and information concerning the other party or any of its Affiliates
furnished to it by the other party or such other party’s Representatives in
connection with this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby, except to the extent that such documents or
information can be shown to have been (a) previously known by the party
receiving such documents or information, (b) in the public domain (either prior
to or after the furnishing of such documents or information hereunder) through
no fault of such receiving party or (c) later acquired by the receiving party
from another source if the receiving party is not aware that such source is
under an obligation or duty to another party hereto to keep such documents
and
information confidential; provided that following the Closing the foregoing
restrictions will not apply to the Purchaser’s use of documents and information
relating exclusively to the Renewal Rights or Transferred Assets furnished
by
the Seller hereunder.
[INTENTIONALLY
LEFT BLANK]
33
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the
duly
authorized officers of the Purchaser and the Seller as of the Effective
Date.
AMTRUST
NORTH AMERICA, INC.
By:
________________________________
Name:
Title
|
|
MUIRFIELD
UNDERWRITERS, LTD.
By:_________________________________
Name:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title:
Chief Financial Officer
|
34
EXHIBIT
A
Xxxx
of
Sale and General Assignment Agreement
EXHIBIT
B
Guaranty
of Aon Group, Inc.
2
EXHIBIT
C
Transferred
Assets
3
Schedule
1.1
*
*
Confidential Treatment Requested
4
Schedule
3.6
Pending
Litigation
As
of the
Closing Date, there is no litigation pending or threatened against the
Seller.
5
Schedule
3.7
Consents
and Approvals
There
are
no consents or approvals required of the Seller in order to consummate the
transactions contemplated in this Agreement.
6
Schedule
3.8
Tax
Returns and Payment of Taxes
There
are
no Tax Returns or other tax matters of the Seller, excluding the payment by
Seller or its affiliates of all federal, state and local taxes, which will
be
done by the Seller or is affiliates in due course.
7
Schedule
3.9
Material
Changes Since 12/31/2005
There
have been no material changes as outlined in Section 3.9 of this Agreement
since
December 31, 2005.
8
Schedule
3.10(a)
*
*
Confidential Treatment Requested
9
Schedule
3.10(b)
*
*
Confidential Treatment Requested
10
Schedule
3.10(c)
*
*
Confidential Treatment Requested
11
Schedule 3.11
Intellectual
Property
Seller
does not own any intellectual property rights.
12
Schedule
7.1
*
*
Confidential Treatment Requested
13
Schedule
13.3
*
*
Confidential Treatment Requested
14